I live in Bellingham, WA. and just went to see my friends that work at H&R. They said their prototype springs would be in about the first of the year and they would like to have me try them on my car for customer feedback, check final installed heights, ride quality issues and alignment issues. I will keep you folks advised on my findings. They said they would be doing coilover/adjustable suspension prototyping shortly and would like to try that on my car also. The GM is a friend from autox's and said good feedback is why they wanted to try my car and my opinion.
Any Questions for the H&R team?
I should be able to get answers personally, and post them or PM them for people.

 

I just let H&R use my shop manual to make their install instruction sheet with I.E.: torque values for bolts and procedures.
Next week they are verifying the stock ride heights (f&r), installed effective spring rates and alignment settings as delivered from Nissan to compare to their final installed prototype for our cars.
Will keep you informed.

John Rutherford
E-mail me at johnlotusboy@attbi.com

 

Hi John

When they say adjustable suspension, do you know if that will require climbing under the car, or will there be some type of cockpit located controls?

I vaguely remember that 'remote operated' (not wireless) suspension was once available.

Rod

 

Tein is showing an adjustable system on their site that can use an inside the car controller (single DIN sized I think).

 

Current projected spring rates are approx. 20% stiffer than the originals. I will give the rates when I get them, 17th of Dec. with any luck.

 

I heard that the drop will be 1.5" front and back. If you're saying that they are testing on your car, does that mean that they really don't know how low it's going to drop your car?

 

It might vary slightly due to variables but I will find spring rates as installed and actual ride heights. If you didn't notice from working on other cars sometimes the manufactures will make claims of ride heights that are not accurate and they just use engineering theory to arrive at a number for ride height drop. H&R will verify their numbers before they go out to the customers. From my experience with them they have one of the best reputations in the business and they want to keep it that way!! By the way, Friday 2pm PST we do the first test on stock car to verify what the real changes will be. I'll take photos at H&R and post them here.

 

Looking forward to your report; particularly the elimination of the "porpoising" ride .

 

Anyone know if the H&R springs cure the porpoising problem??
Please advise. Thanks!

 

What exactly is porpoising?

 

It's a phenomenon when the car's spring rate is too low. If you go over a dip (as opposed to a bump), the car will feel like it's floating, for lack of a better word. From the side, the car looks like a dolphin (or porpoise) swimming on the ocean surface, nose up, then nose down. Make sense?

 

Got it!