FallenCho

iTrader: (1)

What I'm looking for is something that will offer superb road handling while only dropping the car up to an inch and a half and also still have a certain amount of comfort to it. Granted the stock setup isn't exactly comfortable but anything that is even with that or even more so comfortable but offers better handling would be nice.

I was looking at some Tanabe and Tein setups and as far as the Tanabe's go I couldn't find anyone who has said anything about them using "search". Seems to be a lot of good feelings towards the Teins but are they not more focused towards drifting? Which that is something I have no desire to do. Way to risky for me. Any suggestions is much appreciated.
Thanks!

alberto_mg

although i haven't tried coilovers speaking from my experience, stock shocks with eibach or h&r springs is the best compromise between improved handling and good ride quality. even with konis the ride quality is slightly less comfy with those same springs. the konis respond quicker which is nice but they still aren't quite as comfy as the stock shocks.

most coilovers will have spring rates that are way too stiff and utilize the metal "pillowballs" at the shock tower which will transmit lots more noise vibration and harshness thereby decreasing ride quality. if i were looking at coilovers, i'd look for one that uses the stock shock tower mounts aka pillowballs and have a spring rate around 450lbs front and 375lbs rear. search for a post by howard coleman in the 3rd gen section in a thread started by jason about apexi coilovers for the details.

raising arizona

He's right ^^^

Unless your into changing ride height, I would recomend the KYB/AGX's w/ H&R or the Eibachs. I have these on my MR2T and there great.

If you want coilovers, I would get Tein's and not because there the best, but IF you have a problem with one (because you will) you can get them repaired pretty easy... My friend had K-Office, another had Cusco's and they went bad and had lots of trouble getting them back on the road... I had the Tein RA's on my FC and there superb, but very stiff, probably to stiff... Get the Flex's if your mostly road'n it...

Efini_7

iTrader: (1)

Not to self promote, but i have a set of PFS springs and adjustable Tokico shocks that i just took off to install coilovers (i wanted a more track oriented setup). The PFS spring is very similar to the Eibach as both are progressive rate springs that have stock initial rates but are more firm as they compress. It drops the car approx 1 inch in the rear and 1.5" up front. I loved the handling for the street and would highly recommend this setup. Also i've heard that the Tokico shocks tend to be a bit softer than the konis. See the thread here (https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=489839) for more pics and details.

Thanks!

FallenCho

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info guys. I think everyone has me sold on Tein as far as a full coil over kit gos and Eibach as far as just replacing the springs. Guess it's now a question on if I wanna go the cheap route or the more expensive route. Also Teins site scares me evertime I go to it cause there are so many different models featured on their site that I didn't know the difference between any of them. Hehe well at least now I have a more firm understanding.

raising arizona

If your going to get coilovers and Tein is your brand, get the Flex's, there hands down the best all around coilovers out there, AND you can get them fixed.

Efini_7

iTrader: (1)

I'd have to agree with raising arizona. One of my friends has the Tein Flex on his car and absolutely loves them. Unless you plan on going racing you dont need any of the more expensive models...they won't really make a difference on the street (and their much higher spring rates are DEFINATELY NOT suited for the road). IMO anything higher than 11kg/mm spring rate would be extremely uncomfortable. I have the 11kg springs on my car and it rides fairly well on the softest damper setting...and on the hard setting it downright feels like a true track car (which i wouldn't want to feel like i was in all the time, if you know what i mean).

If you can afford it i'd say go with coilovers. Eibachs will be nice, but there is a reason why people would spend more $$$ for the custom (spring and damper specifically designed for each other) setup.

I have a friend who's selling D2 coilovers for the FD. I got mine from him. If you're interested i can get him to put up an ebay auction for a whole set for ~$900. That's the same deal that i couldn't pass up.

FallenCho

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the heads up and the suggestions. I really don't wanna do just a springs upgrade so it looks like Tein Flex's will be the way I go. I'm sure this gos without question but do you reommend that the swap be done by a mechanic or is this a project someone can do with hand tools. I have almost every tool at my disposal minus torque tools. I just know how important it is that you have a properly running suspension cause if that fails then well yeah not good!

Efini_7

iTrader: (1)

I did mine myself with basic hand tools. There are a couple parts that are kind of tricky, but nothing you couldn't do yourself. It does really help to have another set of hands to help you out, though. I wouldn't have done it by myself...it also helped to have another brain to help solve some issues i ran into. But like i said, nothing you can't do yourself if you're willing to spend an afternoon on it. Took me about 4-5hrs. The rears are very easy and you only remove two bolts. The fronts are a bit trickier, but there are only four bolts to remove (sway bar bolt, lower shock mounting bolt, two upper A-arm bolts...oh, and the three top mounting bolts). If you can find a diagram of the suspension you can take a look before you dive into it.

