There is always talk about the big name coilover setups out there. Half the time I wonder if it is all hype or for the dreaded JDM bling factor. I still plan on running my stock suspension for now until I learn to out drive it, but I would like to look ahead. I've found many reasonably priced setups that I don't hear much mention of such as the following.

1.B&G's Adjustable Suspension Systems are second to none. This race inspired design is truly cutting edge. State of the art construction which includes a dual spring design, gunned shaft, anodized hardware and fittings, and a floating bumpstop, all working together to give you the most technologically advanced Adjustable Suspension System available. The adjustable shock/strut, coupled with infinite height adjustability gives you the best coilover ride possible. $1,250

2. Cusco Zero 1 and Comp S- $1k-1.3k

3.The H&R Threaded Body Coil-Over suspension Systems come directly from engineers who design and develop racing suspensions. Designed from the ground up as coil-overs (not just a modified shock body), the H & R units are hand-made in Germany by H&R Spezialfedern, under ISO9001 Quality Assurance Standards. Strict attention to function of the complete suspension system is the number one design priority. Threaded body means that the outside of the strut or shock tubes are threaded like a bolt. This allows the threaded spring perch to be moved up or down to fine-tune the ride height, optimizing looks and handling. $1,600.

4. The Progress Group now offers competition "Coil Over" systems! The new "Competition Series" was developed specically for autocross, road race and drag race applications. Progress Competition Coil Over Suspension Systems are Threaded-body aluminum struts allow ride height adjustment. Shorter struts increase wheel travel and traction. Exclusive "take-Apart" design for easy re-valving. The coil overs include Threaded Spring Perches Ride Height adjustable 1"-3". This detent locks collar in positition every half turn. No lock ring necessary.
$1,300

5.New from Tokico are adjustable spring seat coil-over shock combined with adjustable damping Tokico Illuminas. Each Tokico coil over kit includes four shocks with shortened bodies and threaded spring seats. Four specially designed springs, spring seat adjusting tools and an adjuster for the Illumina from Tokico. These coil overs are competition coilover shocks and spring kits. The complete kit includes 4 Illumina coilover shock absorbers, spring seat adjuster tools, a shock adjuster and four special springs. $900.

Some of these setups are very reasonably priced, but only if they could truly preform over the stock suspension for the price. I'm very interested in the Tokico setup. Tokico is fairly trusted. I wonder what kind of spring rates they are good for.

Any input as to the level of each setup would be nice.

 

Have you looked at the TODA Racing FIGHTEX coilovers? They are often overlooked here because of all the talk and focus on Zeal, Koni, etc. (and the price I guess ) but they are an extremely high quality setup that I am very happy with.

http://www.todaracing.com/prod....html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Have you looked at the TODA Racing FIGHTEX coilovers? They are often overlooked here because of all the talk and focus on Zeal, Koni, etc. (and the price I guess ) but they are an extremely high quality setup that I am very happy with.

http://www.todaracing.com/prod....html </TD></TR></TABLE>

A few hints.

1. Still in college.
2. Still in college.
3. and still college.

1+2+3= no money.

I'm really interested in hearing comments about the Tokico setup.

 

silkroads are badass coilovers in japan that dont come here...yet. there basically like a cusco comp 2 copy. we should be importing them soon for most honda and some nissan applications. ill also be testing some other coilovers from tawian that dont come here. if they dont blow up on my car, they'll survive anywhere and well be importing them too.
*testing-autox in an awfully bumpy lot, daily driving, hpde, nyc driving*

-spenc

 

I remember reading about the Progress coilovers and it mentioned that you'll need to swap out your rear lower control arm to EG/DC2 ones (they don't make a coilover for DC2Rs).

 

I have the H&R setup but it is 2500 rather than 1600. It is the Type R road race setup. Some Koni fans have told me that my struts are modified Bilsteins and pretty damn average. However, I have a shortened and revalved Koni/GC setup on my daily driver and I don't like it a whole lot. It is a different car so that could be the difference though. I was shocked at how light the Bilstein shocks were when I took my suspension apart recently. I think it is a nice setup and my car is pretty damn fast. (I have 3 of 5 track records in class.) But then again CRXs have turned faster lap times than me at 2 of the tracks I have raced at. I am coming to realize that I am slow but I don't think it has anything to do with suspension. Not real helpful but that is my .02.

 

OHLINS
I believe they are the best stuff out there!
The first set I had were for an ef9 so my car (eg6) had a slight rake because they were notched and was limited on adjustment. Even though the spring rate wasint that high the suspension was still very stiff thanks to the shocks dampening. They are now on a buddies ef7 and he is is very impressed with there ride and performance. He bought them cuz one of his tiens blew a seal.

