coilover suggestions
01-27-2012, 10:50 PM
#22
I am looking at these Fortune Auto units. They are reasonably priced (I was offered a good deal). The EVO & STi crowd have good things to say about them....
Last edited by silver92b; 01-27-2012 at 11:02 PM.
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01-28-2012, 01:04 PM
#25
Come on OP, this topic has been beaten to death. There are quite a few good threads on it.
You can't get something good for nothing. You can only go so cheap on suspension and expect good results. I believe this falls in the $600-$700 range.
FM V-maxx (I can't remember if that is the name or not) OR Find some used bilsteins/konis get them revalved, ebay coilover sleve kit, QA1 springs.
You can't get something good for nothing. You can only go so cheap on suspension and expect good results. I believe this falls in the $600-$700 range.
FM V-maxx (I can't remember if that is the name or not) OR Find some used bilsteins/konis get them revalved, ebay coilover sleve kit, QA1 springs.
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01-28-2012, 01:09 PM
#26
Come on OP, this topic has been beaten to death. There are quite a few good threads on it.
You can't get something good for nothing. You can only go so cheap on suspension and expect good results. I believe this falls in the $600-$700 range.
FM V-maxx (I can't remember if that is the name or not) OR Find some used bilsteins/konis get them revalved, ebay coilover sleve kit, QA1 springs.
You can't get something good for nothing. You can only go so cheap on suspension and expect good results. I believe this falls in the $600-$700 range.
FM V-maxx (I can't remember if that is the name or not) OR Find some used bilsteins/konis get them revalved, ebay coilover sleve kit, QA1 springs.
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01-28-2012, 01:39 PM
#27
I am looking at these Fortune Auto units. They are reasonably priced (I was offered a good deal). The EVO & STi crowd have good things to say about them....
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01-28-2012, 05:32 PM
#28
I'm not going for track or competition, but I do want good quality. I've been several routes before including Konis & H&R springs, Coil overs with KYB srpings, Bilsteins with factory springs and stock set ups in base and R packages. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. None (except the HD bilsteins and base stock) are particularly cheap. Buying used stuff can be risky and end up costing more money and headaches.
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01-28-2012, 08:27 PM
#29
none of the setups you mention sound like good setups:
-KYB shocks (you said springs, but I think you mean shocks) are not valved for springs that will keep you off the bumpstops. They will wear out wayyy to quick and be bouncy at "good" spring rates.
-H&R uses equal rear and front spring rates, which is fail. So koni+H&R springs is no good. Not to mention the spring rates are not high enough for the drop they provide.
-Factory springs on bilsteins is ok, but you are still stuck with the bumpstop riding. And general lack of travel in the rear.
-R-package is pretty much Bilsteins with stock springs, except the springs are marginally stiffer and the sway bars are different.
I think we have named atleast 2 or 3 setups which are streetable, functional, and have a reasonable "form" for under the $1k you would drop on the fortunes. I can't really speak badly about them, but their pricing is not really competitive if you are willing to build your own.
Anyways, sounds like its what you want, and thats fine. You should buy them if they are in your budget and they make you happy.
-KYB shocks (you said springs, but I think you mean shocks) are not valved for springs that will keep you off the bumpstops. They will wear out wayyy to quick and be bouncy at "good" spring rates.
-H&R uses equal rear and front spring rates, which is fail. So koni+H&R springs is no good. Not to mention the spring rates are not high enough for the drop they provide.
-Factory springs on bilsteins is ok, but you are still stuck with the bumpstop riding. And general lack of travel in the rear.
-R-package is pretty much Bilsteins with stock springs, except the springs are marginally stiffer and the sway bars are different.
I think we have named atleast 2 or 3 setups which are streetable, functional, and have a reasonable "form" for under the $1k you would drop on the fortunes. I can't really speak badly about them, but their pricing is not really competitive if you are willing to build your own.
Anyways, sounds like its what you want, and thats fine. You should buy them if they are in your budget and they make you happy.
