Review of S13 Coilovers from Megan Racing (S13 Streets)

[Pumaking]

Review of the Megan Racing S13 Street Coil-Overs.

First off let me give you an idea of how my ride was before I upgraded. I currently own a 1990 240sx SE hatchback with S13 front end, 180sx tail lights and pretty much stock everything else at the moment (prepping new motor for transplant). Before the upgrade I had the original factory suspension with blown rear struts. My ride was horrible I had extreme case of wheel hop when I would take some turns, even on hard braking my rear end would be hopping like crazy, also my car when hitting a bump would weave left and right kind of like being on a shoe with 1 spring, and lastly at 55-60mph my steering wheel would shake. Now I have only experienced 5 rides with different suspension, 3 were stock suspension and 1 was a aftermarket Omni Coil-Over suspension on a 1992 Honda Civic hatchback with 10kg front and 8kg rear spring rates, the last one was my car with the Megan Racing Street.

First I would like to say the package came nicely secure wrapped and strapped as to keep my package free from any freight damage. Inside were a manual, a warranty card, a sticker and a pamphlet. One of the funny things was the English in the pamphlet, which made no sense. It wasn’t anything important but a good laugh. The package comes with everything you need, the locking tools, allen key to adjust camber, 2 Rear adjustable struts, and 2 Front struts with pillow ball mount and camber plate. On to Installation, installation was a breeze just remove old struts slide out and reverse the process with new struts. A little tip to installing the rear, begin by inserting the bottom bolt then with the aide of a jack raise the hub and bolt into place. Once we had the struts installed we lowered the car and measured and adjusted the height to what I desired. I left everything the way it came from Megan. After install I saw noticeable difference in the way the car sat, it looked sick dropped about 2 inches. After we left the shop we decided to take the car for a test drive. With all Honesty my jaw dropped, we decided to take the car onto the highway, to my surprise every single problem I had relating to suspension was gone no more wheel hop, no more shaking at 55-60mph, no more weaving, the car felt solid and begging to be taken to its limit, so of course I couldn’t resist and had to take the car through some turns. I went to my usual turns in the city to see what my car was really made of and was blown away. There were twisties which recommended speed limit was 25 mph while I’m taking them at 83 mph and you can easily feel that you could push it even harder but didn’t b/c I was on stock tires and wheels, now I don’t suggest doing this on public streets. I’m able to achieve all this on the soft setting, imagine on the stiffer setting. I’ve had about a week of testing out the coil-overs throwing as much as I could at them and it laughs at me asking for more. I can truly say that just by this upgrade my car behaves like a new beast, even with my firing on 3 cylinder stock motor my car feels faster than ever before. I’m truly impressed with the quality, and performance of my coil-overs and would gladly recommend them to anyone looking for good priced high performing coil-vers. I must say Megan Racing received 2 thumbs up from me, keep up the good work. Hopefully this review will help others in deciding on which suspension to get all I know is I’m 100% satisfied and truly believe I got my money’s worth.

~Sincerely Puma King~

[McRussellPants]

Awesome, I was wondering if Megans were better than Stock blown shocks.

[Pumaking]

well the other kind of coilovers I've used were Omni Power, megans are way better.

[SeVa-S13]

Most "coilovers" on Hondas aren't coilovers at all, just height-adjustable springs for retards.

Edit: Glad to hear you like your new suspension though, they supposedly have parts and assembly plant in common with some higher end Apex units...

[Pumaking]

this is the company that makes the Megan Racing coilovers, along with the Apex introductory model.

http://www.bcec.com.tw

[Exar-Kun]

the entry level apexi WS is only like 800....

and it's not that great. (yes, this is me raining on a parade).-Chet

[veilside180sx]

It's the Apexi N1 EXV that they are built the same as...not the World Sports Chet. FYI.=)

[240sxjeff]

The megans caught me by surprise when I saw them on the Enjuku Racing drift car at the track the first time. They look like they'll take the abuse and from what i've seen at various drift events enjuku sure does abuse them.I kind of wish i would have tried these instead of buying Tein's

[Exar-Kun]

*sigh*

I love Apex-i stuff, but for some reaosn I highly doubt any of their products have a lot in common with megan racing's. And i REALLY doubt they're "built the same as" the megans.

Knowing the variation in materials, etc that happen with pricing contraints given to a manufacturer.

-Chet

jeff: "I kind of wish i would have tried these instead of buying Tein's "..get out of town. Unless you bought Teins bottom of the line model, you got a better coilover. Be happy.

