RVR suspension, handling and equipment

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

I have KYB shocks front and rear. Pedders springs low (still not happy with it's height at present..) I've had this setup for 3 years and i tell ya i've been pretty happy with it so far. Been on mountain runs with the evo's several times and has no probs keep'in up at all. Infact they were rather impressed as much as i was. Guess that's what awesome tyres can result in aye. I'll try and find my old print off sheet of my alignment specs and post them.
Never really had any problems with understeer nor have i got any strut braces installed.
I'm wanting upgrade soon as the shocks and springs are becoming a bit saggy. Lowering in height is still questionable. Though i'm not sure what i should go with as i'm wanting to keep it low but not obtaining massive camber in the rear.

 

[grndsm]

I should have mentioned what I have for suspension. I am running EVO8 KYB shocks/struts, which make my Summit pretty stiff (should have held out for EVO MR Bilstein suspension) . Up front, I have standard EVO springs and in the rear I have Summit springs with one coil cut out.

The nature of EVO8 suspension installation allowed me to build in some negative camber into the front end of the Summit (1*-1.5*), but I want MORE! What is when camber plates come into play. Fortunately, there a numerous choices for EVO suspension!

I am thinking of picking up a set of “soft” Noltecs:
http://performanceshock.com/noltec/camber-plates-bolts/mitsu-frt-adj-strut-mount-pair-cushioned
At that price, I do not see how I can go wrong

 

[Beastlee]

I should have mentioned what I have for suspension. I am running EVO8 KYB shocks/struts, which make my Summit pretty stiff (should have held out for EVO MR Bilstein suspension) . Up front, I have standard EVO springs and in the rear I have Summit springs with one coil cut out.

The nature of EVO8 suspension installation allowed me to build in some negative camber into the front end of the Summit (1*-1.5*), but I want MORE! What is when camber plates come into play. Fortunately, there a numerous choices for EVO suspension!

I am thinking of picking up a set of “soft” Noltecs:
http://performanceshock.com/noltec/camber-plates-bolts/mitsu-frt-adj-strut-mount-pair-cushioned
At that price, I do not see how I can go wrong

How much work is needed to fit Evo suspension on an RVR? In our case a HSGR? You won't find me cutting any springs mind, still amazes me that people do that as it totally destroys the spring dynamics and shouldn't be done. We want to lower our HSGR but due to it being the only one in Germany/Europe, as far as we know, there's no access to these custom parts like there is in Australia.

Thanks
Lee

 

[grndsm]

Well, I am in US, so we too have no performance parts specifically made for these wagons.

You can see how I adapted EVO8 suspension on my CarDomain page, go to www.ReitmanRacing.com, select my garage and then choose 93 Summit.

As for cutting springs, let's talk about it for a minute... I understand that such modification has negative connotations, mainly because it is often done by kids who do it because it is the cheapest way to "slam" the cars to the ground.

But... When property done, by someone who understands vehicle dynamics, it is a perfectly acceptable method of lowering the car, while increasing the stiffness of the spring! So please do not discount this mod without first doing running numbers!

Another way to look at this: springs were originally cut at the factory .

 

[Beastlee]

Sorry, i didn't mean to imply that you had hacked the springs It's just rare to find someone has done the job properly.

Had a look over your site, not sure I want to risk adjusting the camber on the front to fit the Evo kit but if that's what it comes to. Thanks for the info, it has certainly helped.

 

[grndsm]

What makes you doubt the effectiveness of EVO8 camber plates on the RVR? I think the risk is minimal, especially if you back it up with a proper wheel alignment

 

[grndsm]

I just picked up Tein Basic coilover kit for EVO8. I will now have adjustable height and camber! I will update the new alignment figures. I am shooting for 3* of negative camber up front!

 

[Beastlee]

I don't doubt the effectiveness of the camber plates, I doubt my ability to modify the mounting correctly to maintain the stock geometry. unless I misunderstood your write-up you have adjusted the camber initally by the way you have elongated the three mounting holes. The rest of it I could cope with and the brake line mounting would also be fine as I will be fitting some 6-pot units and 330mmx28mm floating discs.

 

[grndsm]

Well I made them elongated to give me more camber. You do not need to do that . Instead, you can just open up the hole with a larger drill bit. Pretty simple

 

[Beastlee]

Ah, OK, Sweet! Thanks for the info.