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01-28-2012, 11:35 PM
#30
Thanks for the input. I've seen those or very similar setups suggested in various forums and have had them recommended to me.
Yes, I meant KYB adjsutable shocks, the edit function messed me up. Anyway, it was in my Integra GSR and they were paired with GC springs and those sleeve type coilovers from GC as well.
I tried Koni shocks with stock springs and with other brand springs as well. Those setups were also (and are still recommended by some people) In the above cases I cut the bump stops, although I still rode on them a good bit.
The Bilsteins HD and the R package Bilsteins were used with stock springs and with the R springs respectively. Those last to setups are often recommended as pretty good options by a lot of people. I did not know a lot about these things then and sought council much as I'm doing now. All those options were suggested by reputedly knowledgeable people, including some successful racers. I am still not knowledgeable enough about these things to make a good final decision. That's why I'm searching for information.
I appreciate all the help and suggestions I've received. I believe that the people making those suggestions believe on them based on their experience. In the end, I weight all the information and get opinions from various people, some of whom I trust. I think a lot of the options suggested were of various brands of Coilovers such as Megan, FCM, FM, etc. Others involved buying used parts when they become available and having them refurbished. Then mating them with a mixture of new parts from various sources, creating in fact my own brand of coilovers.
I am open minded to expert opinions and some are quite good, I am sure. However, by the time I purchase an refurbish the used shocks (assuming I find them) and all the bits and pieces needed to finish the job, I will have spent at least 3/4 of the cost of an integrated, single source solution. That does not include the time and labor to modify and assemble all the parts *and* I have no warranty... I am leaning more towards spending the extra $200 or so and getting those coilovers out of the box and ready to go into the car.
-KYB shocks (you said springs, but I think you mean shocks) are not valved for springs that will keep you off the bumpstops. They will wear out wayyy to quick and be bouncy at "good" spring rates.
-H&R uses equal rear and front spring rates, which is fail. So koni+H&R springs is no good. Not to mention the spring rates are not high enough for the drop they provide.
-Factory springs on bilsteins is ok, but you are still stuck with the bumpstop riding. And general lack of travel in the rear.
-R-package is pretty much Bilsteins with stock springs, except the springs are marginally stiffer and the sway bars are different.
-H&R uses equal rear and front spring rates, which is fail. So koni+H&R springs is no good. Not to mention the spring rates are not high enough for the drop they provide.
-Factory springs on bilsteins is ok, but you are still stuck with the bumpstop riding. And general lack of travel in the rear.
-R-package is pretty much Bilsteins with stock springs, except the springs are marginally stiffer and the sway bars are different.
I tried Koni shocks with stock springs and with other brand springs as well. Those setups were also (and are still recommended by some people) In the above cases I cut the bump stops, although I still rode on them a good bit.
The Bilsteins HD and the R package Bilsteins were used with stock springs and with the R springs respectively. Those last to setups are often recommended as pretty good options by a lot of people. I did not know a lot about these things then and sought council much as I'm doing now. All those options were suggested by reputedly knowledgeable people, including some successful racers. I am still not knowledgeable enough about these things to make a good final decision. That's why I'm searching for information.
I think we have named atleast 2 or 3 setups which are streetable, functional, and have a reasonable "form" for under the $1k you would drop on the fortunes. I can't really speak badly about them, but their pricing is not really competitive if you are willing to build your own.
Anyways, sounds like its what you want, and thats fine. You should buy them if they are in your budget and they make you happy.
Anyways, sounds like its what you want, and thats fine. You should buy them if they are in your budget and they make you happy.
I am open minded to expert opinions and some are quite good, I am sure. However, by the time I purchase an refurbish the used shocks (assuming I find them) and all the bits and pieces needed to finish the job, I will have spent at least 3/4 of the cost of an integrated, single source solution. That does not include the time and labor to modify and assemble all the parts *and* I have no warranty... I am leaning more towards spending the extra $200 or so and getting those coilovers out of the box and ready to go into the car.
