Suspension questions

[Elff]

So I have been searching and reading here and at the sister forum in regards to the Redline suspension.
My Goal is to reduce the bouncing effect that my car has when going over rises and bumps but not turn it into a kidney killing machine.
I might do an autocross for fun at some point, but my end result is for simply better back road handling and definitely NOT for the racetrack. Due to high quantity of pot holes and bad road surface in PA, I want to avoid lowering the car as much as possible, but if I need to do a little, that's ok.

So I ran across the following.

Originally Posted by KappaMan

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/s...0&postcount=25
Base = FE2 suspension
Turbo (and Solstice Z0K) = FE3 suspension (20% stiffer springs)
GMPP = 18% mo' stiffer yet.
From this thread:http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/s...860#post314860

Since I don't need the antisway bars, Here is the price I am looking at for just the springs and shocks from GMpartsdirect.
GM PART # 17800029
CATEGORY: Struts & Shocks
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $1,280.00
OUR PRICE: $1,084.16

Conversely, I could go with just the Koni shocks and keep the FE3 springs.
That would be $740 from Kappasphere.
The Eibach springs would only be $199 more but I think they lower it too much for my local roads.

So my question is, what would help me solve the bounce better?
The Koni shocks alone?
or the the GMPP Shocks and Springs?
W/OUT killing my kidneys and W/OUT tearing apart the under carriage and front spoiler

FYI - At some point I will be adding the DDM brace

Thanks

[shabby]

Forget about the gm suspension package, i wouldnt spend 1k for a non-adjustable suspension. If you want to spend the least amount i would go with the koni shocks and than the eibach springs if you want a 1" drop. Btw the koni shocks are $650 at ddm.

[Elff]

It's less about the money than the end result.

If the non adjustable suspension, satisfies what I am looking for, I am completely ok with that.
I am also ok spending more money on the proper solution vs saving money on the non proper solution because that equates into wasted money.

[compdoc777]

Originally Posted by Elff

It's less about the money than the end result.

If the non adjustable suspension, satisfies what I am looking for, I am completely ok with that.
I am also ok spending more money on the proper solution vs saving money on the non proper solution because that equates into wasted money.

Swaybars and Coilovers are the only way you want to go. There is a guy that is going to start manufacturing them for the car. Also there are other venues out there making coil-overs for the car. Koni's will help, but you have to put them on the hardest setting. You want some thing that is one kit and it will help on rebound and compression.

I used JIC on my Acura turned the bumps into nothing no shaking or boucing just smooth and would turn on a dime.

When I get used to driving the SKY RL I think it really handles well. Then I get in my Acura RSX Type S and there is a major difference I get used to it and drive the Sky again and I feel like I am driving a geo metro.

[Demon_C5]

I was looking into these, they don't seem too bad at all. Although I would like to hear some reviews on it first...user and pro. Wonder how long the wait could be for something like that.


Gravana / B+G Saturn Sky Coil-Over Adjustable Suspension System - Gravana Tuning - 2008 Saturn Sky Redline 2.0

[Brandon111]

I would suggest just getting Koni shocks and no lowering springs. The Koni's by themselves are going to lower your car some.

I believe the cars on Setup just used the stock springs and Koni shocks.

We work directly with Koni and buy our stock from them. We sell at the minimum advertised price allowed by Koni. They are in stock in our warehouse and ship the next day. I would check to see if companies that sell at lower prices actually have them in stock or not. Right now Koni does not have any inventory of these shocks for the next while. Companies selling for less are either breaking the pricing rules setup by the manufacturer or are buying from another wholesaler and making very little on them. Keep in mind that pricing reflects a lot of things like carrying costs of inventory, having several people available to respond to your technical calls and emails, being able to service you after the sale.

[Elff]

I am curious, what's setup?

Thanks for all the responses so far.

[cerberus]

"Setup" is a reality-ish racing show on Speed Channel, where drivers compete through the season for an ultimate winner. The last two seasons they drove GXPs.

Folks do seem to like the adjustables. I just went with the GMPP on my 2.4 as I wanted the swaybar and didn't want to lower the car and it seemed the other available options at the time all did. The DDM brace will help quite a bit as well. I went with the Z0k crossmember, but the brace appears to provide the same result without the cost and much less hassle.

[Elff]

AAAAA, OK, I've caught that a couple of times, just didnt know that was the name of the show. I'll have to see if I can snag the GXP shows.

I am addicted to Pinks

How do you like the GMPP suspension?

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by Elff

AAAAA, OK, I've caught that a couple of times, just didnt know that was the name of the show. I'll have to see if I can snag the GXP shows.

I am addicted to Pinks

How do you like the GMPP suspension?

I really can't tell you how it compares to the other offerings. I've heard it described as "decent". Keep in mind, I'm coming from the more skuishier (?) 2.4 suspension. Initially it was very harsh, but after a while it settled in and while not a luxury ride, feels sporty is is quite livable. As a disclaimer there, I'm picky, lol. I'd describe it as fast and firm. I do like it, but out of caution and ignorance, can't say it's the best or worst. I didn't notice any change in ride height if there was any. The car feels pretty solid, responsive, and predictable, esp with the crossmember flexing reduced.

[Elff]

Does it bounce 2-3 times when you hit bumpes in the road or go over a quick rise?

That's what the stock RL does and is about the only part of the suspension I don't like
On a flat curvy road, the RL is really good and stable and for a stock suspension has very good antiroll resistance.

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by Elff

Does it bounce 2-3 times when you hit bumpes in the road or go over a quick rise?

That's what the stock RL does and is about the only part of the suspension I don't like
On a flat curvy road, the RL is really good and stable and for a stock suspension has very good antiroll resistance.

Nope. You pay just once, and it's over quickly. That's what I meant by "fast & firm". Just "bam" and fast. Washboard roads at the right, or wrong, speed....

This is where I'd love to hear similar comparisons to other offerings. A buddy absolutely dislikes Bilstines for this sort of behaviour. Something about how the different offerings work and react. High pressure vs low pressure something or other. Way beyond me, but he points to the way he feels the car shouldn't jump out when hitting bumps on turns compared to what he thinks it should do. Beats me, at this point, I just drive what I got, lol. I'll describe it, but not defend it. My car's not that twitchy at this point, but I know what he's talkin about.

[Elff]

Originally Posted by cerberus

Nope. You pay just once, and it's over quickly. That's what I meant by "fast & firm". Just "bam" and fast. Washboard roads at the right, or wrong, speed....

This is where I'd love to hear similar comparisons to other offerings. A buddy absolutely dislikes Bilstines for this sort of behaviour. Something about how the different offerings work and react. High pressure vs low pressure something or other. Way beyond me, but he points to the way he feels the car shouldn't jump out when hitting bumps on turns compared to what he thinks it should do. Beats me, at this point, I just drive what I got, lol. I'll describe it, but not defend it. My car's not that twitchy at this point, but I know what he's talkin about.

So on a single bump it absorbs it quick. That's fine by me. But I don't like what your friend is describing. It's like the suspension is causing the tire to chatter over the top of the bumps [almost hydroplaning] when encountering multiple bumps on a turn.

CompDoc and Brandon
Your advice seems to be the opposite of each other, so I am wondering if either of you driven a Redline with just the Koni's and stock springs?

That Gravana Coilover System sounds freaking awesome but probably Waaay more than I need. Still, price aint too bad and it states that it does not require modification to the Sky.

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by Elff

So on a single bump it absorbs it quick. That's fine by me. But I don't like what your friend is describing. It's like the suspension is causing the tire to chatter over the top of the bumps [almost hydroplaning] when encountering multiple bumps on a turn.

Not sure what I'm saying with the multiple bumps aside from see what other folks say. That person plain ol' doesn't like Bilstines. What he described in general was an opinion, but he'd never tried the GMPP upgrade. I'm not writing his opinion off as I value it, but I do take with some salt as there's more at play and I don't understand it all. What I described I wouldn't call chatter, and we'd all suffer from, but just saying on cobblestone areas or really bumpy roads like contruction zones, that fast suspension will rattle ya up some.

[Elff]

AAAA Gotcha
I'd prefer that over the roller coaster feeling.

[SCVanguard]

Maybe it's the fancy wording at that Gravana site, but that suspension sounds ridiculously cool. For the $1300+shipping cost, is it a good deal for what it can do?

[gadget]

Originally Posted by Demon_C5

I was looking into these, they don't seem too bad at all. Although I would like to hear some reviews on it first...user and pro. Wonder how long the wait could be for something like that.


Gravana / B+G Saturn Sky Coil-Over Adjustable Suspension System - Gravana Tuning - 2008 Saturn Sky Redline 2.0

I have the B&G shocks and springs and I like em. Mine are setup at stock height but I may lower it a little later.
It took a little while to get them set where I want them drive it adjust it drive it somemore.
When I first put them on I got the rear a little too firm and hit a big bump on the freeway. I thought it was going to launch me through the top.

[shabby]

The b&g coilovers give stock like hardness at the softest setting, but you got 17 more to go, so they can be as hard as you want them. You can lift the car even higher than stock and lower it at least 2-3 inches. For $1300 you really cant go wrong, if you want more adjustibility(seperate compression and rebound) you can opt for the kw v3's, but they're $2000 and lower the car 1.4" inches right off the bat.

[Elff]

I think one of my questions got overlooked.

CompDoc and Brandon
Your advice seems to be the opposite of each other, so I am wondering if either of you have driven a Redline with just the Koni's and stock springs?

Or if anyone else happens to have that setup.

From what I have read so far, I am leaning towards the the
B+G Saturn Sky Coil-Over Adjustable Suspension System

For less than twice the cost of just Koni shocks, it has more adjustability, and very importantly hits my requirement of
wanting to avoid lowering the car.

[shabby]

You'll get the bug to lower the car, you'll see
At the highest ride height setting the b&g coilovers can sit 0.5" higher than stock.