[240sxjeff]

Yeah I know my Tein HA's are alot better and Tein has been in the industry longer but my rear end is squeking like hell. And I have reason to beleive that my rear shocks are blown. 6 months old Blown shocks = me being highly dissappointed

[Pumaking]

the people that say they suck and that tein's are better do you guys personally own megan racing coilovers, also tein isnt even that great. The most expensive Tein's cost $500 over in Asia. I have a bunch of friends who do racing all day long autocross, deals gap, couple of tracks and they rode in my car and were very surprised, they thought they were gonna be garbage but they were convinced. I enjoy all the people hating especially when they never owned the product.

[BaliLover]

Enjuku drifts on the Megan streets and I haven't seen them running into problems and I haven't heard any complaints as of yet. I've also been running a set since they first released and I have NO complaints. Nothing has come loose, broken, started leaking, rusted, etc.

For $800ish you get front camber plates, independant height adjustment, damper adjustment, and preload adjustment. The original run seems to have come with instructions for a set of Bc-Racing VH' series coilovers but I've heard that the new ones have the updated Megan racing instructions.

I also have to ask the naysayers if they've ever handled a set of megans or ridden on them for extended periods of time. I've yet to hear any horror stories about them and being as I'm a member of almost every major Nissan forum, you'd think I'd have heard about it if there were a complaint.

[veilside180sx]

The VH series are identical to the EXV's. I don't know who makes the rest of the Apexi line, but they outsource these lower end ones to BC. I don't think they do the others though. Since the rest of the line (Apexi) doesn't look anything like it.

[Exar-Kun]

I've been in two cars with megan racing coilovers, and while they provide a decent value for the dollar, I can't get over their dampening characteristics (seem to be underdampned in most cases) or small issues that have a risen previously (search around, ride height issues, etc).

Puma: Considering Tein has better quality controls, a longer and better reputation, and makes a huge line of very, very admirable suspension products, I'd never go as far as saying "they aren't even that great". I gotta ask YOU, have YOU ever riden on, driven a car with, or owned a set of TEIN RE's or N-1's? I have. Phenominal coilovers.

Jeff: what rear-end squaking are you refering to? It could be a lot of things, including sibrame noise, etc....ALso, the TEIN can rebuild a blown HA pretty quickly under warranty, if it is indeed blwon (I doubt it..those are very reliable coilovers)

Oh well, I'm glad you're happy with the Megans, I do enjoy hearing that the company is gaining a good rep with the crowd.

-Chet

[veilside180sx]

I wouldn't bad mouth Tein either, I think they are a very reputable company. In fact I've considered the new Circuit Masters for my car when it gets taken off the street.

[Pumaking]

Exar Kun im not bad mouthing TEIN they make good products but there not gods gift to the world, they are expensive in the states and cheap in asia. Tein is just a name. AS for a fact I have driven a 240sx coupe with Tein H something wasnt sure if HE HR, or whatever combination, but I will admit I havent been on the RE's N-1. Like I said I'm not bad mouthing TEIN just saying nothing special. I believe your being confused just b/c of the megan name. Megan doesnt produce them BC does and they have very strict quality control, thankfully in the event if the Megans were to blow they are rebuildable from Megan so far everyone I know who has them hasnt had to go through it. I dont understand how you can go saying Tein has better quality control when you obviously never been to the factories unless you live in Taiwan

I believe in you get what you pay for to some extent but to pay more just for a name I disapprove.

[240sxjeff]

Exar-Kun: Its a squeking noise coming from the back like right where the shock sits( I have my rear seats folded down that how I can hear them). The back also is starting to seem a bit softer compared to the fronts and I have them set at 12 out of the 18 setting. I don't its the subframe but I do have subframe spacers. WOuld you happen to know How much TEin charges to rebuid shocks?

Veilside180sx: I never badmouthed TEIN I was simply stating that I was, and still am, a bit dissappointed in how they seemed to "deteriorate" quicker than the front ones. The front assembly is still nice and stiff the rears however are bouncy and not as stiff and tight as the front.

[Pumaking]

depends on model and what needs to be repaired, I believe from TEIN's website it ranges any from $160+ for each dampner.

[veilside180sx]

Veilside180sx: I never badmouthed TEIN I was simply stating that I was, and still am, a bit dissappointed in how they seemed to "deteriorate" quicker than the front ones. The front assembly is still nice and stiff the rears however are bouncy and not as stiff and tight as the front.[/QUOTE]

I wasn't attacking you, merely stating "I" as i myself wouldn't bad mouth Tein. That was all.

I think the Megan's are worth the money they cost, and are a good budget coilover. My buddy just installed a set on his Vert so I'll drive them this next week to see how much better they are than my D2's.

