Strut/Spring vs. Coilovers

[Doomed2Walk]

Hi, I'm still stupified in the suspension aspect of things so I was wondering what are pros and cons of a strut/spring setup vs coilovers (besides the price). What suspension parts should I start upgrading first and why? Thanks for the help guys and girls.

[Neejay]

Coilovers. They are made for each other (spring and strut). You can get suspension components piece by piece, but its always the risk that they will do damage to each other (meaning shorten each other's lives...or rather the springs might damage the struts prematurely).

It also depends on what you're gonna be doing with your car. Ive heard the eibach pro-kit and kyb-agx works well together. I myself bought some Tein Basic coilovers cause I wont be autox'ing, drag racing, or drifting, just daily driving. I havent installed them yet though. I originally wanted some eibach sportlines and kyb-agx, but after I emailed kyb, they said I would have to have the agx's on a STIFF setting which is not ideal for daily driving only. And personally, I dont think daily driving on shocks with a stiff setting will last that long (or at least will make the shocks fail prematurely).

I got the tein basics for $750 shipped. Also bought some tein front camber plates for $155 shipped. Search for some reviews.

I say coilovers + bushings (at least tie rods).
Modified by Neejay at 7:21 PM 9/27/2004

[Dori Dori]

Hi, I'm still stupified in the suspension aspect of things so I was wondering what are pros and cons of a strut/spring setup vs coilovers (besides the price). What suspension parts should I start upgrading first and why? Thanks for the help guys and girls.

Main advantages of coilovers are that they are height adjustable so you can have your car corner balanced (which nobody seems to take the time to do...ironic when you consider the cost of coilovers). The dampers also tend to be valved for higher spring rates (thereby allowing you to run higher spring rates without adverse effects). Coilovers also tend to be rebuildable, so if you ever have a problem with them down the road, you can have them rebuilt instead of replaced. Other advantages are in the construction themselves...most are monotube, have thicker pistons, and come with spherical top mounts (usually the fronts have camber adjustability as well).

[BomexS13]

Coilovers. They are made for each other (spring and strut). You can get suspension components piece by piece, but its always the risk that they will do damage to each other (meaning shorten each other's lives...or rather the springs might damage the struts prematurely).

It also depends on what you're gonna be doing with your car. Ive heard the eibach pro-kit and kyb-agx works well together. I myself bought some Tein Basic coilovers cause I wont be autox'ing, drag racing, or drifting, just daily driving. I havent installed them yet though. I originally wanted some eibach sportlines and kyb-agx, but after I emailed kyb, they said I would have to have the agx's on a STIFF setting which is not ideal for daily driving only. And personally, I dont think daily driving on shocks with a stiff setting will last that long (or at least will make the shocks fail prematurely).

I got the tein basics for $750 shipped. Also bought some tein front camber plates for $155 shipped. Search for some reviews.

I say coilovers + bushings (at least tie rods).

Modified by Neejay at 7:21 PM 9/27/2004

Have you installed yours yet, if so can you post pics? I'm also considerig this since I wont be driftin the car anytime soon. I want so see your car with the coilovers on. Thanks

[Neejay]

Dori Dori: Get your own avatar!

[BomexS13]

LOL

[chmercer]

dori has regged like 2 years before you?

pros and cons besides price

shock and spring pros - will sometimes allow you to run higher offset wheelsshock and spring cons - everything else

coilover cons - causes slightly more wheel interferance than shock and springcoilover pros - everything else

[Neejay]

dori has regged like 2 years before you?

And...? I know no one had it, because I searched the boards first

Its not the serious, lol. I was just trying to be original.

BomexS13 - I havent installed them yet, as Im having a mafs/mafs wiring problem.

[Dori Dori]

And...? I know no one had it, because I searched the boards first

Its not the serious, lol. I was just trying to be original.

BomexS13 - I havent installed them yet, as Im having a mafs/mafs wiring problem.

You didn't search hard enough then.

Notice that the colors in mine are a tad lighter...i didn't steal your avatar, trust me.

Bleh, I could use a new one now anyway.

[SeVa-S13]

What about ride quality? For those of us that don't like rebounding off pebbles and aren't uber drift nazis, are there coilovers than can offer the semi-decent ride of say S-tech's and AGX's? (on whatever damping you please)

[ILikeMy240sx]

What about ride quality? For those of us that don't like rebounding off pebbles and aren't uber drift nazis, are there coilovers than can offer the semi-decent ride of say S-tech's and AGX's? (on whatever damping you please)

This is pricey but this might be what your looking for... Basically the same as Tein Basic dampers but shocks can be adjusted as well... so you have height/damping control

http://www.tein.com/flexdamp.html

[Dori Dori]

I agree that the Tein Flex would be a good coice for you 'best of both worlds' guys.