I just installed the Spec E46 damper setup on my ZHP and posted this review over in my build thread, but sharing here too. I went from a primarily stock ZHP suspension (stock shocks and struts, poly FCAB, poly RTAB, poly rear shock mounts, vorshlag spherical camber plates, M3 front sway bar) to MCS 1-way dampers with 550#/650# springs front/rear with vorshlag spherical rear shock mounts (everything else the same).
I am really impressed. I took a couple spirited drives around here on a good mix of smooth and rough roads, and I have to say, this is a great setup.
99% of the time it doesn't feel any more "harsh" than the stock ZHP suspension. But it is for sure more planted, has much less body roll, and you get really great road feel in the turns. It is very controlled over the road surfaces. The biggest thing I notice is how supple the transitions are between high-speed turns. The car no longer flops over from one loaded side to the other, it just.... shifts. It just gracefully transfers over. It's such a confident feeling. The car feels amazing in the turns.
My biggest concern was putting a system on the car that was too firm, that jarred your teeth over every bump. And that is NOT the case with this setup. The only negative experience I have with this setup is that if you traverse a bump or hole that I would say is 2" deep or more, then you'll get a hit that sounds harsh in the rear, but doesn't necessarily feel harsh, if you know what I mean. And I think this might be more likely due to the spherical rear shock mounts I installed with this kit since I dont get the same feeling from the front. The car stays controlled, it just sounds like a harsh thud, sounds harder than it would have when I had stock suspension.
But this is a small price to pay for all the upsides. With the dampers on their 8-click setting the car travels over normal road imperfections and pothole patchwork without a fuss. I don't encounter the larger hits often at all in my area. For example there's an occasional manhole cover that sits extra low in the road that I already avoided with the stock suspension that I still watch out for now. Now if you live in Detroit and have to hit those giant craters and grand canyon expansion joints every 100 yards every day, then this setup isn't for you, but then no performance setup is for you either, you need to stay stock and keep all the rubber bushings you can.
I'm super happy with this MCS suspension. I haven't even installed the Turner sways yet. I'll probably put a couple hundred more miles on before I install those, I'm really loving where the car is at right now. The sways will be more important for the HPDE on May 23/24 at Gingerman.
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