[Exar-Kun]

Jeff: how long have you had them? It's not common for TEIN stuff to go south quickly, and I'd wager they'd fix them for free (rebuild them) if it's within a resonable time. Obviously, check the bolts, etc on the unit and go from there. I'd also take a look at the lower mount point bushing, see if its doing OK.

Puma: I was refering to the materials and tightness of specs TEIN builds their stuff to. No, i haven't been to any factories other than some stateside ones. I'll be AT SEMA doing some talks with a lot of company's so I'm sure I'll get a chance to converse with plenty of coilover MFR's....

[240sxjeff]

Veilside180sx, Sorry I thought you were refering to me; My fault

Exar-Kun I have had them for about a year but only put them on about 4 months ago, already checked all the bolts and the whole rear end of the car about 2 weeks ago, maybe 3 weeks tops. I didnt find anything out of the ordinary and everything was tight and firm. One thing I did notice was that the right side shock( the one that makes the noise) wasn't leaking any fluid. Aren't shock supposed to leak when they are blown?Oh and I lost most of my paperwork for the suspension when I was moving, so i guess im SOL on this one.

[SilviaDriver]

just got a used set but confused about the adjustment of the dampering. how the hell do u do it? i hear ur not suppose ot tightin the botl below the knob because it can break it.

so what do you do? leave it loose lift up the knob turn a little and let it fall into place? i did this OVER 32 times and it doesnt seem to want to stop. whats the deal?

[JDMEnthused]

i have heard alot of good things about Megan, their downpipes are praised in some groups. just opinions though, everyone is entitled to them.

[240sxjeff]

just got a used set but confused about the adjustment of the dampering. how the hell do u do it? i hear ur not suppose ot tightin the botl below the knob because it can break it.

so what do you do? leave it loose lift up the knob turn a little and let it fall into place? i did this OVER 32 times and it doesnt seem to want to stop. whats the deal?

Yeah that sucks about them. when you first get them they are on full stiff and your not supposed to go past X amount of clicks. What I did is simce I forgot what setting it was on, I made them looseas they can go and them adjusted them from there.Example: turned them all the way the the left until they couldnt go anymore from there I went 10 clicks to the right for the front ones and then 12 clicks to the right for the rear ones

[Dori Dori]

Enjuku drifts on the Megan streets and I haven't seen them running into problems and I haven't heard any complaints as of yet. I've also been running a set since they first released and I have NO complaints. Nothing has come loose, broken, started leaking, rusted, etc.

I've heard complaints. Until a bigger name suspension company comes knocking on their doors though, the public will never hear them.

[Dori Dori]

Most "coilovers" on Hondas aren't coilovers at all, just height-adjustable springs for retards.

Hey, guess what? Those height-adjustable springs for retards are being used on racecars across the globe!!!
Modified by Dori Dori at 7:13 PM 10/20/2005

[Dori Dori]

I've been in two cars with megan racing coilovers, and while they provide a decent value for the dollar, I can't get over their dampening characteristics (seem to be underdampned in most cases) or small issues that have a risen previously (search around, ride height issues, etc).

Puma: Considering Tein has better quality controls, a longer and better reputation, and makes a huge line of very, very admirable suspension products, I'd never go as far as saying "they aren't even that great". I gotta ask YOU, have YOU ever riden on, driven a car with, or owned a set of TEIN RE's or N-1's? I have. Phenominal coilovers.

Jeff: what rear-end squaking are you refering to? It could be a lot of things, including sibrame noise, etc....ALso, the TEIN can rebuild a blown HA pretty quickly under warranty, if it is indeed blwon (I doubt it..those are very reliable coilovers)

Oh well, I'm glad you're happy with the Megans, I do enjoy hearing that the company is gaining a good rep with the crowd.

-Chet

Chet, the truth is that most of the people on these forums that like to give reviews of their products have never even stepped foot on a road course, let alone drive on one. They feel stiff and think "AwEsOmE jDm TyTnEsS yO"*BRAINSTORM*

Forum suggestion. At the start of every part/tire review, the poster must give some breif explanation on his/her driving/racing background and how and where he/she tested their part. I mean, who really cares (other than mindless sheep) that Joe Schmoe thought "tire-X" felt really grippy when he rolled out of his grandparent's driveway...and thinks wet traction pwns 2 since he didn't spin out on the sprinkler runoff. It's not a bad, mean, or bias idea at all...just gives readers something more to think about.

[TchouikoS13]

Nice review man, sounds great. Now im wondering upon which ones you got because i am interested.

These:

orThese: