H&R Springs now available for the Fiesta

[eRic]

Originally Posted by Spatakula

Being that the Fiesta is on H&R's leads me to believe that there is a ton of threads left on the coils for more low. I didn't get a good chance to scoop out the setup. Maybe the Automagic transmission shoo'd me away from getting a hard look at it. :P

-spatakula

that's funny you mentioned that. I saw the H&R Fiesta at AutoRama -- it was unlocked and the girl with the keys said I could sit in it if I wanted to, but I said "thanks" but declined when I saw it was an automatic

[Chan]

1.5 inches is too aggressive of a drop for the stock shocks, need some aftermarket solutions soon.

[eRic]

H&R's coil-over kit includes struts and shocks matched with the springs.

[Casca]

Have a distaste for H&R, but that was mainly from riding in peoples cars that choose to go the cheap route and only put in lowering springs...usually H&R. Ordered the H&R coilovers, will post pics when I install. Just wish I could get camber plates to go with it.


Anyone able to get torque values for all the hardware involved with installing coilovers? Really don't want to go with gud & tight on suspension work and I doubt the kit will come with much in the way of instructions.

[FiestaFaction-1]

What you normally see when a new model is introduced, is that a lot of companies will come out with springs. Which, without a matching set of dampers, is pretty worthless for anything other than style IMO.

Hopefully, we'll see a few decent kits arrive for the Fiesta soon though.

[eRic]

back in 1993 I bought H&R Sport springs and used them with stock dampers for some time. then got some KYB GR-2 struts to reduce the "pogo stick" effect on my Saturn SC.

[FiestaFaction-1]

That 'pogo sticking' is not conducive to a good handling car. And, many times the springs will cause the stock dampers to wear out and/or leak prematurely.

But, they do make the car look better.

There's nothing inherently wrong with doing 'just' springs. But, it's certainly not optimal. It's usually done as a stop gap until matched dampers either become available, and/or affordable for the owner.

To make a car handle better on a limited budget, upgrading the tires will prove more successful than lowering springs IMO.

[BRGT350]

I run H&R rears on my Mustang and Hypercoil for the fronts. Once matched to a proper set of dampers, the springs work very well. I am actually a little under dampened in the front, but going to the full race-spec Bilsteins is pricey.

[Casca]

I went with a Ground Control set-up on my BMW. Basically koni dampers, eibach springs, GC camber/castor plates and M3 lower control arms. Then I got Hotchkis sway bars. It is a very stiff ride and it was not cheap. I track maybe 2 times a year at most and if I had it to do over again, I would have chosen a more street friendly spring rate and probably kept the OEM sway bars. Since adding the Hotchkis sways....oh boy does my car stay flat around a corner....I cannot make my car lean on the streets. I think it will break traction or lift before it leans. On a nice mountain road, it is a joy, but not all roads are nice. I will probably be getting a different spring rate set-up to lessen the harsh ride and M3 sway bars or just go back to stock e90 sways if it is still too harsh after the new springs.

I am sure any coilover kit will make the car more stiff then stock and I am fine if H&R's kit does not go anywhere near a race set-up stiffness. I don't know if mress on post #14 actually has cars with stiff suspension and knows what he is asking for, but for me...after making my BMW's ride so stiff, girls I date complain about it...no, I do not want my daily driver car being anywhere near that level. I am getting coilovers for lowering the Fiesta to the exact height I want and for better handling over stock, which I think the H&R's will work fine for.

Also, just got off the phone with tirerack and it's going to take 1 month before they get the H&R kit and then mail it to me. I guess they haven't actually made any for production yet or they just make em as they are ordered like Ground Control. And even though they show two H&R coilover options on Tirerack, it's the same part # . I choose "street performance" over "premium", but according to the sales guy...it's the same.


Pretty sure H&R does not make dampers. I searched around and looks like they use Bilsteins. Anyone know for sure?

[mress]

I just could not make the leap of faith to buy the H&R coil-over kit. I have time and will wait for another kit that is being developed. I did install the the (non super) sport springs that H&R offers. They are ok and ride fine. I also bought OZ Ultraleggra wheels 15X7 because liteness rules. I am not interested in a coilover kit that is street friendly, I need to be able to scale the car and adjust the polar moment. I can then determine the ballast and or fuel load plus driver weights and see what works best. The H&R springs are only in it to provide the look I need for photos to give the sponsors. Because the car is so new to the U.S. I am basically stuck in slow motion. I think the new Fiesta will be a fun club sport toy though!