Suspension Upgdade - Ohlins DFV etc inc Spring Rates

[Myocardial Infarction]

Been looking into a set of Ohlins DFV's but noticed that SBG are also offering Ohlins in FPSpec, which give additional 30mm of [x] and can be specced with different spring rates etc

Sakebomb Garage - FPSpëc Ohlins DFV (FD3S RX-7)

Product Features Include:

• Custom Long-Stroke Öhlins DFV Damper Bodies Exclusive to SBG
• Available in Two Tailored Stiffness Options Tuned to Meet Your Needs
• Swift® Main Springs in SBG Exclusive Ohlins Gold
• Swift® Helper Springs in SBG Exclusive Ohlins Gold
• Fully Floating Billet Aluminum Top Hats with Teflon Lined Aurora Bearings
• Bullet Nose Studs For Easy Installation
• High-Torque Non-Marring Aluminum Adjustment Spanners

Now my car has been off the road for a bit but when I put it back on I want to use it mainly for weekend fun, a bit of longer distance touring but also get onto the track and with that in mind I'm looking at what my options are.

I know you can pick up the stock Ohlins with standard spring rates of Front 11Kg (630 lbs/in.), Rear 11Kg (630 Lbs/in.) and from reading Roy's threads previously these should handle pretty well on road and track. But are there any benefit in going for the SBG FPSpec?

Spring rate details on these are:

FPSpëc Grand Touring
Perfect for the backroads FD RX-7, the best possible balance of body control and ride quality. Extremely capable for the occasional weekend track day.
10kg/mm Front and 8kg/mm Rear Swift Springs in SBG Exclusive Ohlins Gold

FPSpëc Race
Perfect for the tracked FD RX-7, higher spring rates provide the superb body control and stability. Recommended for the frequently track driven cars.
14kg/mm Front and 12kg/mm Rear Swift Springs in SBG Exclusive Ohlins Gold

Front and Rear Helper Springs Standard

FPSpëc Tailored
For those with specialized needs or radically built cars, we can provide our bespoke suspension consultation service to recommend spring rates, anti-roll bars and valving to meet your specific needs. If helper springs are required, an additional charge will be added.

And if there is which of the spring rates would be best or should I look at a slightly different rate?

 

[Myocardial Infarction]

No one got any ideas?

 

[cib24]

I think with your planned usage as a weekend touring car with the occasional track day either stay with the default 11/11 kg setup or go for the grand touring 10/8 kg option. The 11/11 is just about on the limit of comfort for me on UK roads when softened up near full soft. 10/8 would probably ride better but would be less useful on track sort of. The reality though is that unless you intend to track a lot either choice isn't going to ruin your day on a circuit.

 

[Myocardial Infarction]

I think my current Tein Super Streets are a 12/10, which others have said are a little harsh but I've not found them too bad so I'd probably prefer the 11/11 setup over the 10/8 given that I want to get the car out on track.

What was on your car prior to fitting the Ohlins m8e? Standard suspension?

 

[cib24]

Nah, I bought my car with Blitz ZZRs on it which were a real POS. 32 adjustments my ass. You had about 8 clicks before it got hard as a rock. The Ohlins were one of the first things I changed to. It was either Ohlins or the Tein Street Flex (10/8kg) at the time. I found the Ohlins on sale for a good price so went with those. I have never been in a FD with OEM suspension.

 

[Myocardial Infarction]

Neither have I, all have had aftermarket. One I test drove was so hard I thought my teeth were going to fall out.

 

[jdmr_neil]

I've got zero experience with ohlins but quite a bit of track time with different suspension. I would go for softer springs than 10/12s for street use tbh. If your pretty accomplished on track then i apologise and please disregard. Otherwise 10s are about as hard as you want to go on a street car imo.

 

[cib24]

Yup, similar statement. The 11/11kg setup is as high as I would go and I think it's only because the DFVs are so excellent that the ride is manageable with such stiff springs. Over 40 mph the Ohlins are perfectly comfortable anyhow. The 10/8kg combo would ride nicer due to the softer rear.

