Best coilover brands for street use?

speedworks · 01-18-2010, 08:57 PM

Springs will be fine, but remember with coilovers the shocks and springs are matched (or at least they should be). In coilovers, the shocks are designed (valved for compression and rebound) around the spring rates vs with just springs, you will use the oem shocks or aftermarkets (koni, kgbs, etc), and since they aren't designed together, they will either fail earlier (can't handle the difference in performance), or won't feel exactly right. I have had springs with aftermarket shocks on many sports cars, and it is an affordable way to go, but they are usually not as smooth or comfortable (sometimes even jittery). I lot of design goes into the way shocks and springs work together, and when mismatched, they don't work exactly like they should. On the otherhand, an affordable coilover, of which I have been looking at, and others on this forum have talked positive about is the BC Racing BRs (under 1k). Good luck with whichever route you go. For what it is worth, I think the Eibachs or H&Rs are the best.

Trips · 01-18-2010, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedworks

Springs will be fine, but remember with coilovers the shocks and springs are matched (or at least they should be). In coilovers, the shocks are designed (valved for compression and rebound) around the spring rates vs with just springs, you will use the oem shocks or aftermarkets (koni, kgbs, etc), and since they aren't designed together, they will either fail earlier (can't handle the difference in performance), or won't feel exactly right. I have had springs with aftermarket shocks on many sports cars, and it is an affordable way to go, but they are usually not as smooth or comfortable (sometimes even jittery). I lot of design goes into the way shocks and springs work together, and when mismatched, they don't work exactly like they should. On the otherhand, an affordable coilover, of which I have been looking at, and others on this forum have talked positive about is the BC Racing BRs (under 1k). Good luck with whichever route you go. For what it is worth, I think the Eibachs or H&Rs are the best.

LaSeeno · 01-19-2010, 01:33 AM

I bought just springs (H&R) for my Audi S4 and absolutely hated the result. That's why I assumed I would buy the whole deal. To me, 1-2k for a drop that looks good and is comfortable is better than $300 for something that feels cheap. The Z is only a 30k car but I don't want to do just springs if it's going to ride like a 10 year old DSM.

schrute · 01-19-2010, 01:47 AM

Oh yeah, KW V3's seem to be a popular choice for street.

1slow370 · 01-19-2010, 07:29 AM

get springs then wait for stock style struts with adjustable dampening like AGX's?

speedworks · 01-19-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

get springs then wait for stock style struts with adjustable dampening like AGX's?

I've gone this route many times before, with the AGXs, and they never work out exactly right - they just never match up, and you already have 600-700 into the suspension. Whats another 250 to get a matched set.

01-19-2010, 01:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 18	Oh yeah, KW V3's seem to be a popular choice for street. __________________ my journal \| 2009 370z touring \| 6mt \| platinum graphite \| my album second skin \| mr works \| fast intentions \| ssr \| eibach \| hotchkis \| spc \| toyo \| bluebatmobile \| v-led \| jwt \| ventureshield \| tinted tails

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01-18-2010, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
speedworks Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 550 Drives: PW purchased 01/09 Rep Power: 19	Springs will be fine, but remember with coilovers the shocks and springs are matched (or at least they should be). In coilovers, the shocks are designed (valved for compression and rebound) around the spring rates vs with just springs, you will use the oem shocks or aftermarkets (koni, kgbs, etc), and since they aren't designed together, they will either fail earlier (can't handle the difference in performance), or won't feel exactly right. I have had springs with aftermarket shocks on many sports cars, and it is an affordable way to go, but they are usually not as smooth or comfortable (sometimes even jittery). I lot of design goes into the way shocks and springs work together, and when mismatched, they don't work exactly like they should. On the otherhand, an affordable coilover, of which I have been looking at, and others on this forum have talked positive about is the BC Racing BRs (under 1k). Good luck with whichever route you go. For what it is worth, I think the Eibachs or H&Rs are the best.

01-19-2010, 01:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
LaSeeno Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 129 Drives: NA Rep Power: 18	I bought just springs (H&R) for my Audi S4 and absolutely hated the result. That's why I assumed I would buy the whole deal. To me, 1-2k for a drop that looks good and is comfortable is better than $300 for something that feels cheap. The Z is only a 30k car but I don't want to do just springs if it's going to ride like a 10 year old DSM.

01-19-2010, 07:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7252	get springs then wait for stock style struts with adjustable dampening like AGX's?