BC Coilovers vs Stock 2002 ACR Struts

Have some questions about how to achive better handling and stopping power using different springs, upgrading to coilovers, questions on swaybars, bushings, different rotors, pads, ect... Having any steering problems or questions about steering racks, tie rods, tie rod ends, ect... ask these questions here.
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Adam K.
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BC Coilovers vs Stock 2002 ACR Struts

Post by Adam K. » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:22 am

I'm just trying to get some opinions here.

My current setup is 2002 Neon ACR adjustable struts with 2004 SRT-4 Springs.

I am not interested in lowering the car as I live in the NYC area. But looking for better handling. I'm going to replace all the bushings with poly ones this winter.

Would BC be a good upgrade or not worth the money?

I own a 2011 Mazda 3 GT and it handles great. It almost feels like it handles better then the Neon. But the neon is so much more stiffer.

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thttxboy
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Post by thttxboy » Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:52 pm

I'm pretty sure the mazda handles better then your neon. Mazdas have a beautiful feel to them. Anyways really any coilver set up will be better then stock because they are designed for handling. Best thing about them is u can change ur mind about height whenever u want and adjust them

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Post by occasional demons » Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:24 pm

thttxboy wrote: Best thing about them is u can change ur mind about height whenever u want and adjust them
Provided you keep the adjusters/threads lubed, and protected from the elements....

IIRC, one member here suggested putting shock boots over the adjustment threads. Just something to consider before they are installed.
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Olha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester

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bone-yard-racing
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Post by bone-yard-racing » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:57 pm

thttxboy wrote:I'm pretty sure the mazda handles better then your neon. Mazdas have a beautiful feel to them. Anyways really any coilver set up will be better then stock because they are designed for handling. Best thing about them is u can change ur mind about height whenever u want and adjust them

Wrong. Sorry to be so blunt but Ive been over this several times. The dynamics (acr struts) are awesome the cheap coilovers are mostly junk shocks.

OP my suggestion would be to keep the SRT springs and get yourself the Hotchkis sway bars that will keep the height the same and liven the handling up a bit.
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Adam K.
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Post by Adam K. » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:11 am

Thanks for all the input. I was definitely putting in some new sway bars when I get the bushings.

My car is a 2001 R/T with about 70,000 on the body and about 10k on the SRT-4 Engine. The car is basically a full SRT-4 swap except for interior.

But the sway bars, bushings, and most components are all stock. I put in some ACR struts that I pulled out of 2002 ACR with 900 miles on it. I put some SRT-4 springs, SRT-4 Lower Control Arms, and DC braces front and back when doing the swap.

I'm actually running 225-45-17 with a 35mm offset wheel on the dynamic struts no problem. My rear fenders are rolled and could easily fit something wider in. The amount of power the car is producing it could use something with a bigger footprint. But the Dynamics are not going to take anything wider then what I have now. So that so one reason to get coil overs.

It's been sitting around for about 5 years and taken it out once or twice a year. In the mean time I had a 2006 Mazda Speed 6 for 3 years, A 2010 Mazda CX7 for two years (Wives Car), a 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 for a year, and now a 2011 Mazda 3. Everything but the CX-7 seems to handle better. I don't expect for it to ever have the feeling of the Speed 6. That car had the best street handling I have even driven. I'm sure the AWD helped a lot in that aspect.

But now it's time to put a little love into the Neon. Money is not the biggest issue but at the same time I'm trying to get the best bang for the buck and build it in stages. The most important first.

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