Just got my Powertrix coils in... KTS watch out!

[BobbyBoy]

I just recieved my set of power trix coilovers for myself and my buddies. I ordered the Ultralite versions while my friend ordered the Race version. For comparison I also have the Super Street version as well
For comparison purposes, I have owned GP Sports GR6, and the SPL KTS coilovers. Plus I have experienced the Silkroad RMA8, Sustec Pro DD, Apexi N1, and Tein SS,HA,HE,HR, and super drifts.
These are my initial impressions for just inspecting the coilovers.

They have a nice solid feel and the brackets and collars look like they will be able handle some abuse.
The anodized finish is excellent, nice color combo.
Comes with dust boots for the piston rods.
Upper pillow ball mounts have thick plates, and are comparable to many others on the market
The coilovers are INVERTED MONOTUBE up front and standard monotube in the rear, just like the KTS I have on my car right now. I think the new Superdrifts are still twintube, and my friend blew one of his on his S14 in less than 1,000 miles. Way to go Tein!
16 levels of dampening adjustable struts, and the adjustment knob feels very study. The GP sports knob was very spongy and imprecise, in other words it felt cheap and quite crappy for a $1600 coilover. The only gripe I had with the KTS adjustment knobs is that both of the knobs cracked up front, and one in the rear. I think the Powertrix adjustment is the best from what I have owned so far.
The sleeve bodies of the struts are coated in something that makes the threading of the collar much much smoother than the KTS, when they were new. The GP sports had the graduated marking on the strut bodies which was a plus for matching ride heights, too bad the collars never like to stay tight, and the locking allen screws would fall out.

The basic versions are Identical to the Race, except there are no camber plates included

From holding the Race and Ultralight verison in each hand you can easily tell the Ultralights weigh well, lighter. Maybe Ill get more scientific later on the exact weights when I do the installs. Any savings on Unsprung weight will help however.

Other than that there is only so much you can tell fron just looking at and holding them. But from my intial impressions I would give the powertrix +1 on build quality
I will be installing these very shortly and will give a review of the driving abilities once installed. Until then, here are the pics.
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6178/untitled96kq.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8938/untitled14cf.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6395/untitled28or.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4974/untitled72pl.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3052/untitled69vv.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5245/untitled59jo.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/204/untitled44us.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8020/untitled35mm.jpg

[Buffalo Daughter]

i like the green and black finish.niiiiicce

[TurDz]

Wow, the color scheme IS awesome, and they look great. Thanks for the initial impressions and I look forward to hearing about how they ride and perform.

[wootwoot]

How about spring rates, where you got them, and soon a driving impression =)

[SilviaDriver]

How about spring rates, where you got them, and soon a driving impression =)

ever care to check the GB or Specials page?

[wootwoot]

^^^^ I barely have any money right now so I dont like teasing myself to terribly. Somebody buy my god damn VW please!!!

[sw20>>s14]

they look like real high quality pieces...i was seriously considering these when they surfaced in the GBs, but i already ordered my ddrugs...tell us how they are on the road, i might still consider getting an extra set just cuz im indecisive and dont like to choose :rawk: ...

[Ritz S14]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this but..

The pillow mounts looks exactly like Megan Racing(not that that is a bad thing IMO).

[sux 2 b na]

price?????

[SilviaDriver]

price?????

look at my post, #6, it helps to read the entire thread before posting.

[SR240DET]

EDIT: whoops my bad.... i heard this from a friend... guess he was wrong..

[Ritz S14]

AH-HAHHAHAHA those are megan racing coilovers... well........ same exact company.... same exact valving... i forgot the brand name... but its all the same except for color...

power trix has a street version/race version and so does megan.... its pretty obvious at this point..

Megan Racing are 32 way, but these 15 ways adjustables. Also, MRs are not inverted shocks.

[upSLIDEdown]

They're not Megans, that's for sure. As said, these don't have as many clicks (good thing), the fronts are inverted, and the ultralites are aluminum bodied. Def not Megan.

