Hi guys! After 500 miles of happy ownership and many more to come , I feel the need to drop the rear suspension by at least 1.5 - 2" and the front by .5 inches , to fill the rear /front wheel arches well. I found out the H&R makes a spring kit for the DBS but I was rather interested in a coilover kit. I checked KW Suspension but was not able to find an exact product. Can any one share their experience of a suspension modification ?

 

Hi!
Did you find a solution?

 

I have been looking for a set too - the DBS is too scarce and those seeking coilovers even a smaller subset that I don't there there is a commercial case for them. Some bespoke sets but unless those producing them are installing and tweaking them, its likely just a crapshoot.

 

The DBS uses active enhanced dampers, the valving inside the shock is controled electronically..hense the button in your center console to stiffen the ride...a complete kit(dampers, coils, sleeves) ..in the thousands of $'s!
If your not track racing, then a coilover setup is just a waste of money..only thing that you will benefit from is the user prefered custom height for show..
You might be able to find a universal bilstein sleeve over, it'll just slide over the original oem dampers and then you can fit your coil springs and thread them to your prefered height. If you brought your car to a custom fab shop that deals with racing in your area..they will more than likely be able to perform this job...just remember the springs + labour is about +/- 500-800$, and the wheel gap concern is fixed..versus the custom universal route on in the thousands and dealing with headaches

 

I am not sure I agree. I don't track anything other than my dedicated track cars (my track cars are not streetable cars but full out track only cars); however, my DBS suffers from a bit of "can't figure out if I am a GT or a hard riding GT." Meaning in regular mode, it is too soft and unresponsive. IN Hard mode it is too hard (not punishing hard) and the car is darty and unsettled.

I have used coilovers on my others cars from my 993 to my kick around with the kids Maserati GrandCabrio (the Novitec setup was amazingly transformational and now it has nice turn in and is settled and firm and confident - it also plays nice with the CAN on the Skyhook system). Before you go too crazy, I am not and was not expecting any of these (nor the DBS) to be like my Carrera Gt (nor my Scuderia nor any of my other cars with more sprorting - but NOT tracking - pretense).

Looks don't mean squat to me in terms of ride height - I am not looking to slam the car - I just want to have great turn in and ride characteristics - if it means a bit more camber or whatever and a coilover kit allows that to happen, great.

 

"Looks don't mean squat to me in terms of ride height - I am not looking to slam the car - I just want to have great turn in and ride characteristics - if it means a bit more camber or whatever and a coilover kit allows that to happen, great"

How are you not agreeing with me?? Coilovers are simply for track/racing...aka handling needed improvment..etc ..Lowering the car for looks is best done with spring(in this DBS case)..The original question was what ways are possible to minimize the wheel gap, not how to improve the car for handling... The DBS is built for GT, aka racing, not to ride around on the street for show, hense the Sport damper mode and the Carbon Brakes. Aston had a lot of complaints from owners about the large difference in normal mode to sport mode..soooo, the Virage was made. The Virage is between the DB9 and the DBS..has better handling than the DB9, and less harsh than the DBS...

I agree on everything you state about coilovers, turn-in, turn-out, bumper steer, camber, caster..etc...just in this persons quest to lower there car for looks, and maybe a little handling which they haven't mentioned, I believe the best route is with springs..but to each there own..just my .02

 

Sure - perhaps just talking past each other -

You note that "Coilovers are simply for track/racing" - I don't track the DBS but I would like them for the street (as I have on other cars) for precision in the handling department.

Also, you note "The DBS is built for GT, aka racing, not to ride around on the street for show" In my eyes (and pocket) the DBS is certainly Not a track or racing car - it is a Grand Touring car in the best sense - it just needs some help sorting and tuning the suspension.

Still want coilover

 

Yah, I know..coilovers are really cool. I would love to have them on every car I own..even for street for my own use. With the DBS, knowing of the electronics, computers involved..It would really be hard for a manufacture to develop something the regular street driver could use..you would have to keep the original damper and sleeve them or have a full aftermarket kit that comes with the electronics or a least a ecu flash.
If someone was to have the know how of the active dampering ecu programming on the DBS, a good flash would best tune in the dampers and a sleeve over on the original dampers would work just great..If there's a nice size of demand, I could look into this..

 

Anyone has experience with he H&R springs and spacers? Anyone touched the geometry?
Might be a more simple solution than going for new coilovers?

 

I do, I've touched and driven DB9's and V8V's with the H&R's..and ones with the spring and spacers. Even with the factory adjuster bolts for the say the v8v camber(DB9/S spec are different but same concern), you will not get near the -105' in the rear, usually just after lowering spec in rear is -5 to -6 degrees and you can pull it to -3degrees with the factory bolts, you can get the front near -30' but will need to even around -45' to -60' for the front caster to come below 7degree's, where spec is 5 degree you can pull 6 degrees and depending on the car like I said you can pull -60' camber with that caster which will be fine..it's the rear camber that you will see tire wear(will handle like on rails, but the tires will wear on the inside). There's no bolts on the market nor an upper or lower arm adjustable to correct the camber issue in the rear when lowering..everything that you try is trial and error at this point in time

 

Wanted to bring this old thread to life. Looking for an alternative option to HR springs for my DBS. I've contacted Penske to see if they can make me a custom coilover kit. I've ran a penske set up on my previous viper and with a 2" drop the car handled so much better and retained the factory ride quality. I don't track my car I just want better ride quality then what I currently got with HR springs. My old Penske had remote reservoirs and we played around with front and rear spring rates and also helper springs to get the ride just perfect.

Can the DBS active dampening system be removed when switching to an aftermarket coilover and if so will it through any code?

Irish07 if you are around I would love to ask a few follow up questions about your above suggestions.

Any input guys?

 

If your interest is in improving ride quality only, have you considered maybe switching to Michelin Pilot Super Sports with a smidge taller profile?

 

The ride quality was perfect when the car was stock hight. Now that's its lowered on ****ty springs I'm not happy. I know you can archive a descent ride when lowered but it needs to be done with a decent set of coilovers.

I could sleeve me factory shock as irosh07 suggests and retain the factory spring and adjust it down to lower the car, theoretically that will get my factory ride back...I'm looking in to this and will report back my findings.