AWD Rear Suspension differences (Strut / Springs)

[mb7050]

I/(We) need this info so what are the differences ?

please correct me if I´m wrong !



Normal VR4 91-95 and 1995 spyder VR4 (with ECS)
Rear Stock Spring Size 3 3/4" ID x 4 3/4" OD

Cars w/ sunroof and/or '96-'99 without sunroof and 1996 Spyder VR4 (without ECS)
Rear Stock Spring Size 3 1/4" ID x 4 1/4" OD

the Factory Upper Strut Mounts are also different and the rear struts










Stock Spring Rates:

All units in N/mm (lbs/in.)

Stock Spring Constants

'92-'93 FWD AWD
Front 30 (168) 39 (218)
Rear 35 (196) 28 (157)

'94+
Front 29 (162) 38 (212)
Rear 34 (190) 28 (157)

Spyder
Front 30 (168) 39 (218)
Rear 35 (196) 28 (157)


Shock Damping Forces (0.3m/s or 0.984ft/sec)

ECS (all) Expansion Contraction
Front Hard 2530(558) 1190(262)
Front Med 1580(348) 1120(247)
Front Soft 620(214) 970(214)
Rear Hard 1710(377) 1010(223)
Rear Med 1160(256) 880(194)
Rear Soft 560(123) 670(146)

Non-ECS Expansion Contraction
Front 1080(238) 540(119)
Rear 1000(220) 550(121)

[mb7050]

so can I use ECS upper mounts in my NON ECS car in this case 1996 spyder vr-4 ??
I would have to use ECS struts then too but would it work ?

[mb7050]

Is there a height difference beetween ECS and NON ECS rear springs/struts ?

[jba3]

so can I use ECS upper mounts in my NON ECS car in this case 1996 spyder vr-4 ??
I would have to use ECS struts then too but would it work ?

I *think* the upper mounts are a different size on ECS vs Non-ECS. If you get replacement struts at 3SX that aren't for ECS, you still have to specify if the car was ECS or not, and I think that is why.

I have never heard of "ECS Springs" or "Non ECS Springs", just for sunroof/no sunroof.

[mb7050]

this is what happens if you try to use Tein s tech lowering springs in your non ecs car(1996 Spyder Vr-4).
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7848/imag0059r.jpg

[mb7050]

^thats the reason why I´m asking this info. I would like to lower the spyder using lowering springs .

[Emilie@GZP]

DO you have any better pictures of what happened?

[mb7050]

I think the issue is that the upper strut mount is simply too small.Of course the shop could have botched the install too.

all I got :
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8850/imag0055hl.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/7545/imag0056i.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3740/imag0057e.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/781/imag0058f.jpg

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1470/imag0066d.jpg
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/9307/imag0068w.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1458/imag0070fl.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4230/imag0072u.jpg
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9975/imag0074x.jpg

[mb7050]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5326/imag0075t.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4616/imag0077q.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6753/imag0078j.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7599/imag0079rn.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2383/imag0080zb.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5528/imag0081s.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1117/imag0082x.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5052/imag0083us.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8127/imag0084l.jpg
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/1632/imag0085h.jpg

[mb7050]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8603/imag0087lu.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3023/imag0088c.jpg
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5051/imag0089cz.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9836/imag0090r.jpg
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2231/imag0091nr.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6816/imag0092y.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7501/imag0130e.jpg

[IPD]

subscribed for later viewing.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

just get the upper mount crap from an ecs car. If you were around here you could have my spare rear strut crap for free.

[J. Fast]

On image 21 and 27 one of the stud cleats looks like it was replaced. In pic 21 you can kinda see where it may have been rotating or chattering on the edge of the mount. Is that an original strut? You have any caster camber issues in the rear, bad wheel bearing at one time or anything? Maybe it's just a wierd camera angle or somethin?

[mb7050]

that is original strut (anti rust coating everywhere) . the stud cleat thing is because camera flash make it look like that. With s techs spyder rear drops about 0.5 " more than the coupe so without adjustable control arms there will be camber issue . All Wheel bearings are good.

I only ran these springs about 100 miles !

[mb7050]

I didnt read the post posted above but they will work beautifully .. I have a 97 hardtop and we cut the rubbers in half.. The springs wont fit in the hat like the stockers do but its ok .. Just make sure the end of the spring is in the groove and just check them as you lower it to make sure they are still in place ..

why didn't I thought this before ?!?

[J. Fast]

Ahh, I see what you are talking about now. It's not seated in the lower perch correctly. Looks like they didn't line up the holes for the upper and lower perch and the spring escaped. See it clear as day now. pic 24 and 26. Much easier to see with my PC. Yup, that's a botched lowering spring install.

[J. Fast]

See for yourself... http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5051/imag0089cz.jpg

[mb7050]

yes but they were fine at first but after a while they ended up like that !

[J. Fast]

Nope, it was installed incorrectly from the get go.

[mb7050]

ok I correct my self they looked fine at first :D

[J. Fast]

Alright. This is the part where somebody needs to link in a proper lowering spring install "how to" with perch alignment picks and etc.

[ilian51378]

just get the upper mount crap from an ecs car. If you were around here you could have my spare rear strut crap for free.

Are you 100% sure that the ECS upper mount only would work? If that is the case, I would like to get yours. Let me know how much do you want for them shipped to 33025. Thanks a lot!

[mb7050]

Alright. This is the part where somebody needs to link in a proper lowering spring install "how to" with perch alignment picks and etc.

I can´t blame them because how could they know that they should cut the rubber in half .. I have tein coilovers in there right now and my god I hate the ride :D

[mb7050]

oh and they installed s tech lowering springs in my other 3000gt(euro spec vr-4 with ecs) without problems.

[mb7050]

here is the other strut .
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1243/imag0136gg.jpg

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Are you 100% sure that the ECS upper mount only would work? If that is the case, I would like to get yours. Let me know how much do you want for them shipped to 33025. Thanks a lot!

as far as I know they would. Probably be about $15 to get them to you. They aren't in the most amazing shape in the world, they could use a cleaning and paint.

[ilian51378]

as far as I know they would. Probably be about $15 to get them to you. They aren't in the most amazing shape in the world, they could use a cleaning and paint.

What is your Paypal?