Advice with Powertrix coilovers?

[vereshchak]

Looking into replacing the suspension on my Z32 with coil overs. I intended to use the car as a daily and for drifting so i started doing my research to try and find the right coilovers for my build. After doing my homework Im now looking into Powertrix R/T Powertrix Ultra-lite. I heard the Powertrix SS were alright for bang for your buck but I would like something more meant for track use and to lower the car as well. Im looking into going pretty low so adjustable ride height is important and Im willing to sacrifice comfort for performance

[Ace2cool]

I would give the Ultra lites an 11/10 for cost/vs ride quality. Stupid flat through the corners, but not harsh at all with the damper on the "5" setting. Adjustments go from 1-10 IIRC. I haven't even adjusted mine for about 3 or 4 years though. Can't remember exactly.

[vereshchak]

I would give the Ultra lites an 11/10 for cost/vs ride quality. Stupid flat through the corners, but not harsh at all with the damper on the "5" setting. Adjustments go from 1-10 IIRC. I haven't even adjusted mine for about 3 or 4 years though. Can't remember exactly.

Have you been using the car for track use with the coils or is it just a daily? How do they feel on actual roads?

[DCaff300ZX]

I used to daily my Race coilovers in my NA, and now they are in my TT. They are the middle grade setup, same valving as Ultralite but not the aluminum shock body. I'd say the ride harshness is about the same as the sport setting in the TT, although as Ace says the adjustable valving makes for better handling characteristics. I seem to remember more than 10 settings, but haven't checked the number in years...and she's in the shop now so can't go check.
I do not drift so can't help there, but I also am running fairly low but not enough to scrape anything underneath in normal situations...hope this helps!

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Going from stock to Powertrix Ultralite R/T's, the ride quality is pretty brutal, and that also included doing all the suspension bushing with ES poly, which probably isn't helping either. That was on stock wheels and normal tires. Now I'm getting some nice UHP Summer tires that will probably make the ride worse. Car isn't super "girlfriend friendly" at the moment. Oh well, its setup for fun weekend drives and a few HPDE.

I do think they performed well at the track though, so there's that.

[DCaff300ZX]

Just checked- all Powertrix coilovers have 15-way adjustable dampers.
And although the ride with UHP tires (I have Conti D/W's on the front now) can be brutal on settings above 5, the lowest setting is OK and gives the near-TT sport setting ride quality- anything higher is definitely lower on the "girlfriend-friendly" meter though and geared towards the track.

[Ace2cool]

I would give the Ultra lites an 11/10 for cost/vs ride quality. Stupid flat through the corners, but not harsh at all with the damper on the "5" setting. Adjustments go from 1-10 IIRC. I haven't even adjusted mine for about 3 or 4 years though. Can't remember exactly.

Have you been using the car for track use with the coils or is it just a daily? How do they feel on actual roads?

I haven't tracked it in a while, but when I did (Autocross), they were amazing. I was cutting better times in an auto trans TT than M/T C5 Corvettes.

[DCaff300ZX]

I would give the Ultra lites an 11/10 for cost/vs ride quality. Stupid flat through the corners, but not harsh at all with the damper on the "5" setting. Adjustments go from 1-10 IIRC. I haven't even adjusted mine for about 3 or 4 years though. Can't remember exactly.

How do they feel on actual roads?

With tire pressure at or below 40PSI they really aren't too bad at all on the lowest/lower settings, mostly the car is just more direct and of course no sloppiness of worn suspension. As the valving and/or tire pressures increase however EVERY bump or irregularity is felt, more and more as the settings increase, and the car can become very unsettled on rough surfaces at the highest settings. Therefore the valving is very accurate and allows a very large range of activity and controls possible for different roads/track/conditions. I really wish they also had a rebound damping capability to "catch" the car and control bounce, but that would be for track-only use as it really isn't necessary for normal driving on the lower settings.

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Question, when you guys adjust your PT Coilovers, the site says to adjust all the way Counter-Clockwise for the softest, is that accurate? Maybe I'm missing something. I've never tried them adjusted all the way in the opposite direction, and can't at the moment until I wrap up my work.

https://www.powertrix.com/coils-how-to

[Ace2cool]

Left is soft, right is stiff.

[DCaff300ZX]

That is correct, and just for fun I've run at the softest and it feels just about the same as a TT on Sport setting.

[vereshchak]

Should I go with the R/T or the Ultra-lite?

[Ace2cool]

If you're considering racing competitively, go UL. There is a significant weight difference. And when you're talking sprung weight vs. unsprung, there's a huge difference.

EDIT: and if you think about it, you're already dropping that much into them, so why not let it ride for another $250 and get the product you really want anyways? (Or less if you go the GB option.)

[vereshchak]

If you're considering racing competitively, go UL. There is a significant weight difference. And when you're talking sprung weight vs. unsprung, there's a huge difference.

EDIT: and if you think about it, you're already dropping that much into them, so why not let it ride for another $250 and get the product you really want anyways? (Or less if you go the GB option.)

Awesome I got my answer, thanks!

[DCaff300ZX]

Yes, the UL's are an aluminum shock body versus steel for the R/T. I've had both in hand and there is a large weight difference, but the shock valving is the same.