Wringing out the new suspension

alredline04 · 07-01-2009, 06:41 PM

To fill everyone in on where the car stands right now.

A few weeks ago I got the privilege of being the first Saturn Ion to sport the new Pedders Xa coilovers. I have been very pleaseed so far. This coilover set is unique among other suspension options because it has remote damper adjustment from inside the engine bay and trunk for the rears. Due to our unique upper strut mount we have not had this available in the past. Pedders solution works great.

I have been daily driving the car for the past few weeks and I can say that the ride is far better than the B&G spring I had on the car for the past 4 years. I would expect the ride to be harsh with the spring rates being nearly double what I had, but the ride is very good. The harsh Michigan roads are absorbed far better that the lowering springs. There is an occasional bounce over uneven/rolling surfaces. Nothing that annoys me and something that I can live with for the performance gains.

I have been looking forward to putting them to the test on the auto-x course. I got my chance this past Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday me and my co-driver put the car through its paces on the r-comps and it was a very good thing. The car stays flat and pretty neutral. I need to play around with everything a bit more to try and dial in some oversteer. I also had the front end set too low. The front tires polished some of the wheel well

. An easy fix. My raw times were great, but I could not stay away from the cones. I have become programed to drive with the understeer over the years and found myself turning into the apex cones a lot. Normally I would turn in early and the car would push out and avoid the apex cone, even with the r-comps. That is not the case anymore. It's almost point and shoot.

On Sunday I ran a different event on my street tires. A similar story with turn in, but oversteer was abound. Easily controlled though.

For those looking just to ride low they will go lower than springs witha better ride.

Here are a few pictures. Forgive the poor quality. I will try to get more Friday.

all4glh · 07-01-2009, 08:30 PM

Awesome!!!!!!!!!

SCblkRL · 07-02-2009, 06:22 AM

you sir...completely and utterly suck!!!! I've been waiting for word on these and here it is.....AWESOME!!!

what type of adjustablity does it offer?

daythecountrydied21 · 07-02-2009, 07:16 AM

This is gonna be a stupid question. but coilovers replace our whole strut and everything? or no?
Any set release date or pricing?

Watts-Up · 07-02-2009, 09:31 AM

^Yes, they're shocks and springs with an adjustable spring perch, so you can set your ride height anywhere you want, and easily change it at any time. Also have the REMOTE adjustable dampening Al spoke of

Al that is awesome news. I'm glad these are working well so far. The dampening is double adjustable correct? That is very cool that they found a solution to having them remotely adjustable.

sloancallaway · 07-02-2009, 10:03 AM

So where and when can we buy these

daythecountrydied21 · 07-02-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watts-Up

^Yes, they're shocks and springs with an adjustable spring perch, so you can set your ride height anywhere you want, and easily change it at any time. Also have the REMOTE adjustable dampening Al spoke of

Al that is awesome news. I'm glad these are working well so far. The dampening is double adjustable correct? That is very cool that they found a solution to having them remotely adjustable.

Oh ok. So instead of lets say, buying koni front and rear struts for almost 500 and then 200 for springs on top of that, you can get this direct replacement and not have to worry about stock struts blowing out if you don't use koni's and then have the ease of adjustability? I always wondered why coilovers were so expensive now I see they're really not if the above is the case. Even at a grand which I see most going for, if they last that's well worth it..

Watts-Up · 07-02-2009, 01:16 PM

Yeah, you get the whole ball of wax so to speak. Most of the coilovers out for us and the 'balt are either junk, or not tuned well for the RL. That is why I'm excited about these. The great thing about a good set of coilovers is that they're so versatile. You can adjust the dampening (in and out on a good set), adjust the ride height... and have the feel you desire, from a smooth and comfortable street ride, to stiff responsive track ride, to slammed for show, and everything in between. With just lowering springs, you get what they give and that's it.

daythecountrydied21 · 07-02-2009, 01:44 PM

Coilovers tend to have the longevity of regular shocks/struts or shoter/longer?
May actually have to save up some cash for when these come out.

alredline04 · 07-02-2009, 01:57 PM

Rebound and Damping are together and has 30 levels of adjustment. I am running 24 front and 18 rear on the street at the moment. I tried full high front and 15 rear at the auto-x, but am still not sure on those settings yet.

The shock bodies are threaded and height is adjusted by turning the shock down into the clasp (the part that bolts to the knuckle). That allows you to keep the preload you have on the springs.

We will be putting these on a shock dyno this Sunday and I should have some numbers to post.

They should be available in about 2 months and the target price is around $1200. Check out the Pedders website. Is is the same kit as the Cobalt's and HHR's. Just a modified strut mount for the Ion.

Give me a few minutes and I will get some pictures of where the damper adjustment is.