Suspension options for S14 RB26....

[Ramius83]

Ok ok, let's start this from the top.

I have an S14 with an RB26 swap in it. I mainly use the car at the drag strip and on the street. With the stock suspension, I cannot control the car going down the strip, as it bobbles forward to back on each shift and also fishtails. So suspension is next in line. I am hitting 12.06's constantly in the 1/4 mile, so even with some suspension work, that should put me well in to the 11's.

I have been researching like a motha' for the past two months, and I just cannot land on the best cost effective setup for my application. From what I have read, I am choosing between a few spring/strut combos, and from a few coilover choices.

1. Of course, I would love the dropped look. I don't want it where I scrub on everything on the road, but I do love a lowered car. 1.5" is about ideal for me, based on previous history of modding my Maxima.

2. I do NOT want a super stiff suspension that I cannot even think about driving on the road. Being where I am in GA, there is a BUNCH of construction, always, for the past 11 years I have been here. And even more is planned for the future. So I would like a light stiff suspension setup. But, this suspension needs to be able to handle the drag-strip, and keep the car ON THE GROUND with no fishtailing or bobbling on shifts/launches.

With all of that in mind, I have narrowed it down, but I just cannot pin-point it out. Mainly, I am trying to keep my budget LOW as I about to start back to college in one month from today. So no $1500 coilover setups for me. I am leaning on the cheapest setup, to around $900ish. The car is NOT my daily driver, but I still want a good ride, without spending a whole left nut to do so.

Option 1: KONI struts (inserts) and RS*R Race Springs.Option 2: KONI struts (inserts) and Whiteline Springs.Option 3: K-Sport Coilovers (have heard good and bad things about these, mainly dealing with the rear setup).Option 4: Megan Racing Coilovers (don't know if I REALLY want this setup, but many people do tend to like them).

So, I have gotten it down to those few. I really don't want to spend the money on the TEINs or the KTS's, as I see that they "may" be too stiff for what I would like (even those the KTS's are b-e-a-utiful.

What do you all think?

[swwifty]

If I were you I'd go for a coilover system.

I say this because they are designed for each other and work well together. On my last car I had JIC FLT-A2s and they were easily the best investment I put into the car. A coilover system with adjustable shocks, and something you can swap spring rates on is perfect. Most of them also allow for adjustable ride height. Since your car has so much power your going to want to run a low spring rate in the rear, and a high one in the front. This will help keep the car more stable under acceleration and cornering with all that power. Also, adjustable shocks are great because sometimes you need less dampening in the rear, etc.

I know your on a budget, but after spending that much money on the motor you can't skimp on suspension. I'd save up a little longer and get a good quality coilover.

[chmercer]

k sport and megan racing coilovers use exactly the same springrates as KTS and tein coilovers. the difference between the 4 products is not in the spring stiffness.

drag racing dosent intrest me so i dont know a whole lot about the suspension setup that goes into a well prepped drag car, but i would suggest you look into the HKS drag setup. this is based purley off HKS marketing, i dont know anything about these coilovers first hand. But HKS has made quite a few very fast drag cars. Veilside is another option for a drag specific coilover. Veilside is also very sucessful at drag racing.

on the subject of "sleeve over" coilover setups, i know a lot of people use them, in racing even, but the whole idea just seems crappy to me. rubber gaskets tensioning a paper thin piece of aluminum to the shock, with the whole weight of the car resting on this little 6 ounce wide thread 300$ contraption, kept from jigging off by a single allen screw.

id say save up another 500$ and dont short change your car or yourself. just wait for 1 or 2 more paychecks and get somthing great, instead of somthing mediocre that you will regret.

[grimple1]

k sport and megan racing coilovers use exactly the same springrates as KTS and tein coilovers. the difference between the 4 products is not in the spring stiffness..

hm, i didn't know that. learn something new everyday.

[240DRFT]

i say tein basics

[kamikazestorm420]

tein basics are too soft ..they are as stiff as my tein s tech/kyb agx

[chmercer]

tein basics are cheap junk.

[Ramius83]

So what coilover are you all suggesting for my application, for about that price range?

I am either leaning the K-Sport, Megan, or if I save enough/more, the KTS.

[swwifty]

what is your budget exactly?

I would pick a coilover setup only with good customer service (for future rebuilds), shock adjustability, ride height adjustablity, and most importantly a coilover system that retains full stroke no matter what ride height.

[turtl631]

For a street/drag car, just get KYB AGX and some RSR down springs. A stiffer suspension will just be harsh on the street and eliminate the squat that you need for a good launch. Coilovers on a drag car are overkill, and typical cheaper drift coilovers will be totally counterproductive.

[Nismo_Freak]

Coilovers on a drag car are overkill, and typical cheaper drift coilovers will be totally counterproductive.

Any fast drag car runs coilovers.