I understand the basics of a coilover and the purpose/function. Deeper into detail such as what these coilovers offer for valving, quality, "best bang for buck", etc.

I've basically narrowed it down to a couple of coilover systems. Car that it will be going on is a 2001 Acura Integra GS, meant for 95% DD/ ~5% Spirited drives? With that being said, the car will be driven all year round. I live in Vancouver BC, we don't get much snow here but enough for us to need decent snow tires. I'll need something that is good against rust and overall great construction for what a DD desires (No bouncy ride)

What's H-T's take on these two coilover setups?

Budget: $0-$1100

Skunk2 Pro-C ($1000)
http://www.skunk2.com/Suspensi...oproc
&
BC Racing BR Series ($1100)
http://features.evolutionm.net/article.php?id=84
http://www.bcec.com.tw/products/br-fun.html

By all means, if you guys see something that is better than the two for the price, please recommend them to me! I'll have to pass with K-Sports, D2's, Omni-Power, & Megan

The Skunk2's from what I know are an american brand. I've heard mostly if not all coilovers are made in taiwan with the exception of Eibach, H&R, & Koni. In your opinion and expertise, how does the valving and piston look on the Skunk2?

Are they exactly the same as K-Sports, Megan, Omni-Power, D2s?

BC Racing are a taiwanese based company that has been said to have been making coilovers for quite some time now. There's been trivial claim that they make coilover systems for Zeal & Apex'i, just rebadged.

There are not much info on these as they're fairly new. All I know is that the Evo crew uses them and a few other car crew such as imprezas and higher end cars.

What's your take on BC Racing?

Everything is appreciated, searching has brought me nothing but sadness. lol

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'll need ... overall great construction for what a DD desires (No bouncy ride)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Two completely different things. You can have the most well-constructed coilovers in the world, and the car can "ride" like garbage.

Consider asking more specific question when looking into making an $1100 purchase - What makes a coilover well-constructed? What does it matter <u>to you</u> what the piston looks like? What spring rates are offered, how did the manufacturer choose those rates, why would you want to run any of them?

And there are some other more general questions that can narrow your search down really quickly - why do you want coilovers? Your searching should have turned up some advice that told you a car like yours, for your purposes, doesn't need performance coilovers. If your concern is ride quality and not performance, you're looking in the wrong place for suspension mods. Why spend $1100 on something that you'll be using, by your own admission, 5% of the time?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PIC Performance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Two completely different things. You can have the most well-constructed coilovers in the world, and the car can "ride" like garbage.

Consider asking more specific question when looking into making an $1100 purchase - What makes a coilover well-constructed? What does it matter <u>to you</u> what the piston looks like? What spring rates are offered, how did the manufacturer choose those rates, why would you want to run any of them?

And there are some other more general questions that can narrow your search down really quickly - why do you want coilovers? Your searching should have turned up some advice that told you a car like yours, for your purposes, doesn't need performance coilovers. If your concern is ride quality and not performance, you're looking in the wrong place for suspension mods. Why spend $1100 on something that you'll be using, by your own admission, 5% of the time? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you,

I've heard that a good quality, well constructed coilover (not overly too aggressive spring rate and dampening) will have a good ride to it as opposed to the bouncy ride you get from the inferior coilover kits. My apologies if I've gotten it mixed up.

There are many great coilovers/shock+spring combos to choose from, most which are just from word of mouth from one to another.

Koni/GC, Koni/HR, KW Variant's, PIC Racing, Tein Flex, Skunk2 Pro-C. All great brands from which I've heard.

My concern is that I want to buy the right type of coilover so I don't have to go shopping again 3 years down the line. Although I may not be going into autocross or track racing, I feel that when the time comes I'll have what I need. My budget of $1100~ is roughly for the entry-mid level coilovers and I understand that.

I'll continue searching for information. Thanks

 

There's no need to apologize. The *great* thing about amateur club racing and track days is that you can run with a bone stock car, and have a lot of fun doing it. For $1100 though, there are some simpler and arguably more effective mods that you can have - dedicated track tires (and wheels maybe), track pads, brake fluid, and an upgraded rear swaybar. The sum of those parts would be, IMO, much more effective at a track day then just coilovers alone, and you don't lose anything during your daily drive because you wouldn't be using them (tires and pads come out, swaybar has a negligible effect on ride quality).

IMO, spend more time on the track focusing on your line and your braking points and all that wonderful driving technique stuff, and less time off-track scratching your head trying to figure out what click you need to set your dampers at.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PIC Performance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's no need to apologize. The *great* thing about amateur club racing and track days is that you can run with a bone stock car, and have a lot of fun doing it. For $1100 though, there are some simpler and arguably more effective mods that you can have - dedicated track tires (and wheels maybe), track pads, brake fluid, and an upgraded rear swaybar. The sum of those parts would be, IMO, much more effective at a track day then just coilovers alone, and you don't lose anything during your daily drive because you wouldn't be using them (tires and pads come out, swaybar has a negligible effect on ride quality).

IMO, spend more time on the track focusing on your line and your braking points and all that wonderful driving technique stuff, and less time off-track scratching your head trying to figure out what click you need to set your dampers at. </TD></TR></TABLE>

PIC Selects FTW...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PIC Performance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's no need to apologize. The *great* thing about amateur club racing and track days is that you can run with a bone stock car, and have a lot of fun doing it. For $1100 though, there are some simpler and arguably more effective mods that you can have - dedicated track tires (and wheels maybe), track pads, brake fluid, and an upgraded rear swaybar. The sum of those parts would be, IMO, much more effective at a track day then just coilovers alone, and you don't lose anything during your daily drive because you wouldn't be using them (tires and pads come out, swaybar has a negligible effect on ride quality).

IMO, spend more time on the track focusing on your line and your braking points and all that wonderful driving technique stuff, and less time off-track scratching your head trying to figure out what click you need to set your dampers at. </TD></TR></TABLE>

My car was in need of a new brake job so I upgraded to powerslot all around and hawk hps all around with earl's ss brake lines. They're more than enough for DD and probably decent for track.

Reason why I'm considering coilovers is because this will be my only car so it will be driven throughout winter and summer. Currently, I'm only running lowering springs on stock shocks. They're fine but I want the adjustability at the tip of my finger when I need it.

The price I'd be paying to raise it back up and doing an alignment would be quite expensive so I'd thought to buy coilovers.

What's a good spring rate setup you recommend for someone like me? I've driven in a car with D2 coilovers 10/8 and it seems fine but it was only for a short period of time.

For my budget of $1100 and lower, are there any coilovers that you guys recommend?

 

10K/8K is the highest you should go, anything more will be too harsh for the streets.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmoua &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">10K/8K is the highest you should go, anything more will be too harsh for the streets. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How about 12k/6k?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoS_DC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How about 12k/6k?</TD></TR></TABLE>

those rates would be fine as well, i prefer front and rear spring rates to be 1k or 2k in difference but its what ever you like.

Keep in mind your choice of rear spring rates will determine your overall ride quality.