hey,
i am about to get a set of JIC flta2's, and am still trying to figure this spring rate thing out. i am trying to decide whether or not i should stick with their normal rates, or get a specified rate, slightly stiffer. i have a 95 240sx, and it will basically be a daily driver, i may take it to an event just to play around, but i am not tuning it for any race application. instead i want a very neutral setup, i can live with practical ride harshness.
i was wondering if those of you with my car (i have the KA, i assume swaping engines changes weight distribution), that have installed aftermarket springs and know the rate, could share them and their experience with them? thanks for any comments
spring rates
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WingsNThangs
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2003 8:49 am
- Car: 91 240SX
i emailed jic to see what they had to say, i figured they would tell me to go with the normal rates:
First off let me say thank you for your interestin JIC Magic products. Now the FLT-A2 for your '95240SX (S14) comes with a 8kg front and a 6kg rear(450/337 in pounds). This is a pretty aggressive setas is, and I think you would like it. It's just thateveryone has there own idea of what is too stiff andtoo soft., but I am sure you would like our set up.It's perfect for your what you are looking for, streetfor the week and track for the weekend. Please feelfree to call me any time if you have any morequestions. Once more thank you for choosing JIC USA.
First off let me say thank you for your interestin JIC Magic products. Now the FLT-A2 for your '95240SX (S14) comes with a 8kg front and a 6kg rear(450/337 in pounds). This is a pretty aggressive setas is, and I think you would like it. It's just thateveryone has there own idea of what is too stiff andtoo soft., but I am sure you would like our set up.It's perfect for your what you are looking for, streetfor the week and track for the weekend. Please feelfree to call me any time if you have any morequestions. Once more thank you for choosing JIC USA.
Everyone needs to realize that it's all in the valving. It's going to be stiff, period. You are buying a short stroke, racing coilover designed to keep up with very high spring rates...upwards of 12kgs/mm!!! If that's too much for you guys to handle, don't get such aggressive coilovers (or coilovers at all)! That's why I didn't get em again...I learned my lesson w/ my Tein RA's!
yes, but shocks do not control body roll. i just want to buy this product once, and have exactly what i am looking for. adjustability on as many parts as possible is important to me as well. this car isnt in that good of shape, especially the engine, and my plan is to make it a new car, rather than spend my money on a new car.
suspension tuning is a new hobby =)
suspension tuning is a new hobby =)
Arg. You are concerned with ride comfort, right? Don't buy these coilovers then.
You want to minimize body roll and retain some level of comfort? Get struts and springs. Get adjustable struts since you are pressed on having adjustment...and if you really need to have ride height adjustment, get a ground control kit. Or maybe a less agressive coilover like a Tein HE. You want camber adjustment too? Get camber plates for the front then.
You want to minimize body roll and retain some level of comfort? Get struts and springs. Get adjustable struts since you are pressed on having adjustment...and if you really need to have ride height adjustment, get a ground control kit. Or maybe a less agressive coilover like a Tein HE. You want camber adjustment too? Get camber plates for the front then.
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Auto-X 240
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 2:58 am
- Car: SCCA autocross
- Contact:
Ceptos, if your biggest concearn is better handling without sacrificing too much ride comfort then get a set of larger sway bars first instead of springs or coil-overs. Stock 240s and other Nissans exhibit a lot of body roll. Sway bars will decrease that but won't affect your ride as much as springs will. You can get Whitelines if you want to play with adjustment or if you want some nice bars that are readily available and inexpensive get some suspension techniques bars. They are not adjustable but are an improvement over stock.
I agree with what some others have said here, if you're not racing the car there is no need to spend a lot of money on a set of coil-overs. Springs and a decent shock is all you will need.
Hope this Helps
I agree with what some others have said here, if you're not racing the car there is no need to spend a lot of money on a set of coil-overs. Springs and a decent shock is all you will need.
Hope this Helps
im not too concerned with ride comfort, i just dont want it to be so stiff its a disadvantage on bumpy roads. for suspension i plan on going all the way, so i doubt my ride will be all that soft at the end. ive budgeted between $2600-3000 for suspension excluding wheels/tires.
if you would compare a 240 with the jic flt-a2's, to a high end sports car, something like a porsch or anything exotic, how would ride harshness compare?
if you would compare a 240 with the jic flt-a2's, to a high end sports car, something like a porsch or anything exotic, how would ride harshness compare?
Harsher than a 911 turbo and a Dodge Viper RT/10, I can tell you that much! Those are the only exotics I've ever ridden in though. If I ever get out to cali, I can take a ride in a Mclaren F1...I'll tell you what that's like if I do!;)
To be perfectly honest, it's not good to compare these cars anyway. Reason is, you want to compare body roll and ride stiffness, right? Well, these cars are made w/ uber-stiff chassis and have tons of bracing as well as larger swaybars, better bushings (in some cases, sphericals), ect, ect. They'll exhibit minimal body roll even with lighter springs.
You originally said this:Quote »i have a 95 240sx, and it will basically be a daily driver, i may take it to an event just to play around, but i am not tuning it for any race application. instead i want a very neutral setup, i can live with practical ride harshness.[/quote]Well then stop looking at race coilovers! As I said before, the dampers in those bad boys are valved to cope with very high s/r's without breaking a sweat. They are going to be harsh. End of story.
I know magazines and other people make it seem like you need the highest end JDM coilovers to handle well, but it's not true. I fell into that trap a couple years ago and unless I am building a track only car, I'll probably never get coilovers again. The funny thing is that I had the same goals as you when I began building up the suspension in my car and I couldn't be happier with where I am now (considering what is done that is). I still have a long way to go before I am done, but my baseline mods have made me very pleased.
