Princeneo

2002-2003 | 246 309 | 300 396
is this the correct spring rate for 02-03? there are other people say it's 240/230
like this link here https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/512...-spring-rates/

jeallen

This is correct, other posts were based on early misunderstood/misinterpreted information. The author of this paper (read the paper) verified all the data, actually measured spring samples from each year and calculated all the rates from the samples.

When I bought aftermarket shocks I sourced several sets of OEM springs, trying to get exact '03 rates. I was very frustrated because the rates of the springs I acquired didn't line up with the rates previously published. It appeared to me that the color codes were just representative of part runs or supplier. Now that we know the color codes, the rates he list in his paper line up very closely with the colors on the springs I have (I have several sets).

Princeneo

i have MY01, i bought the 02-03 oem spring set, i'd like to keep my stock height but stiffer springs, what do you think about this combo? my01 shocks with my03 springs?

jeallen

Those are really pretty small differences, but no harm in trying those rates.You would probably see a bigger change in handling with a smaller rear sway bar. I would really be tempted to try the rear bar from an 04-09 (or the Miata bar that is popular).

Princeneo

i bought a CR rear sway bar for my MY 01, i just wanna find out which one is left/right,my friend has MY06 ap2 and when i checked his rear sway bar on his car it seems different than mine.

jeallen

That should help! You are really looking for a balance between understeer (push) and oversteer (lose in the rear). Ideally when you corner hard, you want the front and the rear to turn lose similarly (more sideways drift versus push or spin) Swaybar, spings, and alignment all pay a role. A smaller rear bar should improve the grip in the front. You my want to fine tune things further with camber. Increasing camber increases grip and shift the balance to the front or back. Typically on an S, you want .2 degrees more negative camber in the rear than in the front. You can look at the Autocross FAQ to improve things, but with all the variables you may need to try a few things to optimize the alignment for the car, set-up and ...your driving style!

Hope this helps!

zenairdave

That should help! You are really looking for a balance between understeer (push) and oversteer (lose in the rear). Ideally when you corner hard, you want the front and the rear to turn lose similarly (more sideways drift versus push or spin) Swaybar, spings, and alignment all pay a role. A smaller rear bar should improve the grip in the front. You my want to fine tune things further with camber. Increasing camber increases grip and shift the balance to the front or back. Typically on an S, you want .2 degrees more negative camber in the rear than in the front. You can look at the Autocross FAQ to improve things, but with all the variables you may need to try a few things to optimize the alignment for the car, set-up and ...your driving style!

Hope this helps!
[/quote]
Question about your camber suggestion. assuming front is 1 and rear is 2 negative camber.
Are you suggesting 1 and 3 or 1 and 1.2 ??? Not sure if you meant that decimal point to be in there.

jeallen

That should help! You are really looking for a balance between understeer (push) and oversteer (lose in the rear). Ideally when you corner hard, you want the front and the rear to turn lose similarly (more sideways drift versus push or spin) Swaybar, spings, and alignment all pay a role. A smaller rear bar should improve the grip in the front. You my want to fine tune things further with camber. Increasing camber increases grip and shift the balance to the front or back. Typically on an S, you want .2 degrees more negative camber in the rear than in the front. You can look at the Autocross FAQ to improve things, but with all the variables you may need to try a few things to optimize the alignment for the car, set-up and ...your driving style!

Hope this helps!
[/quote]
Question about your camber suggestion. assuming front is 1 and rear is 2 negative camber.
Are you suggesting 1 and 3 or 1 and 1.2 ??? Not sure if you meant that decimal point to be in there.
[/quote]

.2 degrees more negative camber in the rear than in the front is correct. The stock adjustments are somewhat limited, so for autocross you want all you can squeeze out of the adjusters. However for balance, you would take whatever you can get in the rear (example -2.0) and set the front .2 deg less (making the front -1.8).

Bama Dave

John please pin this post. Great info to everyone