Battle Magazine — March 1997

Ideally, you would install shock absorbers at the same time. But money is tight. Shocks alone would be the more sensible suspension upgrade, yet they cost far more than springs. With around ¥50,000, changing both springs and shocks is simply unrealistic. But don’t despair: there are other parts to upgrade besides the suspension, such as the brakes. It is easy to focus on suspension first and overlook brake components.

More makers now sell shocks as a complete four-piece set for one car. Ohlins is one example; many such sets cost close to ¥200,000. That is expensive for shocks alone, but the performance potential is correspondingly high, and you should understand the value once you try them. Some foreign makers, including Ohlins and Bilstein, allow the shocks to be overhauled. An ordinary shock is finished once it wears out, but an overhaul can restore it to near-new condition…

The long-term running cost may be lower. With ¥200,000, you could spend ¥100,000 on shocks and tune other areas too. You could add springs and brake pads; with those three upgrades, the car should be reasonably ready to drive. Cusco, for example, sells a complete suspension kit with height-adjustable shocks, springs, and pillow-ball upper mounts, already assembled. That is a welcome package, priced at about ¥180,000…

At this level, extensive modifications are possible: a suspension kit, brake pads and stainless-mesh brake hoses, as well as an LSD, which is essential for drifting. An LSD limits the difference in wheel speed between the driven wheels, making it much easier to drift; on an FR car, drifting may be nearly impossible without one even if everything else is stock. Prices vary, but an LSD usually costs around ¥100,000. Installation labor is significant because it must be fitted inside the transmission or differential. Removing and installing an FR rear differential costs roughly ¥30,000 in labor. FF and 4WD installations, especially front or center LSDs, are more complex and may require removing the transmission or transfer case, with labor alone reaching ¥50,000–60,000. So even with a ¥500,000 budget, account for labor. A suspension can be installed by someone with sufficient knowledge, experience, space, and tools, but an LSD is generally beyond a beginner. Consider labor before buying parts, or the later bill may come as a nasty surprise. Plan your finances carefully…

With that budget, almost anything is possible. Even building a complete rally car for motorsport need not cost ¥1,000,000. The most expensive rally-car modification is body reinforcement: full reinforcement requires welding, so the body’s attached parts are removed, leaving the bare shell for welding. The engine and other components also have to come out; even so, reinforcement may cost around ¥300,000–400,000. Reinforcement is worthwhile even if you do not race on dirt. A car’s body twists under G-forces while cornering. When it flexes, the suspension cannot work correctly, making even a high-performance suspension ineffective. It is like fitting very stiff suspension to a body as soft as konnyaku: the body moves instead of the suspension. A rigid, brick-like body lets the suspension deliver its full performance. With this much room in the budget, you can also fit a roll bar and begin engine tuning…