 

[Copyninja]

Hi mate ive got ohlins dfvs with 11/11kg spring rates. These are nice and complaint and offered for me better ride comfort than my stock suspension. Ride is firmer but more complaint over UK B roads. Its a great compromise. For track you can change the setting to hard and it does really firm up.

That being said there is still a bit of roll with these ohlins dfv coilovers and under load and heavy cornering the car does roll a bit. However thats probably because ive got oem bushes and arbs all around. However compared to my stock suspension this is 100x better as the stock suspension under load was outright scary...would tip over like a boat.

For track work id prefer 16 to 18kg spring rates with ohlins dfvs. Personally for me the stock ohlins dfvs is still a bit on the soft side. That being said its rides better than stock and still very compliant. If i was you and u have the monies go for the track spec sake bomb FP version.

 

[jdmr_neil]

That looks quite a bit of roll for 11/11 springs! Is that with the damping set at hard?. I too have standard oem bushes and arbs and especially with the bushes thats what i was advised to get for a good ride quality. The trouble with poly bushes is they are very unforgiving and can make your car quite crashy. This often ends with the suspension being blamed and subsequently changed and still not solving the problem.

I have much softer spring rates than that and on hard damping there is a little movement but not much. Only in long tighter turns where the damping speed is overcome will i get the front to really start biting down.

Also you need a good range of movement. With hard suspension on anything other than bone dry sticky tarmac with warm tyres your gonna be at a disadvantage. With wet trackdays i keep mine as soft as possible only tightening up as the track heats up.

Just things to consider imo

 

[Copyninja]

yh damping set to hard. Thats a 30 right going in at 80mph so does load up the suspension nicely, that pic makes it look worse than it is. Any 10/8 kgs or softer setup would be tipping over even worse. The stockers were poo i could not take 60mph around there without the car looking like it had fallen over onto one side.

TBH for the occasional 2-4 track days a year the ohlins dfvs are perfect but if you're car spends the majority of its time on track ....you may feel its a bit on the soft side but thats not a bad thing as the Ohlins transform the car make it extremely FUN to drive while keeping things very complaint and comfortable which increases driver confidence.

 

[jdmr_neil]

That's mine digging in on sunny at croft which is a 70mph entry. This is on the meister r zeta softer option wound up hard on damping. My experience of hard spring rates is not good tbh.

 

[jdmr_neil]

Corner exit same turn speeding up to 90+ before sunny out

 

[cib24]

I am at Blyton. How should I set my DFVs up? Not full stiff front and rear? Which should be softer and which harder? By how much?

 

[Copyninja]

I usually start 10 clicks from full hard all around on my dfvs. See how your fd responds and go from there. if it understeers then stiffen up the rears by 1-2clicks and go out and test to see if u like the new setting and vice versa if it oversteers. Play around and have fun.

 

[jdmr_neil]

I am at Blyton. How should I set my DFVs up? Not full stiff front and rear? Which should be softer and which harder? By how much?

Have a great day today Roy, I'm gutted work got in the way as its a beautiful sunny day too.

 

[cib24]

Have a great day today Roy, I'm gutted work got in the way as its a beautiful sunny day too.

Thanks bud. It's a beautiful day. Only a few of us here have the whole track to ourselves. Gives me plenty of time to get used to the car again. Loving it so far but heel toe in this car is a pain in the ass with the pedal so far from the brake pedal. Maybe my foot is too large.

 

[jdmr_neil]

Thanks bud. It's a beautiful day. Only a few of us here have the whole track to ourselves. Gives me plenty of time to get used to the car again. Loving it so far but heel toe in this car is a pain in the ass with the pedal so far from the brake pedal. Maybe my foot is too large.

I only heel toe when its necessary tbh like hard braking into the croft hairpin before the paddock straight. Its arguable what you gain on a trackday from it tbh. If you concentrate to much on it you miss your apex and drop speed anyway.

Don't worry about it mate and just go fast enjoyably

Very sorry mate - off topic so gimme a pm Roy

 

[JFN]

In the market for some Ohlins R&T, anyone recommend a distributor in the UK?

Seems like the going price is around £1800

 

[Copyninja]

got mine from sumo power....when they had a discount, 1500 delivered took 2 weeks to arrive.