Bryan

[Ian]

yeah, the megans are in no way, shape or form similar to these (the pillow mounts are close though)

these remind me of the D-Drugs at a glance though

[JDMark]

they look really similar to KTS. powertrix is good customer service, intersted to see how these work out

[MakotoS13]

those look exactly the same as my KTS coils aside from the snazzy anodized lime green.

cool, post the price fool.

[FaLKoN240]

Yeah, I was about to say. . .after all that where the price at?

[drift freaq]

those look exactly the same as my KTS coils aside from the snazzy anodized lime green.

cool, post the price fool.
Makoto, the price is in the Group buy section. There is a Group buy for these coilovers.

[SilviaDriver]

talk about some forum members forgetting how to read

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=84999

[blu808]

Those look nice bobby. Let me know how they feel.

Btw im finally unpinked after 6 months. It feels really great...

[chmercer]

where are the zerk fittings? where do i put in the grease? :goyou:

[NismoSilvia270R]

one thing i like about the silkroads (only coilover ive dealt with so far) is the adjustability of the top spindle bolt. helped me clear different kinds of wheels.

when you get em on, tell about the clearance there.

[atom]

Is it just me or do these coilovers (except the ultra-lite version) look very similar to the old Mookeeh MK1 coilovers that used to go for like $700 on ebay? They even have the same specs........

[nrg]

these look almost simalar to silkroad

[BobbyBoy]

There are only so many different things that go into the pruduction of a coilover, there are only a few components, mainly the struts, springs, pillowball camer plates, collars, and brackets. Biggest thing is the strut, and if you have a monotube setup valved correctly for a decent spring rate, your pretty much set. The only remaining factor is features, build quality, and prestige vs. price.

Build quality is good. All the products I have from Powertrix are great, and so is their service. I think you are getting a hell of a product for the money, but don't let the price fool you, they are quality parts. HKS may have the prestige to back up their products, but for simple parts you are paying out the ass for the name. I am a name brand whore too.

Heck if Powertrix charges twice as much for these coilovers and you guys still buy them, I could guarantee that 20 years later powertrix would be a big name with huge profits and racing pedigree to spend their extra revenues on.

But companies like SPL and powertrix decide that it better for the enthusiasts to be able to afford quality parts and be able to use the money they save for other things.

Keep in mind you can buy brand new powertrix coilovers, tension rods, RUCAs, traction and toe rods, subframe spacers, and new rotors for less than most New big brand JDM coilovers.

[MakotoS13]

all of you guys that are telling us to check the GB page really oughta just suck on a big fat donkey dick. this thread could EASILY display that information and you guys act like people are retarded for glancing it over and not following links, whatever.

stop being a bunch of wannabe mods and fuggin eat it, losers.

[420sx]

so..... those coilovers get you more pussy?

[wootwoot]

After reading the other thread...ARE these KTS'?

[MakotoS13]

not to mention the ones with the camber plates ARE the same price as KTS coils normally.

????

[OptionZero]

unsubstantiated hearsay rumor from source I can't remember (FA?):
Powertrix arms = TC Sportline = ebay?

[drift freaq]

unsubstantiated hearsay rumor from source I can't remember (FA?):
Powertrix arms = TC Sportline = ebay?
hehehehehe, I can substantiate that. Powertrix=Ctune=TCsportline. TCsportline is the parent company and he sells to a lot of people now. It used to be he only sold wholesale to certain companies i.e. Powertrix and Ctune but he started wholesaling and started retailing the product direct under the TCsportline name. Now after that is said, I will say two things.

1. Powertrix Coilovers are not a TCsportline product. Powertrix gets them from a Korean company that supposedly manufacturers coils for Japanese companies.

2. TC sportline stuff is not bad bang for the buck made in taiwan stuff. They have had a few quality control issues but they take care of it.

[Irukandji]

nice coilovers...those are sexxxxyyy

[OptionZero]

Powertrix price puts them above MR/D2 level, right about on par with KTS, D-Drug ( $11-1300), Apex ExV and I think Tein Super Drifts and entry level Tanabe's, forgot the name.

I don't think you could go wrong with KTS, but it's always good to have quality options.

If nothing else, the green is sweeet.