 

[vuonguz]

what about these springs? http://www.importmonster.com.au/view?url=http://page15.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t163779107&thumb=http://f2.auctions.c.yimg.jp/f24batchimg.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/5/3/2/3/kc_trading_store-thumb-1273335122532374.jpg&title=ZOOM%20RVR%20N23W

 

[dj_konix]

im getting these with a set of kyb sr shocks, hope they are ok

 

[grndsm]

Just as I picked up a set of used 7 passenger wagon springs (~20% stiffer than the 3 door version), I realized that there is really nothing special about RVR's rear springs!

They are arpox 10-11" long and 375-448 lbs/in stiff (for 3-4 door, respectively) springs with 5" outer diameter. A simple eBay search showed abundance of 8" or 9.5" long springs, in any spring rate you want to run! Best of all, the price is around $60/pair!!!

I am looking to pick up some 8" long springs in 800-900lbs/in stiffness. I will update this tread with my results.

 

[umpc1611]

Just as I picked up a set of used 7 passenger wagon springs (~20% stiffer than the 3 door version), I realized that there is really nothing special about RVR's rear springs!

They are arpox 10-11" long and 375-448 lbs/in stiff (for 3-4 door, respectively) springs with 5" outer diameter. A simple eBay search showed abundance of 8" or 9.5" long springs, in any spring rate you want to run! Best of all, the price is around $60/pair!!!

I am looking to pick up some 8" long springs in 800-900lbs/in stiffness. I will update this tread with my results.

Hey Leon:

My set of 4 Cobra Springs (mentioned on pages 4-5 of this thread: http://www.4gtuner.com/topic/15976-suspension-options-need-some-information/ and here's the website catalogue page: http://cobrasprings.co.nz/catalogue/mitsubishi/rvr/2806) is about to become available (found a tuner here that is going to help me go Tein coilover; long story), if you're interested. I really don't know the exact stiffness specs (I'd guess about 30-40% stiffer than stock), but you could check with Mark at Cobra ([email protected]) to see if they'd be worth the shipping from here - I'd let them go real cheap, too, recognizing that.

 

[grndsm]

In case you haven’t noticed, I like numbers , and that Cobra site doesn’t seem to give you any.
 
Something to keep in mind about RVR spring rates, the front strut suspension is very similar to 1G DSMs/Galant VR4s and EVO’s.  So front spring rates are also similar:  US AWD wagons (Summit/EXPO):  137lbs/in (2.4kg/mm). For comparison, EVO8 front springs are   180lbs/in (3.2kg/mm).  So while it is 31% stiffer, it is still relatively soft.
 
When you start talking about modified coilover springs, you are usually in the 300-500lbs/in (5.4-8.9kg/mm) range.  Which is 200-300% stiffer!!!  You might think that it will be too rough for street driving, but that isn’t really true.  The “rough feel” comes from the dampers and not the springs.  Just try out any KYB equipped EVO, it is extremely “rough riding” while it still has relatively soft springs.  And on the other spectrum, I drove my friend’s race prepped 2G Eclipse with 1000lbs/in (18kg/mm) springs and $1000 (per corner) Penske race dampers, surprisingly, it felt softer than a stock EVO! 
So I agree that in the front we need something in the 300-500lbs/in (5.4-8.9kg/mm) range for a tarmac handling set-up.
 
In the rear, we have totally different suspension geometry with MUCH HIGHER spring rates!  Stock US market wagons have 375lbs/in(6.7kg/mm) and 448lbs/in.  So to be consistent with the front, we would have to go up 900-1200lbs/in (16-21kg/mm) range!
 
I know that it sounds like a lot, which is why I was going to try 800lbs/in (14.3kg/mm) springs first.  At $60/set, that isn’t a big gamble .

 

[vuonguz]

hey guys just recently did my KYB shocks sr front and rear (got off t04garret) with some lowered kings springs, its given me the front wheels of a positive camber abit ( this is on my ssg) might be different to a hsg im not sure but im not use to this change making lil noise is this normal?

 

[to4garret]

chuck in a set of camber bolts at the front voung, then get a GOOD wheel alignment.

most suspension places will sell them, shouldnt be more than $50.

 

[to4garret]

as for the noise, do you mean creaking from the springs?

 

[vuonguz]

yeah creaking? woah camber bolts ?

 

[to4garret]

if you are getting creaking from the front springs when turning, that is ususally an indication the spring isnt seated correctly on the spring perch and/or top hat. sometimes it could even bee the left and right side have been swapped around.

There shouldnt be any creeking.

apart from that, has it made an improvement?