[AP1ZE1]

Rear Springs and GAZ Shocks were installed on my 05 MT with 180K on the first day of InsightFest2017 (thank you KLR3CYL and Bull Dog). At Eric Becky’s recommendation I drove it around the block over several sets of Rail Road Tracks at about 25-30 MPH. Wow, I said it is just like driving a new car (had recently driven 03 MT 41K in MI to purchase). By the second day after driving it on the Madison city streets and freeways getting back to the event (25 miles), I said this new setup is better than OEM, it is AMAZING to everyone there. The car feels so much better controlled; I can attack on-ramps and corners and switch lanes on the freeway without any worry (it is almost like driving my AP1, but with twice the MPG). I was being asked to give rides at the event with this new set-up. Scott ran out of the ones he had brought with him. I had read many of the reviews on the Forum from those who had these installed and I concur wholeheartedly. If you want to transform your car, then contact Scott (KLR3CYL). Next for me is Scott’s front springs and OEM struts after I get HA Grid Charger from his new website Killer3cylinder - Home

 

[JulianEdgar]

Pleased they're good, but it's a bit unfair comparing 180k springs and dampers with brand new ones! As in, even brand new dead-standard ones would probably be much better than the old ones. That said, the Matiz spring rate and height *are* better suited to the Insight.

 

[Balto]

Scott's springs are an absolute delight to have. Made my car feel so much more responsive, and I don't get any drag hop when I do a burnout now. Would definitely recommend!

 

[Insighful1]

I got the Matiz springs installed at Scott's shop last week. Big improvement, but if I'm being honest, could use a little more damping now in the back. If I get bored I'll get under there and inspect for leaks or pull off the stock shocks and compress them by hand to see if they're still performing their duty. I think the GAZ would be a welcome addition as the springs alone leave things slightly bouncy, altho much better than getting jack-hammered in the spine on the OEM setup!

So yeah, now just gotta figure out if I wanna blow more dough on the shocks!

 

[ADDvanced]

So bizarre. I must be the only one here that has no issues with the stock suspension.

 

[insightbrewery]

I'll throw in my vote for GAZ shocks and Scott's springs, installed them two years ago and the car rides much more like a normal car. The PO installed that Jeep Monroe mod before but left the wimpy stock springs, so it bounced all over the place. My next mod is to swap out the front springs for Scott's units.

 

[freezin4]

Pleased they're good, but it's a bit unfair comparing 180k springs and dampers with brand new ones! As in, even brand new dead-standard ones would probably be much better than the old ones. That said, the Matiz spring rate and height *are* better suited to the Insight.

Exactly. So unless we compare DogBite's improvement from the 2600 mile spring/shock feel, or from Tom's 6000 mile red car's feel to the new Scott's modified springs and GAZ shocks, we may just be comparing worn items with new items. But still, if I recall correctly, new car owners were bottoming out in their new cars back in the day.
I sure love my car's much improved feel! (My left shock was leaking and handling was borderline unsafe.)

 

[ADDvanced]

What do you guys mean by bottom out? I have had my car stuffed with two sets of skis, ski gear, 2 helmets, a dog, food, and clothing for a week long trip and it rode fine without any issues. Do you mean it actually feels like you hit the bump stops?

 

[Ecky]

I'm with ADDvanced here - still on factory shocks and springs, and I've never had an issue with them, either in handling or bottoming out. I'm certain stiffer springs would improve confidence around corners, but frankly my car already rides better when I have some weight in it.

 

[JulianEdgar]

What do you guys mean by bottom out? I have had my car stuffed with two sets of skis, ski gear, 2 helmets, a dog, food, and clothing for a week long trip and it rode fine without any issues. Do you mean it actually feels like you hit the bump stops?

It doesn't just *feel* like you are hitting the bump stops - you are. Fill your car with the load. Place a coloured marker on top of the bump stops eg rub on some chalk. Drive the car over bumps. See how the chalk mark is transferred onto the chassis rail spring mount as the bump stops have been impacted.

The only Insights where this won't happen are those that have had the rear springs replaced with stiffer and/or longer ones.

And for people who think the Matiz springs / Gaz dampers transform the handling, you're literally only about 1/3rd of the way into the improvement that is possible (and at low cost too).

 

[insightbrewery]

It doesn't just *feel* like you are hitting the bump stops - you are. Fill your car with the load. Place a coloured marker on top of the bump stops eg rub on some chalk. Drive the car over bumps. See how the chalk mark is transferred onto the chassis rail spring mount as the bump stops have been impacted.

The only Insights where this won't happen are those that have had the rear springs replaced with stiffer and/or longer ones.

And for people who think the Matiz springs / Gaz dampers transform the handling, you're literally only about 1/3rd of the way into the improvement that is possible (and at low cost too).

What's the other 2/3?

 

[JulianEdgar]

To improve handling of Insight:

- Higher and stiffer rear Matiz springs + Gaz dampers
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Higher and stiffer front springs (same propotional increases as rear) with good condition standard dampers.

After that there's air suspension, but that's a whole new ballgame in terms of cost and complexity.

 

[JulianEdgar]

To improve handling of Insight:

- Higher and stiffer rear Matiz springs + Gaz dampers
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Higher and stiffer front springs (same propotional increases as rear) with good condition standard dampers.

After that there's air suspension, but that's a whole new ballgame in terms of cost and complexity.

And I should add: the subjective gain in handling is about 1/3rd for each of the above three steps. I suggest that they be done in the stated order.

This is all said in the context of my rating of the standard car, in good condition, as 3 or 4 out of 10 for handling, and the same car with the above changes as 7 or 8 out of 10 for handling.

 

[insightbrewery]

And I should add: the subjective gain in handling is about 1/3rd for each of the above three steps. I suggest that they be done in the stated order.

This is all said in the context of my rating of the standard car, in good condition, as 3 or 4 out of 10 for handling, and the same car with the above changes as 7 or 8 out of 10 for handling.

Cool, thanks! Say, you wouldn't happen to have pics or a link for installing an anti-roll bar, would you?

 

[JulianEdgar]

Cool, thanks! Say, you wouldn't happen to have pics or a link for installing an anti-roll bar, would you?

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum...ront-rear-springs-new-rear-anti-roll-bar.html

Pics have gone now though.

Note: in that thread I talk about shortening the Corolla anti-roll bar and re-welding the mounts. I know that this this works only with the hollow Corolla bar - some solid bars will not respond well to welding.

 

[devin1955]

To improve handling of Insight:
- Higher and stiffer rear Matiz springs + Gaz dampers
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Higher and stiffer front springs (same proportional increases as rear) with good condition standard dampers.

I've got all that except for the anti-roll bar. Even without it, my car feels like a race car to me in turns, even with the RE92's as long as they're not pumped up real high. I can only imagine what it would handle like if it had a set of high quality road tires on it.

Now if I could just quiet down a significant amount of the road noise inherent with this car...
-Don

 

[Insightful 1]

Just installed Scott's rear springs and GAZ shocks on my 01 MT - a big improvement in overall handing, not just control of the rear over bumps.

 

[Joule]

How long did the install take? They are on my to do list -- Gaz shocks and springs, both.

 

[Insightful 1]

1.75 hrs billed for removal of old and install of new rear springs and shocks, at my local repair shop.

 

[Saxjonz]

@Joule, if you’re on a lift, literally minutes, on the ground?? A good impact and car lifted high enough? Half hour a side maybe?
Edit:
In retrospect…I need a lift in my life. Need to replace rear bushings and I’m not looking forward to it.