[FaLKoN240]

all of you guys that are telling us to check the GB page really oughta just suck on a big fat donkey dick. this thread could EASILY display that information and you guys act like people are retarded for glancing it over and not following links, whatever.

stop being a bunch of wannabe mods and fuggin eat it, losers.

Yeah. "Zilvia, where everyone THINKS they're a mod."

[A Spec Products]

i seen these at SEMA last year in what was most likely the korean booth.

that being said, judging coilovers by looks isn't exactly the right way to go about it.

fools gold looks like gold, but it ain't the same!

tc sportline does make some good stuff, we had their carbon mirrors, spacers, and some other things, not too shabby.

[decksy]

i seen these at SEMA last year in what was most likely the korean booth.

that being said, judging coilovers by looks isn't exactly the right way to go about it.

fools gold looks like gold, but it ain't the same!

tc sportline does make some good stuff, we had their carbon mirrors, spacers, and some other things, not too shabby.

i couldnt have said it better myself! put those things on already and test them out!

[North240]

So heres the question, if they are the "same" as the KTS ones are they rebuildable for $550 with brand new struts just KTS? Or can you just buy the rebuild from KTS and thread them into the bodies of the Powertrix ones? Or can you get the custom spring rates for the powertrix ones to fit the KTS? But they do look quite similar.

[BobbyBoy]

EH I was supposed to install these this weekend to get an actual measure of performance. But after going to the doctor to have the pins holding my broken thumb together removed, they decided to wait one more week before taking the pins out. This makes me a one handed gimp for another week and unable to install my coilovers until then :duh:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1655/bionichand8ne.jpg

[SochBAT]

So heres the question, if they are the "same" as the KTS ones are they rebuildable for $550 with brand new struts just KTS? Or can you just buy the rebuild from KTS and thread them into the bodies of the Powertrix ones? Or can you get the custom spring rates for the powertrix ones to fit the KTS? But they do look quite similar.
i don't think he meant they were literally the same. Same as in REALLY good bang for buck.

[North240]

They look literally the same, like apexi exv and MR the same. i could be wrong?

[sideview_180sx]

EH I was supposed to install these this weekend to get an actual measure of performance. But after going to the doctor to have the pins holding my broken thumb together removed, they decided to wait one more week before taking the pins out. This makes me a one handed gimp for another week and unable to install my coilovers until then :duh:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1655/bionichand8ne.jpg

Bobby just don't roll over on your hand while sleeping. I had pins in my finger and I rolled on them..... :zzz: >>>>> :cry:

[nocturnaldrifter]

your pins are fucking gnarly, ive never seen doctors let pins stick out like that, what if you like pushed one or fell on it, thatwouldnt be good at all

[upSLIDEdown]

Ok, since you guys can't seem to read other threads...

These come in 3 versions, Street, Race, and Ultra Lite.
Street- No camber plates
Race- WITH camber plates-steel body
Ultra Lite- Same as Race but with Aluminum bodies

The Race coils were intro'd at $1050, and the Ultra Lites at $1250, but these were intro prices, they're supposedly going up now. The race version is basically the same as kts I think. (kts don't have aluminum bodies, do they?) And again, they are from a korean company, they aren's like Megans at all except maybe the camber plates looking the same, but seriously, how many different ways can you make a camber plate?

EDIT: Oh, and yes they are rebuildable. 4 new shocks for around $500, just like kts.

Bryan

[North240]

KTS are not aluminium bodies, and apparently the race one are exactly the same as the KTS with the ultra light ones being one step up.

[fliprayzin240sx]

EH I was supposed to install these this weekend to get an actual measure of performance. But after going to the doctor to have the pins holding my broken thumb together removed, they decided to wait one more week before taking the pins out. This makes me a one handed gimp for another week and unable to install my coilovers until then :duh:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1655/bionichand8ne.jpg


Oh yah imagine those 2 pins in your wrist sucka!!! that shiet sucked when i was 15!!! Have fun when they numb it cuz youll feel the pressure and its the freakiest feeling in the world and watching the docs pull em out with a pair of vice grips.

