Just wondering, is there any real difference between the tons of copy-cat "full" coilovers on the market? (Omni, Apollo, Hayame, etc....)

Im looking to buy a set, they are perfect for what I am looking for...I dont need damping adjustability, and am really only looking to lower my car and increase the spring rate, but am just wondering....are all these identical or are there subtle differences that would make one set a better choice than the other....

Thanks

 

There are tons of threads discussing the merits of most of the coilover kits you've mentioned. The search function is your friend.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by awdriscol4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dont need damping adjustability, and am really only looking to lower my car and increase the spring rate</TD></TR></TABLE>

uhhh then get a quality lowering spring? granted it will reduce the life of your shocks when you lower it, but i have a feeling the cheapo coilovers suffer the same fate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike C &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">uhhh then get a quality lowering spring? granted it will reduce the life of your shocks when you lower it, but i have a feeling the cheapo coilovers suffer the same fate.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Im not talking about the 'cheapo' sleaves...Im talking about those compaines 'full coilver' setup. For my needs, I believe that would be better than a sleeve coilover and stock shock.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by awdriscol4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Im not talking about the 'cheapo' sleaves...Im talking about those compaines 'full coilver' setup. For my needs, I believe that would be better than a sleeve coilover and stock shock.</TD></TR></TABLE>

there is nothing cheap about quality "sleaves" as you like to call them.


and mike was suggesting you just buy some lowering springs and use your stock shocks

 

There are plenty of differences, and they're not subtle, but they're not cosmetic type things you can pick out by looking at it.
The truth of the matter is there are a handful of factories in Taiwan that produce coilovers, and since a factory's only job is to produce what they are told to produce how they are told to produce it, some unscrupulous companies will simply tell the factory to use cheaper, inferior-grade components to make a coilover, and the company will put their name on it.
Its on the company to decide the quality of the product produced, not the factory. As a consumer, the only way you can protect yourself from the lower quality stuff is to do a lot of reading, learn about what makes a coilover good or bad, and find out as much as you can about the product(s) you intend to purchase. Keep in mind that this entry-level coilover market is relatively new, and that people love making generalizations (eg. all entry level coilovers are garbage, all coilovers from Taiwan are cheap and copies) and thats exactly what you don't need because its simply not true.
How can I say these things? To be honest, I myself will be entering this market soon, and I've made every effort to learn as much as I can about the industry. Since I've taken a trip to Taiwan, I've had the benefit of visiting various factories that produce coilovers in Taiwan and speaking with the people who are in the industry themselves, straight from the source. What you have to count on is the integrity of the company, and the performance of the product. Fortunately, there are people who can provide and read shock dynos, which give a good estimate of a damper's performance. And then there are people who provide reviews on the products they buy. Obviously a lot of these wil be biased, but its something else to go by.


Modified by Noob4life at 11:00 PM 3/7/2005


Modified by Noob4life at 11:01 PM 3/7/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">there is nothing cheap about quality "sleaves" as you like to call them.


and mike was suggesting you just buy some lowering springs and use your stock shocks</TD></TR></TABLE>

I never said ALL sleaves are 'cheapo'. I know that the GC/Koni setup is probably the most popular. Unfortunately, I dont have $900+ to spend.

And I would rather go with a height adjustable coilover....

This has already gotten to crazy....all I was asking was a simple question about a specific group of products, specifically entry level "full coilovers". I will just go with what little information I can find about these and make my own educated decision.

Noob4life: Unfortunately, my budget (as apparent from my interest in 'entry level' coilovers) does not allow me to travel to Taiwan to inspect and tour the factories that produce the coilovers. I am aware that many of these are made by the same factory, and sold under different names. Im also aware that the units may not be IDENTICAL to eachother, and was hoping for some input from objective users of the product. I know I can call each company, unfortunatley each complany will also be supporting their own product, not giving objective reviews....

I guess Ill just hop on the bandwagon and go with the omni.....They are getting decent reviews here on HT (except from the hard core racers and GC/Koni fans)

 

Thats my problem now, I can't provide facts (objective or otherwise) other than those regarding the products I will be selling for obvious reasons.

 

back when omnipower first started selling their full coilovers, omniman gave this comparison. this is his own words, so its obviously slanted, but take whatever facts you can for comparison.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by omniman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
the hayame coilovers use a 42mm piston and have different valveing than the omnipower coilovers. omnipower pistons are 46mm both.

mono tube:
omnipower yes
hayame yes
skunk2 no (uses twin tube)

piston size:
omnipower 46mm
hayame 42mm
skunk2 ? (smaller than 46 because its a twin tube and probably smaller than 42)

spring material:
omnipower sae 9254
hayame ?
skunk2 sae 9254

spring rate options:
omnipower: street 10k8k/sport 12k10k
hayame: 12k8
skunk2: 8k6k?

warrenty:
omnipower: 1 year , with no hassles
hayame/spw: good luck
skunk2: good luck

retail price: non adj.
omnipower: 699.99
hayame: 999.99
skunk2: 900? not really sure but they have a lot of over head and an expensive marketing program that their customers have to help pay for. i hear the import tunner add (2 pages) with the 2 black cars in it costs around 12k/month. and thats only one magazine.

racing experience:
omnipower: over 70 races won in the last 6 years with one of my engines in the car, 2 perfect seasons, one in drag and one in road racing. recent back to back triple podium finish in the 2004 canadian touring car championship (nick and nigel Krikorian, and Mike Thornly). constantly helping out people on ht with tech ?'s and giving unbiased answers based on experience.

hayame: none that i know of

skunk2: after i left (1 1/2 years ago) nothing worth noting.

lots of people ask me are my camber kits and slipover coilovers are the same.

the camber kits start out as 5 peices each side. i buy them from the same stamping house. i have a jig that they are bolted to then all 5 peices are welded together. after that they are powder coated. so really the only thing your paying extra for is the box. i also have a rear shim kit that i include so you can get some camber out of the rear.

later i will have a picture up with the camber kits in each stage of production.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

the information of apollo coilovers that exists here on honda-tech is pretty much in this thread. good luck in sifting thru the BS however.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1133923

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">back when omnipower first started selling their full coilovers, omniman gave this comparison. this is his own words, so its obviously slanted, but take whatever facts you can for comparison.

the information of apollo coilovers that exists here on honda-tech is pretty much in this thread. good luck in sifting thru the BS however.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1133923</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks...thats what I was looking for!