Hi all, well, I was in search for a set of coilovers for a few months prior to my install which I was deciding on Tein Flex or JIC FLT-A2 due to their independent height adjustments from spring preload capabilities... and my final decision was to get the JIC's. I finally got around to installing them this past weekend and man was I impressed

First of all, the springs rates are F-8K R-9K with adjustable dampening front and rear, and independent height adjustment like I mentioned earlier, built quality is really good too... also, I have yoko AVS ES100 (225/50-R16) on my stock rims as well

OK, on to my review... rite after I got my car back down on the ground, I couldnt wait and immediately took it out for a test drive and well, all I can say is WOW... I was like in almost every corner I made, body roll reduced significantly and steering reponse is much improved also which I was not used to at first because I was used to having to turn in early into a corner to compensate for the "sloppy" stock setup + shitty stock tires, I actually had to make steering corrections to widen my turn because if not, I would have gone up the inner curb so, steering now is much sharper and quicker
when not pushed hard in corners, the car feels firm, much like how an ITR feels... but when pushed harder, slight oversteer was noticed and the car rotates pretty well, which another ITR owner, Ideal R, also felt since he was in the car with me for the test drive... but after the first day, I found out that my dampers were set at the softest setting so I set them to full stiff the next day and after I reset the spring preload on all 4 corners, I took it out for another test drive, car felt even firmer in turns (but chassis still not rigid enough ), pushing it hard at this setting induced some more oversteer than previously which made the car rotate really well, steering is very predictable and responsive and even at this setting, I didnt feel that it rides harsh on the streets (maybe its just me cause I like it nice and stiff)

so after readjusting ride height this coming weekend (since I accidently have the rear too low ) I'll start to play around with the dampening setting...
and I'll be visiting some road courses later on this summer so I'll give a more in depth review of the FLT-A2 on the track hopefully soon...

Overall, I feel that they are worth every penny!!!


-Clement, who's still feeling dead tired from spending half a day under his car and who's in need to have alignment done soon...

PS - thanks to Ideal R for helping me out during my install

 

Sounds good. What made you go with the JIC instead of the Type Flex? Especially with the nifty EDFC feature...

I'm thinking about getting the Type Flex for my Si, and have read that the JIC kit for the RSX can fit with some minor mods. So I was looking into those too. Any advice is appreciated.

 

I chose the FLT-A2 over the Flex mainly because I have heard other DC5 owners w/ Tein Flex complain that the dampers were not valved aggressive enough compared to the HA which were available for the DC5 briefly and the JIC FLT-A2's..
Also, the inverted monotube design of the FLT-A2 was another reason why I chose it over Flex
however, I dont have 1st hand experience w/ the Flex, so I really can't say how they ride, any DC5/EP3's w/ Tein Flex here?

Also, built quality was another factor since the built quality of the FLT-A2 is very nice, especially the rear lower bracket (1 piece - alluminum)

Clement - who'll just adjust dampening by hand and save the $ for a DC5R rear 22mm sway bar and a J's front upper strut bar...

 

what is the price difference between the two setups?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by anjapower &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what is the price difference between the two setups?</TD></TR></TABLE>

JIC-Magic FLT-A2: $1980 (it used to be like $1680)
Tien Flex Damper: $1860

These prices come from their official website mind you.

Also, JIC-Magic will release an FLT-A2/FLT-A2RS setup for the Si really soon so you might want to wait instead of having to modify your car to make the RSX coilovers work.

 

From the quotes I got up here in Canada, approximately its a difference of ~$150CAD (~$100USD)

 

When the coilover sus like yours has independent height adjustment which does not affect any spring preload.....Can you tell me how you determine how much preload to put in for the spring?

I only have a normal type of coilover in my car and always want to learn how ppl adjust their ind. height adj suspension.

Thanks

 

Nice buy Its either JIC FLTA2 or Buddy Club Racing Spec Damper for my car

 

how much where they?? where did you buy them in the t.o

 

What I've done was loosened the preload perches (spring seat) so that the springs moves freely, then tightened them back until they are just snug against the springs, therefore, there's essentially no preload on the springs which means Im running the standard F8K R9K rates... once you tighten the preload perches more than just snug, you'll raise the spring rates

I wanted to look at the Buddy Club Racing Spec's too, but they seem to be way too expensive for my budget

 

I got quotes from several places and ended up getting them from Tunersport in Hamilton, IM me if you want more details

Here are a few pics:





all ready for the install


this is from the day after the install before I readjusted the rear height


edit-Im gonna get some spacers for my stock rims


Modified by CH-02DC5 at 11:41 AM 4/29/2003

 

all ready for the install


this is from the day after the install before I readjusted the rear height

 

Thanks FrostyDC4!!!
just got them fixed, I forgot about that whole "org.jpg" thing

 

I'm looking at these springs as well. Nice Job. Let me know how you like them. I am also from Ontario As well if you are looking for Hondata, Doug from netronics now has an ECU that you can demo. I just got my ECU back last week, it is awesome.

