Ride smoothness???

[KageRyu7]

Does anyone have a very smooth ride (compared to most celicas).
If so what did you do to achieve this? Suspension? Wheel and tire size?

Also has anyone lessened the road noise through changing rim, tire, suspension, etc... not dynomat or another sound deadening material.

I care little if this positively or negatively affects handling or speed though I'd still like to know.

I really want a smoother ride, if I can achieve this then my only gripe about the car will be the fact that its fwd :marky: wish I could convert

so yeah post what you know

[ikhaffaji]

Nothing will make this car ride like a Lexus if that's your aim. But i'd believe your best bet would be to find the biggest profile tire you can fit on your wheels. Keep your OEM wheels. Keep the stock suspension. And as far as road noise goes, nothing will dull it down besides dynamat. I would suggest a combination of dynamat and panel gap sound deadener. Put two layers of dynamat and your sh!t will be damn near sound proof :chuckles: Put extra on the firewall. This will be the only way to achieve what you're trying to do.

[celicabmad]

Does anyone have a very smooth ride (compared to most celicas).
If so what did you do to achieve this? Suspension? Wheel and tire size?

Also has anyone lessened the road noise through changing rim, tire, suspension, etc... not dynomat or another sound deadening material.

I care little if this positively or negatively affects handling or speed though I'd still like to know.

I really want a smoother ride, if I can achieve this then my only gripe about the car will be the fact that its fwd :marky: wish I could convert

so yeah post what you know

I'll help you before I go to sleep:

If you want a smooth ride, then it is best to keep the stock suspension since that is what is designed for. The best way to think of this is that better handling sacrifices comfort. However, if you would like to upgrade the suspension a little bit and have a better performing celica then upgrading the springs to Tein S. Techs would suit you (in addition to sway bars, strut bars, and weight reduction, but those do not necessarily affect your comfort).

Not all tires are created the same, so yes they have different charactersitics. The best place to learn about certain tires is through 1010tires website since they have multiple reviews on the tires as well as the tire review thread that is stickied at the top of this forum.

For comfort, I would stick to stock rims and stock tire size.

Lastly road noise is mostly situated with the tires, so picking the right set will greatly eliminate that. Dynomat and other sounds deadeners are designed with audio in mind, meaning that it was designed to prevent rattling from massive bass at the cost of added weight. However, whether or not it works to eliminate road noise, I will venture to say not necessarily.

One final note, I am only human so some of this information may be wrong since I am no expert in this field of suspension.

Brian

[TaeMachine]

Tires with lots of voids in the treads are quieter than tires with large tread blocks.

[KageRyu7]

Nothing will make this car ride like a Lexus if that's your aim. But i'd believe your best bet would be to find the biggest profile tire you can fit on your wheels. Keep your OEM wheels. Keep the stock suspension. And as far as road noise goes, nothing will dull it down besides dynamat. I would suggest a combination of dynamat and panel gap sound deadener. Put two layers of dynamat and your sh!t will be damn near sound proof Put extra on the firewall. This will be the only way to achieve what you're trying to do.

No, I don't want it to ride too smooth, my friend has a tiburon and even that rides too smooth for me.

Right now I have 17in low profiles that I'm gonna change when i get the money(keeping these for the extra traction as winter tires). You said to increase profile on stock tires, is there a way to legally fix the computer to know the tires new demensions?

Dynamat I'm planning to add I was just wondering If there was any other way so that I could save money and weight on how much dynamat I'd need.

As for suspension, I changed my struts out when they were blown. The ones I have now are suppose to be smoother than the stocks, though I bought my car used so I don't know how the stocks are SUPPOSE to feel.

Tires with lots of voids in the treads are quieter than tires with large tread blocks.

Do smaller tread blocks sacrifice traction?



Also what would be better... going back to the 16inch rims/ stock tire profile or keeping my 17inch rims but getting a higher profile? And why. How does the higher profile affect acceleration/gasmileage/breaking compared to the 17in w/ low profiles.

[Carmaster]

^ I think the larger the overall wheel diameter, the higher your final drive ratio. And the higher the final drive ratio, the slower your acceleration will be.


