Q45 Coilover's ? on my 99

[Low&Slow]

So I just picked up my first Q45 (1999) last week and already am starting/planning to upgrade...
I am in the works of picking up some AME 19X9+6 and 19x10+6 wheels
I am relatively new to the "VIP" some but always have been around cars mainly honda's haha
so as far as suspension I am torn between air ride (UAS sorry cant afford Air Runner)
or coilovers (leading towards Megan's Street LP line) Dumped and use the extra cash flow on a kit (Version select*)
*Anyone has this kit? how is the fitment i heard there fitted to the JDM Spec bumpers and I would need JDM fog lights as well???
any ideas/paths in the right direction/criticism will be greatly appricated
just wanna hear feedback from owners
I wanna know what to expect from Megan's or other brands and how low can I ride w/ them....I am looking to ride dumped FYI
hope this isnt too much of a NOOB question and this is the right place to post this.
I searched online and got a lil bit of answers from this site along with other sites, but thought I'd ask it direct, and by the way I am located in So Cali.
Thanks in Advance

[BadQ45t]

The megans require some work to get them to fit, light welding so not a slam dunk for the installation process. You need help from a shop unless you have a lot experience with suspensions. Do a search, there was alot of talk about this a few months ago.

[Low&Slow]

yea I already had a shop in mind down in SD for the install (air or coilovers) and understand its not really a true bolt on coilover and thats fine w/ me, every search I came up with was too broad and didn't satisfy my questions. I guess to sum it up is: I want my Q dumped and keep somewhat of a luxery ride quality, what's the best route for me... coilovers? (megan's? all I hear is their the best bang for the buck) and how dumped can I ride or what height is recommended w/ my soon to be 19s, I had in mind 2.5" drop but I don't have a visual how that will look and how low it will be if I decide to get the version select kit as well.
Secondly, I have heard fitment issues about that kit so if thats the case I rather use my alloted budget and just go with UAS air ride, although to stretch my dollar coilovers with the version select kit is my 1st choice since that pretty much satisfies what I wanna accomplish for the outside visual (wheels/ride height/appearance ie kit)
And thank you very much for the response sir

[naes]

what's up dude. not to do any thread jacking but i just have a little question regarding suspensions...will you have to do some work on JIC coilovers as well? like the welding part and stuff like that?

[Low&Slow]

I haven't seen or heard that issue with installation, but I haven't really seen feedback from Q owners on JIC suspension just guessing I doubt it for the $2500+ ticket I would hope not at the very least, I just know on the Megans that the original spindles have to be modified and welded onto the lower front brackets....
but if you wanna sell your set up I would be more than happy to take them off your hands haha

[BadQ45t]

The one issue with going low is this is a VERY long car. I have mine 2" down with Tein springs and 19" rims and there are no issues with fitment/rubbing BUT at 2.5 inches going over speed bumps will be very dicy, unless you raise the car the bottom will hit on high speed bumps in the center of the car. Also you will have to be super careful when parking the car with bump stops.

I would suggest NOT using anything lower than 40 series. I had 35's to begin with and the car would scrape on the my driveway unless I went 1 mile and hour and hit the exact right angle. The 40 series solved that problem 100%.

[Low&Slow]

thank you, thats the type of feedback I was aimimg for..
with opinions like that its leaning me more and more towards an air ride set up now. I only want coilovers to be slammed I won't settle for anything less (yea I know stubborn of me but hey you gotta take the good with the bad and I know driving dumped is a headache in itself) and going with coilovers I could of used that leftover money in my budget to install and paint a kit which would complete my overall look within the budget I have at the moment.

thanks again anyone else?

PS the tires are 35 series too haha

[BadQ45t]

Well just go over speed bumps VERY VERY slow or your underside will have lots of scraps and dents. I got a few myself which is why I went up to the 40's. I would not go back to the 35s as the ride was just too harsh and I finally blew out the side of an expensive Bridgestone 050A Pole Position on an expansion joint.

But, I have the KYB SR Specials, Tein 2" lower springs and 19" M45 rims with 1' spacers and 245/40 19 Michelin Pilots Sports and my Q handles AMAZING!!! Like night and day versus stock and the look is so much nicer than stock too. If you didn't buy XL load rating this time for sure spring for at least 98 load next time as 35's are very low for a 4,000 pound car.

