H&R Coilovers installed - Bouncy as shizzzz!!!!

[lifwanian]

So I just installed a barely used set of H&R Coilovers on my 02 WRX Sedan. They came with 700f/500r springs which are on the stiff side, however Im getting way too much bounce from them, even for their rates. Its gotten out of hand to where sometimes its hard to even concentrate on the road, even when there are no bumps!

Im set at around 14" front and 13.5" rear as far as ride height, and will also be getting an alignment tomorrow.

As for other suspension/drivetrain mods:

- 18x8 tarmac 3's with 235 hankook evo v12
- 25mm hotchskis sway - front
- adjustable, set at 23mm hotchskis sway - rear
- front and rear kartboy endlinks
- eibach rear camber bolts
- front strut bar

Anyways, had them on for about a day, and I've almost had it with them. Hopefully the alignment will help, but you guys have any ideas why they are so bouncy?

Thanks!

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[boost junkie]

Those spring rates are almost double the rates of what came on them. Unless they were revalved (sounds like they weren't), they are severely underdamped for the spring rates. In other words, the damper is not able to control the spring oscillations so it's bouncing all over the place. Going back to a reasonable spring rate should make a huge difference. Something along the lines of 400 or 450f and 350r.

[lifwanian]

Well they come with 500f/300r stock I believe, so in other terms, the ones I have now are 12/10k...

I know that's quite high, and I'll probably be putting the rear springs onto the fronts and picking up some 300lb springs for the rear, but in the mean time, shouldnt there still not be much bouncing? Just more of a stiff ride?

Thanks for the help!

[AspenScoob255]

Standard h&r coils 457/f - 286/r (per perrin)

RSS Coils 680/f - 515/r roughly ( per perrin also)

So if you have the standards I would say those rates are seriously overworking your dampers. Essentially your dampers cannot keep up with the springs causing them to "chase" the springs ie. Bouncing.

[AndyRoo]

Originally Posted by lifwanian

Well they come with 500f/300r stock I believe, so in other terms, the ones I have now are 12/10k...

I know that's quite high, and I'll probably be putting the rear springs onto the fronts and picking up some 300lb springs for the rear, but in the mean time, shouldnt there still not be much bouncing? Just more of a stiff ride?

Thanks for the help!

If they're valved correctly, then there shouldn't be much bouncing (just harshness).

[vader wagon]

I think H&R's stock rate is roughly 8K/7K and the standard coilover diameter (2.5"?), so finding replacement springs shouldn't be too tough.

[Storm]

H&R springs are 60mm.

I have a set of springs that came with the kit (no tender's) if you want them cheap....


Jay

[lifwanian]

PM'd!

[Storm]

Will snap some pics..... Though, with my car weighing a mere 20xxlbs these days, I may very well be right back down to those rates anyway. I haven't run the new setup yet.

Jay

[lifwanian]

Sweet, thanks guys. Looks like I'll be dropping the rates down. Here are my two options of going (if anyone here have some springs they're looking to sell):

Swap rear to front, and get new rear springs
- Just need new rear springs - Part# 160-60-060 (342lbs)

Get new front and rear springs
- Front springs - Part# 160-60-080 (457lbs)
- Rear springs - Part# 160-60-050 (285lbs)

Got quoted $125 a part by a few distributors. Will pick them up this weekend or early next week if nobody has any.

[vader wagon]

$125 for a pair? Or for each spring? Basically, $125 x2 or x4?

[sniper1rfa]

If it's 125 per spring run like hell - you can get way, way cheaper springs than that.

[lifwanian]

H&R quoted $75 per corner, and the distributors quoted $125 for 2 springs (2corners).

Forgot what they quoted for the set of 4, but it was less than $250

[silverbullet7]

Hey i just recently installed H&R Street Performance springs with OEM top mounts and getting this same bounce effect it seems. I am on a flat highway going 70 and bouncing for what seems to be no reason? These are brand new out of the box.

Is there some other issue that could be why they are having the bouncing issue???

[chazly413]

^ Bouncing is all about the dampers. If the dampers do not match the springs within a spring rate window, your ride is either gonna be over damped (think no suspension) or under damped (bouncy). I'm assuming you still have stock WRX dampers, so your springs are most definitely under damped.

