[twcom]

This was a text to "Little Big Supply".

"As a developer. If you ever develop a front spring/shock combination to soften the harshness of the stock height smarts I would be all in."

This was the response from "Little Big Supply".

"Hey we do have that actually! It’s a no-tool install spring rubber buffer that threads into the coils.

It is our 3” upgrade on our website but it will work perfectly on your factory smart. No tools required and we include instructions. Install in 20 mins.

LITTLE BIG SUPPLY

The official online store of @littlebigsmart.

littlebig.supply

Just check only that and checkout!"

I ended with. "Cool Will do."

I ordered the item and a few days later I received These

And I installed one on each front spring

I confirmed that they should be placed in the middle of the spring. 15 min to put in the first side. 5 min (Now that I knew how) to install the second.

The Results;
Exactly what I asked for. The harshness of front suspension impact is gone. It is that the before install was to strike a metal plate with a metal hammer. The after is to strike the same metal plate with a rubber mallet. Even if you struck them with the same force the sound and resulting vibration would be different.

I appreciate the difference the install has made. Impacts are much less jarring.

Pros.
Relatively inexpensive.
Easy to install
Reduces impact harshness
No visible ride height change

Cons.
None to report at this time.
Will revisit after a challenging winding road drive ,👍👍

 

[jwight]

Finally, something that actually works!

 

[1983JZR3W]

How much were they, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Miss Mercedes]

It seems Little Big Supply picked up where other shops stopped with Smart mods. They actually offer a taller lift kit than Daystar!

 

[mblackwell]

Hi Al, Is this the box you checked at Little Big Supply?

 

[twcom]

Hi Al, Is this the box you checked at Little Big Supply?
View attachment 73122

Yes. That is the box .

 

[mblackwell]

Thanks!

 

[DenisW]

This was a text to "Little Big Supply".

"As a developer. If you ever develop a front spring/shock combination to soften the harshness of the stock height smarts I would be all in."

This was the response from "Little Big Supply".

"Hey we do have that actually! It’s a no-tool install spring rubber buffer that threads into the coils.

It is our 3” upgrade on our website but it will work perfectly on your factory smart. No tools required and we include instructions. Install in 20 mins.

LITTLE BIG SUPPLY

The official online store of @littlebigsmart.

littlebig.supply

Just check only that and checkout!"

I ended with. "Cool Will do."

I ordered the item and a few days later I received These
View attachment 73087

And I installed one on each front spring
View attachment 73088

I confirmed that they should be placed in the middle of the spring. 15 min to put in the first side. 5 min (Now that I knew how) to install the second.

The Results;
Exactly what I asked for. The harshness of front suspension impact is gone. It is that the before install was to strike a metal plate with a metal hammer. The after is to strike the same metal plate with a rubber mallet. Even if you struck them with the same force the sound and resulting vibration would be different.

I appreciate the difference the install has made. Impacts are much less jarring.

Pros.
Relatively inexpensive.
Easy to install
Reduces impact harshness
No visible ride height change

Cons.
None to report at this time.
Will revisit after a challenging winding road drive ,👍👍

View attachment 73089

Hey Al, Thanks for the post. It seems counter intuitive in that you are eliminating a coil with the insertion of these. But I cannot disagree with first-hand experience.

 

[mblackwell]

I don't think it eliminates a coil but limits it's compression. From what I can see, these are made by a company called RubberShox. They are made from something called DuraTPE (Durable Thermoplastic Rubber) and color coded in 4, shore hardness durometer levels. The codes are - red 2000-2500lbs, blue 2000-3500lbs, black 2000-4500lbs and green 2000-6000Lbs +. The red ones sold by Little Big Supply are the softest. I don't understand durometer values or how they are related to spring rates, but I think going from a steel hammer hitting a steel plate to a rubber hammer hitting the same plate would be an improvement.

I don't know how anyone else's car behaves, but my 2015 451 absorbs most road shocks pretty well. The exception is that when I go over a bump between new and old pavement, or one of those steel plates used to cover an excavation and both front tires contact the raised surface simultaneously, I hear the loud hammer crash described by the OP. It's alarming and sounds like hitting a curb or a giant pothole. It tends to frightens the passenger and I always scan the windshield to see if it cracked.

 

[jwight]

I don't think it eliminates a coil but limits it's compression. From what I can see, these are made by a company called RubberShox. They are made from something called DuraTPE (Durable Thermoplastic Rubber) and color coded in 4, shore hardness durometer levels. The codes are - red 2000-2500lbs, blue 2000-3500lbs, black 2000-4500lbs and green 2000-6000Lbs +. The red ones sold by Little Big Supply are the softest. I don't understand durometer values or how they are related to spring rates, but I think going from a steel hammer hitting a steel plate to a rubber hammer hitting the same plate would be an improvement.