Don't quote me on that...

[yodaddyguido]

the difference shouldnt be even remotely dramatic enough to notice. a higher profile tire will affect the ride in a positive manner, less impact from bumps will transfer through the tire.

no theres no way to mess with the speedo to alter it based on tire size... http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
that link will help you determine where your speed will be based on your tire size. i went back to oem rims/tire size and did notice quite a difference despite only the 10% profile change. i went from 205/40/17s to 205/50/16s and its definitely a different ride. 205/45/17s seem to be the closest to oem overall diameter, so your speed offset wont be noticed at all.


hope this helps with the tire aspect of this! and what shocks/struts did you go with? im getting ready to replace mine, so im asking around.

[KageRyu7]

The struts I have now are these...
http://www.monroe.com/products/sensatrac_default.asp

I bought my car Oct' of '08 and I don't know how much was left of my stock struts, but compared to when I first got the car they feel much much smoother. And that's these with my 17" rims compared to when I first got my car with the 16"s still on.

I would like to know if there was something better designed for comfort

[TRD01GT]

I'd say 50% of the noise comes from the back, 20% from the engine, 20% from front wheels, 10% from the doors. With the way the car is designed road noise is inevitable, but I heard of people who spray their rear wheel wells with rubber sound deadening material (cars exterior) and that helps a lot for the noise in the rear.

[vtjkychan]

^ spray? Where can I get that?

[KageRyu7]

Yeah where can I get that spray stuff, and no way in hell would i get rid of the sound from the engine, its beautiful.

Actually I realized most of what I'm "feeling" is the sound of the bumps, not the bumps themselves. And my rear hatch rattles like a mother ****** making all the bumps seem a lot rougher than they actually are. Anyone else have this problem/ know how to fix it?

[vtjkychan]

I searched up the stuffs and it requires a spray gun =( dam it.
So I'll have to find another product.

As for the shock/struts, anybody know how good his current struts vs our stock struts?

[KageRyu7]

Lol i got them at sears, thats why I said I don't know if they are actually better than new stock struts. They were better than my stocks in the condition they were in(bad). And they claim to be more comfortable than stock struts.

And poo on the spray needing a gun. I was all excited :marky:

Anyone know about the rattling in the rear hatch it's driving me insane:AF:

[vtjkychan]

I think it's mainly due to our wooden cover under the trunk carpet. I'm planning to wrap some foam at the edges so it won't rattle up and down against the trunk surface. Other than that, I don't hear anything else beside road noises.

[yodaddyguido]

vt, thats not necessarilly true. ill have to do some digging for the part number, or maybe someone can chime in, but if your hatch doesnt want to hold itself up, replace the shocks, AND replace the rubber/metal bumpers where the hatch meets up with the body. mine used to squeek like CRAZY, and drove me equally so, but replacing them really made a difference. the hatch shocks are next on my list, and hopefully the last thing i need to do back there lol.

oh and for that cargo cover, i used little rubber pieces attached all along that lower edge that contacts the plastic and havent heard a peep since. originally i used velcro and disconnected the ties that brought it up when the hatch opened. worked like a charm.

and i swear theres a rubberized coating you can buy in spray cans at pretty much any autoparts store. use enough coats and im sure you'll get a pretty good effect.

[RomanTaylor]

Actually I realized most of what I'm "feeling" is the sound of the bumps, not the bumps themselves. And my rear hatch rattles like a mother ****** making all the bumps seem a lot rougher than they actually are. Anyone else have this problem/ know how to fix it?

Yep, this is when I feel like Celica is a crap. Usually all pieces hold on to each other well, but when I go over bumps I hear a lot of noises coming from the rear.

[KageRyu7]

I'm going to remove the wooden piece and see if that makes any difference, but I KNOW the majority of the sound is my hatch. A few days ago I tested this out by opening my hatch and driving down a road that's really REALLY F'd . No rattling from that area of the car...and it allowed me to hear my exhaust better which was a nice sound.

[Toxygene]

I don't have that much road noise coming from my Celica. No rattles either. As for ride, I hear that the Bilstien coil-overs are THE best coil-overs produced for our car.

