Hi all,

I just picked up a 2005 S2000 in Suzuka Blue with 90,500 miles on it. I am hoping to get ahold of Billman250 to get a TCT to stop the noise on my current one. Question about the stock suspension also. With more than 90,000 miles on my car is it worth upgrading to Ohlins coilovers and ditching the stock shocks?

Thanks!

 

Congrats, you got a great color.
Levi

 

I think Öhlins would be considered an upgrade regardless of your vehicle's mileage. Now, is it worth the upgrade? That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself as we don't know your preferences.

P.S. Congratulations on the S2000!

 

The only real benefit in adjustable coil overs is to tune the suspension for your specific race track or autocross. Every track is different, hence the benefit is adjustability. Doing anything like that? What are the lap times you want do better? What tires are you using? The suspension is already tuned for spirited driving -- if you have high performance tires. An alignment and good tires is all that's necessary. Certainly for now. All Season tires are the enemy of handling for our cars. High performance tires came on the car when new and the reputation was established with the stock suspension. There are better tires now than in 2005 and dedicated track use can usually benefit from adjustable suspensions -- if you know what you're doing. Few do. "Got coil-overs, Bro" say many posers at places like cars-n-coffee.

-- Chuck

 

I plan on using the S2000 as a weekend cruiser and canyon cruiser. I do plan on taking a road trip to drive the pacific coast highway from Utah and back. I am worried the stock suspension may be a bit tired and worn out.
My background. I am a suspension technician at a bicycle company and I have regularly serviced Ohlins shocks and forks for bicycles and am familiar with their products and pedigree. I service shocks on a daily basis and suspension is something I enjoy. I’d like my car to handle like it was intended to from the factory so I do not want to change sway bars or other components.

 

You'll know more than most of us about the shocks' condition. Worn out shocks are not common based on messages here. Replacement OE shocks are available including low mileage shocks from the guys who fit (regardless of need or knowledge of use) adjustable coil overs which get fitted mainly because all the cool kids have them. Much of what is done to this car is in the name of looks -- lowered and flush wheel fit. One of the best things a buddy did to his '02 was retrofit the '02 suspension! A former owner had modified it. All the OEM parts were on Ebay and inexpensive.

Honda knew what they were doing and tweaked the suspension every two years. The '06-'07 suspension is slightly different from the '04-'05 as the rear got tweaked in '06. There's a nice article here (somewhere ) that highlights the differences. It's possible to mix-n-match. The CR-spec suspension will bolt right on.

Scroll to the bottom of this thread to note what @ahobie17 is doing with Olin coil overs.

Tires are the most important handling item on this car. They gotta be a matched set. Going any lower on the performance scale than Max Performance Summer is not beneficial. Within the Max and Extreme bands you'll get dozens of good tires. With the improvements in tire technology I no longer have to put up with the horrible tread noise of Extreme performance tires and have dropped down to Max.

-- Chuck