Well anyways were all waiting to see how this suspension would rate to you as soon as you get em in the car. Im kinda looking for a suspension for my S14...now i got MR, KTS, D-Drug, silikroads, gpsports and this to sort tru. Is it just me or we get a "new" suspension every other month or so?

[SauN]

Powertrix is a very reputable and trustworthy company. I have talked to Charles several times in person and he is a very nice guy and i have bought many items from him and would get these coils if I had enough money. The customer service charles provides is jsut simply amazing - just a phone call away. I'm sure Charles wouldn't have put these coils under his product line if the integrity wasn't up to par with other high quality and well reknown coilover companies i.e. KTS.

[HyperTek]

any update review yet?

[mr_240sx]

im curious in finding out how they perform!

[axiomatik]

same here, i'm not going to buy coilovers based on color or customer service (though that is important). I want to know how they perform and how they hold up.

[mr_240sx]

^ and thats why i got GR6's

[BobbyBoy]

Sorry for the lag on the updates, its been a hell of a week, I had those pins removed from my wrist, and I ended up moving to a new house this weekend too, a lot closer to some touge action I might add.

I DID install the coilovers and fixed my car, and drove them pretty hard on the local touge. I have a review on my computer at home with pics and stuff, but my DSL isn't up and I left my flash drive at work where I am now posting from, but I'll have the review up tommorow morning, youll guys like what you hear.

[BobbyBoy]

So anyways here's the review finally.

Install on the Power Trix Ultralight coilovers was straightforward, only 16 nuts and a few collars to adjust. If you can't figure out how to jack up your car and loosen/tighten 16 bolts then please have a professional do it before you ruin your suspension.

In addition to the coilovers I also have the full set of mutilink parts from powertrix as well as subframe spacers, brand new control arm bushings, and ST sway bars. The coilovers complement the blue and purple them in my car nicely.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7329/img80313dh.jpg
So on the way to the touge I am taking her out on the street going through the regular daily driving thing. On the softest setting the car is stiff, but completely streetable. Potholes still suck, as well as driveways and speedbumps with low aero. My rear tires used to rub with the KTS occasionally when I hit big bumps, not so with the powertrix. On a side note, with no hood or bumper on your car, people like to stare a lot on the street.

So far so good, almost impossible to differentiate these coilovers from the other I have been in on the street, things feel fine, the way they should with coilovers on the street. On to the touge drive.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2628/road2ot.jpg

I kept the dampening all the way soft to see what that would be like to start.
This is the first time out with all the new suspension parts and all I can say is that everything works together so nicely. The coils, even on the softest setting in combination with the sway bars had no body roll at all even on the tightest corners. Even if I was going in too hot into a corner I could scrub speed and still turn in perfectly. Hnadling seemed to be nuetral at high speeds with minimal oversteer at moderate to low speeds, surprising with wide 275 tires out back. This course had minimal bumps, but I didn't really notice them at all with the adrenaline from the drive. Best part was being able to WOT out of the apex of the corners and still be able to keep the car firmly planted. The suspension of the car is easily able to handle the power of the car, looks like I need more power :)

I stop and turn around to go home and change the dampening to the stiffest setting all the way around. Things are pretty much the same except I now notice the bumpy part of the course. Low speed oversteer is slightly greater now, with combination of aftermarket tie rods, it feels like you can do a donut in the middle of a hairpin corner, then go ahead and resume on course.
This setting would be perfect for a smooth roadcourse, it cleans up the minute amount of slop the was present in the softest setting.

Alls well that ends well, except I notice my Koyo is leaking and upon further examination find a crack in the lower end tank. So I have to limp home so I don't overheat.

Overall the coils are worth more than their price. Being a name brand whore I would definitely take these over Cusco or HKS and take the $1000-$1500 I save and put into motorwork or something else. +1 for Powertrix, Charles is a vendor on the board also and if there is something I missed you can contact him for any other issues. I believe he runs these coilovers on his drag and road race Z's with great results. I wouldn't be surprised considering the results I had.

[mr_240sx]

nice review Bobby!!

[TurK]

hell yah good review man...def thinking about these coilovers....they better keep the price wher its at for a while though.....gatta save up ya i mean.

