s13 function form type 2 coilover install/pics/review

[Chue240sx]

First off I am just making this thread to give people more options and help answer some questions and decisions when people are suspension shopping so please no nonsense. I know how it feels when you are in the market for suspensions and want as much as information as possible to minimize spending a lot of money. I will try provide minimum review since I mostly daily the car and am not a profession driver or anything. I'll compare them to my experience with the Stance gr+ pro and the Apexi N1 EVX. Keep in mind, my experiences with all these coilovers are just daily driving and minimal mountain driving. Also, those coilovers were with different cars with different suspension mods. So infact, I can't really compare them at all but will try to give my opinions.

Bought this setup from Jesse at Vex Motorsport who is an awesome guy to deal with. Order my item in the afternoon and received it the next day. I highly recommend doing business with him.

Previous cars:
s13 hatch with brand new stance gr+pro with aftermarket suspension links, aluminum subframe spacers, but all stock bushings.
s14 with brand new Apexi N1 EVX, and same suspension mods as above.

Present Car: S13 vert. All stock body, wheels and suspension links.
Coilovers: Function & Form Type 2
Date installed: Today, 2/19/12

Packaging, appearance and weight out of the box:
Both were great. Coilovers were well packaged and they looked really nice but are a little bit heavy IMO compare to Stance and Apexi EVX N1s. It might just be me though since I have not touched a set of coilovers for about a year now. A difference I see between FF and stance/apexi is the FF have some pieces welded onto it. Meaning the spindle and brake line brackets are welded onto the lower mount differently from the others, as shown in the pictures. For the rear, the lower mount piece that the spindle bolt inserts through is not welded around completely. For the fronts, there are bottom locking collar. The dampening adjustment knobs on top do click with each turn and camber plates do not have measurement markings. Besides that, the coilovers seem well built.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0444.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0449.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0452.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0456.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0458.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0460.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0455.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0464.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0459.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0463.jpg

Onto Installation:
Installation was quite simple and direct like Stance/Apexi systems. The springs were already pre-loaded and tighten down. All I had to do was just height adjustments, which I had not done yet in these photos. The brake line brackets has the correct hole size making the brake line installation easy and tight. For the rears, the only, but small, difficulty was tightening the collar on the bottom mount because it was located partly inside the RUCA opening. Although, you are able to used the supplied collar wrenches at a small angle and tighten the collar down. Everything else bolt on w/out any modifications.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0471.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0475.jpg
Rears:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0477.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0479.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0480.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0483.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0482.jpg

Car height lowered with coilovers maxed out with manufacturer spring pre-load settings and keeping all collars:
I maxed out the coilover height adjustment with the factory pre-loaded springs. I was expecting it to go lower but maybe this is it w/out swapping out the springs for shorter ones, removing collars, and/or lowering the springs to modify shock travel. I am kind of disappointed because I see s14's go low with function & form but maybe they did other modifications. If I wanted to go lower, I'm sure I can take out the collars in the fronts and drop it another inch. For the rears, the only way of going lower is to drop the springs and reduce shock travel. These photos are only after minimal driving on the first day of installation so coilovers have probably not settled in yet! Will post updates after a month of driving.

Stock height:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0438.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0440.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0441.jpg

Lowered and maxed out:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0492.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0496.jpg

Rear wheel: Bascially the fender and tire evens out.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0498.jpg

Front wheel: Fender evens out with the tires also.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0500.jpg

Now for some estimated measurements just so y'all get an idea:
Front bumper:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0502.jpg
Front bumper by fender extension, driver side:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0501.jpg
Driver side fender by door:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0504.jpg
Rear wheel well, driver side, door side.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0506.jpg
Rear wheel well, rear bumper, driver side:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0507.jpg
Rear bumper, between 17 and 18 inches:

Update 3/4/12

First onto pictures:
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0550.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0544.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0530.jpg

Basically the ride height looks the same still. Didn't do any real measuring but I'm sure it didn't drop by anymore than 1/2 cm. As for the ride quality, it's fine for daily driving. Not too stiff on full soft, which is what I have the coilovers set at. Although, when you do run over the occasional bumps and cracks in the road, you hear a harsh thump. But I'm sure this is true for all aftermarket coilovers. I still need to get an alignment though.


UPDATE: 5/5/12

The suspension still seems to be functioning great. I don't see any leaks and the car drives fine like before.

