Need "daily-driver-comfort-street" coilovers...Give me your recommendations!

[chickentendah]

As the thread title says, I'm looking for reasonably priced coilovers that are comfortably optimized for "performance street" use out-of-the-box. Unless you can convince me that springs + shocks is the way to go, I have my eyes set on coilovers due to the fact that they're ride height adjustable. My car will seldom see track usage, so I won't be tuning the damping settings.

*What options do I have besides TEIN BASIC or Street Spec(SS) coilovers?

*Which ones have you actually experienced and recommmend?

*And finally, what's the disadvantage to NOT having aftermarket pillow ball mounts?

[BadMojo]

Why is ride height adjustability so important to you if your car is going to see primarily street use?

Also, as far as pillow ball mounts go, there's less play in them than the rubbery stock mounts and you've got camber adjustability up front. Other than that...errr, more road noise?

[ILikeMy240sx]

Tein basic does meet all your requirements except for the price range i guess... It does seem like it fits your needs perfectly tho..

mild coil-overs for strt use that lets you adjust height but not the damping..

BUT.. if you are only going to use it for street use just get a spring+strut setup because seriously I doubt you will be able to notice a big difference between a Tein Basic (mild coilover) and a spring+strut combo.. IF you do notice a difference will it really worth that much money?

in summary: I vote for spring +strut

[chickentendah]

Hmm good points guys.

Why the ride height adjustability? Usually I prefer to have the ride sit lower for better handling. When I'm away at school, the roads are badly damaged, and well, I'd prefer to crank it up. But when I'm back at home, the roads are well-behaved, and I'd like to have the height adjusted back to the lower setting.

So how much of a price difference am I looking at between:

TEIN basic coilover versus TEIN S-Tech Springs + KYB AGX shocks?

[rico05]

Lower does not = better handling. Here is what I reccomend:

READ. Like a lot. Like all the time on this subject. Then decide. After I did all of that reading, I chose Nismo S-Tune coilovers for the street which I am considering augmenting w/ Tein p/b mounts.

[BadMojo]

Any idea what the specs are for the Nismo S-Tunes for the S13?

I checked out the Nismo section of the Nissan USA site, which was devoid of useful info.

I assume, since you mentioned Tein mounts, that the S-Tunes are designed to work with stock strut insulators?

What are your general impressions of the S-Tunes? Very few people seem to be running them.

[chickentendah]

Lower does not = better handling. Here is what I reccomend:

READ. Like a lot. Like all the time on this subject. Then decide. After I did all of that reading, I chose Nismo S-Tune coilovers for the street which I am considering augmenting w/ Tein p/b mounts.

i guess i've been fed with lots of misinformation in the past. but for sure, I'd like to learn as much as i can before i go out opening my wallet mindlessly. i want to make use of every penny i spend.

nismo coilovers?? yes i'd like to hear more about these if anyone else would like to contribute.

[ralphdig]

Nismo Coilover Model Year: 89-94 Part#: 5300S-RSS30-US Spring Rates (Front / Rear): lb/in.: 296 / 218.4 lb/in kg/mm.: 5.3 / 3.9 Car lowers around 20 mm (less than an inch) They come complete whith mounts, ready for bolt-on, this will make installation easier.I just ordered my kit.Let you know results.

[crzycav86]

After driving with the d2 coilovers(7/5) for awhile, I can honestly say that I've forgotten how the stock suspension felt. It doesn't feel uncomfortable at all, and has all the adjustability of a higher end coilover.

Some people consider them crap(one particular member comes to mind ), and for the price, you would think they are. But they perform well for the money, and are very streetable.

[jmauld]

Hmm good points guys.

Why the ride height adjustability? Usually I prefer to have the ride sit lower for better handling. When I'm away at school, the roads are badly damaged, and well, I'd prefer to crank it up. But when I'm back at home, the roads are well-behaved, and I'd like to have the height adjusted back to the lower setting.

So how much of a price difference am I looking at between:

TEIN basic coilover versus TEIN S-Tech Springs + KYB AGX shocks?

Every time you adjust the ride height, you have to re-align your tires.

[chickentendah]

Every time you adjust the ride height, you have to re-align your tires.

Holy crap, very good point my man. I totally overlooked that fact......Now I'm starting to lean towards the spring + strut combo.

[rico05]

Had my S-Tunes for about 10 months now. I love them! I was one of (if not the) first people in the US that got them, hence why you don't see them (Nismo released them here when Nissan Motorsports USA re-opened) They only reason that I want the Tein upper mounts is because I would like some camber adjustibility for the front.

Front lowers 25mm, rear 15mm. Kills nasty wheel gap with stock wheels and 60 sidewall tires (I have 205/50/15 , so I have stock-like gap )

[rico05]

BTW: Bling.

[ralphdig]

I was thinking of buying some 205/55 R 15 to replace my old Toyos but now whith the Nismo Coils I will stay with the original´s 205/60 R15 to reduce fender gap.I know 17´s look great but my town has real bumpy, bricked streets, with big holes so is too easy to bend rims or blow low (<50) profile tires.

[BadMojo]

Those Nismo S-Tunes do look interesting. My only question would be, are you able to replace just one if it were to blow? I'm assuming they're *not* available for overhaul.

[ralphdig]

That´s a good question and I ordered my kit whithout knowing it!But Nismo is good quality.
Modified by ralphdig at 11:42 PM 10/25/2004

[Chingon]

BTW: Bling.

hmm, I guess the rumors that kyb made the s-tunes is true...

[Chingon]

2

what surprises me the most, is that they are selling them as coilovers. Are you sure you guys are not talking about the r-tunes?

[mys13rocks]

my opinion is stay away from strut and spring combo !if u have lowering springs and struts..take a look at the gap between the where the springs sits while its on your car(that means while your car has all 4 tires on the floor). if the car is lowered then u got like 1-2 inch play for shock movenment.my car has like 2inch movement in the front and 2.5 in in the back ((front)bottom out on bad dips and pot holes)not good and i hate it when that happens(i own megan racing lowering springs)(but is going to get new coilovers they make). i recamend getting coil over cause u can adjust them.also about the tire alignment its only a couple of degrees depending HOW much u set them at and there just better any way. for example i have new coil overs that just came out BRAND NEW.check out this post i made

http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=88141and http://www.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=88139

i used to work on hondas, nissans, and mazdas all day and see all kinds of parts for struts and springs(!for the combo u need a camber kit!). but the best ive ever worked on are the coil overs. made my life easyer.i used to work at Robotek Motorsports for 4 mounths befor they closed.also the front come with pillow ball camber plates but u might want to think about buying rear upper control arm camber kit.take a look here too http://www.jspec.com/footworks.htmlhope that might of helped.
Modified by mys13rocks at 5:22 AM 10/26/2004