Need to Soften up The Ride

[Fraidknots]

I have a 1974 2002 that the previous owner stiffened up the ride and lowered the car a little.  I think it looks great but just to harsh of a ride.  Where can I purchase a softer spring/shock combination and what should I buy?  Thank you

 

[tech71]

55 minutes ago, Fraidknots said:

what should I buy?

What is installed?? Its relevant.

[visionaut]

Hard to be cushy and low…

 

[Schnellvintage]

What wheels and tires are you running? Sizes?

 

[Son of Marty]

You could go with new stock springs and adjustable koni shocks, if the po fitted larger sway bars I would keep them.

[TobyB]

...yeah, you kinda need to know where you're starting from

 

to figure out where you'll get...

 

t

 

[bergie33]

Urethane bushings?  That could have a bit to do with it too.

[Gordon]

You'll enjoy the stiff suspension if you have twisty roads nearby.  My 74 tii has Eibach springs,  Bilstein sports,  ST swaybars, poly bushings, and 15X7 wheels, no regrets.  

[7502]

I have my original '75 springs, front and real.  Free if you pay shipping. PM me if interested.

Eric

[d.hitchcock]

It sounds like you want to go back to stock springs. Also, in my opinion, Bilsteins have too much compression stiffness, which makes for a rough ride. So maybe swap them out if they're on there.

[Tommy]

I'm guessing you have Bilstein sport socks. Replace them with anything and get more comfortable. Good thing is that you can probably sell the Billys if they still look nice. Springs are likely not the culprit

Edited April 15, 2023 by Tommy

[dlmrun2002]

31 minutes ago, Tommy said:

I'm guessing you have Bilstein sport socks. Replace them with anything and get more comfortable. Good thing is that you can probably sell the Billys if they still look nice. Springs are likely not the culprit

Yeah I would ditch the BIlsteins if you have them. Yes, they do perform well at high speeds but they ride hard. Get some Koni top adjustable which you can tune to your spring setup. No harsh ride and the performance and ride comfort maintains at slow and fast speeds.

dlm ny country

[d.hitchcock]

Springs have a big role in "ride quality" assessment, in my experience.

Springs determine ride height and stiffness.

Shocks (dampers) modulate the movement of the springs.

But proper damping is a must. My prior two autocross cars were also my dailies, and they had WAY more spring than my 2002, but with better damping (dual adjustable Koni), and as a result better ride quality than my 2002. I'm talking an e30 and an e36, both with coilovers and fairly stout spring rates.

[Tommy]

Sure springs have a role and if OP says he doesn't have Bilsteins then it must be that.

I'm claiming that Bilsteins are so hard in compression that they will not be too comfortable even combined with stock springs. Also they have so high gas pressure that they do raise the ride height, just a bit. This is from experience of one summer before I took them out and they got sold or actually swapped for BBS RM wheels.

[d.hitchcock]

Definitely agree on the Bilsteins. Way too much bump stiffness. I think that phenomenon of raising the ride height due to gas pressure is mainly when they are new, but it's a real thing too!