Hi Folks,

I know this stuff is debated all the time, but I was looking to get some inputs in regards to a good affordable set-up, streetable but with added perfomance (I wont put something on to end up taking handling away from the car just to lower it and get good looks).

The R will not be the daily driver anymore and it is currently stock suspension wise. I went to a track day event and enjoyed the hell out of it, and I'm looking forward to do some more events, but the car will not be track dedicated only, so I need it to be comfy for a ride around the city.

I'm trying to stay in the 800-900usd (before shipping) price range.

Right now, some of the options going around my head would be:

1) Ground Control sleeves with a 400/500 lbs/in setup mated with Bilstein Sport shocks
Concerns: I've read pretty good things about the Bilsteins, but should I put 100usd more and get Koni shocks or are Bilsteins good enough for the purpose? (Thanks to Dave-ROR for his inputs regarding Bilsteins via PM some time ago)

2) PIC Apex coilovers
Concerns: I pretty much thought about them because of the company's growing reputation, but found zero information on this specific set on the forum. Another thing is, that I thought they had a 8k/6k setup available and appears like the 10k/8k is the softest one available now. Is 10k in the front with no dampening adjustability fine for the street?

3) Buddy Club N+ Spec Coilovers
Concerns: Like the PICs, no info was found while searching the forum, but I'm considering them because Buddy Club always seemed like a good manufacturer. I wasn't able to find the spring rates on these sets. I'm also not sure if it's fine to get them without the optional pillow mounts.

I'm basically just trying to stay away from the cheap-Taiwan-made-they're-all-the-same sets, and looking for something that will give me gains for occasional track time without harshness on the street, while avoiding to break the bank, since no super-high-end-stuff is really needed.

Any inputs will be highly appreciated.

 

Apex N1 Coil overs
Whiteline 27 mm front sway bar and endlinks
ASR Rear 32 mm sway bar full race kit
Function 7 Spherical Rear lower control Arms
Spherical trailing arm bushings
Brand new OEM front lower control arms
Mugen Front Camber Kit
SPC Rear Camber Kit

 

I had a set of buddyclub Racing spec Dampers on my Euro R swapped hatchback and it handled like a champ! I currently have a set of Tein Flex on my R and it handles good, I actually picked them up for $500, so maybe you can come across a great deal like I did; maybe not. But I prefer the buddyclub over the Flex.

 

rides amazing while being dumped!

 

It must ride amazing. I cant find where Whiteline makes a front sway bar for ITR and Mugen most definately never made a front camber kit for ITR.

OP, PIC's are the best chioce on your list.

 

maybe i just got the car not to sure of what is and isn't on it from what the seller told me.
i have an the ITR front and rear sway bar. I'm not to sure of the camber kit

 

The OP doesn't need any of this for an occassionally tracked weekend car. Shocks and springs will be fine for him.

OP, I'm not sure of the price range for the Buddy Clubs or PICs, but the N+'s sound like they'd fit your bill. You do not need the pillowball uppermounts in either situation. I would also avoid the Buddy Club RSDs, as they can be harsh on the street (because they are more suited for track use).

10K = 550lbs approximately, so yes, 10K/8K would be fine for the street.

 

I hear a lot of good reviews from the Koni/Ground Control combo. I'm thinking about trying it out myself. I just want to make sure i'm not bouncing all over the road. So many people get springs too stiff for a daily driver and the car handles like crap because its bouncing around. When you start taking turns fast on public roads you can feel the bumps. Right now my car just bobs up and down more slowly while still maintaining traction but I want something with a little more edge.

 

PIC Apex P2 and Buddyclub N+ Spec for ITRs both run for around 860usd.

I'd like to find out the spring rates on the BCs before being able to choose/discard them.

So far, I'm leaning towards the PIC setup.

Thanks to everyone for their inputs so far. Anyone else?

 

PIC Apex or Selects would be good. Looks like they did lots of testing and shock dynos before putting their products out on the market.

