Performance Shocks

I have an '89 Mustang GT with lots of suspension work, 17x9 wheels, and Koni Red shocks and struts. A friend of mine has a similar setup but with firmer springs and Tokico Illumina shocks and struts. His car has a less harsh ride. Firmer springs ... softer ride ... doesn't seem to make sense. He's suggesting it's our strut/shock difference and that he's heard similar stories from others.

Any experience or opinions?

Thanks all! Dave

Reply to
Dave Wick
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I have Tokico adjustable shocks and struts with Griggs springs. I can tell the brand of cigarette butt I run over.

Howard

Reply to
Howard Nelson

Shock/struts have more effect on ride quality than spring rates. If you were to compare a 800# spring to a 300# spring, it would be blatently obvious to even the casual driver. But a 550# vs a 650# spring isn't all that much differance in a 3400# car. Shocks, OTOH, make a huge differance. Increasing the resistance compression will help control body roll through the corners, and improve transient response. However, you pay for that every time you go over a bump or hit a pothole. I believe medium shocks, progressive springs, and a huge swaybar is the correct formula for a good handeling street car. Especially one that's also your commuter. But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong ;)

Reply to
boB

Dave,

It could be a couple things. Brand of tires and the profile differences, and your shock/strut settings. I run my Koni Red rear shocks on the softest setting, and the front struts only up a full turn or so from fully soft, and I get a pretty decent ride.

Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD

Reply to
Patrick

hmm, think of it, a shock reduces the way the suspension compresses/decompresses. It does NOT prevent the roll in a corner. Only small quick corrections are adjusted more, but taking a corner just compresses the shock no matter which shock. The springs take care of that aspect really. Ever held a shock outside of the car ? IF you push it in, it will go down. Soem shock you have to push it harder than other, but it does go down all the way. It's how fast you can press it down and how fast it comes back that really affects it. the word says it SHOCK.. is to limit the effect of a shock , ie the car hits a pothole/ridge/etc.. The roll in a corner is due to a longer time of weight transfer to one side of the car. no shock will prevent that.

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Reply to
Rein

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