Rear shocks

[sls_06Ion]

Quick question for anyone that could possible answer, red 4 coupe and I were discussing the tendancy for these cars to drop the ass end when under the hard accelleration.
1 would stiffening the rear suspension help with traction on prepared and unprepared surfaces?
2. would the use of a adujustable compressed nitrogen tank (sort of like a Fox Racing shock) with conection to the rear schock be helpful in promoting tail drop in turn help with traction?

just lookin for some viable alternatives!! both of our Ion QC's are equiped with lower springs, Tim' has a progress rear swaybar, also mines stock, other than eibach springs.

Thanks Tony

[slowion2]

1. Yes

2. Possibly, do you have a link to these? sounds like you're basically talking about a new shock based of the old air-shocks we used to use back in the day.

The more the ass end stays stable and in it's current position, the less weight transfer you would have, helping your launch quite a bit as well as handling. Its pretty commong to increase the stiffness of the rear and front shocks on FWD cars to improve handling and holeshot. I'd personally go with a unit that is a mix of handling and straight line, unless you plan to swap these in only on track days.

For example, I have on my new rear end stiffer shocks. They help a little bit on the launch, but I notice the improvement way more in the cars handling. It doesn't have a supplemental rear sway bar on it yet, and it almost handles as well as it did with the Progress unit.

Another option that Monstah and I had discussed back a while is the use of spring rubbers in the rear springs to aid your straight line launch.

[sls_06Ion]

try googling fox racing shocks, they use a tiny version on eletric wheel chairs, so that said pt. can adjust his shock rate for work in the yard, or scooting around the house.

http://www.foxracingshox.com/

something similar, but that you can control the adjustment on I've seen them, I just remember if it was at a hot rod shop, or a parts house. But I know they make set that are adjustable depending on how much pressure you run in the main body and resivour (sp) tank, but the spring rubber thing may be a little easier for just using a the track.

[Red4Coupe]

Has anyone found an application of any aftermarket shocks for the Ion. Like MacPherson or something like that. Even so far as finding a set that is close or dead on to the measurements for the rears for a different car. Shit...Parts america has a DIY Coilover set up that could be interesting. Only thing is adapting the rear set for use separate from the springs.

Tim

[Red4Coupe]

Competition Engineering Suspension Components thru Parts America

Maybe there is a chance of adapting one of the rear shocks to our cars...OR using the coil-over one.

[sls_06Ion]

with the spring rubber, I'm not real familiar with there design. what do they look like? and are they held in by the weight of the car, or are they clamped to the spring? Just curious

[slowion2]

Has anyone found an application of any aftermarket shocks for the Ion. Like MacPherson or something like that. Even so far as finding a set that is close or dead on to the measurements for the rears for a different car. Shit...Parts america has a DIY Coilover set up that could be interesting. Only thing is adapting the rear set for use separate from the springs.

Tim

Koni made a set for a very very short time, and then axed it from lack of interest. you might want to contact them for info. not sure how that DIY setup would work though.

with the spring rubber, I'm not real familiar with there design. what do they look like? and are they held in by the weight of the car, or are they clamped to the spring? Just curious

they spring coils and weight of the car hold them in. do a google or yahoo search for spring rubbers, they're used a lot in Nascar to alter spring rates on springs, which is what basically we're looking to do.

[Red4Coupe]

Look at the rear coil over shock really closely on that link I gave in my second post up...it's not all that dissimilar from ours...Add 2 bushings to the outsides of each end and bolt it to the car. That is if the length matches up with ours.

The 3 way adjustable drag shocks might work too as long as that hole on the bottom is big enough for an 18mm bolt to fit thru snuggly. Even if it's not use some of a lesser grade polyurethane filler and make a new mount hole. Might consider finding a clevis to thread onto the other end...or drill a hole up into the trunk as thats where the mount almost reaches and bolt her directly thru the frame with some poly mounts for cushioning.

Oh and I know about the Koni's sir...I almost bought a used set. =)

Tim

[Apollo96SL2]

In my 96 SL2 (the first one) I put a coil spacer in each spring, but kept the stock springs because I wanted a cushy daily driver. It rode as smoothly as stock, but when I indulged in some turns the car didn't lean nearly as much as it did on the stock springs. Like Vinny said, the biggest improvement is in the handling.

But stiffening the suspension and dropping the car will help counteract some of the rearward weight transfer under acceleration, which isn't so good in a FWD car.