getting D2 coilovers!!! newb questions but would appreciate help!!!

[publicenemy137]

I was going to go for the usual lowering spring/shock setup. I heard great things about eibach sportlines and agx shocks. But 95kouki showed me the group buy at D2 and after researching around it is definetly a great buy. Now I am a total newb to coilovers, I've read around but there isn't much info on D2 coilovers specifically.

First question is installation easy??? I dunno much about actually working on a car so I will probably just take it to a mechanic. I looked at Tein HE's installation instructions and it seems easy, but knowing me, I'll screw something up somehow.

Second question is how do you raise/lower the car after installation? I know Tein HE's it is electronically controled so you can lower or raise it with a press of a button. I know these aren't, so is it like a knob you twist under the car or a tool you use?? And is it easy to?

And what are some pros and cons to these D2 coilovers??? I want these coilovers just to lower my car so it looks nicer, also for a nice softer ride while improving handling. And I'm seeing 9/7 setup so would that be my ideal setting? I've read some reviews and people who had em loved em, but would these be good for the normal daily driver??

sorry for all these newb questions but I haven't researched much about suspension. I would research it myself more thoroughly but this group buy is coming to a close and I can't seem to find much information on these D2 coilovers. I am really excited about getting these, just got my federal tax return and i'm putting it on these coilovers. Thanks! :help :help :help

[VitaminT]

The TEIN HE's and D2 coilovers are lowered the same way. You have a spanner wrench to loosen the lock and then have to thread the lower mount up (to lower the car). To do any of that you have to take the weight off the spring so 1)jack up the car 2)take the wheels off (most cases) 3)loosen the lock nut 4)adjust height.

You adjust the dampening the same way on both I believe by turning a key in the top of the shock, usually under the hood and in the trunk.

I have just got the D2 9/7 combo and will let you know soon. It is pretty stiff and I don't know if I could take it on a daily basis, but like I said, not sure yet.

I do believe the HE's have rear pillowball mounts where the D2's come with new, but rubber mounts. The fronts are camber adjustable pillowball one both.

[Toahk]

Im ordering the D2's tomorrow with 7/5 combo, I believe that will be OK for daily driving on a soft damper setting and good enough for the weekend warrior drifting with it on full stiff or close to.

[publicenemy137]

thanks dudes. So will these coilovers be a rougher ride??? I would like a softer ride but improve handlng a lil bit. But I guess I am goin to lower my car so there's no fender gap, which will mean a rougher ride anyways.

what would be the ideal dampening, camber, and height setting for a not so rough ride, good handling, and less fender gap??? Then when I came my coilovers in I can tell my mechanic to set it at those settings. And yea I'll try experimenting some if I don't like em

[VitaminT]

The ride height in the HE's and D2's dosen't have anything to do with harshness. That is really determined by spring rates and what you have the dampeners set to. If you want a "softer ride but improve handlng" when I would get a 5/3.5 or 7/5 setup. I *think* that the 9/7 is going to be firmer than what you want.

Just set the height to what you like, get an alignment when done so your tires won't wear on the inside and you should be set. You can compare but I believe that a 5/3.5 spring rate is comparable to what the sportlines are. Keep in mind you still have a pretty good amount of range in the shock adjustment which YOU can make at any time in about 5 minutes.

[publicenemy137]

hmm, so the 9/7 is firm but handles great, but 5/3.5 or 7/5 is a better daily drivin setup huh. Yea here in Northern VA we have a lot of potholes, not smart to have it too stiff.

Hmm does anyone know how much a mechanic will charge to install em in for me around? Just a rough estimate

[VitaminT]

I would really suggest doing them yourself. I found the rears VERY easy to install today. It shouldn't take anyone more that a few hours to install them and play around with the ride height to get them to where you want. It only take a little time and a ratchet set to do it.

Unfortunately I have not idea what labor would be to do it. It is only 3 nuts in the rear (per side) and 5 in the front per side.