You will make the car a much better handler no doubt, good luck.

[Low&Slow]

ahh! you were suppose to convince me to get air ride, lol I am so torn I'm serious...really in all honesty I want coilovers (for the price and what I'll get out of them) I am just worried with air ride about the hassle of upkeep ie bags blowing, leaks, etc since this is my daily driver. I have heard people go months/yrs would no problems but in the same breath I hear people who had issues and headaches with them.
<sigh> but every ride I have owned has been dumped from civics, integras to even a dropped tacoma on 18s, so I am no stranger to handling speedbumps haha.

hey Badq45t you got pics so I can see what a 2" drop on 19s looks like by chance??
and thanks again for your .02

[Low&Slow]

air ride

[BadQ45t]

Sure, here you go:

http://s1089.photobucket.com/albums/i34 ... llview.jpg

here is a close-up of the wheel:

http://s1089.photobucket.com/albums/i34 ... rWheel.jpg

[trajanH]

Where can I buy KRB SR Specials for my Y33 Q45? Im thinking of coilovers too but the expense....
I saw some Megans on Ebay for a decent price, but how much will it cost to get the spindles welded?

[NuQFO]

Sure, here you go:

http://s1089.photobucket.com/albums/i34 ... llview.jpg

here is a close-up of the wheel:

http://s1089.photobucket.com/albums/i34 ... rWheel.jpg

Love those M45 rims on the Q! Any issues using the 1" spacers?
How is the ride with the Tein 2" drop with 19s?
Love the aesthetics, but worried about the quality of the ride.
Is it too stiff/bumpy?

Considering 350z anniv. rims or the M45 rims.
But not sure I wanna drop it...

[BadQ45t]

The ride is nothing short of great. The M45 rims are on about 1" spacers, I bought them from a shop in LA recommended by Kevin Falk who managed to get banned from NICO. They were $280 bucks and worth every penny. I didn't know when I bought them that i would have to do the spacers, nobody on the board at that time knew much about it. If I had to do it over again I would go for Q45 3rd Gen Rims or do FX45 18" or 20" rims. However, the look with the spacers pushing the rims out to the corners both looks great and made a handling improvement. I have about 15k on the setup now and everything works great. No rubbing EVER, no bottom out EVER, looks completely different and the handling is very tight. I can throw the car around like a much smaller car and really handles like an M version of a Q45 would had Infinit ever built it. Removes alot of the pundits critizism of the car, there ain't no "Buick" ride here...it is stiff for sure.

As I said, it is stiff, I started out with a set of 35 series tires on the car and that didn't give it much forgiveness. They were also not XL load rated and after about 9k the sidewall on a rear blew out on a expansion joint. I have since done a 245/40 19" Michelin Pilot Sport with 98XL load rating and it is much better. If you live in a place that has really bad roads that might be an issue, but for me the only thing that you have to really watch are speed bumps and high parking stops. I would recommend the Tein setup, I know some folks have run Esliper springs with good luck too. Someone on the board pointed out the Tein's were made for Cima's which are V6 versus V8 but I wouldn't worry, they worked very well for many members rides without any incidents. The KYB SR Specials are actually cheaper than the stock replacements and are far superior, you just have to wait 4-6 weeks for memoryfab to get them to you.

BTW, I see you had a 74' Celica ST, I had a 77' GT Liftback as my first car. Great car, ran it to 100k in 7 years and had nearly zero issue with it until I upgraded to a 300ZX in 84'.

[NuQFO]

$280 bucks!!! That's a steal! Please send me the info on that shop in LA. Those M45 rims are pretty pricey everywhere else. Are there any members here who have tried 3rd gen Q45 rims or FX45 18s on our gen Q? Would love to see some pictures of those possibilities. Maybe 18s would be more forgiving than the 19s? Or maybe just keep it stock height? I've read good things here bout the Eslipers/Teins. I will keep those KYB SRs in mind. Couldn't believe the price on infinitipartsusa for oems? 180 bucks per shock? Did I read that correctly? or was that for 2?

Just reviewed the history on my Q and I still have the original shocks @ 120k. =(

Awesome, buddy had a liftback celica back then. Wish I still had the Celica. It was an awesome first car...you still have the 84 Z?
Post some pics up! Only If I had Jay Leno's bank roll, oh the cars I would have...but then again, I am a very satisfied Q45 owner!