 

You know if you actually did some research you would find that not all taiwanese made coilovers are bad. For example BC Racing has esablished a great reputation for quality manufacturing, in fact there plant is TUV approved and they put there products to the test in both time attack, drifting, and many other series. Just to inform you as well if you do your research you will see that PIC is made in taiwan, Apexi N1 are private labeled by BC Racing, and Buddy Club coilovers aren't made in Japan. So you shouldn't hate a product just because of where its made if you have never tried it out. A lot of the industries products are manufactured in Taiwan including most of the so called "JDM" stuff.

 

I would say go with the Buddy Club N+ setup. I had them installed in my EG2 Del Sol from my exp I loved them, which I also doubled them up with the front & rear camber kit from Buddy Club. IMO it handled almost like "stock" heres a link http://www.inlinefour.com/buclnspda.html, plus Inlinefour is running a sale on the front & rear camber kit http://www.inlinefour.com/buclp1rafrre.html. These are going to be the setup once i'm ready to buy new shoes, rotors, & etc for the R after the winter. For $719 w/o upper mounts, before shipping is a steal for these coilovers, I'd say Buddy Club N+ ftw

 

Hey man,

I thank you for your post, because now I see that I was kind of contradicting myself.

But there's no doubt that a lot of the coilovers on the market today are just re-labeled stuff that is not actually r&d'd and that does not represent an upgrade for a car like an ITR.

I did not name brands, because it's not in my interest to be brand-bashing, but maybe the word "Taiwan-made" was not the best way to indirectly refer to "those" coilovers.

In regards to BC Racing, I just went to their site and learned about them, and I did not know that they manufacture for bigger names, so I guess it's kind of like Showa making shocks for Mugen and Spoon, etc.

I also didn't know that PICs are manufactured in Taiwan because I believe they state that the factory and some of the materials are from Japan (not sure if I misread now). Even if they're not made in Japan, I care most about good feedback and not if it's "JDM" (as you can see, some of my current options like Bilsteins and Koni are not "JDM"), and PIC has been receiving very good feedback.

Anyways...I saw your point and thanks again.

 

Thanks for replying.

I was doing a bit of searching and found that the spring rates are 8k/6k for the N+ set. Is this correct?

 

Selects would go over the price range, but I'm definitely considering the Apex set.

 

What aspect of the handling are you trying to change?

If you're trying to make the car understeer less, I would go with this choice:

If you're looking for a stiffer suspension, but you still want it to handle basically the same, go with one of the other options. Without going to a rear stiff setup, the car will still understeer at the limit.

 

asking people about suspension is almost a fruitless effort on this website.

Might as well ask people what their favorite color is. Just as subjective.

 

I have the Apex P1 coilovers on my R and love them. According to their website it looks like the P1's aren't available but I would call to confirm. They have great customer service so it never hurts to call and get their opinion. The P2's should be fine though. Also be sure to order the eyelet-style rear lower mount if you are running stock LCA's.

 

Cool, thanks man.

I couldn't find ITR owners speaking about the Apex set (most run the Selects), so that's good to hear.

 

Alot of R owners track their cars which is why they use the Selects. But for a streetable car the Apex will work great. Like I said give them a call and they'll answer any questions you may have. I was leaning towards the Selects and they actually steered me towards the Apex since I don't track my car. Not many places will tell you to go with their less expensive model because most places are just trying to make a buck.

 

my buddy has pic's and for the price you cant go wrong

 

Koni Yellows HnR sport all the way!

 

Jimmypol what did you end up buying?

 

Seriously?

I hated H&R Sports, but

Koni Yellows are fine. My next setup will likely be Koni Race and Ground Control sleeves with various springs for different uses.

 

Yeah I was looking forward to trying some Selects on my own car, but until PIC gets their act together with stock and model issues.. currently only the P2 is in stock.. for months and months now... The Select R2 likely won't make it back, not sure about the R3's. Once they figure out their Select line again we'll all have to see how much it's changed, if at all, and see then. It'd be nice to see them get the bushing sets in stock also.. until then Hardrace it is....