View Full Version : Best performance coilover for DD?
spanishricer
11-11-2006, 02:58 PM
Well here's the deal gentlemen. I've been running KTS coilovers on my car for the past year and a half. Nice coilover for the price, but they didn't turn out to be quite what I expected. I love them when I'm out having fun with the car around the twisties. But I hate them when I'm doing pretty much anything else. They're just too stiff. And there is no "soft" setting, from what I've found. I daily drive my car about 65 miles round trip daily, and not all the roads are perfectly smooth. Needless to say, the ride is bouncy and I pop up my rear wheels a couple times a day.
So I'm thinking about selling the KTS setup and investing in another coilover. Something a bit more comfortable, but still performance oriented. Like I said, I daily drive the car, so the ride quality can't be too harsh. I don't drift or autocross the car. Mostly just highway driving, some backroad fun, and an occasional trip to the drag strip. But I'd like something I could stiffen up, just in case we ever do have a track day.
Any feedback on a certain coilover setup that you've tried that seems like it might fit my driving style would be much appreciated. I'm mostly looking for real-world feedback, from people that have actually driven on the coilovers. I've read plenty of reviews on the newer stuff, (Tanabe Sustec Pro-7's look real nice on paper) but don't want to invest in a coilover that may or may not be what I'm looking for.
theicecreamdan
11-11-2006, 03:54 PM
just buy some softer springs for the KTS coils.
TKfoshori
11-11-2006, 03:58 PM
whats your spring rate, i cant imagine kts's being too stiff.
TAMTANIUM
11-11-2006, 04:03 PM
KTS is soo nice to me
If you think that's stiff, then i don't know what to say...
Try loosen up the spring compress collars and put the damper to fully soft.
If you're not happy still after that. Get KYB shocks and Eibach springs. Guarantee you will be happy.
drew935
11-11-2006, 04:59 PM
I'm running Swift Springs - 6/4kg...my ride is a 100x better than running my normal Cusco setup. Running Cusco zero2's w/Swift Springs with the rest of stock suspension. The only other thing I added was subframe spacers. This is my dd and my car very balanced even for those 90mph highway curves. :D
oh yeah my Cusco springs that I had in there are 10/8kg. Shock setting is still at 2-front/ 1-rear
naed240sx
11-11-2006, 05:44 PM
First of all, don't say kts are bouncy. Bouncy is when you have blown shocks. The ride is rough or harsh, but not bouncy.
Another vouch here for some softer springs. QA1 and others sell springs that will fit in 7/5 rates and others.
Jung918
11-11-2006, 09:32 PM
My friend has flex on his SW11 and it is really comfortable. Ask around and see if you can get a ride with someone with them.
nissantfsx
11-11-2006, 10:00 PM
i think our definition of stiffness varies since we all have our own standards of what is stiff and what is not...
if coilover dampers are giving u a hard time...something like tokico shocks and tein springs would be nice...
i have megan track series on my car and i drive alittle over 50 miles daily...its pretty stiff...but i like it =)
ranisron
11-11-2006, 11:00 PM
I have AGX + RSR race springs (5kg/4kg) = decent DD...
My friend has flex on his SW11 and it is really comfortable. Ask around and see if you can get a ride with someone with them.
Flex suck ass. My GR-6 ride 10x better. IMO obviously...
spanishricer
11-13-2006, 12:29 PM
I'd rather stay with a true coilover setup, so it looks like my best bet will be to swap to some softer springs. Thanks guys.
ManoNegra
11-13-2006, 05:03 PM
Get KYB shocks and Eibach springs. Guarantee you will be happy.
