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Getting an EF around corners well? 

 

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 Post subject: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:03 pm 
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Hi guys,

I currently have an EF, 5 speed manual with the following suspension set-up:

King Super lows
Short throw Boge shocks
The fattest Whiteline front(adjustable) and rear swaybars
Whiteline re-designed rear lower control arms (not fitted yet, can't find diff template to redrill mount hole)

Problem is the old girl handles 10x better than standard, but I think it could be a lot better (it has some bouncing issues on bumpy sweepers) I do 80kms return every day in the Adelaide hills.

Now I have been told that King springs are pretty much all that is available for the e series in the way of springs? so i may be stuck there, but I have a few choices with shocks:

Prices and brands so far for shocks are;

Koni yellow adjustable $1100 supplied all round
Bilsteins $814 supplied all round

Are there any other top end type brands that work? what do the racing guys use on them?

I would rather go for the best, any price difference isn't an issue.

So my question is, has anyone used either on an EF with success?
I am mostly after cornering grip and control rather than comfort.

Or has anyone made an EF handle well, if so what was the setup?

Suggestions please
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:11 pm 
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DOBI springs do springs also... But maybe bouncing means more dampening on the shocks is called for? Or do you mean "skipping" from having a too stiff setup?

Hell, that's the limit of my input - At least I gave the thread a BUMP.
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:54 pm 
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fiend wrote:
DOBI springs do springs also... But maybe bouncing means more dampening on the shocks is called for? Or do you mean "skipping" from having a too stiff setup?

Hell, that's the limit of my input - At least I gave the thread a BUMP.

Cheers, not skipping, more of a lopey type bounce.
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:06 pm 
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Yep Dobi or Dobinsons springs you can get for the EF, i'll be moving to dobi supers all round when it comes time for re-doing my suspension in the EF. I also remember reading somewhere that Whiteline do springs as well but not sure on how well they go, assuming they'd be pretty good though as they have a fairly good rep.

If you have the money to throw around with the suspension set up, id put the money into the shocks first, personally id go with the bilsteins but then again ive never been on koni's at all so i dont know how well they ride.

Also just for future reference, what size rims and tyres are you running?

 

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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:24 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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KWIKXR wrote:
Yep Dobi or Dobinsons springs you can get for the EF, i'll be moving to dobi supers all round when it comes time for re-doing my suspension in the EF. I also remember reading somewhere that Whiteline do springs as well but not sure on how well they go, assuming they'd be pretty good though as they have a fairly good rep.

If you have the money to throw around with the suspension set up, id put the money into the shocks first, personally id go with the bilsteins but then again ive never been on koni's at all so i dont know how well they ride.

Also just for future reference, what size rims and tyres are you running?


Wheels are pre-au 18 x 8 with 235/45s

Whiteline only do sway bars for the EF now, they have dropped everything else.

Dobinsons don't list falcon springs on their site?
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:48 pm 
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Pedders do adjustable coil overs for the front. I have a set (mine are Nolathanes which are just the Pedders rebadged). If your wanting the best, this is probably it, without getting something custom made...
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:03 pm 
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Go the Koni yellows, you can adjust bump and bound easier than on the Boge or KYB adjustables. Lovells do a really good progressive wound spring. alot more linear in the way the spring loads and unloads compared to the Kings. I am of the understanding the Dobinsons are also a prograssive wound product to. Kings by comparison are a static wound item.

Only reason I suggest the Konis are easier to adjust is that the adjustment is on top of the strut and allows easy access to the adjustment point frm inside the boot or engine bay. the KYB and Boge shocks are adjustable on the side of the strut and you need to either reach in through your wheel, or if thats not an option, take the wheel off to adjust.

You will experience some rear end skip by nature of the live rear end, IRS will reduce or solve this issue. But a good suspension setup will limit this to a large extent. Also someone like lovells will be able to provide you with the load rating of their springs and you can request custom load ratings to be wound. At an extra cost of course. :P

Lovells
Dobinsons

I would look at the adjustable rear sway bar for the falcon more than an adjustable front sway bay, I think their thick bar is 36mm? just a bit too much, great for a circuit surface, but most roads need something more forgiving hence the adjustable bar, set to mid settings I have found is a better compromise setup.

 

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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:13 pm 
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The Dobi (Dobinsons) PDF catalogue found HERE has all the E series stuff on bottom of page four.

I think (I was told) that I have progressive Dobi's in front and (whatever they really are) they work okay.

Rear end "skip" is probably different from "bouncing"?????
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:13 pm 
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dc_todd wrote:
I am of the understanding the Dobinsons are also a prograssive wound product to.

Yep thats what the local suspension guy told me, said it is a much better design than the kings springs.

dsyfer wrote:
Dobinsons don't list falcon springs on their site?

Yeah mate its in there, view the PDF for the coil catalogue about 3/4 or the page down on Page 4 :wink:

 

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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:19 pm 
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Thanks all for the replies,

I'm liking the idea of the ease of adjusting the koni yellows, nice and hard for the daily hills run, and the ability to soften it up for a longer weekend country drive with passengers.

Whiteline discontinued the adjustable rear swaybar before I was able to get one, could source another brand if it would help, might try and get the rear control arms on first.

here is a good article and review about the whiteline control arms here if anyone can find some left around
http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Franks-Suspension-Part-3/A_108785/article.html

So at this stage I think I will get some koni yellows and put the control arms in. Then progressive springs.

Getting the exhaust done next week, pacemaker comps and hi flow cat and system in preparation for the Raptor SC once funds saved :D
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:19 pm 
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ive got Dobi's in my falcon and king springs in the ltd...and the kings do seem to be more bumpy.
both handle well tho...i get the skip in the a** too in the falcon or maybe its just fish tailing hehe.
what do you mean by skip
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 Post subject: Re: Getting an EF around corners well?
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:33 pm 
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well ive just got pedders sports shocks and ultra low king springs and i have no body roll.

riding on 20s with little to no sidewall or sidewalll flex

 

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