AtlM5

How much better is the A-spec than my 2008 auto suspension? Or compared to Aftermarket. Can someone compare ride quality and performance. Does $500 for an A-Spec kit sound like a good deal and would it be a good upgrade from stock?

JMillerUA6

iTrader: (1)

For $100 more you could get the Neuspeed Supercup Kit with Neuspeed Sport Springs and Koni adjustable struts.

AtlM5

How hard is the ride? I can take harshness to a certain point atleast.

tsxrhot1

newspeed is good......

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

It's $700 now.

JMillerUA6

iTrader: (1)

LOL.....when did that happen?

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

When they realized they were undercharging this entire time for a great suspension....June 1st I think.

I hate cars

A-spec is great for a daily driver. You will notice the extra firmness but it's not enough that passengers will notice. It gets rid of some of the understeer. IMO, it's a very balanced setup. I'm not sure if the same kind of R&D goes into the aftermarket setups.

surlynkid

iTrader: (1)

i can promise you that the same level of R&D does not go into aftermarket setups. i am a chemical engineer and work for large japanese company. i like neuspeed and all those folks as i used to use them for my autocross cars, but for a properly engineered system for the TL, the A-Spec is the correct one. it may not be what everyone wants in terms of stiffness or ride lowering, but it is very well engineered.

I hate cars

Exactly what I was getting at. It may not have the best "drop" or be as stiff as some want but for those that are interested in hitting the track, I think it's the best option out there.

Off topic but my uncle was a chemical engineer in Houston too, before he went off the deep end lol.

chill_dog

MichaelBenz saw significantly more track time in his TL than anyone else I'm aware of, and he had the ASPEC suspension. He could've easily gotten any aftermarket set up, but choose to keep the ASPEC...and he did quite well, too.

djbonsu

iTrader: (3)

^^+1....i agree 100%!! the a-spec suspension is very well engineered and honestly probably handles the BEST out of all aftermarket suspensions....i loved the way it handle but hated the looks of it....im sure one day ill go back to it....

I hate cars

Not only that but he was running slicks which put more strain on the suspension than it was ever designed for. That's enough for me.

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

The compromise from stock with the A-spec kit is mild and barely perceptible.

The performance increases could be considered the same.

We find a lot of people looking for something more than the A-spec after a while.

the-carbon-comet

A-Spec FTW!!!

I hate cars

Everything is about compromise but I feel the a-spec will do as good or better than most aftermarket springs on the track.

It's not just about absolute spring rate, it's about the balance.

AtlM5

What about a good performance coil-over setup with decent ride quality, because if what heel-toe said is true, then I'd rather get soemthing else.?

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

I think the A-spec is a great suspension, especially if you do all the proper chassis bracing. But most of my customers (I do have a lot of them too) find it too mild and want more of a drop after a while. You really need to think for yourself on this one and decided what YOU want out of the car! Not what everyone else thinks is the best. Because we all want slightly different things. I am working on a system that will help people make decisions. It is in the very VEYR early stages, but check it out!

It's called "My Parts Advisor." It is part of the Heeltoe Priority Response Center:
http://www.heeltoeauto.com/support/i...d=2&parentid=0

SweetJazz

The A-Spec suspension performs great but I just wish my rear end was 0.5" lower and the car would be perfect. I'm considering the Tein H-Tech.

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

I'm a big fan of the Eibach/Koni combo....adjustable too. The best compromise of looks and performance for my tastes.



I had initially considered the A-Spec, but in the end I wanted the option of adjustability and a mildly lower stance.

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

even at $700 the supercupkit blows the aspec suspension out the window

I am speaking of the neuspeed supercup kit with sport springs

here is why
1. damper is adjustible (meaning you can go from soft (street) to stiff (track))
2. the perch has 5 adjustible points (which means you can move the seat of the spring up and down 5mm at a time)
3. koni have a lifetime warranty
4. this setup has received rave reviews from all members
5. yellow just looks cooler than black

MobTownTL

iTrader: (1)

just for reference, what exactly comes in a aspec suspension set up? shocks and springs? or one or the other? i mean is there a way to mix and match with the aspec? like buy aftermarket springs to lower it more if you would like?

I hate cars

Nothing you mentioned increases performance.

Firmer dampers don't mean better performance. Too firm and you take away performance. A-spec is already optimized with it's compression and rebound settings from the factory.

Height adjustment is nice but really, how many times do you adjust? Most people set them and leave them.

Konis are great, I think a-spec springs with Konis are about the best street setup out there. With the recent tuning I've been doing around courses here I've actually picked up performance by going from 1.5 turns from full soft to .5 turns. In other words, my car sticks to the road better in the softer settings.

Rave reviews from the average member here doesn't mean much. Most are more concerned with the drop and the look than performance. Most measure performance by stiffness and drop, rather than real performance tests.

I find it funny how the one guy who took first place in points over the course of a year in autocross did so with a-spec and a RSB when any aftermarket shock and spring combo can be used and was being used by the competition.

In short, a-spec is for real performance.

Aftermarket is for people more into looks than performance.

I hate cars

A-spec is springs and shocks.

I'm running Koni shocks and a-spec springs and I'm very happy. A-specs with the Konis in the stock height in the rear, lower height the front will give it a very nice look but not too low. It retains most of the suspension travel, isn't too stiff, but provides a nice improvement over stock.

If I planned on racing the car every weekend at Willow Springs it would definately need more spring but for a great compromise, you can't go wrong with a-spec.

sixsixfour

Im glad I found this thread. Been thinking of a mild upgrade for the ride.

deygotbigga

I'm looking for suspension as well for my base model TL don't know if I want to go a-spec or type-s, and what to know the difference guys. I already have H&R front (28mm) and rear (22mm) sway bars (which everyone should do, changing front sway bar makes huge difference) and now my car has no body roll just looking for better tuned suspension set up between the two.

surlynkid

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=I hate cars;11029203]

I find it funny how the one guy who took first place in points over the course of a year in autocross did so with a-spec and a RSB when any aftermarket shock and spring combo can be used and was being used by the competition.

QUOTE]

since A-spec is a factory option installed at the dealer, was he able to run stock, or did he have to run street prepared? in either case, what class?

MobTownTL

iTrader: (1)

that sounds nice! few questions. did you go with the AT or MT aspec suspension. and how much of a drop did it give you? cuz one of the main reasons i need suspension done is i have new rims on the way, and so i need that drop to make it look good but i do also care about performance

Red Voodoo

So far, I'm quite impressed with the S-tech and Tokico Blue combo. The slight increase in stiffness was much needed, without being overbearing. I think a RSB will tighten things up a little bit more, which will result in the perfect balance. The drop was moderate as well. I'm not expecting anything more than a 1.5-in drop after everything settles.

I hate cars

[quote=surlynkid;11029649]It wasn't stock class but I don't remember the name of the class. I did ask him specifically if springs, shocks, and swaybars were allowed and he said yes. His name is Michael Benz, there's lot of info on his setup and racing season.

chill_dog

I forget the class, too (he posted it on here at some point...seach the photo gallery for his autox threads), but it wasn't stock due to the SC and cat deletes.