Best Suspension Setup, For a good handling street car Options

[Justinp71]

So since a lot of us on here are trying to achieve a well handling street car, that still absorbs bumps. I figure it would be good to share suspension setup's. I will go first-

Front-
18mm torsion bars (stock 914)
19mm sway bar, set to second hole out
Bilsteins (sport)
Stock Bushings
205/50/15 tires

Rear-
200 lb springs w/coil-overs (3.2l motor)
no sway bar
Bilsteins (sport)
225/45/15 tires

I do have a six, so my spring rates in the rear need to be a little higher. This combo for me seems to work really well for a street car with occasional track use. It could benefit from maybe 19 or 20mm front torsion bars. Btw this combo feels "softer" than my GTi, yet it still handles well on the track (for occasional HPDE use).

Interesting I have heard if you order Koni's you can get them made for a 914 (since it is different weight than a 911).

What works for you guys?

[defianty]

I can't comment on the ride yet as the car isn't built yet, but this is what I have already purchased for the car. My decisions were based on research and advice from a friend who raced a 914.

Front-
21mm Torsion bars
19mm Sway bar
Bilstein Sport Shocks
Stock Bushings

Rear-
200 lb Springs adjustable coil-overs (3.0l motor)
16mm Sway bar - (Will decide whether to keep after testing)
Bilstein Sport Shocks

[914_teener]

So since a lot of us on here are trying to achieve a well handling street car, that still absorbs bumps. I figure it would be good to share suspension setup's. I will go first-

Front-
18mm torsion bars (stock 914)
19mm sway bar, set to second hole out
Bilsteins (sport)
Stock Bushings
205/50/15 tires

Rear-
200 lb springs w/coil-overs (3.2l motor)
no sway bar
Bilsteins (sport)
225/45/15 tires

I do have a six, so my spring rates in the rear need to be a little higher. This combo for me seems to work really well for a street car with occasional track use. It could benefit from maybe 19 or 20mm front torsion bars. Btw this combo feels "softer" than my GTi, yet it still handles well on the track (for occasional HPDE use).

Interesting I have heard if you order Koni's you can get them made for a 914 (since it is different weight than a 911).

What works for you guys?

I have nearly the same as you except I run 140 spring rate in the rear and a stock sway bar in the front with adjustable droplinks.....only a 4 banger.

Car drives like it is on rails. Alignment is just as important as the setup BTW.

Looks like you run a staggered setup which I don't. For the 3.2 probably need more meat in the back for sure for track.

I would call my ride feel "firm" but responsive but not "twitchy".

[shoguneagle]

Front: 19mm Torsion Bars 911 stock
21mm Sway Bar aftermarket
Koni Red Adjustable Shocks
Elephant Racing Bronze/Brass suspension bushings with zeros
205/50-17 7 inch rims with BF Goodrich tires

Rear: 16mm Stock Sway Bar
Koni Red Adjustable Shocks with adjustable perches
150# springs
Elephant Racing Suspension Bushings and pivot bolts with zeros
245/45-17 9 inch rims with BF Goodrich tires

Engine: 1987 911 Carrera 3.2 with front oil cooler and origin heat exch-
angers and heat system.

Trans: Rebuilt 901 with shifting assembly for headers

[Larmo63]

Front:
'83 911SC Bilstein struts
Bilstein heavy duty shocks
turbo tie rods
22mm Sway Away torsion bars
New Lemforder ball joints
stock sway bar - new bushings
Elephant rubber A arm bushings
late 911 style aluminum cross bar

Rear:
Bilstein heavy duty shocks
2 1/4" 200# Eibach springs
Rebel Racing height adjust collars
stock 914 sway bar - new bushings
Top of shock tie bar - custom piece(?)
Delrin swing arm bushings

6 x 15 Fuchs deep six wheels all around
Yokohama 205/60 x 15

My car handles firm, a bit harsh, but precise. Slot car handling.

[phillstek]

Front: Level 3 ER coilovers, raised spindles
ER adjustable camber plates
Turbo tie rods
De-cambered lemforder balljoints
Stock sway bar
Poly Bronze bushes
ER A arm mounts
21mm wheel spacers

Rear: 200lb springs
Bilstein sport shocks
Poly bronze bushes

Zero dive under hard braking but solid upper mounts are clunky over lane markers.

[Justinp71]

Front: 19mm Torsion Bars 911 stock
21mm Sway Bar aftermarket
Koni Red Adjustable Shocks
Elephant Racing Bronze/Brass suspension bushings with zeros
205/50-17 7 inch rims with BF Goodrich tires

Rear: 16mm Stock Sway Bar
Koni Red Adjustable Shocks with adjustable perches
150# springs
Elephant Racing Suspension Bushings and pivot bolts with zeros
245/45-17 9 inch rims with BF Goodrich tires

Engine: 1987 911 Carrera 3.2 with front oil cooler and origin heat exch-
angers and heat system.

