Thread: Opinions wanted from those with AGX and Road Magnet setup

Hi,

I have spent the last few weeks going through ShawnB's suspension thread (thanks for all the good info). Given that Hyperco GenII's are damned near impossible to find, I have basically decided to go with a road magnet and kyb agx setup. Yes, I know that people say the CSK's are better etc... but I dont drive on the track or weld and a set of AGX's are available for free.

I am driving a 1992 Sentra GXE with a recently rebuilt sr20de and GT28RS turbo so I am especially interested in opinions from people with B13's.

Before I seal the deal and order a set of RM's, I wanted to get peoples opinion about the harshness of this setup as a daily driver. I am old now (30), married, and will honestly probably only use this car to drive to work, go around town, occasional drag strip, and maybe an autocross someday. I dont think I will drive it on the track, I would prefer to just race go-carts and not take the financial risk of destroying my daily driver.

So how jarring are they? I have had AGX/GC and D2's (7k/5k) in the past. I felt that both of those were tolerable when I was 25 but at this point I would like something a little softer.

I appreciate the input, there is a lot of great info on here but it seems like all the suspension experts are using the cars in situations that I am really not concerned with. Thank again.

Nate

I don't have any direct experience with the Hyperco springs, but I have RoadMagnets on my daily driven B13 with KYB AGX struts.

I always hear the RoadMagnet springs ride a little stiffer than the Hyperco springs (for obvious reasons). For this reason I've said in that past that those looking for a softer ride should consider the Hyperco over the RoadMagnet springs.

I've since done more experimenting on my daily driver and have changed my stance on the matter (and had a few PMs with people that I've since deleted explaining this). The RoadMagnet springs are plenty soft for all daily driving needs. I would recommend them to my grandparents. No joke. They feel only the tiniest bit stiffer than stock. I can't imagine what the Hyperco springs would be like. Softer than stock? Which is possible. I know the BMW "stage 3" progressive racing springs for the e30 make it ride softer than stock even though they ultimately have a spring rate many times stiffer than stock.

The overwhelming contributor to the stiffness of a Hyperco or RoadMagnet suspension is the KYB AGX strut it's paired with. On their softest setting, the springs are unassisted and the ride is sublime. Way too soft for my daily driving. On their next setting they are probably perfect for you and many others. I ride them on their 3rd setting and it gives a "stiff" ride that I'm sure most people would avoid if they could (but nothing as bone rattling as a Megan's suspension if you've experienced one of them). I've never used them on their 4th (last) setting but I can only imagine it would prove stiff enough for semi-serious track duty.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

Side note: Stiffening a suspension by altering damper settings is not the right way to do it and that's one of the down sides of this cheaper suspension combination. It's the easy way out, leaving room for better and more expensive options.

Wasssssup Nate!!!!!
So you graduated?!?!
Btw, this is Chris, the dude who bought ur brakes off your b13 a while back.
So you were the one who bought the b13 on cl?

Anywho, the roadmagnets are nothing to brag about, but they get the job done for a daily driver vehicle. It rides a little stiffer then stock, but not much. I had mines paired w/ agx's.

Whats up man? I just graduated, got a job in Virginia working as a NASA contractor, bought the sentra, and am moving in two weeks. It has been hectic. I got that one of craigslist... I was gonna build my own but when I saw a 4-door turbo done right I figured Id be stupid to pass it up.

Glad to hear these springs arent THAT stiff. The rates are pretty high compared to most other drop springs, that is why I was concerned. And a lot of people on hte forum, particularly older folks like myself, have commented that it is a bit harsh for a daily driver compared to hyperco's. I really wish I could take a ride in someones before I purchase but that may not be an option.

Thanks for the feedback guys! I appreciate it.

nate

I put RM Gen 2's and AGX's on my last NX2000. Prior to that I had driven the car for about 3 years on stock springs/struts. I wanted the RM's over the Hypercoils because the RM's are linear and the Hypercoils are progressive. I wanted a stiff feel.

I drove the car every day and put 12-15k miles on the RM/AGX setup, including a 1400 mile road trip and other shorter trips. I never thought the springs were too stiff. Actually my first reaction after install was that they didn't feel as stiff as I thought they would. I ran the AGX's at 3 front 6 rear.

Cruising down a straight freeway this setup feels nice, almost stock-like. In turns there is wayyyy less body roll compared to stock. Tons of fun with sticky tires. Rough roads and speed bumps kind of suck though. You have to be very aware of the road surface with this setup, which I personally think is worth it but some people may not.

I would definitely have that setup again, although I think if I spring for springs, I may try Hypercoils this time around just because of crappy roads. Like you mentioned though, they are not easy to find.

For reference when I mention having the AGX dampers on settings 1, 2, 3 and 4 this is what I'm really talking about:

Setting 1
Front 1, Rear 2

Setting 2
Front 2, Rear 4

Setting 3
Front 3, Rear 6

Setting 4
Front 4, Rear 8

IIRC when I had my ground controls I had it 2F/5R on the AGX's so similar to what you would call "Setting 2".

The car currently has Progress springs on it with GR2's. Despite all of the complaints on the forum about this (and similar) setups, I find it to be a pretty comfortable ride and cant recall bottoming out the suspension driving around town. And trust me, Honolulu roads are the WORST you will see in the industrialized world... LOL.

Did you put in the disclaimer?


Does that mean you are against an AGX/RM setup? Would you endorse a CSK with stock springs setup instead? I have considered that as well. The car is plenty stiff already, I dont feel like I really need to make it any stiffer but most of the spring options available seem to have pretty high rates.

Out of curiousity, what setting do you DD on?

No I am not against it. It is a cheap combination that works well on the street. It is heads and shoulders above the stock suspension. Just realize that it's stiffness adjustability is in the damping settings, and that's a bit backwards.

If you'd like me to get more into it I can.

If you have the budget and the need for a CSK setup then that would be preferable, but I wouldn't recommend that type of strut setup with a stock spring. No way. I don't see the point. I'd say the RM or Hyperco at the least.

Do not be afraid of a stiff spring. A stiff spring is going to be much more forgiving than a "stiff" strut.

I set the fronts at 3 and the rears at 6 and daily drove that way for about a year. It gave me the control I wanted and I didn't turn them up for my first track session in March because I felt the springs were well controlled and the stiffness was good. I spent that year wishing the car were softer on the street, but I didn't change the settings because I had other things going on and I liked the control and lack of roll.

After the track session in March I put the front and rear at 1 at the suggestion of a friend who said it would make a huge difference. I never would have thought in my life the settings would do so much to change the behavior of the struts. There is a huge difference between each setting. At 1 in front and in the back the car was a completely different animal. The ride was very supple. It floated a bit more than I liked and the control I liked was gone but it soaked up bumps and potholes again like the OEM suspension used to, maybe better. The whole time I thought the springs were the main cause of the lack of roll, when it was the struts all along. That's why I've changed my story with the RoadMagnet/Hyperco debate.


My car has been off the road for a long time, but it's almost fixed and when I daily it again I plan on giving 2 up front and 4 in back a try and see if I get some of the control back that I like and keep some of the cushy ride. The power I have now might dictate stiffer settings though.

I know you have a 94 Ben. I have a 200SX with KYB AGX and Hyperco springs.

I use 3 front and 6 rear for most DD, it is not comfortable, but as you said, I like that control I have with that setting. 2 front and 4 rear is supposed to be closest to stock for my struts. I have not ridden it with them in a long time, but I will change it and ride it tomorrow!