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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 10:43
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Spend a bit of time seaching and haven't really found much so I thought I'd make a new thread.
I'm about to get new front shocks/springs...my machanic suggested adjustable Koni's - not sure where he was going to get the springs from. I want the car setup so its very stable, lots of grip. However I don't want to be able to feel every damn stone that I drive over. Hence why my machanic suggested the adjustable Koni's.
I've heard progressive King spings being discussed alot in other threads...general consensus that they are very good?
One further question...how much does the tire profile affect how the car feels? At the moment the wheels are about the lowest possible profile you can get and yes...you can feel every single leaf that you drive over. If I was to get smaller rims, and a larger profile that would help make the ride smoother yes?
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:01
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| GT4_Steve wrote on Sat, 06 March 2004 09:44 |
Hi ST162 fans,
Just saw this thread and thought I might let you guys know about the GT4 import twin spot calipers AND rotors for sale on EBAY. I dont care if I sell them off EBAY to anyone here so give me a txt/buzz on 0414952898.
Also, after owning ST162 for about 8 years (my first white one was $18,500! with 80,000 k's on it but there was crap all import maket back then and cop cars were a heap slower, so it was the shit  I can honestly say that I enjoyed owning them nearly almost as must as any GT4. You can really get these babies to handle and go!
If you are serious about handling performance I wouldn't recommend going any bigger than 16" and don't waste your time on anything other than KINGS SPRINGS! if you're dropping it. Most manufacturers in my opinion make front spring rates too soft and the rears are geared up for a full tank and luggage. (maybe they are build using factory spring rates in mind???) I thought it'd be a good idea to get Whiteline springs but prefer the Kings for handling. I kept the Whitelines for ride comfort...hey, I'm getting old! 31
And here is another opinion from experience over the years. Unless you have access to suspension setup equiptment or really really know your shit and your car, I'd avoid Koni adjustables.
I'd go KYB or Tokico any day. Konis were kick ass until they got about 8months old then it was a real bitch to tune them properly. I'd rather go factory settings then have irregular shock rates. Call me critical, but at super high speeds thats exactly how it is..critical. (don't you hate it when you're hooking down the straight, heading for a turn and the dips in the track sent the nose left and right. You might get this sensation when dropping down off the end of a bridge on the freeway)
I had adjustable Konis in my current ST185CS and now have KYB's and love them. I kept the rear ones coz it a bit more important to keep the rear adjustable on my 4.
(for sale: 2 Konis for GT4 front. $40 each)
PAINTING: if you are going to strip the side strips off and put a GT4 front on and full respray then GO WHITE!!! don't let anyone try to sell you anything darker than arctic white. the whiter the better on the ST162. The white/black trim will always look the best!! and get your front windows illegal dark tinted. You have them down most times anyway, right? I regret not doing it on my ST162 and made no mistake on my GT4 this time round.
ps. I would be very intested in an ST162 cruise even though I have a GT4. keep me posted please!!
extractors are worth their weight in gold too.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:02
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That last bit about the tyres and wheels.... yes, I'd say 16" 45 profile.
I have Lowered King springs and KYB shocks on mine and they feel damn good, Robs been for a ride he can back me up, they are really smooth (and before you say anything rob on that corner it was cause of the swaybar). There is no real point in adjustable Koni's unless you are gonna be bothered adjusting them all the time (chances are you'd just leave them on one setting, so whats the piont in have adjustable shocks?  ) KYBs are the way I'd go (I love them) they do just as good a job as konis and they cost a lot less.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:13
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this sounds like a really basic question but with shocks that arn't adjustable - what do you do if u dont like it? with adjustable at least you can fix them...i agree i wouldn't adjust them all the time, but i would at first untill i got it how i liked it.
how much were your KYB's?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:30
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I paid $600 for all the shocks + $250 for my Springs. Yeah but if you get these you should have to adjust them they are really nice shocks, I stand by them 100%, if you get lowered springs like I did, I actually got short stroke shocks to match them, so they are the correct rebound rate.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:35
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is that should or shouldn't have to adjust them?
I was quoted $530 a pair for the Koni's...seemed reasonable considering the flexibility they allowed. but then if i can get the whole set for only $600 that'd be definetly worth it - if their as good as you say they are
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 11:50
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whoops yeah I meant SHOULDN'T......... hehe, me fail english Is that front or rear prices, I have found, I can't remember if it's front or rear are more expensive, casue the front are inserts while the rears are struts.
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Location:
South Australia
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 12:03
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In all likelihood, KYBs are probably the best bang for buck. I'm probably going to get Koni adjustables myself because my car will be used for track work as well as daily driving and I live far enough away from the city to require different settings due to the rough roads.
Unless you really *really* can push your car, KYBs are awesome - and even if you are some kind of super-sensitive race driver, KYBs still feel bloody good. Koni's are probably not as good value - most people don't use the adjustability of it - and then as stated above, they are hard to balance unless you have the right equipment.
My advice : get KYBs.
And yeah, Koni rears are more exy -> $550.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Sun, 07 March 2004 21:43
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that quote was for the fronts. thnx for the advice guys, should get them sometime this week then
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Wed, 10 March 2004 09:21
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Ok you've sold me
Where can I purchase the KYB / kings from? I'll get my local mechanic to install them. Do you have to worry about matching them up at all?
wiso, do you have any product codes from your setup?
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Location:
NSW
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Wed, 10 March 2004 11:00
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most the guys I know with konis just set and forget anyway... there is only a handful of times when you are adjusting them... that being said I do have mates that have there shocks set on slush mode all the time for city driving then stiffen em up for track days.
Guess you just gotta weigh up how often you really think you will benefit from the adjustability. Whether you are doing motorsports with your car or not???
Me...? I got KYB's in my NA and SC... and love 'em.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Wed, 10 March 2004 21:40
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yes, but where can I get them? and do I have to match the springs 2 them?
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Location:
NSW
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Wed, 10 March 2004 23:38
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My tyre place ordered them for me.
Just ring around all your local tyre joints and find one that can order them in for you... same with the king springs.
I got my king springs through a guy on ebay... brand new $190 for 4... (but that was nearly 2 years ago) just shop around cause there is alot of variation on the mark-up the guys put on King Springs...
FYI: Tokico and KYB are the same company... TRD shocks are also made by the Tokico Corporation.
Have Fun!
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
December 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Thu, 11 March 2004 01:31
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Mate, try Whiteling - they're based in sydney so most of their dealers are there as well. They specialise in full kits for cars, so while your at it, get a new rear sway bar. its an 18mm solid bar instead of the 13mm hollow bar. That will stiffen up the arse and make handling unbelievably better. The main phone number is 1800 040 003
try em
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Best suspension setup for an st162?
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Thu, 11 March 2004 14:00
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Yeah man as stuC said try whitline they deal with KYBs and Konis, But king springs you will have to get somewhere else, any suspenion place of even teh king spring factory in sydney.
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