AutoX Gurus: Turner J-Stock or H&R Race/Bilstein Sport?

[Bimmerman325i]

As the title says, I'm debating heavily between the Turner J-Stock shocks and springs and the popular Bilstein Sport shocks and H&R Race springs. I use the car as a spirited driver and auto-x car, and am beginning to go to more DEs as well. I do not club race the car or really track it often at all...yet.

I have another car for a daily driver, but I do like using the E30 occasionally as a DD, so I wouldn't like a suspension that'll destroy me and the car. I am planning on going E30 M3 5 lug in the future, and am waiting to go to a coilover setup then.

Which setup should I go for considering I mainly Auto-X with the occasional DE? Are the J-Stock springs too stiff for Auto-X on 195 Azenis? I am not planning on running R comps for quite some time.

Thanks in advance!

[BMWLA]

Me? I would go with the H&R Bilsien combination.

[Jean]

J-stock spring/shock combo is probably better valved to work together vs. bisltein sports and h&r race imho. It wouldn't be too stiff with fairly high profile azenis (i am assuminh you are talking about 195 60 14 size), since this isn't your dd.

[DSP74]

Are the J-Stock springs too stiff for Auto-X on 195 Azenis?

Thanks in advance!

Yes

[Bimmerman325i]

Thanks for the replies. I am running 195/60/R14 Azenis. I've read that the J Stock is better for road race/DE but haven't heard anything about Auto-x. I do already have three way adjustable front and rear swaybars from the Eibach Pro-Kit (current suspension + Bilstein HD).

One other option that literally just occurred to me: would it make any sense to use the J stock shocks with the softer H&R Races? I know the JS shocks are valved for stiff springs, but are they a better match for the H&Rs than the stock-valved Sports?

[driver08]

I have been pleased with my H&R sport/Billie sport for several years now. I use the car for autox and the occasional track day. But i do have to say the combo is pretty harsh on. (street tires are 205-50-15) I don't know if you plan to add camber plates but for some reason when i did the ride quality got a bit worse.

[Charlie]

Jstocks are going to overwhelm 195 street tires. They overwhelm 205 R compounds on my car at autoxes currently.

-Charlie

[Bimmerman325i]

Thanks, that's what I was wondering.

How about using the Jstock Shocks with the H&R Race Springs? Would the higher rate valving work better with those springs or would I be paying double for not much gain if any?

[Hallen]

I think the J-Stock struts are also somewhat modified so they won't work with Race springs (stoke length shortened?). I wouldn't go that way anyway since they really aren't valved properly to work with those softer springs. Unless you really know your setup stuff and have done the stubby pencil work, I would recommend staying with a proven combination.

I use the HR Race and Billy Sport combo. It is reasonably stiff and somewhat uncomfortable on the street. It is all in what you get used to though. It depends on the streets and it depends on your comfort level if you like them on the street or not. My car is a track rat so it doesn't matter to me. I think the body roll is a bit more than I expected I would have with the HR/Billy setup, but that probably has a lot to do with me still having the stock sways on the car.

The J-Stock will give you quicker steering responses and a sharper feel for sure during autocross. However, if you are not all that experienced, chances are the HR/Billy setup is enough for now.

[Skafrog]

If you work out your swaybar / camber combination, why would you not choose J-stocks? You will be buying a setup similar to that later.
Unhook your rear bar, add m3 links to a cabrio car with any special mods you can think of in the way of drilling new holes, and try that.

[Danny]

Thought about GC coilovers?

Only a few hundred bucks more.

[e30pq]

I say GC coilovers and Koni SA.

This sport is addictive. I started with Bilstein shocks and Eibach ProKit springs. The car drove great on the street and better than stock at the autocross but still not great.

Suspension upgrades are about compromise. If you already have a daily driver and you want to spend more time autocrossing and DE you might consider doing one really good suspension upgrade.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=107147

[Bimmerman325i]

I'm considering a range of options, from TCK D/As to Bilstein Sports/H&R Race until I go 5 lug. Thanks for all the input guys. I am planning on eventually(when I have enough money) pick up an AST setup from Vorshlag when I go 5 lug, so this current suspension would have to tide me over until then.

I'm leaning more and more to either the Billy/Race or the GC/TCKR D/A setup; from what I've read and from this thread the Jstock is too much for my car right now. I know there's a rather large price gap, but the adjustability of the GC/TCKR is a plus. The good part is either can be transferred to e30m3 5 lug easily enough, Billy more so than TCK, until I can afford ASTs.

As is though, the Billy HD and Eibach ProKit isn't nearly responsive or stiff enough.

[Hick]

it would be fun to try J stocks.

ive got my car where it needs to be for the autox with H&R race bil sports plus a bit more. It works very well on a 318is

[Jean]

I'm considering a range of options, from TCK D/As to Bilstein Sports/H&R Race until I go 5 lug. Thanks for all the input guys. I am planning on eventually(when I have enough money) pick up an AST setup from Vorshlag when I go 5 lug, so this current suspension would have to tide me over until then.

I'm leaning more and more to either the Billy/Race or the GC/TCKR D/A setup; from what I've read and from this thread the Jstock is too much for my car right now. I know there's a rather large price gap, but the adjustability of the GC/TCKR is a plus. The good part is either can be transferred to e30m3 5 lug easily enough, Billy more so than TCK, until I can afford ASTs.

As is though, the Billy HD and Eibach ProKit isn't nearly responsive or stiff enough.

Exactly, H&R Sports or Eibach Pro is OK for occasional autocross but both are WAY too soft...

See if you can find someone local with various suspension setups ?