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01-29-2012, 12:49 AM
#31
I have ground control coil overs with KYB 8 way adj. shocks. They are adequate but the limitation is that you can only adjust ride height by changing the shock preload. I would recommend one of the more expensive setups where ride height and preload are set separately. I had Flyin Miata lowering springs before the ground controls and I would not recommend that. I am talking about a setup for the track, not just casual street use.
Barry
Barry
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01-29-2012, 01:44 AM
#32
Manuel,
Like I said, you do what you want. Most people suggest the setup they are on, or suggest you do a different setup (depending on if they like it or not). I certainly would have no problems suggesting many of those setups for a daily driver...but I can't say I have driven a car with every one of those setups. I have ridden in many though.
Barry,
The style of coilovers you are referring to tend to suffer from a lack of shock travel. Part of separating preload/ride-height adjustment, is to shorten the shock body and then put the shock body into a sleeve for adjustment. then you have the regular spring adjusment. So ultimately they use a much smaller shock, which limits the amount of available travel. especially if the spring rates are not high. With that said, most of them do have decent spring rates and do fine (depending on grip available).
Like I said, you do what you want. Most people suggest the setup they are on, or suggest you do a different setup (depending on if they like it or not). I certainly would have no problems suggesting many of those setups for a daily driver...but I can't say I have driven a car with every one of those setups. I have ridden in many though.
Barry,
The style of coilovers you are referring to tend to suffer from a lack of shock travel. Part of separating preload/ride-height adjustment, is to shorten the shock body and then put the shock body into a sleeve for adjustment. then you have the regular spring adjusment. So ultimately they use a much smaller shock, which limits the amount of available travel. especially if the spring rates are not high. With that said, most of them do have decent spring rates and do fine (depending on grip available).
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01-29-2012, 09:56 PM
#34
Track,
You are correct about travel. I forgot to mention that I also have the Flyin Miata rear shock mounts which allow about 2 cm more travel.
I will try the Tein Flex or something similar if I upgrade. The car still does fine on the track as is. It is the nut behind the wheel that is holding it back.
Barry
You are correct about travel. I forgot to mention that I also have the Flyin Miata rear shock mounts which allow about 2 cm more travel.
I will try the Tein Flex or something similar if I upgrade. The car still does fine on the track as is. It is the nut behind the wheel that is holding it back.
Barry
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01-29-2012, 10:16 PM
#35
Track,
You are correct about travel. I forgot to mention that I also have the Flyin Miata rear shock mounts which allow about 2 cm more travel.
I will try the Tein Flex or something similar if I upgrade. The car still does fine on the track as is. It is the nut behind the wheel that is holding it back.
Barry
You are correct about travel. I forgot to mention that I also have the Flyin Miata rear shock mounts which allow about 2 cm more travel.
I will try the Tein Flex or something similar if I upgrade. The car still does fine on the track as is. It is the nut behind the wheel that is holding it back.
Barry
I don't know why, but I haven't really heard the best about the Teins recently. Just seems to be a koni or bilstein shock and DIY coilover will be the best bang. Although I know recently Tein came out with a cheaper set that is tweaked slightly? Worth a try!
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01-31-2012, 11:18 PM
#37
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Join Date: Aug 2011
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hey, i got your pm, but i only have 6 posts so i couldnt reply haha. but i may go with fm's coilovers because they are only $600 and heard they arn't bad.. but good luck with fortune coilovers
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01-31-2012, 11:37 PM
#40
Pretty soft, 6K front, 4K rear. Handling is stellar, comfort is equivalent to Bilsteins HD, maybe a tad more *butt punishing* in rough pavement.
I don't know anything about the V-Maxx coilovers other than what people write in the forums and such. If I get a chance I'll test them.
I don't know anything about the V-Maxx coilovers other than what people write in the forums and such. If I get a chance I'll test them.
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