My second set of bouncers after that were a set of cusco comp s complete coilovers 8kgm front 6 rear. They were allright, much softer than the ohlins even though they had higher springs rates. And the ride was bouncy. I guess if my car weighed more the bounce would have subsided. I was also kinda bummed that I detuned my car. They had to go.

That made me determined to find another set of ohlins. So I set out on a search for a set of pcv's. I got lucky. A friend of friend that knows japanese had a friend that had a hookup for a hardly used set. They said were used for a week and the owner thought they were too stiff for daily driving. Score. These were a little differnent than my first set cuz they came with a set of ohlins/eibach springs, helper springs, threaded shock bodys, but still had the 25 way adjustable dampening. By far the niced suspension I have had the privelage to feel. Those combined with ample chassis reinforcement and 215/45zr16 azenis makes for superior grip.

Too add recently one of my buds witha r32 gtr was checking out my car when I was working on it and was suprised that they made ohlins for hondas. He also has them and agrees that it will be hard to find a better suspension.

 

OHLINS PCV!!!! Im so jealous.....

 

Pardon me for posting this here. But
I still have the CompS's if anyone in is interested. Shcocks, springs F8kgm R6kgm and cusco pillow uppers. dc2/eg6 applications only.

 

How can I get some Ohlins for the ef9, there site only shows s2000s?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slywfbpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How can I get some Ohlins for the ef9, there site only shows s2000s?</TD></TR></TABLE>

They dont make PCV dampers for EF's.

 

I know, I'm stuck with the zeak b6, or buddy club racing spec dampers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slywfbpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know, I'm stuck with the zeak b6, or buddy club racing spec dampers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

These are not such terrible choices to have

 

I know, but the ssr s1s might be cheaper.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slywfbpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How can I get some Ohlins for the ef9, there site only shows s2000s?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ohlins NA will be happy to build some for your EF9 if you have 4k laying around!

 

I've already asked them, they don't want to do it, not for any street or track course configuration, they said that they are too backed up with race circuit stuff right now.

 

silkroads OWN U ALL!

 

my friend eddie just got his silkroad coilovers with custom spring rates, ive been looking into either silk road or SRR s1s... with the silk roads you need CTR LCAs...

 

The Progress stuff is good.
The problem compared to most others is the lack of external adjustability.
You need to disassemble them to adjust the wave washers (if thats what they use).
But I guess you could then use different viscosities of oil also, so the adjustments are infinate.

So, to me, the Progress may not be the ideal choice if you are one who adjusts your shocks alot.

 

...and four special springs

Lol. I'd bet the the Tokico kit is nothing more than standard off-the-shelf shocks with coilover sleeves and some Eibach made springs in rates that they probably won't tell you.

For $900, what are you honestly expecting? There are already proven good choices out there. Don't go on a hunt for something obsecure just to be different. Also, I assume these are just for HPDE or whatever, so in reality it really doesn't matter as you probably aren't going to be building your car around a certain class, be it roadracing or autocross.

BTW--isn't your car a touch illegal for STX with the cams and all?

 

What about Ground Control Advance Design coilovers?

http://www.advance-design.com/

 

of course there is that damn koni/gc combo that starts out at under $900. and if you combine that with the gc upper strut mounts and splurge on a revalve you'll have a proven setup for a bit under $1200. a thrifty buyer could knock that down back under $900 with some used koni's to start with.

 

I absolutely love my Koni/custom GC set-up w/ a 22mm rear swaybar... On victoracer v700s the car has insane amounts of grip....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a thrifty buyer...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, buying used is often a good thing. I've personally seen two sets of Advance-Design shocks go for under $1200 with springs. There's currently a set in the classifieds for slightly more because the guy has an extra set of shock bodies.

Buying shocks used can be tricky though. You never know how much use they've seen, and how many people they've been passed around to. If you're buying to revalve, that's one thing, but if you're not... you're not coming out ahead to save 25% on something that may be close to needing a rebuild.

Of those mentioned above, I wouldn't even consider Tokico, H&R seems pricey (considering I've always seen them at over $2000), Progress makes quality parts and is fairly racer-centric. They've got data from quite a few cars and I would trust them to set you up with a good valving/spring rate combo for your car - if you can deal with not having a **** to fiddle with.

Personally, I look at ease and cost of servicability. I once bought a set of Zeal Superfuctions and immediately sold them when I found out they couldn't be serviced by Endless USA (they can now though). There are plenty of good options out there with a proven track record. Unless you're building a show car, I'd stay away from the rarer options.