Suggestions for suspension parts : coilovers, sway bars, bushings, etc..
 

As the title says, I am looking to buy some suspension parts for my 10th anniversary. I am putting new hard fuel lines in right now and I have the driveshaft, differential and subframe off. So I have easy access to everything more or less in the rear. I would like suggestions for a set of coilovers, sway bars and bushings. My car will be only be used on the street. Right now for coilovers I am looking at a set of used HKS coilovers for $850. Sway bars... I don't know...Racing Beat? And Prothane or Energy Suspension full bushing kit? Any other suggestions while I am at it?

HKS isn't supported in the US anymore... i.e. the coilovers couldn't be rebuilt if they blow. If you have the 850, go with a set of NEW KSports. I've had them for a month, and am actually really impressed with the ride quality.

I also have the ES bushing Master kit. I cant say that there was a noticeable difference after installing, but then again my bushings were in relatively good shape.

+1 avoid the hks, they may last for a million miles, or they may last ten. Also even if they did rebuild them most people forget about the cost to do so, most companies charge 150-250 per corner for their basic rebuilds.

Get the bushing kit, make sure you get the black ones so they're graphite impregnated and better lubricated.

Swaybars, I'd keep the stock ones in until you know what you want out of the car.
here's a good guide: http://www.westpennmazdaclub.com/fil...ng%20Guide.pdf

OK, not much support for the HKS, so what are people using for street use?

I got the brand new ksports for 900 shipped from Vex Motorsports, got here in like 3 days too!

There will be a lot of people on here that bash the 1000 dollars brands, but unless you're competing - like REALLY competing, they're probably fine.

I installed a set of the GodSpeeds on a friend's car (600 bucks) and he says they're great too. I have to say that the KSports build quality certainly looks a bit better though!

I haven't really kept up with all the newest products over the last few years as my car has been out of action for over 10 years...and no offense at all but I have never heard of ksports. I will do some research and check them out..but I had originally planned on staying with brands that I was familiar with such as TEIN, Cusco, Ground Control, etc.. and of course HKS. I got some more research to do it seems!

A few years ago the Chinese and Koreans started marketing cheap coilovers to the drifters and low riders. Actual performance isn't required in these cases, so their sales have been pretty good. Common brands are K-Sport, D1, Godspeed, Buddy Club, and Megan.

For street/autocross I would rather just use good replacement dampers (Tokico, KYB AGX, Bilstein) with good replacement springs (Racing Beat, Suspension Techniques), or for track racing I would rather spend a little more money on a good Koni / Eibach ERS coilover suspension from Ground Control or Mazda Motorsports.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/h86-92.htm
http://www.ground-control-store.com/...hp/II=41/CA=23

Agreed. Set up everything else first, drive the car in some autocross events and make changes to the suspension settings and tire pressure, and after it is set up as well as you can get it then decide if thicker swaybars are needed.

Can I get as much adjustment (ride and height) with this setup versus a coilover?

ride yes, height, not as much...

The nice thing about not using coilovers is that the suspension is already set up for optimal ride and height for a performance street/autocross car once you have any generic auto shop perform an alignment. Adjustable shocks like KYB AGX or Tokico Illuminas allow for adjustment of rebound and compression. If you get coilovers then you are going to need to spend a lot of time setting them up for the street, which includes changing out the springs until you determine what works best for your car. Most non-coilover performance suspension will drop the car between 3/4" and 1". Coilovers are capable of lowering the car more than this, but lower than 1" is usually not optimal for a street car. If your goal is to create a lowrider, then cheap coilovers would be a good low-budget option, and you can also save money by not buying a lot of performance parts that you would normally see on a car set up for racing.

I've had a ground control with camber plates and kyb agx double adjustable set up for years. I don't understand the "buy x coil overs" mentality over a setup like mine. I do have all of the height, camber, caster, and damper adjustments of good coil overs. I can also change to different springs (rate or length) or shocks if I'm not happy with the current ones.

With all of the coil overs recommended here, you get stuck with the same China shocks. Who knows if the will provide you with different valving on request.

If you just want looks, buy the cheapest go low coil over you can find. I prefer a tunable setup (that can still go low).