Turkish

[HyperTek]

so what coilovers did you have on before? and how notible is the difference between em?

[SilviaDriver]

1. Powertrix Coilovers are not a TCsportline product. Powertrix gets them from a Korean company that supposedly manufacturers coils for Japanese companies.


http://www.hdsystem.biz/main.htm

[BobbyBoy]

The last set I had was the KTS coils and previously to that was the GP Sports GR6. The GP sports were stiffer/bouncier than both the KTS and Powertrix. The Power trix do not seem any stiffer or bouncier than the KTS, but with the KTS at the same ride height and dampening, my rear tires would rub on the KTS setup, meaning the Powertrix probably has less suspension travel at the same dampening. This is a good thing for myself and others who need less suspension travel who are running aggressive tire and wheel fitments.

After my first hard run with the KTS they spit up a little fluid from the piston area, Kuah said this was normal. After this hard run my powertrix coils were looking brand new with no oil residue coming from the piston area.

[wootwoot]

^^^does this mean you would maybe expect them to last longer?

[chmercer]

with the KTS at the same ride height and dampening, my rear tires would rub on the KTS setup, meaning the Powertrix probably has less suspension travel at the same dampening. This is a good thing for myself and others who need less suspension travel who are running aggressive tire and wheel fitments.

this, is completly fucking insane. go read a book, PLEASE.

[BobbyBoy]

this, is completly fucking insane. go read a book, PLEASE.

I just finished the Wizard of Oz but it didnt enlighten on suspension systems at all. Maybe if you were more specific of your comment it would help.

I don't claim to be a suspension expert/crest-vinyl pro like yourself but I am going off of basic common sense and physics. Lets say if 2 vehicle are at the same ride height, and they have 2 inches of suspension travel until the tires rub. If they both hit a bump and one vehicle rubs the tire on the inner fender and the other car doesn't, that means that the vehicle that rubbed had 2 inches or more of suspension travel, while the other car had less than 2 inches.

I think this is a good thing to have less travel because I am not smoking my tires off of my inner fenders when on the expressway.

School me in a rebuttle, and yes that Lambo color is pimp.

[chmercer]

with the KTS at the same ride height and dampening, my rear tires would rub on the KTS setup


uhh ok wait, you are saying that your tires are rubbing on the actual car? or the coilover? if your tires are rubbing on the car, you need to fix your fenders / change your wheels tires / whatever. fucking up your suspension travel to avoid rubbing your tires is totally shitty. that would be like if my tires rubbed on my car at full compression, and to fix it, i just put an extra bump stop on the shock. totally stupid.

if you are saying that the rear tires are rubbing on the actual spring/shock assembly, this would be because the KTS have a larger O.D. spring than the powertrix (I have no idea if this is the case or not, im just saying that this is like the only thing that could cause rubbing on the suspension)

if you are smoking your tires on the inner fender well why do you not just hammer it out of the way?

If you refuse to actually fix your clearance issues the proper way, a better idea than just trying to crank the shit out of the dampening would be to lower your car about a half inch more than you want (using the lower bracket) and then raise the car back up to the previous height via preloading. this will give you a little more stiffness without altering the ride height. again this is more of a band aid than anything because it sounds like the main problem is your wheels dont fit.

regardless, i will continue to boycott anything powertrix sells, 1. because they tried to sell people control arms with zerk fitting heim joints and call them performance parts and 2. because of this TOTALLY ROCKIN shock dyno graph on the coilover webpage
http://www.hdsystem.biz/img/kam.gif
and 3. because right next to the coilover link, they have the link for the bus, snow mobile, jeep, and tractor shocks. :bowrofl:

last thing
Lets say if 2 vehicle are at the same ride height, and they have 2 inches of suspension travel until the tires rub. If they both hit a bump and one vehicle rubs the tire on the inner fender and the other car doesn't, that means that the vehicle that rubbed had 2 inches or more of suspension travel, while the other car had less than 2 inches.

this is totally false. unless you are assuming that every variable is exactly the same except for the internals of the shock. are the shocks exactly the same height? same number of threads? springs exactly the same rate? both equally preloaded? same speed, same bump, same load in the car? blah blah blah.

edit - also, flip your brake rotors

[HyperTek]

someone should send a set to koni to put on thier shock dyno

[BobbyBoy]

Regardless the rubbing, non rubbing issue is moot because it was just an observation I made while driving the car on the SOFTEST dampening setting. The tires rubbed before occasionally on bumps, because I didn't cut high enough on the stock fender. Easy fix when I have the time to do it. I just wanted to get the coilovers on the car for a review. The ride height setting are exactly the same as my KTS (measured with tape measure) as well as the amount of preload.

