Noveske

So they are better than the stock leaf springs, by allowing individual wheel control, correct? I was looking at the QA1 setup with 550lb springs. 550lb means 550lbs per inch of compression? Is this setup lighter than the stock leaf? My car is a 2012 GS, 6 speed manual. Any issues with mostly street use, with occasional autocrossing?
Any suggestions as to 450, 550, 650lbs springs?
Am I missing anything? Should I just keep the leaf? I know lots about engines, and nothing about suspension......

Thanks in advance.

c5racr1

What are your plans for the car?

Noveske

mostly corner carving on the street, possibly autocross later next year

c5racr1

For street and autocross I would stay on leaf springs and get good shocks. I went from zo6 springs to t1 springs to lg g2 coilovers. I put aero on mine so it's not apples to apples. But I liked the t1 springs with t1 shocks

Matt_27

Nope. The leaf springs work exactly the same as coils, individual wheel control is not an issue. I would stay far away from QA1 parts for any sort of performance driving. Koni shocks and stock leaf springs will work much better for you. A larger front sway bar is also a good idea. Those parts and a good set of tires is all you need for some quality autocrossing.

fmcokc

Ask Danny Popp, he is a big proponent of the leaf springs and is very fast.

StreetSpeed

Another vote for the leafs, if it's for street use. The only real reason I went coilovers vs leafs on my race car was to make things easier for the dry sump install.

TKOGTO

Bilstein shocks retaining the leafs will feel significantly better. Coilovers just not necessary for the street.

Noveske

Thanks for all the replies. Bilsteins it is.

apex26

Guys, I just got new T1 bars today (1/2 price), so was looking into T1 springs and shocks. LG sells their coilovers for about the same as the T1 leafs and shocks, it seems. Looked and can't find used T1 stuff anywhere. If the cost turns out to be the same for shocks & springs, go LG coilovers? One concern is that I'm close enough to Phoenix, so would get them to set it up, and they're proven experts with the T1 package.

strano@stranoparts.com

Agree on all of this. My cars, Koni and a Strano 33mm front bar. Leaf springs are actually quite good. Light and offer roll control vs. a coil spring of like wheel rate.

Depending on the model car would likely recommend an upgrade on springs to Hyperco Track front, maybe a track or sport rear (stock might be fine too). But ONLY after you run good shocks and a well chosen sway bar setup to see if you need to bother.

This is the kind of thing I do all day, every day and I'm happy to discuss options with you. I have various things available. KW, MCS, JRZ, Ridetech, QA1 and Viking on the "coil-over" side. Koni, Bilstein, Ridetech on the shock side. I have a lot of sway bar options, including ones I do to my specification. Aside from Strano bars, I have Hotchkis, Pfadt, Eibach, etc.

strano@stranoparts.com

Should also mention.. I also for a while had a '12 GS myself. And it has a particularly soft front spring/bar combination when compared to the rear. So a front spring change along WITH a front bar change is a good idea if not saddled by rules that keep you from that. If you look to autocross in an SCCA A-Street or SSR class you can't change the front spring legally, and for those cars in particular we offer a bar for just that purpose to help the soft front spring.

Solofast

Listen to Sam.. He will get you a national level class setup without you having to try to tune it all by yourself.

Unless someone is really experienced in setting up a car and knows what they are doing they are most likely just to make a mess of it and then you'll end up with a car that is not only slow, but it's hard to drive and you'll develop bad habits trying to drive around what is a poor handling car in the first place.

zrtman1

I had a base C5 with 120k on suspension.. went with LG G2 because I needed shocks and wanted springs for future hpde days. Using the C6 Z51 sways. LG specs them for what your looking to do with them - they are not off the shelf - they are built to order. Biggest thing for me is if I want to do something different in the future I can have them re valved and change spring rates if needed. I think I am running a 800 front spring but it rides pretty decent and is fun at VIR and CMP. Rides wayyy better than my old C4 with Z07 package. Bolt on and go - no thinking. Lg is very good if you have questions...

l98tpi

I've had good service out of QA1 shocks. I have ran the double adjustables on my C4 for 3yrs without issue.

SargeZ06

Sam

Whats a better upgrade for stock suspension? Bar or shocks?

Alignment is Fr:Camber -2.55, caster 6.58, Toe -.16. Rear: Camber -1.28, toe 0.28.

I drive the car at it's limit. I've talked to you a while back before this alignment about Bilsteins and you had me focus on the alignment. Car drives 100% better with these numbers.

Center to exit just starting to roll into throttle:

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Phoenix is a dealer of ours and I would imagine Joe would hook you up with both parts and install if you wanted them to.

apex26

That's good to know because Phoenix needs to corner balance and align it anyway.

conradb

Definitely go with new dampers on leaf springs for your applications. I only just last month switched to aFe Johnny O'Connell coilovers for track work after working my way up over a year for road racing.

Might I recommend Doug Rippie's custom-valved Bilstein dampers? I actually have my old set if you're interested in buying them only ~6mo used. Send me a PM.