As for tires, I have found that BFGoodrich G-Force Sport tires were comfortable and still decent. I use 225/50/15 currently but you can also get sizes for your 17" wheels. You could also go with Michelin tires for the best balance of comfort and grip. You can use up to 235/40/17 on your wheels.

Do you know what is rattling on your hatch? Is it the license and license plate frame? I used weatherstripping on mine and it no longer makes ANY noise now, even when I slam the hatch closed. Nothing but a nice quality sounding thud. It's not a Carbon Fiber hatch is it?

[KageRyu7]

No its the stock hatch, and I THINK it might be the glass. It's not the license plates or frames checked them a while ago by driving around with them off.

[Toxygene]

No its the stock hatch, and I THINK it might be the glass. It's not the license plates or frames checked them a while ago by driving around with them off.

Wow, the glass? Did you have it replaced at some point? I'd get that checked out. Maybe, have someone drive your car around the neighborhood while you sit in the back and try to track the noise down.

[mrluilou]

Soo_fuego has a really smooth car, you should pm him about it

[yodaddyguido]

did anyone notice my post? lol those bumpers can really cause some irritating noise. if the glass was loose you'd probably had a wet trunk when it rains.

[mrluilou]

^i have you blocked so i didn't see it :chuckles:

[KageRyu7]

ok i removed the trunk carpet and wooden part so its definatly not that.
Over time I've checked and found that its not know its NOT...
1.Licence plate/frame
2.Rear wiper
3.Spoiler
4.Wooden wheel well cover
5.spear tire
6.jack and wheel accessories
7.sunroof or anything forward of that.

and my hatch does not leak (Thank God!!!) so I don't know what part of it is squeaking... again it doesnt sqeak when its open just when its closed so I'm gonna try the rubber bumpers and see if thats it

theres probably some space or something when the hatch is closed allowing it to move. I'll prolly try sticking a towel on the sideswhen closing the trunk to add pressure and see if I'm right... one day when I have time...school is stressing me out right now:marky:

[ridgerunnr]

I put 225.50.r16 on from 205.45.r16 on the stock rims and have achieved a very smooth ride with much more grip than the 205. the downside is the taller side wall and very minor rubbing on wheel-well plastics when the wheel is cranked all the way, not noticeable when driving or on the tires wear pattern. I am very happy with this combination with stock suspension but i will need to downsize the tire if i want lower suspension. I drive mostly on torn up back roads so the extra dampening from the increase air mass in the tire is very welcome.

[yodaddyguido]

^i have you blocked so i didn't see it

lol whatd i do to get blocked?

and i swear those stupid bumpers squeek. to test, spray em with wd40 a little.

[KageRyu7]

and i swear those stupid bumpers squeek. to test, spray em with wd40 a little.
by bumpers do u mean theses and the corresponding parts on the hatch itself?
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/Ryan2803/Celica/toyota_celica_gt_2005_other_trunk.jpg

[yodaddyguido]

yup, "old squeeky *******s" i think is the part name :wiggle: im not sure the actual part number, but if youd like to test the squeek theory, get em with wd40 where the metal 'bumper' on the actual hatch contacts the rubber. you should notice it right away when you start driving.

i really hope they are the source of the squeek. for the longest time i thought it was my actual hatch as well. its an inexpensive part(s) to replace.

[KageRyu7]

i went to the stealership to order some of those bumpers you were talking about...to replace the top and bottom ones on each side would total about $70... If i KNEW that was the problem I would buy them, but thats alot to pay and find out nothings changed :marky:

I'm possibly looking to buy black 5 star 16" rims if I can find any and I'll probably upsize the tires a bit for extra comfort if I do that. I just need to find some I like. I need new tires so nows the time to do It :gap:

[KageRyu7]

I got these in 215/45/17
http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Toyo&tiremodel=Extensa+HP

Soooo smooth and quiet but I feel like the extra weight made my car a bit slower.... I might just be the fact that I don't here all the extra noise so it feels like nothing is happing. Tomorrow if It doesn't rain I'll take a real test drive with these....either way I'm happy for now.

I still need to figure out the problem with my hatch. Guido you said you used velcro...where?