I also forgot to mention, you will want to get additional items for the rear if you drop it much. I'm using a camber bar and toe links. Individual camber adjusters are available for fine tuning, but I haven't used them.

For anyone that has ran kyb agx shocks with the auto adjusting suspension, does kyb make a pair of shocks that adapt to the AAS? Every agx shock that's made for the rx7 depicts "from AAS to non-AAS". I like changing the stiffness of my ride by the push of a button.

Kiss your AAS goodbye if you install KYB-AGX.(sort of a pun there..lol!)
they do not make any shocks for the rx7 that are supported by the AAS other than the OEM shocks..and the replacements are not cheap.That is why guys opt out and just go with Coilovers or shocks that can be adjusted another way.

Another plus I'll add is that the KYB-AGX's for the FC can be adjusted easier than most other shocks for our car. You can access the dial without removing the wheel. Just reach up into the the wheel well and adjust the numbered dial.

Most other shock (like the Tokico) have the adjustment at the top of the strut, which isn't really accessible in and non-gutted 2nd gen. (Covers on the front and speakers over the rear.)

Also IIRC racing beat and a few others have modified racing mounts to drop your ride height an additional bit too. No clue if they are any good though.

I have the energy suspension bushings and tanabe springs on kyb agx's I love my setup. Let me tell u my car is stiff like crazy. As Jeremy Clarkson would say, "the suspension is made of bricks" -LOL

Not only is it stiff but it is responsive, what I am trying to say is that it is stiff in a good way. The biggest factor in the stiffness is the bushings. Since I put the new bushings in, I feel like the princess from The Princess and the Pea. (the fairytale) I feel absolutely everything. -hairline cracks in the road bumps and any other inmperfection in the road. - Bahhaha I'm a princess....NOT!

If it was my Daily Driver than I think it would be too stiff with the bushings but since it's my weekend car I rly couldn't care less.

anyways I hope my rambling helps you. Unless you are in the "hella flush" scene, all you want is to slam your car, or fit rediculously wide tires under your car, get some good shocks and springs and you will be happier than a pig in shit. (and have cash left over)

I also think that going any lower than my setup now is not practical on the street, any lower and I would not make it over any speed bumps, my lip and exhaust hates speed bumps

What? My AGXs were adjusted at the top... granted that these were only in the front. Thats easier anyway... just peel the rubber cover off and twist the dial with a small slotted screwdriver.

The AGXs were good, but I like my coilovers more.

..and the rears have a small dial that is on the inside edge of the shock at the bottom.
Tops are adjusted with a little screwdriver that Kyb provides with the shock.They should too..haha..for the price.
I think the sticker is 200 bucks and the shocks are free!

I didn't even get a sticker!

Manufacture's pic.
Attachment 468812

I was looking into the same setup kyb agx & tanabes. The ride you speak of seems to be pretty good. I've ridden on stiffer coils so believe me, I think i can manage. Im just hoping the drop is enough to clear my hideous wheel gap, not trying to "hella flush" the car (I hate hella flush) Im looking for a decent drop but streetable at the same time. :)

As for comparisons, tokico illumina vs kyb agx, or are they pretty much the same.

For the guy that wants to keep his AAS system - I think your only option is to go with the electrically adjustable Tein suspension package, which are coilovers that have an optional electronic control box you can wire into your car. Be prepared to shell out some major cash. I'm not aware of any other electronically controlled aftermarket suspension made for FCs.

^Tru dat! Using the Tein EDFC won't work correctly with AAS shocks. AAS uses 3 settings, that cycle every 60 degrees. Soft, med, hard, soft, med hard. Tein's EDFC system is set up for 14 settings left=softer, right=harder.

Also, the AAS was a dynamic system that adjusted to braking, accelerating and cornering, etc. not just a remote-adjustable system like the Tein EDFC. They are auto-adjusting, not just remote-adjusting.

Yes, Illumina's and AGX's are on the same tier as far as shocks go.

anyone got pics of how their car sits on tanabe lowering springs w/ KYB AGX?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...e/77b8e98c.jpg

Tanabe GF210 springs with KYB AGXs.