Are there any lowering springs that ride like stock?
11-15-17, 03:51 PM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Are there any lowering springs that ride like stock?
Specifically a 2015 GS350 awd f-sport.
I know Tanabe claims the vehicle rides like stock with the NF210, but I've spoken to a few different Tanabe owners and all have said they are harsher than stock. My dads 1996 Oldsmobile rides much softer than my GS and probably has the same wheel gap
... so I'm hoping there is a 1" drop that is a progressive spring design instead of a linear.
I called RSR and they said that the feel of the suspension will be as good or better than stock as far as ride quality goes, can anyone confirm this?
I know Tanabe claims the vehicle rides like stock with the NF210, but I've spoken to a few different Tanabe owners and all have said they are harsher than stock. My dads 1996 Oldsmobile rides much softer than my GS and probably has the same wheel gap
... so I'm hoping there is a 1" drop that is a progressive spring design instead of a linear.I called RSR and they said that the feel of the suspension will be as good or better than stock as far as ride quality goes, can anyone confirm this?
Last edited by gte; 11-15-17 at 05:40 PM.
11-15-17, 05:07 PM
#2
Driver
Thread Starter
[edit]
Swift springs will not work on the awd model.
Who has RSR regular down springs? How does the ride compare to stock?
Swift springs will not work on the awd model.
Who has RSR regular down springs? How does the ride compare to stock?
Last edited by gte; 11-15-17 at 05:40 PM.
11-16-17, 01:06 AM
#3
I have RSR super downs and its still pretty damn close to stock. My friend drove my car one time and he even complimented the ride knowing I've dropped the car
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gte (11-16-17)
11-17-17, 09:02 PM
#4
Specifically a 2015 GS350 awd f-sport.
I know Tanabe claims the vehicle rides like stock with the NF210, but I've spoken to a few different Tanabe owners and all have said they are harsher than stock. My dads 1996 Oldsmobile rides much softer than my GS and probably has the same wheel gap ... so I'm hoping there is a 1" drop that is a progressive spring design instead of a linear.
I called RSR and they said that the feel of the suspension will be as good or better than stock as far as ride quality goes, can anyone confirm this?
I know Tanabe claims the vehicle rides like stock with the NF210, but I've spoken to a few different Tanabe owners and all have said they are harsher than stock. My dads 1996 Oldsmobile rides much softer than my GS and probably has the same wheel gap
... so I'm hoping there is a 1" drop that is a progressive spring design instead of a linear.I called RSR and they said that the feel of the suspension will be as good or better than stock as far as ride quality goes, can anyone confirm this?
The 1996 Oldsmobile probably has a much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio because the Oldsmobile is much heavier, plus the Oldsmobile probably uses smaller 15" wheels with baggy tires, albeit probably narrower rims too, and probably much smaller ventilated brake rotors too, with only single piston calipers - for an overall much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio than your GS350 F Sport.
The lighter the unsprung mass of the tires, wheels, brake rotors and calipers, the lower the momentum of impact thrown against the body of the motor vehicle at any given speed.
Meanwhile, the heavier the sprung body of the motor vehicle, the slower the frequency of vertical oscillation for greater comfort.
Hence, the higher the sprung to unsprung weight ratio, the better the ride comfort.
If the Oldsmobile and the F Sport had the same amount of spring travel, the spring rates may be different.
If the F Sport's spring rates were softer, then for the same amount of spring travel, the F Sport's springs will bottom out [reach the end of its suspension travel] sooner.
Furthermore, the Oldsmobile probably uses much softer dampers/shock absorbers for less body control, via a much lower frequency of vertical oscillation - which feels much more comfortable to ride in.
Firm dampers/shock absorbers like your F Sport have a high frequency of vertical oscillation for more body control, but this feels very uncomfortable and tiring.
Switching to Sport + Mode will give more high speed control, and feel more tiring again.
.
Last edited by peteharvey; 11-17-17 at 09:12 PM.
