H&R Race Spring performance

[DanG]

In another post, I've been speaking about a coil over setup for my car, however, I'm also considering an alternative, to purchase the H&R Race springs along with Billstein shocks in order to get my ride height a little lower, as well as improve the current ride quality, as my stock shocks are done for. I have considered a coil over set up for the front, and H&R Race springs/Billsteins out back, but I'm not certain I can justify the costs involved at this point, as this car is mostly a street driven car, and doesn't see a road course, or even a 1/4 mile track very often. When I do take it to the drag strip, I'll run a set of 15" drag radials, and am also installing a set of rear lower control arms, and perhaps replacing the uppers.
Therefore, for those who have the H&R Race springs, is there still the ability for some weight transfer, and how is the ride quality? I'd like to get the car a little over an inch lowered but also want to maintain a good ride quality on the road.

Thanks.

 

[revhead347]

You don't want to have coil overs up front, and stock suspension out back. The spring rates won't match up, and your car will ride and handle like crap, just like a Cadillac. Whatever you do, make sure it's matched all the way around. I've had Steeda springs in my car for over a decade, and they are probably about the same as the H&R springs. You lose some weight transfer, but with a good adjustable strut, it's not too bad. I was pulling consistent 1.68, 1.67 short times with it on slicks.

Kurt

 

[DanG]

You don't want to have coil overs up front, and stock suspension out back. The spring rates won't match up, and your car will ride and handle like crap, just like a Cadillac. Whatever you do, make sure it's matched all the way around. I've had Steeda springs in my car for over a decade, and they are probably about the same as the H&R springs. You lose some weight transfer, but with a good adjustable strut, it's not too bad. I was pulling consistent 1.68, 1.67 short times with it on slicks.

Kurt

Kurt,

I'm sorry, I probably wasn't entirely clear with what my intentions are.

I've been considering two options: front coil overs with 250lb/in coil over springs, with caster camber plates, and tokico shocks. I would install the H&R race springs in the rear with matching tokico shocks, bump steer kit, and MM heavy duty adjustable rear lower control arms. I think this would be a good over all suspension, but I'm not sure I would use it's potential that much.

My second option, which is obviously more pocket friendly, but also may suit my needs just as much, as quite honestly, I don't believe I'll use the adjust ability of the coil overs enough.
H&R race springs at each corner, along with Billstein non-adjustable shocks, camber plates, and rear lower control arms.

The cars ride height would be higher with option #2, which most likely won't require a bump steer kit ( not a big deal if it does ), however, I'm wondering how the ride quality would be of the H&R race spring, and if they along with the Billsteins will still give me some weight transfer when running a sticky tire at the track.

Thanks again.

 

[revhead347]

Not sure what the ride quality is with the H&R springs, but it usually isn't too bad. I know my Steeda springs are a little bumpy going over rough roads, but fine on smooth roads. For what you are doing, I would skip the coil overs. It's a lot of hassle, and sometimes you have to run spacers on the front wheels to clear the springs and stuff. I don't recommend the coil overs unless you have the cash to do the coil overs in the back. I also have a recommendation on shocks and struts. I've always had Tokico adjustable shocks and struts, because they are suposed to be THE BEST. Anyway, a few years ago I was doing a lower job on an old Fox body for a friend. Well his original intention was to run it with the stock shocks and struts, but after we got it apart we realized that they weren't in usable condition, so he decided to buy new ones. The only place really local was Summit Racing, and they don't carry Tokico. So instead we got these adjustable KYB shocks and struts. Honestly, they were not only cheaper than the Tokicos, they blew them away. There was a larger range of adjustment, and the ride quality was superb, even on this car which was lowered like 2" all around. The adjuster was also on the back off the shocks, not on the top. With the Tokicos you have to cut a hole in your trunk liner to access the adjuster screws on the shocks, and they are still in a crappy location which is hard to read and get to without crawling in the trunk. On the KYBs, you just go behind the back tire and turn a big knob.

Kurt

 

[VibrantRedGT]

I really enjoyed my suspension on the 94. I didn't have coil overs, it's not something I really wanted, probably wouldn't do those now either. My entire suspension was done with Steeda parts, Tokico 5-way adjustable struts and shocks, I didn't like the Steeda / Eibach Pro kit so I went with FRPP 5300-C Springs, not so harsh. Now I ran the QA1 K-Member like talked about in that other thread but wasn't really a fan. Although the best part was I got to keep my stock steel stamped A-Arms (just had to grind them to fit).

