Aftermarket suspension: springs / coilovers

Is there even a choice of spring rates among the available springs or coil-over kits? I think moving the handling needle from negative to neutral will require a stiffer rear ARB and playing with corner weights.

 

Here's the weight distribution Harry (of Harry's Garage on YouTube) measured for a British SE:

 

So 56/44 distribution? Does the test vehicle have a moonroof? I'd think maybe that would skew the weight forward by some?

 

The right-hand drive SE Harry's testing has a moonroof:

 

I have ST coilovers for the SE and went with the standard spring rates that comes with the kit. They don't publish the actual spring rates either.

If you do compare the S with the SE spring sizes from KW and ST, then you will see that the front springs are in fact softer and the rear are stiffer. By how much is hard to say. They use progressive springs too.

 

I believe that the stock front springs are close to F55, the rears close to F54. A vanilla F56 coilover set is very likely to disappoint. There are some companies offering SE specific sets. Buy one of those, preferably a high quality one.
I'd love to know what the actual SE spring rates are.

 

• KW/ST is the only company that sell coilovers specifically for the SE. Both brands use the same KW springs.
• H&R springs sells a set but they are the same as the F57 convertible. The front springs are the same as the S and the rear springs have a higher spring rate.
• Eibach sells a set which use the front springs from the S and the rear springs from the F54 Clubman.

I've also tried the Eibach springs with stock dampers and the rear was too bouncy for me. Eibach uses progressive and really long springs in the rear which was a little better for handling rough roads but it was too bouncy for me over large bumps and dips in the road.

The dampers from an S should work just fine in the front of an SE and you could probably use the rear dampers from a Clubman in the back. I don't think anyone sells just dampers for the SE.

 

Clubman dampers are way too long for an SE. Unless you are lifting one?
Clubman 625/408mm
F56 563/373mm
The SE dampers are slightly longer than vanilla F56s. Lower an SE, and the vanilla F56 dampers are ideal length. Rear damping, not so much. Adjustables should be OK, though. Just add an extra click or two.
Eventually, we'll get a wider choice of SE tailored stuff.

Bilstein has SE B4s, which are their OEM replacement.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they came off the same production line...

 

ST/KW lists the rear springs for the SE as part number 2061.
https://docs.kwsuspension.de/ga-STGFw-200DP_1076-22.pdf

They also use this same spring for the F54 Clubman.
https://docs.kwsuspension.de/ga-STGFw-200BN-CA-ES_1088-22.pdf

My assumption is the dampers for the Clubman *should* work with the SE but don't know for sure.

Bilstein adding support for the SE is good news! That is good to see.

 

In response, I'm going to buy a Jeep Wrangler and slam it as low as it will go. Or maybe a Toyota Land Cruiser. I wonder how much negative camber and how much tire stretch I can have.

 

Hourses for corses

 

The f54 is from a Monroe spec sheet, the f56 from a Koni spec sheet. I've also seen a Bilstein f56 spec, which I'm sure was the same as Koni. I haven't found measurements for the SE yet. But my ruler says they are slightly longer. About 10-15mm I haven't measured them accurately, yet. Somebody is going to have to take one off and measure it properly...

Easy way to lift the front it spacers on tope of the struts. Rear you could space the shocks, then either find longer springs, or make some spacers for those, too. I wouldn't go too far. An inch of suspension lift will let you run bigger diameter tyres.

 

There is a very quick Cherokee in my autocross club.

 

I am ordering the H&R springs, hopefully the ride quality won't change too much. My daily commute has some stretches of relatively bumpy freeway and the car is already slightly bouncy.

 

Yeaaaaah bwaiiiiii