Eibach/Zanardi steering response

[goldNSX]

Hi

I know we've discussed a lot about the various setup's with Eibach/Bilstein, Zanardi/Bilstein, Type R and so on. I've read the whole board through the search function but still have one question open.
Currently I'm running Eibach/Bilstein (upper perch) and I'm very satisfied with the ride height. Comfort is very good as I don't race my car on race tracks but my NSX is lacking a shapier steering response after installing Eibach/Bilstein compared to OEM. Alignment was done. It feels like the steering wheel doesn't like to give me a good feedback of the road, especially when driving very slowly it's like wearing gloves or with low tire pressure. My suggestions of the cause are the low initial spring rate of the Eibachs or the damping gas volume of the Bilsteins. The Eibachs need some body rolling until the get stiff. So body rolling is the second think I don't like about them.
How to resolve this?
I've ordered the Dali Street Sway bars but didn't install them yet. And I'm thinking about installing the Zanardi springs (ordered too) with Bilsteins on the lower perch.
What do you think about it?

Greetings,
Thomas

 

[MJK]

Non-progressive or stiffer springs will give you a more crisp turn in at the expense of some ride quality. In these repects, zanardi springs are exactly what you are looking for. However, the general concencus is that Zsprings overpower bilsteins. You may want to consider Koni yellows or Z shocks.

 

[Hrant]

Mark (White94) is correct wrt to Zanardi springs overpowering the Bilsteins. I researched this issue a few months ago and actually called Bilstein and they said theirs is matched to no more than 120% of the oem spring rates.

Dali now offers the Tein S-Tech which looks more like what you are looking for.

http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/catalog/index_browse_part.cfm?focus=1736

It is linear and slightly stiffer than the OEM very much in the range of the Bilsteins. The H&R is another option but lowers the car by 1.5" Both would be better choice than the Zanardi unless you revalve your Bilsteins to match the Zanardi rates. I have not tried either. I am running the Bilsteins on lower perch with OEM springs and for my 98-T that is as much as I want to sacrifice in comfort.

If you want to solve the steering issue, try the Type R braces. They do wonders. HTH.

 

[goldNSX]

Mark (White94) is correct wrt to Zanardi springs overpowering the Bilsteins.

I believe you that the Zanardis are overpowering the Bilstein but I've seen nearly the same damping forces for the Bilstein and the Zanardi shock at a given velocity.
My goal is to make the Zanardis a little bit lower (looking like the Eibachs) with a coil-over system or perches like the Bilsteins allow. I call Bilstein and look what they can do.

If you want to solve the steering issue, try the Type R braces. They do wonders. HTH.

Do you mean these:
http://www.scienceofspeed.com/produ...Honda/NSX-R_chassis_reinforcement/default.asp

Good idea, I never thought about them.

Greetings,
Thomas

 

[NSX-Racer]

Thomas, your steering response will greatly improve with the sway bars - I had nearly the same combo (Bilstein higher perch, OEM springs, Dali street bars) and it worked fine on the street.

BTW: Which tires do you have? They have also some effect on steering response.

 

[goldNSX]

Thomas, your steering response will greatly improve with the sway bars - I had nearly the same combo (Bilstein higher perch, OEM springs, Dali street bars) and it worked fine on the street.

BTW: Which tires do you have? They have also some effect on steering response.

Hi Wolfgang

Unfortunately the 30 % stiffer sway bars are out of stock at the moment.

On the stock wheels I have the Yokos 022 on 16/17''. Very nice tire where the effect (in german: 'Gefühllos um die Mittellage des Lenkrads') is less but still recognizable. On the 17/18'' combo I drive the S-03 with 2.7/3.0 bar tire pressure.

Greetings,
Thomas

 

[NSX-Racer]

On the 17/18'' combo I drive the S-03 with 2.7/3.0 bar tire pressure.

Try a cold pressure of 0.2 bars less on each tire (of course you will only feel the difference on dry and warm roads not in the weather conditions we have now).

 

[goldNSX]

Try a cold pressure of 0.2 bars less on each tire (of course you will only feel the difference on dry and warm roads not in the weather conditions we have now).

I've tried different tire pressures. Long time ago a had 2.5/2.8 and felt a heavier steering but not a better response. The tire wear structure told me that 2.7/3.0 bar tire pressure is ideal for my driving behaviour.

I've e-mailed Bilstein Germany if they can do what Bilstein US does: revalve the shocks and make them stiffer. Did you hear anything about Bilstein Germany doing that?

Greetings,
Thomas

 

[NSX-Racer]

I've e-mailed Bilstein Germany if they can do what Bilstein US does: revalve the shocks and make them stiffer. Did you hear anything about Bilstein Germany doing that?

Yes, the Bilstein shop makes individual settings (Tel: +49-2333-7914-457). They usualy want you and your car at the shop. Maybe you can also get an invidual Bilstein suspension system like the B16 PSS9 (although the NSX is not listed in the catalogue but who knows): http://www2.bilstein.de/de/produkte/tuning.php3#16

BTW: Eibach USA has an anti roll kit also for the NSX (unfortunately not in the german catalogue, only in US) - look here . These are anti sway bars of course.

 

[goldNSX]

Yes, the Bilstein shop makes individual settings (Tel: +49-2333-7914-457). They usualy want you and your car at the shop. Maybe you can also get an invidual Bilstein suspension system like the B16 PSS9 (although the NSX is not listed in the catalogue but who knows): http://www2.bilstein.de/de/produkte/tuning.php3#16

BTW: Eibach USA has an anti roll kit also for the NSX (unfortunately not in the german catalogue, only in US) - look here . These are anti sway bars of course.

Ufff, this means driving more than 600 km to them. Why do they need my car? But if I can get an PSS9 for about 3 or 4k it's maybe worth it. I had an expensive complete Bilstein setup on an VW Golf and this one was the best setup I've driven in a VW Golf, very stiff but very streetable too.
I didn't see the sway bars on Eibach USA. I have Eibach springs in my NSX which are not officially available in Europe. The main supplier of Eibach in Switzerland got them for me in the States since I need a homologation here at a price of 4 times the US price.