My Ohlins review
#11
Moderator
Thread Starter
Dont worry...the DWs are at 5/32, and after a trip to VIR on the 3rd and nearly a week long trip to the Dragon next month, Im pretty sure they'll be about toast. Just trying to decide Star Spec vs RE-71R at this point.
#14
Community Organizer
Nice job RedCelica! I'll be installing mine next month after the next Autox. I look forward to your review after you track your car. I noticed a lot of the guys installing the Ohlins onto an AP2 also change their front swaybar and/or are running a non-staggered setup. I am also staggered (225/255 RE11a's)running the stock bars.
#16
Moderator
Thread Starter
just bought an ap1 as a track slut so this abused ap2 will be better kept https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/111...-finally-home/
#17
I just noticed from your one picture that your Berk exhaust actually sits perfect in the AP2 rear bumper and it seems like this exhaust never does that. What's the secret sauce?! I'll be anxious to see and hear it at the dragon.
#18
Moderator
Thread Starter
Had to get the hangers right. Use the triangle hangers long ways for the front and rear and then the oval hanger in the middle. Berk will be going on the ap1 once I get a tag on it.
#19
So you guys might remember that group buy on the KW Clubsports that happened a few years back. I opted in and bought them, and after investing a nice chunk of change, unboxing them once, I ended up selling them. At the time, I just couldn't mod the S...it deserved only the best I could afford. Fast forward a few more years (to the present) and I have a little bit stashed away, and broke my modding cherry on a berk headerback exhaust after my catalytic converter detonated on me for the 3rd time (won't have to worry about that shit again)! "Only the best" meant now Ohlins, and after investing many hours investigating the top suspension choices for mixed street/track coilovers, I found that the Ohlins were the best pick and the best bang for the buck.
I remember Billman having a convo with another S owner at the dragon that I overheard:
"What coilover would you recommend, Bill?"
Billman's response was: "Tell me what's wrong with the stock suspension."
I laughed at that one, but it was a good question. What IS wrong with the stock suspension? It's served me well both on street and on track, so I really had to think about this one. A lot of folks on this forum mention how good the stock suspension really is, and how to really improve upon it you're gonna need to spend north of $1600. But my answer came in the form of two issues: center of gravity and roll. Now, roll can be controlled via sway bars, but to take care of both while also improving the utilization of extreme performance tires, a good set of coilovers was a good place to start. Also, who the hell REALLY (in their heart of hearts) LIKES fender well gap.
I also chose Ohlins because I am lazy and don't want to be worrying about uber-tuning a suspension. I want to set and forget and the Ohlins had a one adjustment knob that adjusted both bound and rebound...and I like that feature. Also, Ohlins makes the suspenion for both the Ariel Atom and the Zonda R...so you KNOW they are one of the best in the business.
So I PM Urge and ask them for a quote, they reply and I think it's a fair number. So Im kicking the idea around a bit, talked to the wife about it, and got a follow-up PM from Patrick just doing his job and checking in. Well I got a wild hair up my ass and asked for an invoice, gave him my contact info, and made my way to the bank to move some funds around. Purchase completed, I only waited about 24 hours until UPS notified me that I wasn't at home to sign for the package! DOH! Oh well...so today I went to the UPS store to pick them up. The packaging is remarkable already. Every component has it's own little protected space. I havent opened the box that the shocks are actually in yet, but that'll be later tonight when I get them home. Plan on installing tomorrow and have a corner balance session scheduled with my alignment shop (Performance Chassis in Cary) for Monday.
Teaser pic...more to come:
EDIT: Friday evening
Well couldnt wait to get these installed and while my buddy's girl and my wife were out shopping me and him decided to tear into the car. Well, of course we have the suspension undone and after about 3 beers we decide it's in our best interests to go ahead and assemble the coilovers and get them at least mounted. Assembly was easy and spring identification was sufficient. I did have to read another thread were another user informed me that the longer spacers go on the front! Would have never known if I hadnt seen the thread [because I dont really read directions...ever.]
Anyway, coilovers are on and tomorrow I will preload and make sure things are torqued to spec. I didn't adjust any ride height settings, so we will see where we're sitting tomorrow. Ill post some better pics in daylight.