11-17-17, 09:26 PM
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Although said partially in jest, it definitely has more side wall, but has steel wheels and the tires aren't exactly light weight, admittedly I do not know how they compare to the GS. It is also ~250 pounds lighter than my GS believe it or not. The rotors are certainly smaller, it may actually have drums in the rear.
It seems like 20 years later Lexus should have the technology to be a lot closer to the 1996 Oldsmobile than to a lowered 2600 pound car, while being able to handle well in sport mode ... maybe that's just wishful thinking though.
I think you are correct that the dampening rates and spring rates are the largest differences, along with sidewall height, certainly it doesn't handle like the GS, but again I expected better, especially with that wheel gap.
It seems like 20 years later Lexus should have the technology to be a lot closer to the 1996 Oldsmobile than to a lowered 2600 pound car, while being able to handle well in sport mode ... maybe that's just wishful thinking though.
I think you are correct that the dampening rates and spring rates are the largest differences, along with sidewall height, certainly it doesn't handle like the GS, but again I expected better, especially with that wheel gap.
I can't comment on the aftermarket springs for your GS, but I can say that ride comfort depends on not just spring rate & spring travel, but it also depends on the sprung to unsprung weight ratio of the car and wheel/tire combo, plus the damping rate.
The 1996 Oldsmobile probably has a much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio because the Oldsmobile is much heavier, plus the Oldsmobile probably uses smaller 15" wheels with baggy tires, albeit probably narrower rims too, and probably much smaller ventilated brake rotors too, with only single piston calipers - for an overall much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio than your GS350 F Sport.
The lighter the unsprung mass of the tires, wheels, brake rotors and calipers, the lower the momentum of impact thrown against the body of the motor vehicle at any given speed.
Meanwhile, the heavier the sprung body of the motor vehicle, the slower the frequency of vertical oscillation for greater comfort.
Hence, the higher the sprung to unsprung weight ratio, the better the ride comfort.
If the Oldsmobile and the F Sport had the same amount of spring travel, the spring rates may be different.
If the F Sport's spring rates were softer, then for the same amount of spring travel, the F Sport's springs will bottom out [reach the end of its suspension travel] sooner.
Furthermore, the Oldsmobile probably uses much softer dampers/shock absorbers for less body control, via a much lower frequency of vertical oscillation - which feels much more comfortable to ride in.
Firm dampers/shock absorbers like your F Sport have a high frequency of vertical oscillation for more body control, but this feels very uncomfortable and tiring.
Switching to Sport + Mode will give more high speed control, and feel more tiring again.
.
The 1996 Oldsmobile probably has a much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio because the Oldsmobile is much heavier, plus the Oldsmobile probably uses smaller 15" wheels with baggy tires, albeit probably narrower rims too, and probably much smaller ventilated brake rotors too, with only single piston calipers - for an overall much higher sprung/unsprung weight ratio than your GS350 F Sport.
The lighter the unsprung mass of the tires, wheels, brake rotors and calipers, the lower the momentum of impact thrown against the body of the motor vehicle at any given speed.
Meanwhile, the heavier the sprung body of the motor vehicle, the slower the frequency of vertical oscillation for greater comfort.
Hence, the higher the sprung to unsprung weight ratio, the better the ride comfort.
If the Oldsmobile and the F Sport had the same amount of spring travel, the spring rates may be different.
If the F Sport's spring rates were softer, then for the same amount of spring travel, the F Sport's springs will bottom out [reach the end of its suspension travel] sooner.
Furthermore, the Oldsmobile probably uses much softer dampers/shock absorbers for less body control, via a much lower frequency of vertical oscillation - which feels much more comfortable to ride in.
Firm dampers/shock absorbers like your F Sport have a high frequency of vertical oscillation for more body control, but this feels very uncomfortable and tiring.
Switching to Sport + Mode will give more high speed control, and feel more tiring again.
.
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