 

rs-sex, you from kitchener? I'll actually be in waterloo this summer for study term... so maybe we can meet up and I could give u a ride to let you get a feel of the JIC's

like I said earlier, I love these coilovers, but too bad I still havent had a chance to hit the tracks to push them hard enough to really test them out, so far I have the dampers set at full stiff front and rear, very firm ride and nose dive on braking is much reduced... and I just installed a DC5R rear sway this past sunday after I readjusted the rear height, the car's getting alittle more rotation in turns from the new sway bar but later on I'll soften the front dampers to see how much more oversteer I can get from that and play around with it and tire pressures too...

 

Any idea when the FLT-A2 will be available for the EP3?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CH-02DC5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">rs-sex, you from kitchener? I'll actually be in waterloo this summer for study term... so maybe we can meet up and I could give u a ride to let you get a feel of the JIC's

like I said earlier, I love these coilovers, but too bad I still havent had a chance to hit the tracks to push them hard enough to really test them out, so far I have the dampers set at full stiff front and rear, very firm ride and nose dive on braking is much reduced... and I just installed a DC5R rear sway this past sunday after I readjusted the rear height, the car's getting alittle more rotation in turns from the new sway bar but later on I'll soften the front dampers to see how much more oversteer I can get from that and play around with it and tire pressures too...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya I'm from Kitchener, I would definately like to check our your car sometime if you are in the area. Just hit me up with an email sometime. I may need your help installing them

 

just a quick question...were they hard to install?...or more time consuming than anything else.

cheers

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rs-sex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Ya I'm from Kitchener, I would definately like to check our your car sometime if you are in the area. Just hit me up with an email sometime. I may need your help installing them </TD></TR></TABLE>
rs-sex, sure, just IM me or send me an email, I would be more than happy to help you out!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DC2#428 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just a quick question...were they hard to install?...or more time consuming than anything else.

cheers</TD></TR></TABLE>
I IM'ed you... the whole install wasn't that bad, but it took me longer than I expected, so I spent a good half a day on the install mostly under the car and around the wheel wells... almost 75% of the time I spent on the fronts cause the rears were really easy to install

Remember to watch out for the drive shaft

Good luck!

 

I just want to say JIC is the ****! Get it if you are planning to get a good set of coilovers. I sat in CH-02DC5's car both before and after the install, and the difference is day and night. As much as I think my stock suspension setup is fine, I am thinking of getting coilovers after the ride!

P.S. Coilovers will be the first thing I get if I own an RSX (DC5) as the stock setup is way too soft in my opinion.

 

just recieved your IM thanks for the reply...i wll keep in touch.

cheers

 

I have to agree that flta2's are the way to go. You can find them out there for the DC5 for well under $1500...just have to look around. The initial test drive on mine was jaw dropping. The car turned when I wanted it to. That's always a good thing. The range of damping is perfect for the street at full soft or maybe one turn up from there and the stiffer settings are perfect for the track. I haven't had any issues with my JICs but all my buds with Teins complain about that damn rattle and that the damping range is a bit off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by F1HONDA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have to agree that flta2's are the way to go. You can find them out there for the DC5 for well under $1500...just have to look around. The initial test drive on mine was jaw dropping. The car turned when I wanted it to. That's always a good thing. The range of damping is perfect for the street at full soft or maybe one turn up from there and the stiffer settings are perfect for the track. I haven't had any issues with my JICs but all my buds with Teins complain about that damn rattle and that the damping range is a bit off.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Agreed 100%

F1HONDA, what damper settings are you running F & R for both street and track use?

I currently have them to full stiff F & R on the streets and Im enjoying the rough and harsh ride actually haha, it doesnt feel like its floating anymore

still haven't had a chance to hit any road courses yet, so I have yet to fine-tune the damper setting to run at

just curious as to what setting other FLT-A2 users are running at
and I might get some stiffer springs from JIC later on, maybe next season cause somehow I think the rear could be stiffer

 

This is probably going to be a stupid questions but what kind of operating maintenace or concerns would there be for someone who puts A LOT of kms in the winter? What is the life expencey for a coilover that is going to be 98% street and 2% at the track? Can they handle a canadian winter and not have to worry about corrison.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rs-sex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is probably going to be a stupid questions but what kind of operating maintenace or concerns would there be for someone who puts A LOT of kms in the winter? What is the life expencey for a coilover that is going to be 98% street and 2% at the track? Can they handle a canadian winter and not have to worry about corrison.

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

I plan to swap back my stock setup when winter comes, so corrosion is not for concern to me

but I would also like to know the life expectancy of the coilovers (the dampers in particular) that is 98% on streets (the worst kind) and 2% at the tracks

Clement - who wishes he has $$ for a beater for the streets