As for the final example all the variables would be equal even the same bumps and speed except for the struts being different.

edit- The brembo install diagram showed the slot orientation that way.

[driftking777]

hey bobby boy...sorry to bring up an older thread, but wondering what your thinking of the Powertrix still? Worth the money?

[McRussellPants]

regardless, i will continue to boycott anything powertrix sells, 1. because they tried to sell people control arms with zerk fitting heim joints and call them performance parts and 2. because of this TOTALLY ROCKIN shock dyno graph on the coilover webpage
http://www.hdsystem.biz/img/kam.gif
and 3. because right next to the coilover link, they have the link for the bus, snow mobile, jeep, and tractor shocks. :bowrofl:



MFWerd.

[TypeXcoupe]

Hey Bobby,

This is old news but I assume your rear camber settings were the same on both suspension systems when they were installed. This would more likely result in the rubbing issue? Maybe you're running more neg camber now in the rear?

And regarding this,

"If you refuse to actually fix your clearance issues the proper way, a better idea than just trying to crank the shit out of the dampening would be to lower your car about a half inch more than you want (using the lower bracket) and then raise the car back up to the previous height via preloading. this will give you a little more stiffness without altering the ride height. again this is more of a band aid than anything because it sounds like the main problem is your wheels dont fit."

I wanted to just make sure that people don't misunderstand this. I'm not tryin to make any enemies here, i'm a newbie too but I been around coilovers for a pretty long time as well. It just seems there is a contradiction in your statement and would simply like it clarified.

You said to lower the vehicle with the lower bracket and then raise it back up by adding preload to the spring, yet it "won't alter the ride height". I see a "raise it back up" and "won't alter the ride height".

But from my experience with these types of coils, you will never ever ever lower the spring so that there is slop in the springs position. Therefore the spring should always be snug and ride height should only be adjusted by the independent lower bracket. Preloading springs I would more suggest for someone who either has a lot of "ass dyno" time, understand the physics behind it, or pays someone to corner balance their car.

In regards to the coilover quality, name brand thing and so forth. I do believe it is a toss up and definitely believe that end users pay more to name brand companies because those companies have expenses to promote the marketting and "race proving" of their product.

However, I think one of the items that many people fail to consider are the small details.

- Material quality, spherical bearings, bushings, etc....

- Spring Quality, any spring dynos out there for these people? While many people believe a linear spring is truly linear, are being misled. A linear spring has much more "linear" properties than a progressive spring. Some linear springs are better than others because they have a constant spring rate over a larger range of compression. Some spring will only reach ideal spring rate after 35% compression and approach "coil binding" properties near 75%, spring rate goes thru the roof. That's only 40% of stroke that retains a constant spring rate. Keep in mind with your car on the ground, you've loaded suspension and probably used up about 15% -20% of your stroke right there on a coilover.

GOOD Springs like ERS, Swift, Zeal X Coils, have a much broader range of linearity. They will reach optimal spring rate at 20% and maintain it upwards of 85% to 90%, yielding about 70% of linear stroke. Since your suspension loaded starts you at about 20% compression these spring rates are much more "accurate" than the aforementioned. So there's money to be found in that technology. I rarely ever see anyone discuss spring dynos. I've taken shitty cheap ass coilovers, put swift springs or Eibach Racing Springs on them and yielded a much less bumpy ride. Might be a cool upgrade for something like this. See if you can buy it without springs and then order some Swift ones.

