I'm doing my first open track on Thunderhill raceway on Sunday so I figured I needed to upgrade the suspension ASAP!
Mopar S1 Springs
All new camber bolts
Mopar Tension Strut Kit
26mm & 19mm sways
DC front and rear strut bars (not yet installed supposed to be here tommarrow)
Package arrived early yesterday, and I dove right into the install! Sways are easy, tension kit is easy, and the springs aren't so bad. I've never done coil springs before but was determined to do it myself and get it done yesterday and I did. It's actually a lot easier than I ever would have imagined, especially the front end.
First impressions, the drop is modest but noticable. I measured before and after and right after all corners were right around 3/4"-1". I also hear it takes awhile for them to settle so I'm expecting maybe another 1/4" around. I would like to go lower but after a lot of thought I went with these because they're the best for the stock struts, and give the best ride and great handling. I've already found I have to come at an even greater angle for driveways, our cars are so low in the front.
The REAL story here though, is the handling. MAJOR improvement! I hit up the back roads today to test it out and I'm loving it! The car feels so much more stable it really makes the stock suspension seem like crap. I had a lot of fun on the stuck suspension but THIS is how it should have came from the factory. No more rediculous body roll, and the rear end feels so much more secure. My biggest complaint about the stock suspension was the loose feeling the rear would have. Overall I feel way more comfortable throwing the car around now. Feels much more connected and stable.
The ride is just about stock though slightly stiffer. You really only feel a difference in the ride on larger bumps. So far these are great springs.
Heres a few pics. Curious to see how much they settle. The gap looks slightly larger than it appears in person, but it puts in perspective just how much gap our cars have stock.
Heres a pic of someone else cars, with settled Mopar springs. Sits pretty nice.
Ninja-Matic
04-20-2006, 10:16 PM
Very nice, Andy! DAMN ALL YOU PEOPLE WITH MONEY TO SPEND! Just kidding. The wife says I can't touch mine until after we get settled in a house (we're up for sale now) so hopefully I'll be able to do some stuff to her this winter.
How hard was it to change the springs? Did you have to use a spring compressor? Most of my work straight down to the .50 trim will be done in my garage - suspension would be the only thing I'd have to outsource. How hard was it?
Once again, looks awesome!
- Ninja
Andy
04-20-2006, 11:59 PM
The springs were pretty easy. Like I said I had never done coil springs before, but found a good how to on srtforums and just went for it. The fronts are pretty much a breeze and the only hard part on the rears is getting shit lined back up to bolt up. The second rear was much easier than the first, and I could probably do the rears in way less time next time around.
You don't even need the spring compressor to take the springs off. They're not under that much pressure and just pop off lightly. The fronts are under a little more pressure and the compressor is needed to put the front springs on. I just bought one from summit with other stuff I needed for the track. Having air tools definitely makes life easier aswell! It could be done without them though, but would slow things down.
Honestly I would say to just about anyone who has touched a tool and has tools to go for it, lol... Theres nothing thats complicated at all, and with clear instructions and pics like the how to I had on srtforums there's really nothing left unknown. I have over a 100 miles on it right now, with about a 50 mile trip in the curves running it hard and nothings fallen off :thatfunny so I think it's good. Just need to get an alignment done.
SamCarroll
04-21-2006, 12:30 AM
The springs were pretty easy. Like I said I had never done coil springs before, but found a good how to on srtforums and just went for it. The fronts are pretty much a breeze and the only hard part on the rears is getting shit lined back up to bolt up. The second rear was much easier than the first, and I could probably do the rears in way less time next time around.
You don't even need the spring compressor to take the springs off. They're not under that much pressure and just pop off lightly. The fronts are under a little more pressure and the compressor is needed to put the front springs on. I just bought one from summit with other stuff I needed for the track. Having air tools definitely makes life easier aswell! It could be done without them though, but would slow things down.
Honestly I would say to just about anyone who has touched a tool and has tools to go for it, lol... Theres nothing thats complicated at all, and with clear instructions and pics like the how to I had on srtforums there's really nothing left unknown. I have over a 100 miles on it right now, with about a 50 mile trip in the curves running it hard and nothings fallen off :thatfunny so I think it's good. Just need to get an alignment done.
it looked lower than stock when i seen ya today. :D
looked good to me!
im really happy with my ride height. But i went with Eibach Pro Kit.
The handling is much better no?
Andy
04-21-2006, 01:01 AM
Yeah I happened to look that way right when you were turning the corner. I had my windows up but it sounded good... Definitely haven't heard any other PTs like that around here! Was the cutout open or closed?
Anyways, for awhile I was going to get the pro kit, it gives a real nice drop. After a lot of reading though I guess it's tough on the stock struts, and I plan to be running the car on tracks a lot and what not so I don't want to have to replace the struts anytime soon because I could have just got full coilvers. If I ever decide to go lower I'll be going with coilovers. For now though I like the Mopar springs a lot, the handling is great and the ride is like stock. My truck was really stiff so I'm spoiled with the ride this car has, and have come to like it.
SamCarroll
04-21-2006, 01:06 AM
Yeah I happened to look that way right when you were turning the corner. I had my windows up but it sounded good... Definitely haven't heard any other PTs like that around here! Was the cutout open or closed?
Anyways, for awhile I was going to get the pro kit, it gives a real nice drop. After a lot of reading though I guess it's tough on the stock struts, and I plan to be running the car on tracks a lot and what not so I don't want to have to replace the struts anytime soon because I could have just got full coilvers. If I ever decide to go lower I'll be going with coilovers. For now though I like the Mopar springs a lot, the handling is great and the ride is like stock. My truck was really stiff so I'm spoiled with the ride this car has, and have come to like it.
i hooked wide and opened the cut out and flogged it when making the corner just to get your attention. I seen you when i was behind my buddy in his honda and i opened the cut out and started revving then the light changed. :D
I have thought about the Mopar Stage 3 Coil overs for the PT but not sure. im going to see how my ride is when my rims go on friday.
Bob Loblaw, JD
04-21-2006, 12:53 PM
Those look awesome, the second pic is great.
Andy
04-21-2006, 09:04 PM
Thanks
Got an alignment done today, and it's sitting nice! I remeasured all four corners after the alignment and it's 1/2" lower in the rear and about 1/4" lower in the front. I noticed it right when I picked it up, thunderhill is on sunday so I'll have lots of track pics and videos! Theres 3 or 4 other SRT-4s that will be there, and a ton of other great cars including a 06 Viper world challenge car.
Ninja-Matic
04-24-2006, 07:29 PM
How was Thunderhill?
Andy
04-24-2006, 08:26 PM
It was awesome... I'm working on getting the pics and videos together and will post them.
The handling of the car was great! 100% better than stock, at no time did the car ever feel uncomfortable where as there was a lot of uncomfortable feelings I got from the car on the stock suspension on the streets were you can't push nearly as hard as the track.
Two of the corners are high speed and I was taking them 80-100mph, and the only downfall was the stock tires - which btw are seriously tore up now lol... I was really impressed with how tight and under control the car felt at all times though. It really makes the stock suspension seem very inadequate.
:rck: Sweet! Glad to hear it went well! I know what you mean by the stock suspension, lol. Too many a time I've taken a bend since I got the car and went "whoa... ease up... ... ... whew!"
Can't wait to see some pix and vids! Lookin good in that pic, BTW.
