Vert Suspension Setup: Advice Appreciated

[RETed]

Although my experience is with coupes, most of the info can be applied to the vert as well...

IME, the biggest change in suspension (performance) can be felt with the dampers.
Tokico HP's are the best entry-level stock OEM replacements if you're looking for a bump in performance.
Prices for a full set of Tokico HP's shipped should be at or under $300.
If you're looking for adjustability (really only for racing and overkill for a street car), the KYB AGX's are the ticket.
Prices for a full set of KYB AGX's shipped should be at or under $400.

Racing Beat does offer their vert-specific spring set, and it's just a slightly stiffer set than the regular coupe versions.
Unless you're a racer, I doubt you'd feel the difference.
I'm going to buck the trend and say you can use the coupe spring set on your vert if you wanted to.
I sold a set of Eibach Pro-Kit springs off of my '87 Turbo II to a guy who owned a vert that had no problems running them.

The chassis has a problem with (negative) camber problems in the rear when you lower the chassis excessively, thus spring drops are usually conservative.
You should only notice a subtle change in the ride height with these aftermarket springs.
Excessive drops over 1" cause induce negative camber in the rears, and be prepared to purchase and install a rear camber adjust bar or other options.

Stabilizer bars (or anti-sway bars) should be the last on the list.
The cars already run pretty stiff bars stock.
I'd recommend upper strut bars as more cost effective and easier to install.
Even though the bar diameters only vary maybe a few millimeters over stock, that's a huge increase in torsional ridgidity.



-Ted