Suspension for $400-500?

[sunrat]

Hey guys,

I have a 96 240sx in where the shocks and struts are going out on it (180k miles) and I want to upgrade or replace the suspension set up.

I'm looking on eBay and I see coilovers in this price range. I'm not going to race the car and it MAY be a daily driver.

I know I can buy struts and use my springs and all that stuff but I feel like the pieces I'll transfer over to the new strut will be so old and wore out that it may not be worth it. When you start adding up pieces you may need to replace along with the struts, it's higher than coilovers.

I'm looking for something that gives me a good ride and close to stock feel I guess. A smooth ride would be preferred but I may have some fun with the car from time to time

Help! Any suggestions? I see emusa and Godspeed on eBay for this price range? What's a good setup for myself in this price range?

[jr_ss]

If you want garbage, then by all means burn your money now. Save yourself the headache and buy something reputable.

Buying Chinese knock off shit is what the new generation of 240sx owners is all about.

[sunrat]

If you want garbage, then by all means burn your money now. Save yourself the headache and buy something reputable.

Buying Chinese knock off shit is what the new generation of 240sx owners is all about.


What do you suggest then? Btw I've owned this for car for nearly a decade so I'm not really a new generation of 240sx owners.

Should I buy koni struts and transfer the springs, etc... on over?

[5280VertDET]

You don't want height adjustment, go with a name brand lowering coil and some KYB AGX or GR2.

If you do, save up for FortuneAuto or wait for a used set to pop up here.

Check out the classifieds, there is a few S14 options for sale now. GL.

[bmaddock]

I've seen cheap coilovers break on daily driven cars and the results aren't pretty. I'll have to dig up the photo. Safety and reliability should be top priority for a daily driver. I've learned this through friends and personal experiences.

As it's been said, quality struts such as KYB GR2 (OEM spec) or KYB AGX (3-way adjustable damping) can be paired with name brand springs to provide a superior ride quality over any sub-$1000 coilover setup. If you still wish to have adjustable ride height without the money to accomplish it, either be patient and save or keep an eye on the Marketplace for used, quality coilovers.

Keep in mind if you do lower your car more than any lowering spring combination could, you will also need RUCA's and possibly rear toe arms to accomplish this. I've also seen friends with cheap suspension arms break so similar to a coilover setup, quality is key.

Edit: Here's the photo I was talking about. Met this dude at a local meet, super clean looking S14. Not but a week later got a message from another friend with the link to his Craigslist ad explaining a coilover snapped with this picture in it.
http://i.imgur.com/QtEt4Hm.jpg?1

[e1_griego]

Should I buy koni struts and transfer the springs, etc... on over?

Yes.

Buy camber plates if you want to replace the stock upper mount, or go to rockauto and buy new ones if you're worried they're worn out.

AGX are going to be cheaper and if you're not lowering too much should be just fine, and they have adjustable damping too.

Any $500 coilover will be a giant pile of fail in all respects, especially ride quality.

[sunrat]

Very good information guys thank you!

[sunrat]

One more thing. Using the kyb or koni struts, would it be wise to get lowering springs or use the stock ones? Aside from height difference will it affect the ride quality?

[Frank_Jaeger]

Don't get lowering springs if you don't care about ride height. You'll be limiting suspension travel and wearing out the shocks / struts at an accelerated rate.

[bmaddock]

One more thing. Using the kyb or koni struts, would it be wise to get lowering springs or use the stock ones? Aside from height difference will it affect the ride quality?

Lowering springs tend to have stiffer ride quality. I would say it is very manageable from riding in friends' cars but I have no personal experience.

Don't get lowering springs if you don't care about ride height. You'll be limiting suspension travel and wearing out the shocks / struts at an accelerated rate.

This too but I'm not so convinced it's a drastically faster wear. Similar to the "welded diff eats through tires while dailying" but I found my wear to be not much more, if at all excessive.

[alvarez-s14]

Remember you get what you pay for. suspension and brakes are the most important items on a vehicle. just try to save up and buy from a prestigious brand.

[sunrat]

I can probably spend a little bit more. I think the kyb agx ones sounds good. I'll probably buy new strut mounts or camber plates since these ones right now look extremely worn out. I'll need strut boots as well.

[Swerve240]

I got BC coilovers for my S13 and they have been great so far for daily driving and drifting. No strange noises or any problems so far. I even occasional adjust them to get that slammed look but driving around slammed in Houston with f'ed up roads everywhere is retarded. lol. Also, a lot of my friends with higher end and more $$$ coilovers are even impressed how nice my car rides on these. Plus the price was right when i picked em up last xmas. $950 shipped. As long as you install and adjust them right you'll be fine. Just save up a bit more and get mid level coilovers with good reputation. BC's is what I'd suggest for the $. A lot of people are happy with them. Tein, Ksport, Stance, and even Megans should also be fine.

