Suspension Suspension choices

[ghost_bhp]

Originally Posted by dannyd2134

Its not so much softer, but more allowing of setting up how you wish.

You can have the coilovers on a softer setting and still retain better control and handling than lowering springs. Always look for full thread coilovers too.

lowering springs are ok if you're just driving to work and back or goin to the local mcdonalds cruise.

With coilovers you can keep stock height, but still have the adjustability or you can lower it to get a stance.

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but dont you agree that coilovers are track orientated... and with our potholed bumpy british roads.. one knock and the settings would be skewed... and wouldnt a well matched set of shocks ans springs not do just as good a job? (playing devils advocate here) if around the same price?

[Dilligaf]

Originally Posted by ghost_bhp

but dont you agree that coilovers are track orientated... and with our potholed bumpy british roads.. one knock and the settings would be skewed... and wouldnt a well matched set of shocks ans springs not do just as good a job? (playing devils advocate here) if around the same price?

Decent coilovers always have a lock ring on them enabling you to lock the location of the spring platforms and height in place. The adjustable bit is internal and done by a rotational dial on the top of the strut body. it moves the size of the restrictors further down in the oil path way internally to stiffen or loosen the struts movement. (either restricting the rate at which the oil flows making them stiffer, or freeing up the flow making them softer)

These settings should not change on bumpy roads unless your talking about real extreme impacts. Coilovers feature on rally cars (same basic architecture and operation just a lot more expensive) and they do get a hammering!

Personally I would say the coilovers. I have had springs, springs and struts, coilovers and also air ride in the past and if you want all round performance with the ability of dialing in the ride they are perfect.

If you are not one to adjust or tinker then the KW V1 would be perfect.

[pigdog]

none of your choices

[ghost_bhp]

Originally Posted by Dilligaf

Decent coilovers always have a lock ring on them enabling you to lock the location of the spring platforms and height in place. The adjustable bit is internal and done by a rotational dial on the top of the strut body. it moves the size of the restrictors further down in the oil path way internally to stiffen or loosen the struts movement. (either restricting the rate at which the oil flows making them stiffer, or freeing up the flow making them softer)

These settings should not change on bumpy roads unless your talking about real extreme impacts. Coilovers feature on rally cars (same basic architecture and operation just a lot more expensive) and they do get a hammering!

Personally I would say the coilovers. I have had springs, springs and struts, coilovers and also air ride in the past and if you want all round performance with the ability of dialing in the ride they are perfect.

If you are not one to adjust or tinker then the KW V1 would be perfect.

So on driving on uk roads 90% of the time? You would say coilovers.

Originally Posted by pigdog

none of your choices

Go on...


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[pigdog]

i think the mugen is over rated for what it is, again with their stuff, your paying for the name. ive not heard any reviews on the hks so cant comment on those, but the other 2 strike me as a budget product. im running buddyclub p1 race spec coilovers which dont cost the earth but are unbelievable handling wise. ive also driven cars with kw v3 fitted and again, fantastic pieces of kit pal.

[The_Saint]

This thread needs photos of a CTR on Coilovers

[stoney]

Why???

Height means nothing. The ride counts

[pigdog]

Originally Posted by The_Saint

This thread needs photos of a CTR on Coilovers

it'll look no different to any other ctr mate, as stoney says, it the ride that counts.

[stoney]

^^^^^ Colins car is probably a smidge higher than mine but the handling is night and day better.

Firmer, flatter and far better damped than OE shocks and the way it goes from one direction to another is vastly superior to Eibachs.

[coste1l]

V1s my mate has v3s on his and has them set to what mine are for road use then tweaks it slightly for track use

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[dannyd2134]

Originally Posted by ghost_bhp

but dont you agree that coilovers are track orientated... and with our potholed bumpy british roads.. one knock and the settings would be skewed... and wouldnt a well matched set of shocks ans springs not do just as good a job? (playing devils advocate here) if around the same price?

No i disagree 100% as the point of a type r is a sports car, not a luxury cruiser.

As has been said about rally cars, they take a beating and doing 20 foot jumps and then crashing down into the ground.

I guess from all of your questions that you have never driven a car with coilovers??

May i suggest you go to abp, tdi north or tdi south etc and get a test drive or passenger ride.

If you want to improve the performance of your cars handling then coilovers are the only way imo. I don't think the fn2 needs lowering on the front....10mm max, you need to level the rear with the front 20mm maybe a smidgen more.

