Age old suspension question: Which Coilovers?
#1
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Age old suspension question: Which Coilovers?
[UPDATE: 1-10-12 Bought a set of Bilsteins with QA1 7k/6k springs and Allstar sleeves]
The suspension hierarchy is great, but it doesn't give you an accurate comparison.
Here's where I am right now:
'95 Turbo Miata, ~200 HP
-RB Tubular front anti sway bar
-Roll bar coming soon
-FM Chassis brace most likely to follow (depending on how well it's handling)
This is an extra car, I do not DD it. I am looking for a streetable setup for summer twisty road driving with the occasional track day and AutoX event.
My coilover budget is ~$1,000
What I've been looking at so far is:
Tein SS $1,000:
http://949racing.com/teinsscoilovers...ngusaonly.aspx
FM V-max $695 W/upgrade to new suspension:
http://flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept...0%20%201990-97
Megan Racing EZ streets $799:
http://www.meganracing.com/products/...d=985&catid=86
I don't plan on driving much until summer so I can wait o the back order from FM.
The suspension hierarchy is great, but it doesn't give you an accurate comparison.
Here's where I am right now:
'95 Turbo Miata, ~200 HP
-RB Tubular front anti sway bar
-Roll bar coming soon
-FM Chassis brace most likely to follow (depending on how well it's handling)
This is an extra car, I do not DD it. I am looking for a streetable setup for summer twisty road driving with the occasional track day and AutoX event.
My coilover budget is ~$1,000
What I've been looking at so far is:
Tein SS $1,000:
http://949racing.com/teinsscoilovers...ngusaonly.aspx
FM V-max $695 W/upgrade to new suspension:
http://flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept...0%20%201990-97
Megan Racing EZ streets $799:
http://www.meganracing.com/products/...d=985&catid=86
I don't plan on driving much until summer so I can wait o the back order from FM.
Last edited by blloyd29; 01-10-2012 at 05:24 PM.
#4
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I don't know about those Teins, they're probably great. However I LOVE stock MSM Bilsteins with 300/225 springs and sway bars. I drove a set-up like this at Hallett recently and loved it.
#8
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I will be installing a roll bar, the local tracks require them as well as I value my personal safety.
I'm already a bit big for the Miata (6'2") so I'm not super stoked on the idea of door bars.
All the articles I'm finding on the V-maxx is people complaining about them in the past, I haven't found much on the "revised" version from FM. FM is well respected, but they're not immune to marking up an inferior product with their name on it and making a few quick bucks.
I want a mid level to above average suspension setup, it doesn't need to be a full blown track star.
I'm already a bit big for the Miata (6'2") so I'm not super stoked on the idea of door bars.
All the articles I'm finding on the V-maxx is people complaining about them in the past, I haven't found much on the "revised" version from FM. FM is well respected, but they're not immune to marking up an inferior product with their name on it and making a few quick bucks.
I want a mid level to above average suspension setup, it doesn't need to be a full blown track star.
#9
I will be installing a roll bar, the local tracks require them as well as I value my personal safety.
I'm already a bit big for the Miata (6'2") so I'm not super stoked on the idea of door bars.
All the articles I'm finding on the V-maxx is people complaining about them in the past, I haven't found much on the "revised" version from FM. FM is well respected, but they're not immune to marking up an inferior product with their name on it and making a few quick bucks.
I want a mid level to above average suspension setup, it doesn't need to be a full blown track star.
I'm already a bit big for the Miata (6'2") so I'm not super stoked on the idea of door bars.
All the articles I'm finding on the V-maxx is people complaining about them in the past, I haven't found much on the "revised" version from FM. FM is well respected, but they're not immune to marking up an inferior product with their name on it and making a few quick bucks.
I want a mid level to above average suspension setup, it doesn't need to be a full blown track star.
EDIT: I would listen to Hustler, he's experienced good suspension. iirc there is a set of msm bilsteins for sale on the forum.
#10
Build your own:
bilstein shocks
$440 at 949racing
$38 * 4 QA1 springs
$16 * 4 Allstar performance sleeves
$13 * 4 Allstar performance perch
~$750
pick your own rates, get as low as you need to for them with no problems. You can save money by:
ebay perches
used bilsteins (msm ones work too)
buy bilsteins from parts geek
bilstein shocks
$440 at 949racing
$38 * 4 QA1 springs
$16 * 4 Allstar performance sleeves
$13 * 4 Allstar performance perch
~$750
pick your own rates, get as low as you need to for them with no problems. You can save money by:
ebay perches
used bilsteins (msm ones work too)
buy bilsteins from parts geek
#11
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
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Build your own:
bilstein shocks
$440 at 949racing
$38 * 4 QA1 springs
$16 * 4 Allstar performance sleeves
$13 * 4 Allstar performance perch
~$750
pick your own rates, get as low as you need to for them with no problems. You can save money by:
ebay perches
used bilsteins (msm ones work too)
buy bilsteins from parts geek
bilstein shocks
$440 at 949racing
$38 * 4 QA1 springs
$16 * 4 Allstar performance sleeves
$13 * 4 Allstar performance perch
~$750
pick your own rates, get as low as you need to for them with no problems. You can save money by:
ebay perches
used bilsteins (msm ones work too)
buy bilsteins from parts geek
#13
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
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There's no shock adjustment, unless I am mistaken? What is the biggest difference between building your own?
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
Already bought them!
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
Already bought them!
Last edited by blloyd29; 01-10-2012 at 05:03 PM.
#15
There's no shock adjustment, unless I am mistaken? What is the biggest difference between building your own?
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
Its up to you really what you want, if you go with the Konis you will need to get the sleeve and perch for the koni shocks. they are a bit more expensive, but I would say its entirely worth it still.
With that said, I went through the whole koni vs. bilstein debate and I came out with Bilsteins. And as you can see, many people love the bilsteins on track.
The compression and rebound is solid up to 500 lb springs (mine seem a bit bouncy on very sharp bumps with 550, but very much in control and balanced on any track style uneven-ness around here. Particularly I track at VIR, CMP, and RA).
I wouldn't worry too much about shock adjustability, you won't find a serious performance batter in your price range unless you want to go with a stance or BC shock. You give up some shock travel for adjustable shock body, which is hardly for performance. I wouldn't do it for adjustability, simply because we are short on shock travel already. You will need to get much stiffer springs to stay off the bumps in that case, but then you aren't DD-iable anymore and new springs is going to be another 150-200 bucks anyway.
Sorry, a bit of a rant. You are welcome to go with what you like and try things out, but I think most people will suggest you get a bilstein or koni shock for track use.
#16
There's no shock adjustment, unless I am mistaken? What is the biggest difference between building your own?
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
How about these:
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/2765287620.html
#18
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
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7k front / 6k rear QA1 Springs
Allstar sleeves
Just got re-valved, hasn't even been put back on the car
Stock top hats
The guy has a ls6 turbo track car and needs stiffer suspension.
#20
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Yes that is why he has pretty much no use on them since he made the swap, they weren't enough.
7k/6k should be just fine for me. I'm going to be adding some weight with a roll bar and chassis brace but have taken a little bit of weight out with the Sparco seats, steering wheel and eventually lightweight wheels.
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