- Serviceability is very important. Do they overhaul or do full damper replacement. What's the turnaround time for that and the cost of such. I know these coilovers are cheap and you would just buy a whole set, but if under warranty it will be good to know how long your car will be on jackstands.

- Does the company provide legitimate technical data supporting the quality of the Valving. A lot of this can be propoganda also. Was the dyno taken after 15mins or 20mins to check for fatigue as well? Changes in the damping rates over extended time?

- Definitely is it monotube or twin tube, is there a free floating piston to separate the oil and gas to prevent cavitation?

- Do you have the ability to not only choose your own spring rates but also have the valving modified to suit them?

So obviously some of these truly "penske, moton" type services won't be offered and you save a lot of money, but you lose some "flexibility" as well. I just thought i'd spit that out there so people can have a proper judge of value.

Most monotube coils have to be rebuilt in three years anyway. If they're this cheap i'd just buy a new set of dampers/shell casings.

Peace.

[Ian]

I have my shocks preloaded to lower my car more (S14's don't go low enough on megan racing...getting new coilovers soon that are coming out...will introduce to Zilvia when I am allowed)

I have no problem w/ the spring being dropped off of the perch

[TurDz]

TypeXcoupe, you bring up very good points and I agree with you on spring dynos. Thanks for the insight.

[McRussellPants]

I have my shocks preloaded to lower my car more (S14's don't go low enough on megan racing...getting new coilovers soon that are coming out...will introduce to Zilvia when I am allowed)

I have no problem w/ the spring being dropped off of the perch

Uhhmm... if anything preloading raises the car.


I preloaded my KTS on the front and my thinking was - to get the spring out of the way so the lower bracket can go higher. but really the shock just compresses less when you drop it and it ends up being higher. mine went down 1-2cm when I took the preload out.

[SoSideways]

Uhhmm... if anything preloading raises the car.


I preloaded my KTS on the front and my thinking was - to get the spring out of the way so the lower bracket can go higher. but really the shock just compresses less when you drop it and it ends up being higher. mine went down 1-2cm when I took the preload out.


He proloaded the shocks, not the springs.

Basically, if the coilover is in your hands, and not on the car, you would loosen the lower spring purches and move them down, until your spring is no longer seated on the purches, but is free to move around.

That way, when the weight of the car is put on the coilover, the shock compresses, and thus preloads, before the spring even seats. But once the spring seats, the shock stops preloading any more.

That's what you have to do to your coilovers if you want to lower your car more, but cannot do it with the lower bracket anymore.

[McRussellPants]

Right... non captive springs commonly refered to as "drooping spring". I've done that on my rear.

[SoSideways]

Right... non captive springs commonly refered to as "drooping spring". I've done that on my rear.

Ok... so... why did you say that it raises your car?

[Dousan_PG]

preloading raises
non-captive (loose) is dropping it lower--drooping

he didnt say it.

if anything preloading raises the car.

which is correct.

[SoSideways]

Ok so I guess we're all on the same page, just worded differently.

I was talking about the shock, not the springs.

What I was talking about, is the same thing:

Droopy springs = lowering car.

[McRussellPants]

Exactly, I've never heard anyone say preloading shocks besides motorcycle guys.

I saw preload and mistook shock for spring.

[BobbyBoy]

Eh, I've been awol out of state over the holidays and such, just got back home today. First thing I did was take the forty for a spin.

Cant say anything bad about the coilovers still, I have had no issues with them thus far. As far as driving feel, they seem very capable, and comparable to the others I have used in the past, and have experienced in my friends cars as well.

Keep in mind the car is equipped with a lot of other suspension mods, so the ride is very go kart like, turns in very sharp and clean.

As far as springs, I dont know who makes them, but you can order different rates. I am not sure if you can valve the dampeners accoring to the rates, in fact I dont know of any readily available brands that you can.

Serviceability is dont through replacement dampers, same way that the KTS are done. I am not sure of cost, that would be something to ask the Powertrix people about.

Regardless, I am not here to sell parts, just giving out more alternatives. I like the fact that I have inverted monotube setup with lightweight aluminum sheels for a very affordable cost. If no one else has these coils it's very well fine by me since I like having stuff that not many other people have :)