Nip

I just got my KYB AGX adjustables and Pro Kit installed today and the car corners well but feels like it doesn’t accelerate as quickly. The KYB's are all set at "4" which is the stiffest setting...

***By the way, what is the best setting for these shocks Front/Rear???

Does the car just feel slower because the suspension is stiffer, making it so the car does not squat in the back when accelerating as much? Also, by eliminating this squat in the rear would it make the car accelerate faster because more of the weight is kept over the front wheels? Thanks.

Tola

That's the first time I've heard anyone say that. I think it actually "feels" faster because you're lower and stiffer and you have a better feel of the road.

You shouldn't run your shocks at 4f/4r for the streets. You'll blow them out faster that way. I run 2f/3r for the streets and 2f/4r for autoxing. Play around with it and see what you like. A softer front setup with give you more oversteer.

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-94 VTEC
-98 M3

thewedge4

I thought you were talking cornering...

a lowered car can feel slower because it will usually have more understeer..

and yes the extra squat from stock can add to the impression of speed.

Nip

I kind of like the way the car feels with the 4f/4r settings, however, if it is going to blow the shocks out quicker then I will change them.

If the car has more oversteer with a softer front setting does this mean that if I change the settings from 4f/4r to 2f/3r my car will corner better? FWD cars have a tendency to understeer, so the increased tendency to oversteer is to compensate for this allowing the car to handle better... right? Thanks.

Cookout

Wow, ok, so it's better to put the front shocks softer? My friend was insistant of having his shocks harder in the front. It kind of made sense to me because of the weight of the engine. I told him to set them all equal, though. Now that you guys say it's better to have the front softer than hmmm.... I'm sure he'll be shocked buy we'll give it a try!

Nip

Ok, I have another stupid question... I changed the settings today to 2f/3r. When I turned the little dial on the top of the shock with the screwdriver tool I expected something to happen (like a noise or something). I have not driven the car yet with the new settings...

It sounds stupid but how does turning the little dial from 4 to 2 or 3 change the stiffness within the shock itself? Thanks again.

Tola

Nip, when you turn the little adjustment screw or what ever, do you push down as you're turning it? I'm not sure what noise you're talking about exactly, but it's not supposed to make any noise at all. If you turn it without pushing down on it, you COULD damage your shocks, at least that's what it said on the instructions.

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-94 VTEC
-98 M3

Justice

ok first off with agx's dont turn them without pushing down. do it once there ****ed. it realigns the dial so 1 could be 2,3 or 4 . pain in the ass to get them set correctly.

next. setting them to 4 all the way around will not blow the shock. please state facts people have any of you blown one and that was the reason? next, KYB has a warrenty against "blowing" dont worry about it. what you should worry about is if its set to 4 than your car is gonna rattle apart over a few years. get lots of squeeks. now... why softer in front? hard corner at 60.. soft damping.. front inside corner drops with body roll... i have mine set to 4 in front and 2 in rear. keeps the stearing solid and stiff in the hardest of corners and keeps the ass loose enough to lighten the understeer.

Nip

Yeah, I did push down before I turned the dial... Also, I was wondering if something should happen when adjusting (like a noise). I don’t really understand how the adjustable gas shocks work so I was expecting something to happen when I adjusted them (sounds stupid doesn’t it).

Justice, you and Tola seem drive with completely opposite set ups. Is it just personal preference or does it really matter which (f/r) is softer. I can understand keeping the front softer than the rear because then most of the weight would remain over the front tires during acceleration and cornering. 4 is the stiffest setting is it not? If you ran 4f/2r wouldn't you be transferring the weight to the rear wheels, thus, reducing traction to the driving wheels? You probably meant 2f/4r though... just making sure.

Oh, here is another stupid question that I had. Can adjusting the suspension compensate for the heavier front of our cars. I know that the Porsche 944 for ex is a good track car because it has near 50/50 weight distribution. Is it better to force the weight over the front wheels or would it be better to try and distribute the (inertial force) equally? Thanks