The standard suspension set up on the 323 GT-R is pretty good for most. since my car is more focussed towards track work, I have extensively modified the suspension to suit, which makes it a little too extreme for use on rough roads!
One of the best modifications on the handling front was the Cusco Adjustable Pillow Ball Top Mounts. These replace the standard mounting points for the top of the struts. The standard mounts have a rubber bush, whilst the Cusco items use a spherical bearing, which really tightens up the suspension. In addition to this, the top mount is adjustable, to allow the camber of the wheels to be altered.
I have had these fitted to the front of the car since I bought it, and after a lot of searching and patience, I managed to find a matching pair for the rear!
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Next stage of the modifications was to locate some upgraded springs and dampers. The first units I had were Mazdaspeed Struts with Sustec Springs. The Mazdaspeed struts are considerably stiffer than the stock ones, making the ride much firmer. The Sustec springs lower the car around 60mm, although the Cusco mounts raise the front by about 15mm, meaning the rear sits lower than the front.
I decided that as good as this set up was, I really wanted some Coilovers to allow me to experiment with ride heights and spring rates. After some time searching in Japan, I tracked down a set of El Sprts Coilovers, fitted with Eibach springs. These use a replaceable insert damper, meaning they are rebuildable if the damper wears! The Eibach springs are standard 2.5 inch diameter, so changes can be made quickly and easily.
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For best handling, it is important that the bodyshell remains as stiff as possible to allow the suspension to function correctly. I fitted an OMP Roll Cage to the car to help stiffen it as well as provide important protection in the event of a crash. To stiffen the shell even further, I added a pair of Cusco Strut Braces. These ietms are light weight, and much stronger than the original items.
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After reading through the information on the Whiteline web site, I decided to purchase their uprated Anti Roll Bars and the Castor / Anti Lift kit. The Anti Roll Bars reduce body roll during cornering, and help to maintain even loading on the tyres. The front is a heavy duty fixed item, complete with uprated mounting bushes, and I also fitted uprated end link bushes. The rear unit is an adjustable balde type, which has 3 settings to allow the handling balance to be quickly altered.
The Castor / Anti Lift Kit alters the front suspension geometry to provide more castor and reduce the front end lift during acceleration.
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