Suspension Woes

[FJ16]

So I just recently swapped out my struts and springs for Bilstein B8s and Whitelines all around, thinking that would go a long way to solving my unhappiness with the ride quality in my '16... but it didn't. I've given it a week to settle in, and I still absolutely hate it. This is my daily and fun car (I drive all over the place for work, much less for recreational) and while I don't expect a Caddy ride I don't want to be tossed out of my seat on bad street or highway segment change. This is without a doubt the harshest ride of any vehicle I've ever owned; and it really puts a damper on driving it - which is a shame because there's really a lot to love otherwise. Im willing to try anything else, but would prefer to keep the lowered look if there's a good option out there.

So what have you all had success with on this front? Please, give me your honest comparisons so I can enjoy driving this damn car every day!

 

[Grendlehop18]

I'm still riding on stock suspension so I can't offer any advice in that area. What I have done that's for sure improved both comfort and certain aspects of performance is fitting up some lightweight 15s with high-perf summers. Went with 205/50 Yokos which are 23" OD, so I'm riding ~0.2" lower. I'm using the recommended psi from the inner door label and there's little change in the turn in response, but the smaller ripples, manhole covers and cracks in the road are felt much, much less. Lighter wheels, tires and brakes will reduce the stress on your suspension as well as improve initial drive off the line, braking and turn in feel on the steering wheel. For myself, going 15s has turned out great, both aesthetically and dynamically. 17s & 18s with rubberband tires are looking more and more silly to me, esp on such a small car. Keep your set up and do a little research

 

[FJ16]

I planned on dropping down to 16s soon, I'm not sure about 15s though... might see what is available in that size.

 

[Grendlehop18]

No doubt a slightly larger sidewall with 16s will be beneficial depending on tire choice. Good amount of lightweight options in 16. Combining both aspects should net some real positives. Plus you'll gain some peace of mind with a bit of rim protection if you avoid tire stretch. 16x7s with a 40-42et with 23.4" OD rubber or close to that should guarantee no rubbing issues.

 

[Mikey456]

Its been reported by other members that the Koni Orange shocks are softer and offer more compliance.

 

[Plainrt]

15 or 16s. Lol try driving on degassed konis.........

 

[MRX330]

Mountune springs were designed, engineered and validated to be used with the B8’s. Experimenting with any other springs is a crap shoot. They already did the leg work times 1000. You might want to give them a try ✅

 

[green_henry]

16s will help a little, but I think you'll need to move to 15s to be happy. I was a little disappointed that the ride didn't improve more with 16s, but I am happy with the wider tire options

 

[Mikey456]

I’m running stock tires and wheels. I run less tire pressure at 36 psi for my daily driver and noticed that dropping the tire pressure helps with the ride quality too.

 

[Plainrt]

Mountune springs were designed, engineered and validated to be used with the B8’s. Experimenting with any other springs is a crap shoot. They already did the leg work times 1000. You might want to give them a try ✅

Weren’t mountune springs out long before b8s?

 

[Intuit]

........ I don't expect a Caddy ride I don't want to be tossed out of my seat on bad street or highway segment change. This is without a doubt the harshest ride of any vehicle I've ever owned; and it really puts a damper on driving it ............... would prefer to keep the lowered look if there's a good option out there. .............. give me your honest comparisons so I can enjoy driving this damn car every day!

If your shocks are adjustable, as performance aftermarket often are, you should reach out to the manufacturer for recommendations.

Does it go "bang bang" or "bouncy bouncy" or both?

Tires won't help with bouncy-bouncy, but the larger sidewalls of a 15 mentioned by Gendlehop18 should fit the bill if the issue is "bang bang".

Only issue I've noted on stock, and it's dependent upon select roads and ambient temps (frigid temps specifically) is the bouncy-bouncy. I've bottomed out a few times but that was more of a "tink" than a bang. The more the suspension has aged, the more settled it has gotten meaning, no bouncy bouncy and less bouncy bouncy over the same roads at similar ambient temps. Lower, sacrifices suspension travel. So short of swapping suspension, there's nothing that can be done there.

 

[HBEcoBeaST]

I think it's the springs. B8s are proven struts on this platform rated as an upgrade over OEM.

Whitelines are usually pretty aggressive springs. It seems the description many vendors are displaying is a little off. I see some advertising this as a 15mm front/30mm rear drop while reviewers are saying it's more like 1.25'' all around. A lot of suspension companies copy and paste product line information regardless of the specific model so sometimes you'll get conflicting information. As for ride quality; any company is going to advertise 'retains OEM ride quality' etc, not all springs do

The front springs look almost linear and they advertise 4.3KG/3.6KG fixed spring rates but the descriptions then go on to say they are progressive. That's confusing.

If ride quality is your goal maybe look into cobb, eibach or mountune springs. Or spend a little more on B14s or other entry coilovers. I got my B14s from the UK for <$760, I opted to buy new OEM mounts/boots but the total cost is still less than $900 and that's probably comparable to your B8/whiteline combo. The beauty with coilovers is that the shock valving is matched to the spring.

You'll probably be able to sell the springs on the forum for not too big of a loss.

 

[Dpro]

Bilstein’s are not the end all be all like some around here would have you think. Koni Yellows ( not degassed! ) will ride great. As will other brands. My ST XTA’s ride great. Koozy recently switched to an aftermarket coilover and reported it rode better than his previous setup which ran Bilstein B8’s. I would not automatically just blame springs. I would look at the fact that any uprated spring not specificslly matched to a fixed rate damper like the B8 is going to be tricky. This is were the Koni is nice as it is adjustable so you have a better shot at adjusting the damper to the spring. plus in the world of adjustable dampers Koni’s actually work pretty well.

 

[MRX330]

Weren’t mountune springs out long before b8s?

The Mountune Clubsport suspension came out years ago. The B8’s were out before the springs. Mountune liked the B8’s so they had springs made to their specs which paired with the B8’s perfectly imo

 

[Plainrt]

Bilstein’s are not the end all be all like some around here would have you think. Koni Yellows ( not degassed! ) will ride great. As will other brands. My ST XTA’s ride great. Koozy recently switched to an aftermarket coilover and reported it rode better than his previous setup which ran Bilstein B8’s. I would not automatically just blame springs. I would look at the fact that any uprated spring not specificslly matched to a fixed rate damper like the B8 is going to be tricky. This is were the Koni is nice as it is adjustable so you have a better shot at adjusting the damper to the spring. plus in the world of adjustable dampers Koni’s actually work pretty well.

Koni yellows off the shelf can be set soft and ride great and I would go with over b8s any day

 

[kona16]

I am running Mountune spring / B8 set up and really like it but I am also running 215/40/17s on 17 x 8s, less stiff then stock for sure. I also have the Hotchkis rear bar. I feel the B8s slightly raised the height of the car after replacing the stock units. I have had this set up for awhile now and feel it is great for my daily driver. Firm, controlled and not too low...no complaints, found my sweet spot.

 

[Intuit]

215/40 would have a lower profile (less sidewall) than the stock 205/40.

 

[FJ16]

215/40 would have a lower profile (less sidewall) than the stock 205/40.

Umm... no it wouldn't. It would have a hair more (86mm as opposed to 82mm). If two tires have the same profile size, but one is wider; the wider tire will be taller.

 

[Dpro]

yes FJ16 is correct a 215/40 will be slightly taller with a bit more sidewall.

 

[MRX330]

Is there an echo?