[s-cars] HRSB alternative?

[Rich Letsinger]

> I read on a forum somewhere that rather than getting
> the $500+ dollar HRSB that some have had problems
> with, someone just got stiffer springs in the rear.
> Is this really an alternative to the HRSB, even if
> it's not as good?

JR,

Sure it's an alternative.  I'm not going to pretend to
know a lot about suspension design or tuning, but I do
have some experience.  Increasing the rear spring rate
is a very effective way to eliminate understeer and
even generate some oversteer.  But it requires a
matching increase in damping rates to control the
springs and has a more adverse affect on ride quality.
 Springs and shocks are usually setup first.  And then
anti-roll bars are used to fine tune that last bit of
handling balance.

You've got quite a lot of stuff available for tuning
things.  A collar setup with (relatively) easily
replacable rear springs is available from 2Bennett. 
Get whatever front springs you want to use and then
try a few different rear spring rates.  There are
adjustable shocks to set damping, but they require a
lot of experimentation to get right.  The other option
is to get your springs chosen and then have Bilstien
custom valve shocks for you.  If you need to fine tune
further, there's the 26mm front bar from a 93-95 sedan
and 17mm rear and 28mm front bars from the 92 sedan
and 95 wagon.  You can mix and match as you need.  If
you just can't get it right with stock bars, then
there's the monster HRSB.

One last piece of advice.  Don't let anyone tell you
how you should do things.  Suspension tuning is as
personal as your pillow.  If you care about it a lot,
you've got to set it up for yourself through
experimentation.

Good luck,
Rich



		
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