EDIT: Saturday afternoon
Preloaded the shocks and torqued everything down. Got the shocks at 4 clicks from full stuff all around as a baseline. Wonder what I should set them for on the street. Loving the drop. Not too low but not 4 wheeling it either
And I just want to leave this here b/c it's an awesome pic for my S with Eric's 512whp AP1
Measured height pre-adjustments are 13" front and 13.5" rear from center hub to fender.
EDIT: Monday
Got the car to Performance Chassis and dropped off for corner balance and alignment. Drop ended up being 13" bore to fender with a 1/4" rake. Alignment is perfect and the car feels awesome. Will report back when we go to VIR for Charity Laps April 3rd.
I remember Billman having a convo with another S owner at the dragon that I overheard:
"What coilover would you recommend, Bill?"
Billman's response was: "Tell me what's wrong with the stock suspension."
I laughed at that one, but it was a good question. What IS wrong with the stock suspension? It's served me well both on street and on track, so I really had to think about this one. A lot of folks on this forum mention how good the stock suspension really is, and how to really improve upon it you're gonna need to spend north of $1600. But my answer came in the form of two issues: center of gravity and roll. Now, roll can be controlled via sway bars, but to take care of both while also improving the utilization of extreme performance tires, a good set of coilovers was a good place to start. Also, who the hell REALLY (in their heart of hearts) LIKES fender well gap.
I also chose Ohlins because I am lazy and don't want to be worrying about uber-tuning a suspension. I want to set and forget and the Ohlins had a one adjustment knob that adjusted both bound and rebound...and I like that feature. Also, Ohlins makes the suspenion for both the Ariel Atom and the Zonda R...so you KNOW they are one of the best in the business.
So I PM Urge and ask them for a quote, they reply and I think it's a fair number. So Im kicking the idea around a bit, talked to the wife about it, and got a follow-up PM from Patrick just doing his job and checking in. Well I got a wild hair up my ass and asked for an invoice, gave him my contact info, and made my way to the bank to move some funds around. Purchase completed, I only waited about 24 hours until UPS notified me that I wasn't at home to sign for the package! DOH! Oh well...so today I went to the UPS store to pick them up. The packaging is remarkable already. Every component has it's own little protected space. I havent opened the box that the shocks are actually in yet, but that'll be later tonight when I get them home. Plan on installing tomorrow and have a corner balance session scheduled with my alignment shop (Performance Chassis in Cary) for Monday.
Teaser pic...more to come:
EDIT: Friday evening
Well couldnt wait to get these installed and while my buddy's girl and my wife were out shopping me and him decided to tear into the car. Well, of course we have the suspension undone and after about 3 beers we decide it's in our best interests to go ahead and assemble the coilovers and get them at least mounted. Assembly was easy and spring identification was sufficient. I did have to read another thread were another user informed me that the longer spacers go on the front! Would have never known if I hadnt seen the thread [because I dont really read directions...ever.]
Anyway, coilovers are on and tomorrow I will preload and make sure things are torqued to spec. I didn't adjust any ride height settings, so we will see where we're sitting tomorrow. Ill post some better pics in daylight.
EDIT: Saturday afternoon
Preloaded the shocks and torqued everything down. Got the shocks at 4 clicks from full stuff all around as a baseline. Wonder what I should set them for on the street. Loving the drop. Not too low but not 4 wheeling it either
And I just want to leave this here b/c it's an awesome pic for my S with Eric's 512whp AP1
Measured height pre-adjustments are 13" front and 13.5" rear from center hub to fender.
EDIT: Monday
Got the car to Performance Chassis and dropped off for corner balance and alignment. Drop ended up being 13" bore to fender with a 1/4" rake. Alignment is perfect and the car feels awesome. Will report back when we go to VIR for Charity Laps April 3rd.
Any idea of how much of a drop in ride you got from the stock height ?, I have my coilovers set at 13.5 inches center of hub to wheel well arch on all four corners, I was shooting for a one-inch drop, not sure if I got it that low or not.
#20
Moderator
Thread Starter
I wish I had taken stock measurements before tearing into it but I forgot to do that. Would love to know though! Maybe I can find a stock S2000 at the dragon in a few weeks