Coilovers =/ comfort. Aftermarket springs and shocks is the way to go for comfort but then you won't be looking l33t.
azndummie
11-13-2006, 05:14 PM
flex's are a good balance ive ridden in them
GSXRJJordan
11-13-2006, 11:59 PM
I love my Tanabe Sevens - I DD my car, and I was expecting as harsh a ride as Megan Track coils (12/10 springs, while my Tanabes are 10/8), but I was VERY pleasantly suprised. I set them right in the middle as far as damping, and they have a great ride around town. You definitely feel big bumps, tracks very well on everything. I would say it feel almost exactly like my dad's 02 corvette Z06 suspension - which is what I was comparing it to :)
aznpoopy
11-14-2006, 08:44 AM
i might get flak for this but
my friend bought some nismo r-tune coilovers; 8/7 rate.
i got a ride along along route 1 in NJ... not a pleasant road to drive on with coils. ..
it was amazingly smooth. it felt like a spring shock set up. i was amazed. it was about 10x more comfortable than my silkroads, which have the same spring rate. the ride was stiff, but it handled even the biggest bumps pretty well.
downside is the inevitable nismo mark up, and the coilovers are only adjustable by shock perch iirc.
Silverbullet
11-14-2006, 09:05 AM
advertisers only list spring rates which may be misleading towards how stiff a set of coilvers will feel. You have to realize that the dampening and rebound will contribute to how stiff your ride will be. I have Tein HA coilovers with advertised 8/6 kg/mm spring rate while my friend has Megan 8/6 on his WRX and my other friend has K-Sport (remember those? lol) 10/8 on his S14 240. My Tein HAs feel stiffer than BOTH of those. Valving inside the dampeners make a huge difference although i would advise the Ksport, Megan or D2 coilovers for daily driving. Ive never felt KTS before so i dont know how those are compared to Ksport, Megan or D2.
If your really picky about comfort... look into shock and spring combo.
yudalicious
11-14-2006, 09:38 AM
I'd rather stay with a true coilover setup, so it looks like my best bet will be to swap to some softer springs. Thanks guys.
last time I checked even the stock springs "coil over" the shock body...
the KTS has a TON of damping, a TON I tell you, getting TOO SOFT of springs willl result in a less than ideal set up. IF you think the KTS are too uncomfortable, just get some KYBs and Eibach pro kits, you can still call them coilovers if you'd like, because they are.
edit: since you don't really do any sort of real performance driving, just stick to shocks/springs.
ManoNegra
11-14-2006, 09:42 AM
Also, having the car corner balanced helps a great deal. Have you tried that? Not cheap though.
drift freaq
11-14-2006, 10:50 AM
If your looking for a good spring shock combo Tokico blue with Espelier springs works real nice. I had it on my coupe daily driver and the car was stiff and handled well but rode real smooth. A lot of people complemented the car on the suspension.
Coilovers wise what most people are saying is true. Most coilovers if bouncy are not adjusted right. A lot of people are running KTS and while not quite as nice as Stance or Tannabe 7's , enough people run them without complaints I would say you need to play with them more. Otherwise take them off, sell them to me. Get springs and shocks.
spanishricer
11-14-2006, 11:15 AM
Haha, ok...I'm not going to swap in a shock/spring combo. A day will come when this car is no longer my DD, and I'd rather not downgrade my suspension setup now only to have to upgrade it again later. I'm just looking for a more versatile coilover setup, where there is actually a soft setting to go along with the hard setting.
ManoNegra, I haven't had the car corner balanced yet. I'm saving that for later on down the road, when the car is "finished."
articdragon192
11-14-2006, 11:15 AM
+1 for Flexes. I love mine.
yudalicious
11-14-2006, 12:41 PM
Haha, ok...I'm not going to swap in a shock/spring combo. A day will come when this car is no longer my DD, and I'd rather not downgrade my suspension setup now only to have to upgrade it again later. I'm just looking for a more versatile coilover setup, where there is actually a soft setting to go along with the hard setting.
ManoNegra, I haven't had the car corner balanced yet. I'm saving that for later on down the road, when the car is "finished."
I doubt 7/5 spring rates will be comfortable enough for you, maybe even not 6/5? The problem isn't solely with the rates, the KTS has oodles of damping, it's curve is also more linear than degressive, so at high piston speeds like bumps and potholes it can be a pain. For a more versatile shock, maybe try Koni yellows? Never used them, but everyone raves about them.
240on430
11-14-2006, 11:08 PM
This thread and my small budget helped me decide to stick w/non adjustable coilovers. Anyone have sportlines for an S13?
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