Also, just because a modification is track oriented doesn't mean you can't use it on a daily car. Martelius isn't a daily use exhaust but people use it.

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[MeisterR]

Coilovers allow a lot more control so adjustments can be made to the driver preference.
Ride quality are important... that is something suspension designer have to look at.

The idea that coilovers are for "track cars" is because many owners get "racing" coilovers.
Then find out that they are so stiff it is impossible to get traction on uneven road surfaces that we drive on everyday.

This is a common issue because most racing coilovers are expensive, and people often associate price with quality.
However, picking the right tool for the right job is important. The most expensive coilovers in the world will probably ride rubbish if it wasn't design, specified, and adjusted correctly.

Coilovers have to be compliant to provide traction, comfort is a by product of the compliancy.

Coilovers with linear rate springs and adjustable mono-tube dampers will give smoother weight transition, better steering response, and control over ride height and ride quality.

But then like I said... it depends on how they are design.
Very stiff suspension will not do traction or comfort any favours, especially on our British country roads that are far from smooth.

[Revs FN2]

Coilovers are my next mod and these^^ are at the top of my list mithinks

[ghost_bhp]

Originally Posted by MeisterR

Coilovers allow a lot more control so adjustments can be made to the driver preference.
Ride quality are important... that is something suspension designer have to look at.

The idea that coilovers are for "track cars" is because many owners get "racing" coilovers.
Then find out that they are so stiff it is impossible to get traction on uneven road surfaces that we drive on everyday.

This is a common issue because most racing coilovers are expensive, and people often associate price with quality.
However, picking the right tool for the right job is important. The most expensive coilovers in the world will probably ride rubbish if it wasn't design, specified, and adjusted correctly.

Coilovers have to be compliant to provide traction, comfort is a by product of the compliancy.

Coilovers with linear rate springs and adjustable mono-tube dampers will give smoother weight transition, better steering response, and control over ride height and ride quality.

But then like I said... it depends on how they are design.
Very stiff suspension will not do traction or comfort any favours, especially on our British country roads that are far from smooth.

So what your saying is the damping you offer, at its lowest setting is softer than the OEM shocks? As that is what I would be looking for... not supper soft but comfortable, whilst improving the handling characteristics.

[dannyd2134]

Originally Posted by ghost_bhp

So what your saying is the damping you offer, at its lowest setting is softer than the OEM shocks? As that is what I would be looking for... not supper soft but comfortable, whilst improving the handling characteristics.

Has to be the zeta r, that has pillow ball top mount which is adjustable.

Most coilovers are comfortable, the issue is when bought on a car the mistake people make is to turn damping up flat out.

This imo is wrong, its extremely uncomfortable and causes the car to skip when taking bumpy twisties at speed.

I know it doesn't sound technical but thats how it happens when you buy second hand.

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[MeisterR]

Originally Posted by ghost_bhp

So what your saying is the damping you offer, at its lowest setting is softer than the OEM shocks? As that is what I would be looking for... not supper soft but comfortable, whilst improving the handling characteristics.

You can say that... won't be the "softest" setting though.
Most of the time the most comfortable setting is around 25% of the damping force... that is where I normally end up.

The issue is that comfort and performance in a way comes hand in hand.
A good set of suspension will reduce body roll and make the weight transfer much more controlled due to the stiffer linear rate springs.

The damper adjustments control the "ride comfort" so to speak.
What you want is a compliant ride that keep the wheels on the ground on uneven roads, but at the same time do not break your spine over every little bumps.

Many coilovers on the market (mainly JDM coilovers) are design for racetrack... and they are valved too stiff for uneven road surfaces.
That is why you have many owners complain that coilovers is too hard for road use.

[Leepie]

Originally Posted by pigdog

i think the mugen is over rated for what it is, again with their stuff, your paying for the name. ive not heard any reviews on the hks so cant comment on those, but the other 2 strike me as a budget product. im running buddyclub p1 race spec coilovers which dont cost the earth but are unbelievable handling wise. ive also driven cars with kw v3 fitted and again, fantastic pieces of kit pal.

V3 on mine great for our roads, also came top in salt corrosion testing, big plus in the UK!

[leigh]

I've just had the buddyclub P1 RSD coilovers fitted after going out in Pigdogs car and have to agree for the price there amazing best mod i've done!! since fitting i've been on different road surfaces and its so smooth, no bangs, crashy rides completely gone and rides potholes with no effort but put the car in a bend and you get no roll and so much grip.