[5280VertDET]

http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=582425

[sunrat]

Ok guys

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KYB-Struts-Shocks-Sport-Lowering-Springs-Suspension-Kit-for-95-98-Nissan-240SX/190716290175?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D27538%26meid%3Db07115c39c0947b79e3d58e327d2 71ab%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3 D6%26sd%3D120658591434&rt=nc

or this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120658591434?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

So basically it is GR2 with lowering springs vs AGX with lowering springs. I am also thinking about purchasing some TEIN inner and outer tie rods since I was told they were going out.

Will I really see a difference with the AGX? I don't plan on taking it to the tracks but I wouldn't mind seeing a nice curve and challenging it from time to time. I also read somewhere that using TEIN tie rods with a lowered car isn't good?

Also, I plan on buying strut mounts and boot covers too. If the GR2 is more than enough then I can use the money saved up to buy those mounts and boot covers. Thanks again!

[e1_griego]

GR2s are oem replacement shocks, no performance upgrade at all.

AGX are an adjustable shock and have better valving. They don't like going very low, so keep that in mind.

Tein tie rods won't have a problem on a lowered car.

I'd recommend camber plates but that's up to you.

[sunrat]

GR2s are oem replacement shocks, no performance upgrade at all.

AGX are an adjustable shock and have better valving. They don't like going very low, so keep that in mind.

Tein tie rods won't have a problem on a lowered car.

I'd recommend camber plates but that's up to you.

When you say they don't like going very low, do you mean "slammed"? I would just use the springs that would come with the package if I chose the AGX.

Sorry for the n00b question here griego but the camber plates would basically be a strut mount plus more (as far as function goes)? I believe you were explaining it to me in an earlier post.

Would something like this work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-98-Nissan-240SX-Front-Camber-Plate-Plates-x2-Suspension-kit-LEFT-AND-RIGHT-/121263545913

[e1_griego]

If you run them too low they'll bottom out and blow.

Any lowering spring is probably fine.

Yes, the camber plate replaces the upper piece. If you're not doing anything with the car where you think you need more camber in front, just replace with new oem-style shock mounts (much cheaper that way).

[Frank_Jaeger]

If you get Tein tie rods and use the increased angle spacers, be careful not to overextend the rack and blow out your seals. I've done it twice.

[Chl_drifter]

new shocks or used coilovers are your options.

[sunrat]

My kyb agx came in today. I'm awaiting my calipers as well and my moog tie rods are in. Man do I have a project at hand lol.

I'll replace my calipers first then install tie rods and then finally the struts.

I'm going to try and do this on my own wish me luck!

[sunrat]

Alright guys.

I have my agx ready to be installed. I don't know if I want to use my stock springs or buy aftermarket ones.

How can I tell if my springs are going bad? I mean they are the original ones and this car has 180k miles on it.

Should I just buy lowering springs? Tein or eibach?

This car will be a daily driver most likely btw.

[adamhanna]

get some lowering springs. i have some 1.3 inch drop eibachs i think and they made the car drive soooo much better

[5280VertDET]

get some lowering springs. i have some 1.3 inch drop eibachs i think and they made the car drive soooo much better

This. You will be happy with a lower & firmer ride, with high quality springs. plus they're cheap. Just do it once and be done. Alignments aren't cheap enough to have it done twice.

[Silverbullet]

Information in this thread is garbage. Koni sport shocks are the best bang for the buck. You can pair with a large range of spring rates up to 8kg/mm. It may restrict your height and preloading adjustments, however they do work better than all coilover systems under $1400 in terms of its damping characteristics.

[e1_griego]

And konis are outside of his price range and substantially more effort to install them.

For the money, AGX are about the only option that isn't cxracing/emusa.

[Swerve240]

Coilovers are easier to install/adjust. Also if you spend over $1400 on coilovers nowadays you're trippin. lol. Id put that money elsewhere. But yeah i'd also go with AGX instead of cx and emusa if couldnt get anything else. They seem decent for the money. Pesronally id rather just get cheaper coilovers to make things easier.

[sunrat]

Well, from this thread I realize that a brand name shock/strut is better than an eBay brand coilover. That is why I went with kyb agx. If I wanted to spend 1000 bucks on suspension I would get coilovers.

