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Upgrading suspension without changing ride height

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Location
Bangkok
#1
I live in Thailand, where the roads are worse than terrible. I'm keen to tighten up the suspension, to reduce body roll and acceleration and braking related pitching/dipping. The large, poorly formed speed humps, numerous potholes and unlevel pavement all mean that lowering is not really an option.
I was reading about the ST200 suspension modifications: how Ford engineers increased the sway bar diameter and rate so that they could soften the spring/damper rates. Is that feasible on a stock suspension? For example, is upgrading to the Eibach or Cobb front/rear sway bars (also with uprated links and bushes) likely to tighten the suspension up the way I want, without having to lower roll centre and/or increase spring rates? (I've also not seen uprated standard height springs available).
Cheers
 


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Location
Peoria
#2
I think you may be looking for quality coilovers that can retain the stock height. Sway bar upgrades will only help roll, not ride. You might contact MeisterR about their ZetaCRD+ coilovers for your application. Otherwise, there is a strut folks talk about that will help ride and handling. If I remember correctly, it's a Koni "Gold" something. I'm sure someone else will chime in here shortly.
 


jeffreylyon

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Pittsburgh
#4
I'd start with uprated dampers - check out Koni's. Stiffening either the spring rate or the anti-sway bar stiffness is going to hurt the ride (unless you're bottoming out on the stock string).

Lightening unsprung weight will have a huge affect on ride quality - a Wilwood BBK will save 5kg/corner which will make a very noticeable improvement. If you stay with the stock brakes then you can use a set of 15x7 Braids which are almost indestructible, save you 2kg a corner, and allow you to run a higher profile tire as well.
 


Messages
244
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51
Location
Milwaukee
#5
Swaybars may be a good option, but keep in mind with that, when you stiffen the bars, you're still transferring that motion to the other side when the car is not in transition or the body set in roll....
 


Messages
269
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48
Location
Grass Lake
#6
This. Koni sport dampers on stock springs are a great upgrade. I had them on both my basic Fiesta hatchback and moved them right over to my new Fiesta ST. They are wonderful.
 


Siestarider

Senior Member
Messages
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Location
Stuart
#7
I found going to 205/45/16 tires on the lightest wheels I could afford produced a significant improvement in ride with stock suspension. No change in body roll.

I more recentldy mounted Meister coils to play with on track, but even with 5/3 springs, soft settings are more comfortable on street than OEM was.

Taming body roll and making it more predictable during quick weight tansfers is main role of stiffer springs.
 


OP
T
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Location
Bangkok
Thread Starter #8
Thanks to those that have replied.
I'm running 205/45 R16s and am going to change to poly bushes on the front sway bar. I'll then look at sports dampers. Failing all that as an improvement I may lash out for a set of dampers.
The experimentation is fun, less the impact on the wallet. ??
 


neeqness

1000 Post Club
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LA
#9
Thanks to those that have replied.
I'm running 205/45 R16s and am going to change to poly bushes on the front sway bar. I'll then look at sports dampers. Failing all that as an improvement I may lash out for a set of dampers.
The experimentation is fun, less the impact on the wallet. ??
I'd save changing the chassis. Many have said that the chassis is fine as is for the most part...especially if your primary concern is the potholes, etc.

Having driven in areas with really terrible roads (places I would prefer not to drive my FiST, i.e. Mexico, but did anyway by accident - a story for another time), you might want to increase to a 205/50 if at stock height. Maybe even more if you can squeeze it without rubbing. High aspect tires in those areas are your best friend. Might even go for a 15" wheel but something tells me looks are of some concern to you and that's why you are using 16" wheels? A lighter wheel improves performance all around. A 15" will allow you to add higher aspect tires for more protection and a smoother ride.

I have only used the koni str t (you might prefer the yellows) so far and they do the job, but I'm looking to hopefully get the Bilstein B8s soon. I suspect that these will be an upgrade to the konis, so we'll see there...

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
 


shouldbeasy

1000 Post Club
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Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
#10
I'd save changing the chassis. Many have said that the chassis is fine as is for the most part...especially if your primary concern is the potholes, etc.

Having driven in areas with really terrible roads (places I would prefer not to drive my FiST, i.e. Mexico, but did anyway by accident - a story for another time), you might want to increase to a 205/50 if at stock height. Maybe even more if you can squeeze it without rubbing. High aspect tires in those areas are your best friend. Might even go for a 15" wheel but something tells me looks are of some concern to you and that's why you are using 16" wheels? A lighter wheel improves performance all around. A 15" will allow you to add higher aspect tires for more protection and a smoother ride.

I have only used the koni str t (you might prefer the yellows) so far and they do the job, but I'm looking to hopefully get the Bilstein B8s soon. I suspect that these will be an upgrade to the konis, so we'll see there...

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
I'll be watching.
 


Messages
312
Likes
40
Location
Peoria
#11
I have only used the koni str t (you might prefer the yellows) so far and they do the job, but I'm looking to hopefully get the Bilstein B8s soon. I suspect that these will be an upgrade to the konis, so we'll see there...

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Yes, please post up your impressions!
 


Messages
269
Likes
48
Location
Grass Lake
#13
How long any suspension component lasts is related to the conditions it's used under.

How long do stock shocks struts last in the st? It seems to be more bouncy now at 41k miles.
If you meant to say how long can a person expect the stock struts and shocks to perform as new under average use? I'd say they will be noticeably different in 10k. If the user hits Alot of pot holes and or drives fairly aggressively, they will be junk in 12k. Many of us just don't like the way our cars literally crash over expansion joints and it's generally busy, Darty nature on uneven pavement, especially concrete. The spring rates aren't the issue. The shock valving and the heavy rims are a comfort and handling issue. Rough roads call for taller tires and either steel rims or cheap expendable alloy wheels. If you have over 40k on your O.E. shocks. They have packed it in some time ago.
 




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