I've said it once and I'll say it again. More of you guys need to meet up with some local 240 boys and do some ride alongs. That's the only way for YOU to be sure with what is acceptable (in terms of harshness and handling) and what is not.
To be perfectly honest, it's not good to compare these cars anyway. Reason is, you want to compare body roll and ride stiffness, right? Well, these cars are made w/ uber-stiff chassis and have tons of bracing as well as larger swaybars, better bushings (in some cases, sphericals), ect, ect. They'll exhibit minimal body roll even with lighter springs.
You originally said this:Quote »i have a 95 240sx, and it will basically be a daily driver, i may take it to an event just to play around, but i am not tuning it for any race application. instead i want a very neutral setup, i can live with practical ride harshness.[/quote]Well then stop looking at race coilovers! As I said before, the dampers in those bad boys are valved to cope with very high s/r's without breaking a sweat. They are going to be harsh. End of story.
I know magazines and other people make it seem like you need the highest end JDM coilovers to handle well, but it's not true. I fell into that trap a couple years ago and unless I am building a track only car, I'll probably never get coilovers again. The funny thing is that I had the same goals as you when I began building up the suspension in my car and I couldn't be happier with where I am now (considering what is done that is). I still have a long way to go before I am done, but my baseline mods have made me very pleased.
I've said it once and I'll say it again. More of you guys need to meet up with some local 240 boys and do some ride alongs. That's the only way for YOU to be sure with what is acceptable (in terms of harshness and handling) and what is not.
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EastCoast240
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2003 5:20 pm
the main reason i am aiming towards coilovers are because the springs and shocks are made for each other, and im positive i am getting a superior build with JIC. i noticed JIC offers 4 different sets of coilovers, maybe something in there lower end is right for me.
i am reconcidering my setup now, i noticed u said something about how the higher end sports cars have a complete suspension system, i plan on being fairly thurough by the end, so maybe i can afford to get softer dampers and springs?
is it the spring rate, or how the flt-a2's dampen the springs, that makes the ride so harsh?
thanks again
i am reconcidering my setup now, i noticed u said something about how the higher end sports cars have a complete suspension system, i plan on being fairly thurough by the end, so maybe i can afford to get softer dampers and springs?
is it the spring rate, or how the flt-a2's dampen the springs, that makes the ride so harsh?
thanks again
Jookmasta wrote:where did you get them kyb buzz specs and how much were they? also how do the ground controls perform comfort wise?
Got em on Ebay...I got lucky. I've never seen anyone else sell them in the states before (except a buddy of mine got them for his miata the same way, but his were used), but they are the same exact strut as the GAB Super Strokes, which can be had from any GAB reseller.
The Ground Controls feel fine. The struts keep up with those spring rates nicely, so the ride is not harsh at all. With the struts turned to 2/4, the ride is very, very nice. Perfect combination of street/performance for me.
Ceptos wrote:
is it the spring rate, or how the flt-a2's dampen the springs, that makes the ride so harsh?
thanks again
It's the valving. The best example I can give is my Tein RA's with 8/6 and my current setup (a tad over 8/6). My current setup is worlds more streetable than my Teins...even at it's lowest dampening setting, the ride wash VERY harsh. 30min rides on I-95 (local interstate that I travel on everyday) would make me dizzy...granted, the highway is seeing quite a bit of construction these days, but the Buzz Spec/GC combo handles it with ease.
Now, I should note, a buddy of mine (that had the Jic's and who's car I based my opinion on) got a newer set of 'USA valved' Jic's (apparently, his original set were the JDM Jics that weren't revalved for U.S. roads) and keeps telling me that the ride is much better. I haven't gotten a chance to experience it myself though, which is why I won't comment on it...and why I say you should go out and meet other 240 people and take some rides in their cars. I can only give my opinion on this stuff, but in reality, you should be making your decisions based on your own opinions and observations.
If you can't find anybody, my reccomendation to you would be to buy the Jics...try them out, and if it is too much for you, sell them on ebay. Their resale is good and they'll be hardly used so they'll sell fast n' easy. You won't lose too much money either if it comes down to it. The reason I say this is because you seem like the kind of person that will always think in the back of your mind 'Man, I should have gotten the Jics'...and you never know, maybe you'll love them! And if you do, you'll never have to worry about could a', would a', should a'.
ahh! heh, you are so right. i seriously do need to meet some people with 240's. if i dont get the jic's i probably will wonder at least what they would have felt like. just for everyone else, i emailed jic and made it very clear that i didnt want my car to be dangerous over bumpy roads, asked their opinion and options that were available to me:
We can change the spring rage of the coilovers toa softer spring if you would like, and ad a helperspring in the rears to help soften the ride as well.With a softer spring rate and some helper spring inthe rear the ride would be enjoyable I think. If youhave any more questions just ask.
i also emailed sport compact car magazine about the s13 they featured with JIC FLT-A2's, to try and get their opinion on the coilover's streetability. ill post that if/when they get back to me.
We can change the spring rage of the coilovers toa softer spring if you would like, and ad a helperspring in the rears to help soften the ride as well.With a softer spring rate and some helper spring inthe rear the ride would be enjoyable I think. If youhave any more questions just ask.
i also emailed sport compact car magazine about the s13 they featured with JIC FLT-A2's, to try and get their opinion on the coilover's streetability. ill post that if/when they get back to me.
Here's a review of the Jics that someone just posted on FA...acually, it's a comparison to the Tein HE. Just thought you might enjoy reading it.
http://forums.freshalloy.com/u...art=1
http://forums.freshalloy.com/u...art=1