I say all this because you can get excellent ride quality without spending a fortune. Although my Steeda / Tokico / QA1 mis-match parts weren't cheap it handled better than I thought it would. I would do the same thing all over again (minus the K-Member) if I had too. You really don't need coil overs. Although I would change the Tokico's in for Strange adjustables since they cost less than half as much.

 

[95snoozer]

For what you are requesting, you should go with HR sports and bilstein HD. You will be very very happy.

I've run both coilovers and HRs. If you want more input, go to cornercarvers.com

Then save for a 3 link. And get full length subframe connecter before that.

If you want to handle, you really need to focusing on blaming the car better. Aluminum heads. Battery relocation go trunk, then eventually maybe some tubular front suspension.

Honestly the bilsteins, HR, and subframes will make a night and day difference thy will probably make you happy.

If you want to make the

 

[VibrantRedGT]

What's up Snoozer? Haven't seen you on here in awhile, where you been?

 

[4Jenna]

I run those H&R springs and bilstiens on my notch. I stayed clear from coilovers on this car because the noise they make would drive me nuts like it does on my 95.

The car rides/handles great but the weight transfer is far from ideal. I really enjoy driving this car with these parts. I won't lie, I expected it to actually ride better than it does after the amount of $$ I forked over for these struts/shocks but all in all I am very happy. Not sure what I expected, but the price was hard for me to swallow. I have never bought struts that expensive, I hope they last haha!

 

[DanG]

For what you are requesting, you should go with HR sports and bilstein HD. You will be very very happy.

I've run both coilovers and HRs. If you want more input, go to cornercarvers.com

Then save for a 3 link. And get full length subframe connecter before that.

If you want to handle, you really need to focusing on blaming the car better. Aluminum heads. Battery relocation go trunk, then eventually maybe some tubular front suspension.

Honestly the bilsteins, HR, and subframes will make a night and day difference thy will probably make you happy.

If you want to make the

Hi there,

For my goals, I'm honestly not that interested in corner carving, but mostly good street manners, and also having a little weight transfer. From what the lowered suspension takes away, I'm hoping adjustable rear control arms and ET street may help to make up for while at the drag strip.
Right now, I have AFR heads, battery in trunk ( had to move for supercharger head unit ), and full length welded in subframe connectors.
I was looking at the Super Sport springs, but they may lower the car too much for what I'd want. For one, my driveway is a bit steep, so I would probably tear the intercooler off the car as the bracket hangs a little lower, and two I don't want to throw off the suspension geometry to the point of having a lot of bind and bump steer.

 

[DanG]

I run those H&R springs and bilstiens on my notch. I stayed clear from coilovers on this car because the noise they make would drive me nuts like it does on my 95.

The car rides/handles great but the weight transfer is far from ideal. I really enjoy driving this car with these parts. I won't lie, I expected it to actually ride better than it does after the amount of $$ I forked over for these struts/shocks but all in all I am very happy. Not sure what I expected, but the price was hard for me to swallow. I have never bought struts that expensive, I hope they last haha!

Thanks Chris. I think I'm pretty set on the race springs and Bilsteins. From what I can gather they are a good street setup, although you're right the Bilstein shocks/struts can be a bit expensive. I found a set of HD's on ebay for around $550 which was one of the cheapest packages I found.

 

[95snoozer]

Hi there,

For my goals, I'm honestly not that interested in corner carving, but mostly good street manners, and also having a little weight transfer. From what the lowered suspension takes away, I'm hoping adjustable rear control arms and ET street may help to make up for while at the drag strip.
Right now, I have AFR heads, battery in trunk ( had to move for supercharger head unit ), and full length welded in subframe connectors.
I was looking at the Super Sport springs, but they may lower the car too much for what I'd want. For one, my driveway is a bit steep, so I would probably tear the intercooler off the car as the bracket hangs a little lower, and two I don't want to throw off the suspension geometry to the point of having a lot of bind and bump steer.

Its great that you have those parts already Cornercarvers is just the name of the site. They are experts on mustang suspension tuning.

I would not run the Race springs. the spring rates are very high and you will not have any weight transfer at all at the track.

I did run the SSs and it KILLED my traction at the track. I was able to still cut 1.9s on nittos (i was 1.7-low 1.8s stock) but I was skating all through 1st. I can text you a picture of my car with the SS. They are the lowest version and they were quite stiff but livable in a town with terrible streets. on my cobra bumper I only ever scraped the area under the fog lights on driveways. I made a few passes around 12.8 at 110 once I changes springs and upgraded all my swaybars and went to a 315 nitto and 9'+10.5' wheel setup. I changed this suspension because I wanted to turn. Sad thing is my stock Jetta on good tires holds the road just as well.

run the Sports, not race. They will be pair perfectly with the bilsteins. you can disconnect the sway bar for the track.


Vibrant: I have been working hard, brother. I just wandered on here the other reason, not sure why. I am now restoring an old fj lancruiser.

 

[95snoozer]

I too had coilovers prior to the H&R SS and was extremely happy to get rid of the "clank", "buuung", "clunk" sounds during everyday driving the coilovers cause.

 

[DanG]

Its great that you have those parts already Cornercarvers is just the name of the site. They are experts on mustang suspension tuning.

I would not run the Race springs. the spring rates are very high and you will not have any weight transfer at all at the track.

I did run the SSs and it KILLED my traction at the track. I was able to still cut 1.9s on nittos (i was 1.7-low 1.8s stock) but I was skating all through 1st. I can text you a picture of my car with the SS. They are the lowest version and they were quite stiff but livable in a town with terrible streets. on my cobra bumper I only ever scraped the area under the fog lights on driveways. I made a few passes around 12.8 at 110 once I changes springs and upgraded all my swaybars and went to a 315 nitto and 9'+10.5' wheel setup. I changed this suspension because I wanted to turn. Sad thing is my stock Jetta on good tires holds the road just as well.

run the Sports, not race. They will be pair perfectly with the bilsteins. you can disconnect the sway bar for the track.


Vibrant: I have been working hard, brother. I just wandered on here the other reason, not sure why. I am now restoring an old fj lancruiser.

Looking at the spring rates between the H&R Race springs and H&R Super Sports, it appears the Super Sports are a lighter spring rate than the Race in the front, which would tend to transfer more weight, but I'm wondering if the additional lowering of the Super Sports for hinder this suspension movement all the more.

H&R Super sports:

Front: 700-760 lb/in
Rear: 275-300 lb/in

H&R Race:

Front: 750-850 lb/in
Rear: 260-280 lb/in

Not to sound picky, but I honestly don't want to go below a 1.5" drop on the car, so I'm not sure the Super Sports would be for me? The Sport springs, on the other hand appear to not lower the car enough.

 

[95snoozer]

I never said super sports. I implied NOT to get them.

I keep saying to get Sports! I think it fits exactly what you are looking for.
Sports are lower than race and higher than SSs. They will be the beat riding.

You also aren't goingvto have the best sry racing experience with billsteins. Strange or tokico adjustable struts woul probably be best I'd you want a way to induce weight transfer. Remember, Rake has a lot to do with weight transfer as well.

H&R Race springs/Bilstein struts install...only half an inch drop in the front?!?! - Mustang Forums at StangNet
Here is a race install thread.

And here is the spring rates. Remember those rates are pounds per inch. These springs are not all the same length!
H&R Sport * 490-575 250-285 1.60 1.50
H&R Super Sport * 700-760 275-300 1.75 1.60
H&R Race * 750-850 260-280 1.25 1.00
H&R Super Race * 950-1050 260-300 1.25 1.25

 

[DanG]

I never said super sports. I implied NOT to get them.

I keep saying to get Sports! I think it fits exactly what you are looking for.
Sports are lower than race and higher than SSs. They will be the beat riding.

You also aren't goingvto have the best sry racing experience with billsteins. Strange or tokico adjustable struts woul probably be best I'd you want a way to induce weight transfer. Remember, Rake has a lot to do with weight transfer as well.

H&R Race springs/Bilstein struts install...only half an inch drop in the front?!?! - Mustang Forums at StangNet
Here is a race install thread.

And here is the spring rates. Remember those rates are pounds per inch. These springs are not all the same length!
H&R Sport * 490-575 250-285 1.60 1.50
H&R Super Sport * 700-760 275-300 1.75 1.60
H&R Race * 750-850 260-280 1.25 1.00
H&R Super Race * 950-1050 260-300 1.25 1.25

Thanks for all the information. The Sports certainly look like their spring rates would be more friendly with weight transfer, and the advertised drop would be great. Although, when I'm searching for these springs, it seems quite a few users aren't seeing the advertised drop.