I don't know how anyone else's car behaves, but my 2015 451 absorbs most road shocks pretty well. The exception is that when I go over a bump between new and old pavement, or one of those steel plates used to cover an excavation and both front tires contact the raised surface simultaneously, I hear the loud hammer crash described by the OP. It's alarming and sounds like hitting a curb or a giant pothole. It tends to frightens the passenger and I always scan the windshield to see if it cracked.

Good find, and about half the price of Big Supply...

 

[mblackwell]

I am not 100% sure it's really the same piece. I said above that it was red. The picture above looks more like orange, So don't take my word for it. I think I will buy the one from little big supply and try to support the Smart aftermarket bizz.

 

[twcom]

Hey Al, Thanks for the post. It seems counter intuitive in that you are eliminating a coil with the insertion of these. But I cannot disagree with first-hand experience.

As these are not new devices there should be enough to read about them. And then even experiment with various brands and softness rates for me going forward including if using them on the rear spring may give additional benefits. But as for getting what I asked for and my belief that Little Big Supply could have used any size but settled on this particular size, make it a great starting point and was right on the mark.

 

[twcom]

I don't think it eliminates a coil but limits it's compression. From what I can see, these are made by a company called RubberShox. They are made from something called DuraTPE (Durable Thermoplastic Rubber) and color coded in 4, shore hardness durometer levels. The codes are - red 2000-2500lbs, blue 2000-3500lbs, black 2000-4500lbs and green 2000-6000Lbs +. The red ones sold by Little Big Supply are the softest. I don't understand durometer values or how they are related to spring rates, but I think going from a steel hammer hitting a steel plate to a rubber hammer hitting the same plate would be an improvement.

I don't know how anyone else's car behaves, but my 2015 451 absorbs most road shocks pretty well. The exception is that when I go over a bump between new and old pavement, or one of those steel plates used to cover an excavation and both front tires contact the raised surface simultaneously, I hear the loud hammer crash described by the OP. It's alarming and sounds like hitting a curb or a giant pothole. It tends to frightens the passenger and I always scan the windshield to see if it cracked.

It is that exact feeling of hitting the steel plates that I was trying the make less harsh. I have found running a 4 inch side wall in my tire combinations is best for bump protection. Now these have sweetened up the ride harshness.

 

[door2416]

If you go to " rubbershox.com" they are less than half the price. These are 65.00 compared to 25.00.

 

[colin25]

My solution to the hard suspension knocks of the 451, the smash of teeth into the jaw when you hit a pothole, was to eventually buy a 453 LOL

The one thing that strikes you with the 453 (pardon the pun) is the very soft suspension, so much so, that if you go down a dirt track the car wallows like a boat. But overall it was a good change to make to the Fortwo.

Anyway, glad to hear you have sort of solution for the 451.

 

[deedub]

I think I will buy the one from little big supply and try to support the Smart aftermarket bizz.

Ditto

 

[SMARTKAR]

If that rubber spacer doesn’t raise the car a little then I’m baffled

 

[deedub]

If that rubber spacer doesn’t raise the car a little then I’m baffled

If its like other rubber spacers I've used before on Challengers and First Gen Chargers, ithey fill the existing spaces in the spring and only come into play when the suspension compresses.

 

[mblackwell]

In the interest of not making an assumption (if it's not already too late) here is a link to the RubberShox chart for determining size.
Rubber Shock Absorbers / Coil Spring Buffers - DuraTPE® Series
twcom's picture shows the item from Little Big Supply is stamped with the letter "D" which may indicate the size? The chart shows 8 different dimensions for the various thicknesses, inner and outer diameters etc. IF size "D" is correct those should fit the smart. Anyone with a spring lying around could verify the dimensions. I suppose you could measure on the car, though some dimensions might be off due to spring loading. Size D has an OD of 4.41" and ID of 2.68".

My extremely accurate science calculations indicate that there is clearly a 76.453 degree of certainty that the part fits! Seriously I am not confidant with the engineering/math involved to decide if the RubberShox fit and are the right durometer values etc.

It seems to me that Little Big Supply has already done the research and determined these fit and are appropriate. Also twcom's hands-on experience tend to bear this out. After all knowledge is worth $. My 2 cents says this makes it worth the extra $25. Personally, I would rather pay a bit more for Little Big Supply's item that is known to fit and function.

 

[SMARTKAR]

It sure does looks like a guessing game