Trans: Rebuilt 901 with shifting assembly for headers

Cool setup. I've heard good things about those elephant Bronze/Brass bushings. Can you elaborate more on how your car handles? Oversteer/understeer, firm, predictable, etc...

[bernbomb914]

I have factory sway bars ft. and rear with adj. links 911 suspension ft. koni adj sport shocks all around 185 lb. rear spgs. 6" rear wheels. and have been told that it was the best handling 914 at willow spgs.

[BK911]

'72 1.7l

Bilstein front and rear shocks
New front stock tbars, new stock rear springs
Elephant rubber bushings all the way around
New ball joints
Turbo tie rods
New wheel bearings
No sway bars.
195.60.15 tires.

Car handles perfect for what I use it for; driving to work.
Although my drive is 75 mile round trip through east TN back roads.

[Andyrew]

Front
245 40 17 300TW tires (21psi)
22mm T bars
Koni reds set to 2/3rds
911 raised spindals
Roller bearings instead of bushings
Turbo tie rods

Rear
285 35 18 200TW tires (18psi)
225lb springs
Koni yellows set to 2/3rds
Roller bearings instead of bushings

Grip level is high (~1.15G max at the track, Avg ~ 1.05), Turn in is sluggish, Not confidence inspiring at speed. I have a front sway bar Im going to try, and I'll try some yellow konis up front and some tuning. Also probably try some stickier tires up front and some higher tire pressures.

[Justinp71]

Front
245 40 17 300TW tires (21psi)
22mm T bars
Koni reds set to 2/3rds
911 raised spindals
Roller bearings instead of bushings
Turbo tie rods

Rear
285 35 18 200TW tires (18psi)
225lb springs
Koni yellows set to 2/3rds
Roller bearings instead of bushings

Grip level is high (~1.15G max at the track, Avg ~ 1.05), Turn in is sluggish, Not confidence inspiring at speed. I have a front sway bar Im going to try, and I'll try some yellow konis up front and some tuning. Also probably try some stickier tires up front and some higher tire pressures.

Raised Spindles... Nice! Do you have a bump steer kit or did you have the arms moved on the struts? Which Struts do you have (Boge or Koni)?

I bet a front sway bar will help alot, I was able to pull 1.2g's when we went to thunderhill and I only have 18mm front torsions.

[Andyrew]

Front
245 40 17 300TW tires (21psi)
22mm T bars
Koni reds set to 2/3rds
911 raised spindals
Roller bearings instead of bushings
Turbo tie rods

Rear
285 35 18 200TW tires (18psi)
225lb springs
Koni yellows set to 2/3rds
Roller bearings instead of bushings

Grip level is high (~1.15G max at the track, Avg ~ 1.05), Turn in is sluggish, Not confidence inspiring at speed. I have a front sway bar Im going to try, and I'll try some yellow konis up front and some tuning. Also probably try some stickier tires up front and some higher tire pressures.

Raised Spindles... Nice! Do you have a bump steer kit or did you have the arms moved on the struts? Which Struts do you have (Boge or Koni)?

I bet a front sway bar will help alot, I was able to pull 1.2g's when we went to thunderhill and I only have 18mm front torsions.

Arms moved up on the struts and Koni's as mentioned above.

Im pretty sure the lack of sway bars is a big portion of my problems on track.

What PSI did you run your tires at at thill?

[Justinp71]

Front
245 40 17 300TW tires (21psi)
22mm T bars
Koni reds set to 2/3rds
911 raised spindals
Roller bearings instead of bushings
Turbo tie rods

Rear
285 35 18 200TW tires (18psi)
225lb springs
Koni yellows set to 2/3rds
Roller bearings instead of bushings

Grip level is high (~1.15G max at the track, Avg ~ 1.05), Turn in is sluggish, Not confidence inspiring at speed. I have a front sway bar Im going to try, and I'll try some yellow konis up front and some tuning. Also probably try some stickier tires up front and some higher tire pressures.

Raised Spindles... Nice! Do you have a bump steer kit or did you have the arms moved on the struts? Which Struts do you have (Boge or Koni)?

I bet a front sway bar will help alot, I was able to pull 1.2g's when we went to thunderhill and I only have 18mm front torsions.

Arms moved up on the struts and Koni's as mentioned above.

Im pretty sure the lack of sway bars is a big portion of my problems on track.

What PSI did you run your tires at at thill?

29-30PSI, I was letting some air out as it warmed up.

Ya I saw you have Koni Inserts, but I meant the strut body, it doesn't really matter. The Boge housings you can install Bilsteins or Koni's, but the Konis you can only install Koni inserts, but I hear they are a little stronger. I was bouncing back and forth on what I wanted, but I'm installing 3.5" boge struts now.