2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Springs VS Coilovers

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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 12:45 AM
  #1  
Wormiez's Avatar
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Springs VS Coilovers

I need advice what is better between both. I know coilovers are adjustable but do you really need to adjust your coils?

Also what does everyone have on their car, and what is a good setup. (Iam not looking at shocks yet)
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 02:32 AM
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Scott 89t2's Avatar
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save your $$ and get shocks and springs at the same time. aftermarket springs with stock shocks will be a crapy ride. and they you would have twice the labor to add shocks later.

the coilovers are way better because you can chose your spring rate (stiffness) and ajust the height of the car. however they are a bit more then springs. the ground control ones are $400.

I'll be getting a set in a few months.
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 07:23 AM
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From: AL
It depends on what you are going to do with the car. If it will always be a street driven car I would suggest the Racing beat springs and some regular non-adjustable Tokico struts. If you autocross go with the Ground-Control setup but you will need the front camber plate they sell also to get it on the car since the front coil spring is smaller than the factory spring. Many people use the Tokico Ilumina struts. They are adjustable and supposedly work good.
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 11:15 AM
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95R2-89TII Ground Zero's Avatar
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I personally have Tokica struts with Eibach springs on my 89TII, but on my 95 R2 I'm going with Apexi coilovers. I decided that I want the ability to control the ride and height of my car. So thats why I am changing.
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 01:49 PM
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Again, to reiterate on FPrep2ndGenRX7 recommendation.....

it all depends on what you will do with your 7. The best, and I mean the all around best, is the Racing Beat springs, non-adjust Tok's...for street and moderate autocrossing. Upgrade the shocks to adjustable if selected performace is needed, due to riding style.

Second, if you do serious autocrossing, buy the entire adjustable suspention system.....coilovers, adj shocks, camber plates, DDS (rear steer elim), rear cam adj,....do it all. BUT!, for 90% or more street use on this set up will wear out the parts dramatically...
The perche bearings will go, get loose, start talking to you when you are driving....and the list goes on.

I have raced my T2 awhile back in in OSP against those dame AE86's, Mangos, etc.......I was ranked 9th out of aprox 30+ people...

FC or any RX will do the job....but the bottom line is...HOW WELL CAN YOU DRIVE!
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 02:59 PM
  #6  
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Guys you have it all wrong. Coil overs are not for adjusting ride hight although the do affect it. Coil over set ups are for adjusting the individual loads at each corner of the car. Think of it this way. If you increase the ride hight on the left front to be 8" and the RR to 8" and the other two at 4" then the car would sort of teater on the LF and RR. Thus the almost the entire weight of the car would be supported by those two wheels. This is not a desiralble condition. The goal is to adjust the the springs at each corner so that the load of the car is spread even over all four wheels. To do this you will need a very expensive set of electronic scales. This is why if you look at the factory shop manual the sprin rate for each corner of the car is slightly different. Those guys in Hiroshima know there sh*t...
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 03:00 PM
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BTW if anyone is in the NY area and wants to check out how this is done let me know. I scale my car before each race.
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 03:30 PM
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From: Cali
very true with the scales, balance is everything.

was I wrong?
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 03:51 PM
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Thumbs up

I just put my suspension together. Tokico Illuminas. Racing Beat springs. Racing Beat front and rear sway bars + adjustable end links. The set up is excellent. the car is planted though im running with 205/60/14 rubber. its still a comfortable ride on hardest setting.
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Old Nov 29, 2001 | 04:11 PM
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From: Rochester NY
Ant.
That sound like the setup I have for my TII. Tokiko HD non adjustables, Eibach sprins and adjustable swaybars. I'll have to make some links though. Unfortunatly its all over the floor in the garage but should be putting it together soon. Have you done the toe bushings yet? I have yet to drive a FC without them! They do help a lot.
Make sure you dont have any preload on the bars. You can check by crawling under there wile the car is on a somewhat level surface. Grab the bar and you should feel a bit of play in the links. If not adjust the links till you do then go back a half turn to keep the rattles down. Very slight preload is OK but lots will screw things up.
JW
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