The Suspension Quest
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
ive got the apex-i n1 exv no complaints hear they ride really nice i can go as low as i want and my preload and stuff isnt gonna go out of wack their dampening adj so i can make them stiffer or softer in a sec they are a good coilover setup for cars that are dd ohh and their affordable..
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,537
Likes: 101
From: Fort Lauderdale
I have the pss9 setup on my car. I bought mine used for $1k even. I lowered the car a mild 1" (1-1.5 finger gap) on 17" Volks with 225/255 tires, and it hasn't rubbed yet. I didn't touch my fenders, and I had the alignment done with camber at -1.7 after lowering.
As for driving impressions, everything feels a bit more taut than the stock suspension. The pss9 spring rates are within a few % of the CR suspension, quite a bit stiffer than my 02 suspension. The overall feeling is that the car is more responsive, steering is more immediate. The stiffer front suspension really seems to help keep the rear end planted. There's also less squat under braking, and less roll in cornering. I don't know how much of that is attributed just to the lower center of gravity, the placebo effect, or whatever, but I really like the feel of it.
You do feel more noise/vibration over rough surfaces, especially at highway speeds. I don't mean bumpy or patched pavement, just one where the surface is old/deteriorating. But that's the only negative I've noticed, and it's a fairly small one.
When you hit the really bad stuff, the bilstein dampers shine. They do an amazing job at controlling spring movement. Despite the high spring rates, the suspension actually feels better than stock going over big bumps. There is zero bounce. The car doesn't crash over reflectors anymore, and it's a lot smoother crossing a railroad track or those stupid brick crosswalks downtown on broward blvd. Heck, my wife even thinks the car rides smoother, and I thought she'd be the last person to approve of the suspension.
As for driving impressions, everything feels a bit more taut than the stock suspension. The pss9 spring rates are within a few % of the CR suspension, quite a bit stiffer than my 02 suspension. The overall feeling is that the car is more responsive, steering is more immediate. The stiffer front suspension really seems to help keep the rear end planted. There's also less squat under braking, and less roll in cornering. I don't know how much of that is attributed just to the lower center of gravity, the placebo effect, or whatever, but I really like the feel of it.
You do feel more noise/vibration over rough surfaces, especially at highway speeds. I don't mean bumpy or patched pavement, just one where the surface is old/deteriorating. But that's the only negative I've noticed, and it's a fairly small one.
When you hit the really bad stuff, the bilstein dampers shine. They do an amazing job at controlling spring movement. Despite the high spring rates, the suspension actually feels better than stock going over big bumps. There is zero bounce. The car doesn't crash over reflectors anymore, and it's a lot smoother crossing a railroad track or those stupid brick crosswalks downtown on broward blvd. Heck, my wife even thinks the car rides smoother, and I thought she'd be the last person to approve of the suspension.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 11
From: Springfeild
Originally Posted by jeffbrig,Apr 20 2009, 01:14 PM
I have the pss9 setup on my car. I bought mine used for $1k even. I lowered the car a mild 1" (1-1.5 finger gap) on 17" Volks with 225/255 tires, and it hasn't rubbed yet. I didn't touch my fenders, and I had the alignment done with camber at -1.7 after lowering.
As for driving impressions, everything feels a bit more taut than the stock suspension. The pss9 spring rates are within a few % of the CR suspension, quite a bit stiffer than my 02 suspension. The overall feeling is that the car is more responsive, steering is more immediate. The stiffer front suspension really seems to help keep the rear end planted. There's also less squat under braking, and less roll in cornering. I don't know how much of that is attributed just to the lower center of gravity, the placebo effect, or whatever, but I really like the feel of it.
You do feel more noise/vibration over rough surfaces, especially at highway speeds. I don't mean bumpy or patched pavement, just one where the surface is old/deteriorating. But that's the only negative I've noticed, and it's a fairly small one.
When you hit the really bad stuff, the bilstein dampers shine. They do an amazing job at controlling spring movement. Despite the high spring rates, the suspension actually feels better than stock going over big bumps. There is zero bounce. The car doesn't crash over reflectors anymore, and it's a lot smoother crossing a railroad track or those stupid brick crosswalks downtown on broward blvd. Heck, my wife even thinks the car rides smoother, and I thought she'd be the last person to approve of the suspension.
As for driving impressions, everything feels a bit more taut than the stock suspension. The pss9 spring rates are within a few % of the CR suspension, quite a bit stiffer than my 02 suspension. The overall feeling is that the car is more responsive, steering is more immediate. The stiffer front suspension really seems to help keep the rear end planted. There's also less squat under braking, and less roll in cornering. I don't know how much of that is attributed just to the lower center of gravity, the placebo effect, or whatever, but I really like the feel of it.
You do feel more noise/vibration over rough surfaces, especially at highway speeds. I don't mean bumpy or patched pavement, just one where the surface is old/deteriorating. But that's the only negative I've noticed, and it's a fairly small one.
When you hit the really bad stuff, the bilstein dampers shine. They do an amazing job at controlling spring movement. Despite the high spring rates, the suspension actually feels better than stock going over big bumps. There is zero bounce. The car doesn't crash over reflectors anymore, and it's a lot smoother crossing a railroad track or those stupid brick crosswalks downtown on broward blvd. Heck, my wife even thinks the car rides smoother, and I thought she'd be the last person to approve of the suspension.
