so, if i understand correctly......

1. stiffer front springs will (generally/eventually) eliminate oversteer.
2. too stiff will cause it to "push".
3. we do not have a handle on what the magic number needs to be for the front (relative to the rear) to make the car "neutral".
4. there may be a combo of various years' springs that could (perhaps) achieve this - we just don't know what that combo is.
5. my 2004 is indeed "more neutral" than my 2000 - no one can dispute this.

 

1), 2) A simplistic explaination, stiffer springs/anti-roll bar will decrease the cornering tire efficiency, reducing overal traction on that end of the car (front or back). Stiffer front push, stiffer rear loose, softer front loose, softer rear push.

3), 4) There is no one "neutral" setting. That is a driver preference specific thing depending on their driving style and driving application. Spring/bar settings are just one factor in adusting the handling, with tires, dampers, suspension geometry, alignment, etc. IMO, understanding the model year differences and their handling characteristics are helpful to understand how the S2000 works. Maybe there is a cheap way to mix and match stock parts to suit a particular driver, but ultimate track performance will require mucho expensive suspension bits and tuning.

5) '04's has been tweaked to get more pushy and have a more linear response at the limit. Probably reduced max. cornering limit.

Here's all the technical bits about suspension, I've collected though s2ki.com threads and internet searching. Still would like to get the '02/'03 spring rates though.

'00/'01
- front anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 28.2mm dia., 5mm wall thickness
- rear anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 27.2mm dia., 5.3mm wall thickness
- front spring rate: 219 lbs/in
- rear spring rate: 291 lbs/in
- front OEM tire: SO2, 205/55/R16 (smaller tread width than normal)
- rear OEM tire: SO2, 225/50/R16 (equivalent 245 normal tread width)

'02/'03
- front anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 26.5mm dia., 4.5mm wall thickness (%? softer)
- rear anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 27.2mm dia., 4.5mm wall thickness (%? softer)
- front spring rate: measured 11% thicker (?% stiffer)
- rear spring rate: measured 20% thinner (?% softer)
- front OEM tire: SO2, 205/55/R16 (smaller tread width than normal)
- rear OEM tire: SO2, 225/50/R16 (equivalent 245 normal tread width)

'04
- front anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 26.5mm dia., 4.5mm wall thickness
- rear anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 25.4mm dia., 4.5mm wall thickness
- front spring rate: 6.7% stiffer (assume compared to '02/'03)
- rear spring rate: 10% softer (assume compared to '02/'03)
- damper valving adjusted
- front OEM tire: RE050, 215/45/R17
- rear OEM tire: RE050, 245/40/R17
- changed rear suspension geometry, different knuckle and subframe attatchment point
- rear roll center dropped from 101mm (assume all previous gen) to 92mm
- rear toe curve less extreme from -0.19 degree toe @ 50mm bump (assume all previous gen), -0.05 degree toe @ 50mm bump

misc. aftermarket stuff
- Mugen front anti-roll bar: hollow bar, 31.8mm dia., 5mm thickness
- Saner front anti-roll bar: 31.8mm solid adjustable bar, (?'00/'01 OEM stiffness: 295 lbs/in), 91%, 117%, 150% stiffer
[corrected] - Comptech front anti-roll bar: 5 positions from 62% to 178% stiffer (assume vs. '00/'01)

 

Some comments:

I wouldn't assume that -- if stiffer springs or sway bars keep the tire flatter against the track surface, they could improve grip.

[QUOTE]'04's has been tweaked to get more pushy and have a more linear response at the limit.

 

True enough. All this complexity to get that darn tire patch right.

[QUOTE]Actually, it's five positions from 162% to 278% of the stiffness of the stock bar, or 62% to 178% stiffer.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fongu

5) '04's has been tweaked to get more pushy and have a more linear response at the limit.

 

i'm considering purchasing buddly club racing spec coilovers for my 04'. seeing as how the spring rates are 500 all around will this make be unbalanced and induce oversteer more?

i have done many searches and couldnt find anything along these lines to answer my question...so no flaming just help...haha

 

A few months back I posted that I had my o4 set of springs measured by Turner
Motorsports in Mass. Their measurements showed both the front and rear are
250 lb/in with an error of +/- 5%

It is interesting to note that two German coilover kits, the Bilstein PSS9 and the
KW sold by Go Fast Lab. both use the equal spring rates front and rear.

Cal

 

I thought PSS9's were Fr: 345(6.2) - Rr:285(5.1)?

 

yes pss9's (and pss's) are 345 front and 285 rear.

 

My new Ground Controls are 400/350. I have not installed them yet. looks like I will be putting the 400's on the front and the 350's on the back.