Poor Ride Quality Facelift EK9


krysiz

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
103
Hi guys

I have a 98 Facelift EK9.

When I purchased the car, the previous owner fitted Spoon fixed dampers and progressive springs as well as Hard Race bushings.

The ride quality was appalling for everyday driving, so I quickly sourced standard suspension and had the tracking and wheel alignment done.

As it stands, the car is currently on 50 profile Yokohama AD08r tyres and still has the Hard Race bushings, it was previously on 55 profile Toyos at the front but made no real difference. I believe the rear anti-roll bar drop links need replacing too.

Although the ride is better it's still inexplicably crashy, harsh and jittery on all but the smoothest of roads. It's a real nightmare :nono:

I begging someone to help me get to the bottom of this because I know a nearly standard EK9 shouldn't feel this bad!

Thanks
 
Bushings contribute a lot, in partical the big trailer arm bushing if it's been replaced with a solid polyurethan version. So you could check that first.
 
Thanks - will check them out

I was told that my rear trailing arm bushings were nearly worn but then another mechanic said they were in ok condition!
 
Strange, I had the same suspension, same tyres and poly RTAs, and I was more than happy with the ride in mine...

Tyre pressures?
 
Perhaps someone needs to come and drive my car :))

What should the tyre pressures be in your opinion for AD08s?

Everyone that's been out in it/ driven it feels the same way about the ride.
 
what are your spring rates?

My front tyres are now 28psi, rears 30psi. Much more absorbent for sure but there's still an inherent problem elsewhere.

Errmm didn't know the rates differed with standard suspension...:wow:
 
Are you sure they are standard? Why would the previous owner use standard springs on an upgraded suspension? weird to me.
 
He's brought standard suspension for his car after not liking the stiffer set up.
What other cars have you driven to find stock ek9 suspension "crashy"? If your used to more luxury cars then the ek9 will feel a lot stiffer than those types of car. it's fair from crashy in my opinion, it's very compliant. Something's clearly not right, I have hardrace bushes and didn't feel a difference in ride harshness.
 
my ek9's suspension is stiffer now that i replaced all the bushes and engine mounts, i wouldnt call it crashy or harse at all. It was bad before on the oem shocks due to them being done and 3/4 of them not working properly.
 
The issue is that the Spoons were horrific even though I hear they're fine, and now people are telling me the standard ones should be ok even with the current bushings.

I'll get the condition of the shocks checked out just in case.
 
Yes have them looked at, all of them.
Riding on springs alone can be harsh if shocks are blown as there would be no controlling the springs.

my 6000th post! :))
 
Hmm must be the combination of the shocks and springs. My car rides a little too crashy for daily driving but is on coilovers so thats expected. If in doubt go OEM.
 
Took the car to TGM in Fleet today. The conclusion is that a horribly stiff model of hard race bushings are to blame. Not sure what the previous owner was thinking as it's truly awful even with the standard suspension.

So now I need to replace all 28-odd of them! Any suggestion on alternative ways around this i.e. new arms with the OEM ones on?
 
Sounds like you want some comfort, OEM is the only way to go then really.
 
Indeed but what's the most economical way of returning the bushings to OEM?
 
Your rear lower control arms come fitted with new bushes from Honda.

I'd have a look replace them a bush at a time like the fork mounting bushes, lcas.

I run hard race on mine and don't find them that bad.
 
Ok so should I try RTAs first, then fork mounts?

Especially if they turn out to be Hard Race RTAs!
 
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