Anyway, my fear is that my stock springs are so old that one might be sagging when I drive. Therefore, I figure to just buy new springs.

I don't want some crazy 2 inch drop. I see eibach prokits and tein s techs that don't offer that huge of a drop.

So, I am just asking which springs work well with my agx and for daily driving? I see Adam and vertdet agreeing on eibachs.

Adam- are these eibachs prokits on agx's on your car?

[e1_griego]

Coilovers are easier to install/adjust. Also if you spend over $1400 on coilovers nowadays you're trippin. lol. Id put that money elsewhere. But yeah i'd also go with AGX instead of cx and emusa if couldnt get anything else. They seem decent for the money. Pesronally id rather just get cheaper coilovers to make things easier.

What's he's saying (and it's 100% correct) is that a set of koni yellows will outperform any off-the-shelf coilover for <$1400 because the konis are shocks that actually work.

It's more effort to install but they actually work.

[Swerve240]

Go with eibach springs. I know some guys who use them on stangs and haven't heard any complaints. You will eventually want coilovers if you start getting into drifting but for daily driving a 240 i cant see where you can go wrong with this setup. New shocks and struts with new coils is you're best bet anyways for daily driving. No point in putting excessive stress on the chassis and having a super stiff ride with coilovers. I actually prefer it but most people probably don't. Either way any new suspension should work a lot better than the old blown out shocks and struts for sure. Most 240s are getting pretty damn old. Definitely replace the springs tho. Don't attempt cutting them either. Imo that shit is about as retarded as welding your diff. I wouldn't do it if you care about your car.

[sunrat]

Looking at kyb warranty and receiving an email from them, my warranty would be voided if I used anything but stock springs. wtf.

Their old warranty stated up to 1.5" drop but their new warranty (this year) says any modification is voided. Plus, I received an email from customer service saying the same thing.

Any idea where to get cheap oem springs? Or, how can I tell if my springs are bad?

Thanks guys.

[5280VertDET]

Looking at kyb warranty and receiving an email from them, my warranty would be voided if I used anything but stock springs. wtf.

Their old warranty stated up to 1.5" drop but their new warranty (this year) says any modification is voided. Plus, I received an email from customer service saying the same thing.

Any idea where to get cheap oem springs? Or, how can I tell if my springs are bad?

Thanks guys.

What they don't know won't hurt them.

[sunrat]

What they don't know won't hurt them.


I agree but I'm sure they can just open the strut and look at the piston I suppose?

[e1_griego]

No one runs stock springs, no one is going to be able to tell one way or another.

You could probably get them tested but who cares. If the car isn't sagging or a spring isn't broken, it's probably fine.

[Swerve240]

If you want your car to sit a little lower get new springs. Using stock springs wont justify buying the new shocks and struts imo. You could have just bought someones old ones off another 240 on craigslist for dirt cheap. Finish the upgrade since you already started it.

[sunrat]

Got some tein stech. They were cheaper than eibachs plus it has good reviews. Good times ahead.

Thanks everyone!

[mad-ass]

as I was searching for some reviews on the KYB AGX's..I land on this thread. typical bashing and suggestions of koni yellows blah blah blah. Yes it will be one of the best suspension setup you can buy, but I am pretty sure most of us here aren't race car drivers that can spot the actual difference in the shocks capabilities.

that being said, I currently have KYB GR2's with Tein S-tech springs on my S14(about 2 years now, before current setup was Stance GR+ since 2007). I have toyed around with ideas on getting coilover suspension again..but I wouldn't go back to it unless I go with Feal 441's or KW's coilovers. I really enjoy the comfort of of the Tein S-Tech springs and they get the job done IMO.

and for your reference...

https://scontent-2.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/542144_539914882690079_1932295528_n.jpg?oh=3da844f d3e09965e3b11e4ba2c2bac53&oe=551D907A
^Stance GR+, 18x9.5+15 245/40/18 18x10+38 275/35/18

https://scontent-2.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/574963_620006044680962_1582851351_n.jpg?oh=05ec7ce 9bf747a43e99b0866dcbe4d21&oe=54DC05E9
^KYB GR2+Tein S-Tech same wheel/tire setup.

put up a review, I'd be interested in reading it. :)

[e1_griego]

Just to clarify, koni yellows =/= koni race shocks.

Also, to your point, I used to downplay good shocks. "How good can they actually be? I'll never notice the difference!"

Not true at all. Good shocks make the car worlds better, and it's the reason I get so frustrated with the pick-your-favorite-color coilover du jour that plagues 240land.