[publicenemy137]

lets see the only things i have installed myself was the face stereo and headlight bulbs which i needed help. I really suck when it comes to mechanical work, but i'm trying to fix that. Learning slowly.

[j-z]

you wont get far without confidence. if you keep thinking the way you are than chances are youll continue to be that way. i suggest the 5/3.5 setup. also, the rear upper top mounts are solid aluminum and not rubber.

[VitaminT]

If you are talking about the D2 coilover's then please check again. They are alum. upper mounts, but the rears are not pillowball (metal on metal) they have a rubber bushing in there. Can't see much of it by looking but it is there right around the top. I believe that is in the GB thread somewhere too.

[publicenemy137]

what exactly are pillowmounts??? I am buyin em b/c this dude told me I should.

[j-z]

oh yeah ****. i already put them on and dont feel like going to look at them. i think youre right.

[publicenemy137]

damnit so it can't take that much of a beating huh

[crzycav86]

damnit so it can't take that much of a beating huh

Not necessarily. Pillow ball mounts just stiffen the suspension even more because the rubber bushing that is placed in the strut mount is now replaced with a solid metal "pillow ball" mount. It's just another way to stiffen the suspension. The pillow ball mounts on the front the of the d2 coilovers also happen to have camber plates. So, in response to your quote, I would imagine that non-pbm coilovers can take just as much of a beating as the same coilover with the pillow ball mounts... I don't see how having the rubber bushing would make the whole product weaker.

[VitaminT]

The little bit of rubber there is also pretty well covered by metal so it is not going to crack or strech. They also don't turn like the fronts so there is not that much stress on the rear mounts. I don't see a problem with it and plan on giving mine he!!.

[publicenemy137]

how long do you think these coilovers would last around until I'd have to buy new ones??? My friend said a disadvantage was something about spring rate or something, and that if it was damaged I would have to get new ones.

[publicenemy137]

also when you adjust the cambers, height, or dampening, is there some kind of a measurement on there or number so I know where the adjustment is at???

[VitaminT]

I don't see why they wouldn't last for a long time. I mean they won't rust and look to be excelent quality. My personal thoughts are even if they do only last a few years you can 1) have them rebuilt 2) get another set and still spend less than a set of TEINs.

Nobody can really tell you how long they will last due to the fact that not a lot of people have had them more than a few days.

On the adjustment thing there are marks on the camber plates, but I don't know if they represent 1deg or what. You will have to get an alignment after you figure out height anyway. There are marks on the damper adjustments.

[crzycav86]

My personal thoughts are even if they do only last a few years you can 1) have them rebuilt 2) get another set and still spend less than a set of TEINs.

In the future, I think these may be priced around the same as tein HE's. D2 asked for an msrp of around $1500.. but we'll see how well they fare in the states.

The only problems a few people have been mentioning is about fitment issues, especially for some of the sentra applications.

[publicenemy137]

fitment issues? What about the 95 240sx's?? And I didn't know you can rebuild coilovers

[VitaminT]

My S13s fit pretty well. Rears will go from stock to pretty low. Fronts will drop the car about 1.5" or so at the highest setting.

I believe that the 95s are having problems like I had in the front where the highest you can set it is about 1.5" drop from stock.

Haven't really played with them yet, just got them on just a while ago. Took me about 6 hours, but I had to fab some stuff up due to my mix and matched spindles. I also blead the front brakes during that time so I would guess 4hrs or less.

[crzycav86]

fitment issues? What about the 95 240sx's?? And I didn't know you can rebuild coilovers

Some people say that the rears of the s14 are dropped too low. And with the sentras, there wasn't a mounting place for the stock swaybar(on a certain chassis, I don't quite remember).

[barrigas14]

i am going to try to raise the rear a little bit more but it is going to be difficult. the rears are really short. i was surprised how much longer and bigger the S14 rear suspension is than that of the S13. but it should work. no worries on the sway bar since it doesn't touch anything of the coilover. it is actually underneath the car not above...if that makes sense.

[crzycav86]

Yeah. the swaybar issue was a problem with some of the sentras, not 240's.