View Full Version : Suspension Opinions
sykikchimp
10-02-2002, 12:14 PM
My stock suspension is starting to make all kinds of noise. quite annoying. So I'm in the market for a new suspension setup. I would love a set of coilovers, but I want to stay under $1000 for now. I hear good things about the AGX's, but I'd honestly like something a little better. What have you guys got, and how do you like it? Any opinions, or suggestions on things you've heard about are welcome too.
I daily drive my car, but don't really care if ride quality sucks. I want the car to handle well. I will be participating in mostly Track events and HPDE's. Some Auto-xing will definately be in there as well.
Now lets here those Opinions! Cause I know u got'EM!
DrDubbleB
10-02-2002, 12:52 PM
Honestly, if your budget is exactly $1000, save up an extra month or two and go with Tein HA's or the likes. I think that the added performance value of coilovers vs. a shock/spring combo is well worth the extra cash, ESPECIALLY since you take the car to the track and do auto-x. So in my opinion you should try and put up with the noise until you can afford the coilovers. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>
I agree, save up for the coilovers or get a set of Apexi WS for liek $900, instead of $400 for AGX and average $200 springs.
If you do want to stay below that then i remember sil80grl or someone selling some AGX Touring shox for $380, they look like AGX shox from Japan and I couldnt find any other info other then that because altavistas translater sux. IMO AGX are fine for the most part, depending on how crazy you are about suspension. When I had my 5Zigen Springs and AGX on my old hatch they were nice but you could tell after while the shocks werent as stong as they were before. This was after about 6 months. I dont have any other experiance with other shox but I know there are some quality ones out there, but then your getting in the price range of coilovers once you buy springs and nice shox. But to end, AGX's are fine for daily driving and even autox.
uiuc240
10-02-2002, 02:01 PM
Well, I got the entire Whiteline suspension for about $1100.
Koni Yellow shocks
Whiteline springs/sways/bushings
You can order the Works kit direct from Whiteline and then get it air-shipped. It's even cheaper now due to the exchange rate.
www.whiteline.com.au
Eric
CoasTek240
10-02-2002, 02:19 PM
wow.. no way man... 1100 for sway springs and shocks.. tha'ts crazy.. hows the ride quality?... also how much of a drop do the whiteline springs give you?
sykikchimp
10-03-2002, 12:16 PM
Thanks for the info guys. I would love a set of Coilovers, but I haven't heard much about the Apexi WS coil's.. The ones I hear a lot of good things about are the Zeal B6's (a little out of my range) and the JIC FLT-2a's (I think thats them?), and the Cusco, and HKS models. I am going to stay away from Tein b/c I never hear anything exceptional about them.. always "they are great for the money!" I tend to be a perfectionist. In my mind a $900 set of struts, and springs is better than 1200 set of coils. I am willing to spend the money, but I just want you guys opinions on if it's worth it?
If I got coilovers I have a few requirements:
Non-painted shock-tube bodys.
Adjustable height without affecting stroke.
Adjustable camber plates.
Eric - The Whiteline steup is intriguing. Did you have to have someone install the Koni's for you? I hear they are a pain in the Arse?
HippoSleek
10-03-2002, 01:18 PM
I would avoid Apexi WS like the plague. I haven't really heard anything good about them ever. I'd also avoid the entry level Teins just on principal. That means you have to go with separates or shell out $1500. For $1500+ there are many fine options. For $1000 there ain't! As with any suspension, your needs may vary.
1. The Whiteline kit looks pretty good to me. I would have two concerns though: 1) how stiff are the springs and are they progressive or linear rates; and 2) the annoyance with adjusting off the shelf (OTS) Konis for mixed use. For an entry level car that sees mostly streets, I'd probably stick with a progressive spring with a moderate (higher than Pro Kit, lower than Tein) rate. If, however, you live with smooth roads or are willing to have your kidneys jarred - linear rate springs are the way to go for handling. Similarly, I love Koni yellows - but I don't like the idea of removing them to adjust.
