Well, just wanted to know if anyone else has experience with the JIC FLTA2 coilovers. I thought that they were the best deal being that there retail is 1850 for a complete coilover set with pillowball upper mounts. I used them for about 3 months and this is what I think about them.
1) they are NOT streetable. Well maybe they would be on the smooth freeways in Cali, but unless you feel like breaking the upper strut mounts on your car, I would not use them over in Jersey where there are more potholes than smooth roads.
I had Jon K at Ziel motorsports (JIC USA) in Downing CA custom mine with slightly stiffer springs, 10k/7k vs the standard 7k/6k but I still think that even with the standard setup, the pillow ball uppers make the ride way too harsh.

2) for those interested in racing, this setup is amazing. Although they have maybe an inch and a half of shock travel, the shock body is really thick and has great handling characteristics. The valving matches really well and with 15 levels of compression and rebound adjustment you can set it up really well.

I had mine set up for maybe about 2 inches down all around, but if you want to, you can lower the car an additional inch or more and still have the full stroke of the shock.

Anyone else have any experience with these??

 

No personal experience, but I've been told they are valved very stiff.

I spoke to Jon at Ziel also and he told me that the FLT-A2's for civic/integra are rebound adjustable ONLY. Are you sure they're rebound AND compression?

 

I drive on mine every day and I run a lot higher spring rates then you and they seem fine to me but Im sort of a nut. I run 12k front 14k rear but I agree with you that they will eventually destroy your strut mounts thats why Im going to strengthen them later.

 

so it's not problem swapping the spring rates(front to rear if need be)? I'm running 375f/450r (roughly 7f/8r)at the moment on Koni yellows, but thinking about the JIC's or a set of tien's. Are the JIC's aluminum bodied?


[Modified by jgale, 11:15 PM 3/11/2002]

 

I dont think that they are aluminum bodied, each shock and spring combo does weight a whole lot. I know that in Japan, JIC has the Cross suspension which costs some ridiculous price but it is an all aluminum combination. As for about the dampening adjustment, I was told by Jon K at ziel that unlike other shock combos, the JIC adjust both the rebound and compression each time you turn the dial. According to him although there is only one dial, they adjust both. Thats what I got from him when I spoke to him in japanese, his english isnt the greatest.

OH yeah, If I lived in Socal I would run these shocks without thinking about it, they are great performing on any surface. Anyone that complains about roads in Cali should take a drive down the NJ Turnpike. ( There maybe more potholes than clear road on some areas)


[Modified by Avante, 6:04 AM 3/12/2002]

 

dude, have you ever really been to cali before??? smooth freeways?? seriously, our freeways suck...but thanks for the heads up...i was looking at these previously.

 

Yup, I know that the roads there arent the smoothest in the world, for example compared to japan, but Ive lived in Fresno and Monterey Park, and I can tell you that the roads there great compared to here. Over here in the east coast all our highways suck, or even worse, take a drive sometime in NYC and see what ya think.