car finally running, start my tunning with the suspention???

[TK_Encore]

well i got the car running, still some kinks, but i still want to plan ahead for when its workin well. i figure the best place would be to start with the suspention then get my 18's changed to some nicer 17's. whats the best thing to do at this point, just get some springs or coilovers or what? i dont wanna make any mistakes so any advise is welcomethank you

[Tsukiko]

coilovers? depends on the car's purpose. track or street?

I have coilovers on a car that i have (so far) never taken to the track. Why? cause i wanted them. keep in mind that you get what you pay for. dont cheap out. One thing about coilovers is that your ride WILL be SUBSTANTIALLY stiffer than stock. also, with the lowering that coilovers can achieve, other suspension parts will need to be swapped out. Your stock camber adjustment range will most likely not be enough, and you will need upper control arms in the back to straighten things out (buy coilovers with camber plates in the front, makes things much easier). Tie rods/ends should be replaced. if you are going to run a lower offset wheel, swap in new wheel bearings.

Good thinking, getting rid of the 18"s. I would suggest going to a 16" wheel instead of 17" though (I'm more performance minded these days... if you just want bling and bravado, dont ask me). You can still get a higher performance tire for 16"s without searching too hard. again, you get what you pay for. As far as i can tell, Sportmax wheels arent worth the money (see my wheels? BOAT ANCHORS!!!) I would check into their oldschool styled wheels though, i wonder how much they weigh. The sizes are pretty good, and a couple members on this forum rock them.

If you only want something mildly sporty (cushier ride) and a less aggressive drop, go springs and struts.

Get yourself a set of strut tower bars to start off, and notice the difference they make in your car's handling. These can be purchared for fairly cheap. check out SPL racing for suspension parts if you havent already. They have the good stuff for sure.

[adrianfromthecastle]

if you think you'll be satisfied with a 1 to 2 inch drop, I'd suggest a RSR race springs or ground control sleeves with Koni shocks. Otherwise if you want to slam your car, go with fully adjustable coilovers. Be mindful of brand though. Companies like stance, kts, tein make very decent entry level coilovers at a decent price.

Others may argue that you should probably change your bushings first, but if you're planning on upgrading your suspension arms to solid pillow ball arms, you might as save yourself the money and time.

As far as strut bars, honestly, you won't feel much of a difference at all unless you have a lower center of gravity with stiffer shocks.

[TK_Encore]

well the previous owner cut the springs so it definetly sounds like getting new springs is a good idea from what u guys are sayin. i would like to keep it one the street for a while then maybe get some track time in the future so i guess that means i should go for the coilovers as well. and now im really thinkin about the 16's instead of the 17's they do sound bettter to me and they look really nice to.

[adrianfromthecastle]

Yeah, if you already have your eyes set on coilovers, theres no reason to buy new springs and struts... although, since you said that you have cut springs, I'm inclined to believe that you already have blown struts...

and honestly, I'd say go 17".. its perfect for a stock body... and more I think more people will agree. The only downfall is that 17" tires may cost more than 16" tires.

But knock you're first goal out of the way before you even think about wheels: your suspension.

[Fancy_Footwork]

Definately a wise choice to upgrade the suspension. I have to agree with tsukiko, choose your parts by what you intend on using them for. Springs are a lot more comfortable for the street vs. Entry level coilovers.

Also its good to remember that your suspension is only as good as the sum of parts. If you have some high dollar stuff and some oem stuff on their last leg, you won't get the performance you want out of it and some of the articulation may not be proper. Not saying you have to buy the best of the best though.

[TK_Encore]

ill definetly do my research before i buy anything but can u tell me how the ones you have worked out for your or any other brand i should really check out??

[adrianfromthecastle]

ill definetly do my research before i buy anything but can u tell me how the ones you have worked out for your or any other brand i should really check out??

well, like Tsukiko said... choose/tune your suspension on what you think you'll be doing most with your car.

Honestly, coilovers aren't as bad as everyone says they are. You really have to take a ride in 7/5 kg setup to see what I'm saying.... I mean, yes, its a lot firmer than most drop springs, but it'll also provide a more agressive driving feel. Stance coilovers for example provide 2 sets of springs when you purchase them. 7/5 and 8/6 kg springs, so you can switch them if you want more of an agressive feel. Also, damper adjustment can also change the ride feel too, like you can make them softer to your liking.

but if you still dont want to go coilovers because you think the ride is too harsh... I'd really recommend RSR race springs and koni shocks. A lot of people will tell you its a perfect setup for autox/grip.

[TK_Encore]

coilovers sound good for me. ive seen these nismo i dont know if they are any good or if they are even lagit, check em out

http://www.thenissanpartsstore...tId=9

[Tsukiko]

heres my coilovers. can go from knots in my back harsh to fairly comfortable depending on the damper settings. I would recommend them.http://www.apexi-usa.com/produ...Num=1

[TK_Encore]

wow those are pretty nice. i know it was probably right in front of my face but i couldnt find a price or anything like that, so how much?? and was there any word on the nismo ones i put the link to up above?