[silverbullet7]

Originally Posted by chazly413

^ Bouncing is all about the dampers. If the dampers do not match the springs within a spring rate window, your ride is either gonna be over damped (think no suspension) or under damped (bouncy). I'm assuming you still have stock WRX dampers, so your springs are most definitely under damped.

Sorry I said springs, when I meant CoilOvers Aren't the dampers part of the coil over set up? I am sorry I have no experience in this.. So where are these dampers? and how do I replace?

[A-man07]

Yes the damper, or strut, is indeed part of the coilover. Other sources of bounciness could be the OEM top mount which is less than ideal given its softness and age on your car, and the tires depending on sidewall stifness and inflation pressures. Another possibility is that you just aren't used to higher rate springs and all that entails on a street car.

[silverbullet7]

Originally Posted by A-man07

Yes the damper, or strut, is indeed part of the coilover. Other sources of bounciness could be the OEM top mount which is less than ideal given its softness and age on your car, and the tires depending on sidewall stifness and inflation pressures. Another possibility is that you just aren't used to higher rate springs and all that entails on a street car.

thanks for these answers.. well I was thinking about top mounts being an issue. I would see how it being soft would allow for more flexing.. I dont' know if it would cause THIS much of an issue. It sort of like dips every 3-5 seconds on a highway going 70 for no apparent reason that I could see. It could make me sea sick after awhile lol. I wouldn't want to be on highway for very long if this is how its going to be. I know my tires and rims are ok. My car has only 56k miles on it .. I dont' mind the stiffness. I dont' mind hitting bumps harder, its this sort like up and down dipping thing, its hard to explain.

I talked to H&R and they have a recommended height range it should be, outside of this range I could experience an issue.

Sway bars dont' have an impact on this do they?

[silverbullet7]

i am going to check my height in the rear tonight. maybe I'm just sitting too low? Its not slammed to the bottom but probably outside this recommendation which is a pretty small window.

I hope this is it!

[sjs0433]

Best place for cheap springs is usually Ground Control. They stock tons and tons of Eibach springs at a good price. They are probably better than the H&R springs and will certainly cost less.

[sc00by4life]

Originally Posted by sjs0433

Best place for cheap springs is usually Ground Control. They stock tons and tons of Eibach springs at a good price. They are probably better than the H&R springs and will certainly cost less.

Fun fact eibach makes the h&r springs (and many others on the market...there are only a handful of companies that actually wind springs).

But like mentioned, it's mostly the dampers.

[A-man07]

[quote=silverbullet7;37819577]thanks for these answers.. well I was thinking about top mounts being an issue. I would see how it being soft would allow for more flexing.. I dont' know if it would cause THIS much of an issue. It sort of like dips every 3-5 seconds on a highway going 70 for no apparent reason that I could see. It could make me sea sick after awhile lol. I wouldn't want to be on highway for very long if this is how its going to be. I know my tires and rims are ok. My car has only 56k miles on it .. I dont' mind the stiffness. I dont' mind hitting bumps harder, its this sort like up and down dipping thing, its hard to explain.

I talked to H&R and they have a recommended height range it should be, outside of this range I could experience an issue.

Sway bars dont' have an impact on this do they?[/quote]

Yes, that's good advice from H&R about the height range. Definitely check it. No the sway bars aren't causing this issue.

Originally Posted by silverbullet7

i am going to check my height in the rear tonight. maybe I'm just sitting too low? Its not slammed to the bottom but probably outside this recommendation which is a pretty small window.

I hope this is it!

Definitely possible.

[silverbullet7]

I didn't know how to delete my repeated message so I wrote this here instead.

[silverbullet7]

Originally Posted by silverbullet7

Yes, that's good advice from H&R about the height range. Definitely check it. No the sway bars aren't causing this issue.

So the report is.. I was probably 20-25mm lower than spec..only had time to adjust the rear and it has improved..seems like all bounciness is in front besides that the car is now doing a nosedive . Will be doing the front maybe later! So this seems to be the issue ! I will know for sure after front is adjusted. What a shame that theres like 200 mm of thread and you can use 20 mm of it LOL

Thanks everyone for all the advice . I will report back after fronts are done!

[Uncle Scotty]

if you are using the stock front strut tops

THROW THEM AWAY AND GET AT LEAST GROUP N FRONT TOPS

the stock front strut tops are A HUGE source of **** in the suspension and must be disposed of as quickly as possible