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While the handling on a stock GT Sport isn’t too shabby, I felt it could do with some improvement, so I got myself some Koni FSD (frequency selective damping) shocks and Eibach Prokit springs. Anyway, I had them fitted today, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face. 
Driving normally around town, you’d be forgiven for thinking that nothing had changed. The ride is still compliant and comfortable, and there is still body roll when you first throw it at a corner, just like the stock set up. However, by the time you are mid corner, the ‘adaptive’ suspension has ‘realised’ what’s going on, and has tightened up dramatically, and seems to hold it’s position.
At this point the car becomes rock solid and the tyres bite into the road. Test driving the car on some very familiar corners, I was able to compare the behaviour of the car with the new set up against the stock set up. At the same point where the stock set up would start to understeer, and I would have to wash off some speed, the Koni/Eibach combo grips so hard, that I actually find myself going for the accelerator instead of the brake!
Yep, it’s that good, that you soon realise you’ve underestimated the car’s capabilities and need to get on the gas again – mid corner! Because there is so much mid corner grip, I actually found myself oversteering to begin with, because I was automatically starting to compensate for the expected understeer, but it just didn’t happen.
Intitial turn in is slightly sharper, and the car changes direction with much less drama, although being an oiler, there is still that heavy lump over the front axle causing weight transfer issues.
Koni claim that their FSD shocks are capable of dramatically improving handling, whilst not compromising ride quality. Well its early days, but I’d certainly agree with them at this stage. In fact, I’d say the ride is actually better than stock, because it does a much better job of dealing with imperfections in the road surface, and doesn’t get quite so unsettled on the rough stuff.
The car has come down 15 -16mm at the front, but only 9 – 10mm at the rear. Apparently, this is not unusual for this set up though, and thankfully it doesn’t have that jacked up at the rear appearance anyway. It should settle out some more over the next few days, and then I’ll get a wheel alignment to get everything within tolerance levels again (assuming that they are out now).
I think some sway bars would top it off nicely, but I’ll hold off on that for a while, otherwise I think divorce proceedings could quickly ensue
. I’d suggest that this set up would be too soft for track enthusiasts, but for people who want significantly improved handling, without the compromises, this is the perfect solution.
Cost:
Springs/Shocks - $1100 (including freight from USA).
Fitting - $300
Driving normally around town, you’d be forgiven for thinking that nothing had changed. The ride is still compliant and comfortable, and there is still body roll when you first throw it at a corner, just like the stock set up. However, by the time you are mid corner, the ‘adaptive’ suspension has ‘realised’ what’s going on, and has tightened up dramatically, and seems to hold it’s position.
At this point the car becomes rock solid and the tyres bite into the road. Test driving the car on some very familiar corners, I was able to compare the behaviour of the car with the new set up against the stock set up. At the same point where the stock set up would start to understeer, and I would have to wash off some speed, the Koni/Eibach combo grips so hard, that I actually find myself going for the accelerator instead of the brake!
Yep, it’s that good, that you soon realise you’ve underestimated the car’s capabilities and need to get on the gas again – mid corner! Because there is so much mid corner grip, I actually found myself oversteering to begin with, because I was automatically starting to compensate for the expected understeer, but it just didn’t happen.
Intitial turn in is slightly sharper, and the car changes direction with much less drama, although being an oiler, there is still that heavy lump over the front axle causing weight transfer issues.
Koni claim that their FSD shocks are capable of dramatically improving handling, whilst not compromising ride quality. Well its early days, but I’d certainly agree with them at this stage. In fact, I’d say the ride is actually better than stock, because it does a much better job of dealing with imperfections in the road surface, and doesn’t get quite so unsettled on the rough stuff.
The car has come down 15 -16mm at the front, but only 9 – 10mm at the rear. Apparently, this is not unusual for this set up though, and thankfully it doesn’t have that jacked up at the rear appearance anyway. It should settle out some more over the next few days, and then I’ll get a wheel alignment to get everything within tolerance levels again (assuming that they are out now).
I think some sway bars would top it off nicely, but I’ll hold off on that for a while, otherwise I think divorce proceedings could quickly ensue
. I’d suggest that this set up would be too soft for track enthusiasts, but for people who want significantly improved handling, without the compromises, this is the perfect solution.Cost:
Springs/Shocks - $1100 (including freight from USA).
Fitting - $300
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