Wheels: XXR 521 18x10+25 with and 8mm spacers in the rear and 18mm spacers in the front to clear coilovers. The rears clear coilovers w/out spacers though. -3 degree cambers in the rear and -1 degree camber in the front.

Tires: Fronts: 225/4018, Rears 255/40/18. My front does rub when g-force pulls it during turns. Fenders are rolled and pulled.

EMUSA control arms off ebay for alignment.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0566-1.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0597.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0604.jpg
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/IMG_0572-1.jpg

EMUSA control arms off ebay. They fit okay and are doing the job well so far for daily driving. Also got them aligned and the tech didn't seem to have any trouble adjusting them.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/EMUSA%20control%20arms/IMG_0564.jpg
Here the nut just wasn't tighten down yet.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss237/chue240sx/1993%20S13%20Vert/EMUSA%20control%20arms/IMG_0567-1.jpg

[Pinggg]

There's no way that is maxed out..
I could of sworn i seen some s13's on F/n/f coils that were pretty low.

[s13 @ fullboost]

prob removed collars

[SR Skid_Kid]

soooooooooo not maxed out... thats the same height of my vert on stock struts and tein s-techs

[qwerth]

yeah you probably should remove your collars

maybe your springs aren't settled in yet

can't be the lowest

[EvoVIII808]

here is what you need to do.
How to Adjust S13 Coilovers! - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRNriaSdfl4&feature=related)

[Chue240sx]

here is what you need to do.
How to Adjust S13 Coilovers! - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRNriaSdfl4&feature=related)

Thanks for redirecting me to this video so that I can be more specific with the thread. I edited the thread to be more specific, meaning keeping all collars and factory pre-loaded settings. Also, these photos were taken with minimal driving on the first day of installation so coilovers were probably not settled in yet.

In essence, it's not lowered to the maxed, but lowered to the max keeping factory preloaded springs and all collars.

I'm probably going to keep it at this height for now until a month of driving to see if it drops anymore.

Sorry to cause any confusion.

[Mishkin_707]

Thanks for this, I was thinking of ordering these coilovers, I actually like that ride height (insert flame here)

I don't see lowering my car any lower than that, I'm not bashing anyone who wants their car lower but that's just me.

[O$mo]

Where were you in December when I was shopping for coils! I still got them none the less for my s13 hatch, I like em, then again these are my first coilovers ever so...yeah, I am waiting to see them in action drift wise to see if they are good to slide in.

[Prove It]

dont listen to these kooks. Don't hurt the performance of the coils by sagging the springs and removing collars. It's low enough. Cool write up

[Snake820]

Just ordered me a set from phase2motortrend...800 bucks shipped hell yes......did you by chance put on some Rear Upper control arms for camber or is that straight just lowered.

[raiyan84]

if you do remove 2 of the lockrings its not going to hurt the preformance or ride enough for you to notice but im on form nd function and i got at least another inch and a half lower then that when i was maxed

[Chue240sx]

Just ordered me a set from phase2motortrend...800 bucks shipped hell yes......did you by chance put on some Rear Upper control arms for camber or is that straight just lowered.

The pics above with the stock rims have no alignment adjustments. Basically just dropped with stock arms. I will post up new pictures.

[drift2010]

How is the quality of this coilovers ? can you describe it or compare it like... its better than ... megan racing, godspeed, or tein basic... or..? thanks

[WERDdabuilder]

How is the quality of this coilovers ? can you describe it or compare it like... its better than ... megan racing, godspeed, or tein basic... or..? thanks

all the same shit.

[imnatelol]

Spring rates?

[Chue240sx]

As far as comparison to megans, god speed and tien basics I do not know because I have never owned them.

Definitely not as good as the Apexi N1s EVX though.

Spring rates are 8k fronts and 6k rears.

[lscustoms]

i got a set NOT EFEN not maxed out LOL
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375249_292731994099437_853573627_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/379919_292858767420093_82059374_n.jpg

[jbt_92]

I just ordered a set. How are these treating you?

[Vongsayarath]

Any Track reviews on these? Lscustoms.... What size wheels are you running for specs? Liking the ride height on yours. Might go with these or Save up for the extra and get BC

[NeedNewEngine]

Still have his number or website to go thru and how are they treating you now
thanks