Pros to this kit are the price and the fact that it comes as a matched set which is likely to yield a lot more balance than what most people can piece together.
2. Build your own. For $1000, I think you can assemble a more performance oriented system than you could purchase as a kit. But b/c you will only want linear springs, it will be a more punishing ride. With good selections, there is no reason your set up couldn't rival the JDM high dollar threaded coilovers. I'd start with a set of Groundcontrol sleeves and custom rate and length springs. I don't know the ideal rates, but I'd shoot for something near the JDM set ups. I'd probably narrow the gaps b/n the front and rear rates a tad (maybe 25 lbs. closer) and I'd probably go 1" longer b/c GC generally gives you springs that are great for slamming the car - but suck if you want to keep shock travel. I'd check w/ some guys who track their cars and know their stuff (bbp here, AdamH or some of the others at FA) to see what kind of rates and lengths they are using.
As for shocks, you can still go OTS Konis. They are always a good choice. I, however, would probably either plunk down the extra money for some GABs or skimp w/ AGX's. I'm a big fan of external adjustments for both axles on a mixed use car. I'd actually get the AGX's before the Konis, personally, b/c of that. As for ability - most AGX applications can handle up to about 450 lbs springs while OTS yellows can take 550 ish. I don't think I'd run that hard a spring for a mixed use car, so the AGX's should do. (the other good thing about the Konis is that they are rebuildable and revalvable for about $100 each).
So my set up, if I were to further develop the 240: One set GC threaded collars and ERS springs (probably $400 w/ upgrades); one set KYB AGX shocks ($400); one pair Whiteline adjustable sway bars (or just the back if I was low on funds). There's $1000 gone, but a top notch suspension. Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
rancid240
10-03-2002, 01:46 PM
Not to thread jack, but I have a set of s13 buzz specs, does anyone know the rates on those? I have the manual, but it is in japanese <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
sykikchimp
10-03-2002, 04:00 PM
hmm... Mark that is about the setup I was contemplating. I checked Eibachs website and it didn't show that they had the ERS springs available for the s13 240. Only the Progressive rate (EPS). I was thinking H&R for springs, and more than likely they would be linear springs that I would buy.
I was thinkin like ~335 lbs in front and 279 in the back (thats aprox. 6kg / 5kg which is what they run on the HA's) Think that would be stiff enough? Isn't the AGX's Valving a bit smaller than say a good coilover setup would have?
I'm beginning to think I should just up my $1000 to $1500 and bite the bullet for a sweet suspension setup that would grow as I do.
Jim96SC2
10-03-2002, 04:04 PM
1500-1600 and get a set of Apex'I N1's. www.nopi.com
HippoSleek
10-03-2002, 04:29 PM
Jim - the problem w/ the N1's is that they require lots of work to keep them performing. I mentioned this in another thread today too. If you buy full blown race parts, you should expect full blown race maintenance - like annual servicing.
Charles - I don't think you'll find ERS that are direct fit springs - I think you'd need the GroundControl collars to fit regularly sized ERS springs on there. IIRC, the springs are about $50 ea. and the collars are another $150 or so. When I had GC's before, I just set the height and left it (the smart thing) but it did allow me a lot of flexibility with springs (they come in 25 lbs. increments). Got 350F, 275 R and think it is a little plowish and harsh on bumps - $100 later you have 325/275. You can do a lot more fine tuning at 25# increments than you can at 1 kg/mm increments to get hte set up you need.
As for hte shocks - I think that the valving for AGX's is a bit lower(?-can't think of the right word?) than a threaded coilover, but on full stiff, it will be enough to dampen the blow of a 350# spring w/ ease. That is all it has to do. Keep in mind that SCCA IT rules do not allow threaded shock bodies, so most people run custom valved Konis, very high rates, and GC perches with ERS springs. I do, however, know people running IT cars with AGX's.
sykikchimp
10-03-2002, 04:40 PM
So Coilovers aren't allowed in SCCA ITA?
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