Good luck!

alberto_mg

after reading this thread you should have enough information to make a very informed decision on coilovers

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...t=spring+rates

juicyjosh

iTrader: (29)

Probably stay away from the commercial H&Rs and Eibachs.

They're a little more prone to sagging compared to the j-spec brands - TEIN, JIC, Apexi.

The cheap springs lower your car using progressive springs that are initially softer than the factory springs, which is how the car sits lower. The progression in spring rate with the car sitting on the springs exceeds the stock spring rate, but this is the cheap was of lowering a car. This is cool if you're lowering a Tercel (used only as an example, no offence intended folks), but this is no way to lower an RX7. The power of the RX7 will swiftly bring to light the weaknesses in the cheap suspensions.

This is from personal experience in the commercially sold Eibach and Intrax springs on a previous car.

Of the j-spec brands, the TEIN Type Flex is 16-way adjustable with independent ride height and spring preload adjustments. Plus it comes with the TEIN pillow ball mounts integrated into the shock. You could raise the car 3 inches or slam it to the ground. And even though the spring rates are much stiffer than stock, the ride is much improved. After installing the TEINs, the predominating thought that came to mind was how "sloppy" the stock FD suspension was in comparision. Furthermore, the cost isn't insane like other j-spec brands.

Good luck.

93 FD3S Touring
Apexi Power FC
Cusco strut bar
Efini downpipe
Greddy Airinix
Greddy Evo2
HKS bov
Koyo radiator
Magnacore wires
NGK 9 plugs
TEIN Type Flex

juicyjosh

iTrader: (29)

Upon reading one of the above posts, someone is saying that you only need to remove a couple bolts for the rear, and that you have to remove the sway bar bolt for the front ...

I've lowered a few FD's, and yes, it's easy for me to do it cuz i've done it a few times, but as far the rear is concerned, there are more than just two bolts to remove ...

You don't need two people to do the rear end, but you may need two jacks. On the REAR, you WILL need to remove the rear sway bar bolt. To do this, with the car jacked (jack #1), you will then need to jack up the suspension arm (with jack #2 ) to relieve torsion on the sway bar. Disconnecting the sway bar will allow you to the extend the arm (without the sway bar restricting the arm's movement), which will make it enormously easier to remove the old suspension and install the new.

The front does not require disconnecting the sway bar bolt.

Tools to have ready include a breaker bar at least 18" long for stubborn bolts and WD40.

If you get the TEIN Type Flex's, a good place to start would be to lower the length of the shocks by 1/2 inch and increasing preload by 1/4 inch. Then start with a setting of 9 (clicks from "0") all the way around and minor adjustments from there.

Hope this helps.

93 FD3S Touring
Apexi Power FC
Efini downpipe
Greddy Airinix
Greddy Evo2
HKS bov
Koyo radiator
Magnacore wires
NGK 9 plugs
TEIN Type Flex

alberto_mg

whoever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about.

if you search for howard coleman's posts about FD spring rates, you'll find that your experience with other cars doesn't apply as much. Plus it is commonly known that the Eibachs and H&Rs are not progressive for the FD.

Eibachs and H&Rs are one of the highest quaility springs out there and are used in more racing series than just about any other spring out there. Hardly cheap...

juicyjosh

iTrader: (29)

That's why I stated "previous car" and "commercially sold."

I thought I was completely clear by indicating that.

I don't believe anyone would doubt the quality of any of those manufacturers' racing spring. At the same time I doubt anyone would believe that racing spring is the same spring that they put in the box and sell to the general public.

Let's all of us take a deeeep breath now... it's gonna be ok

This is so minor, and I'm really bored as indicated by my even replying to this.

really, wow..

juicyjosh

iTrader: (29)

I do appreciate the clarification though. Your information is accurate.

I meant "cheap" referring to cost, relative to my TEINs, which cost me $1400.

-Josh

rx7superman

Hi, I was wondering......Since you guys seem to know your stuff. I have eibach springs with GAB 8 way shocks but the front end has a good 1 1/2 of room from the tires. The rear is the problem though.....i have no room.......I can't even put my finger in between the tire and the fender. I do have 18's in the rear and 17's in the front but was'nt like this before. What the hell happened? Did my shocks take a crap or did my springs go? PLease help. Thanks, Jorge C.

Pat McGroin

Damn double post.

Pat McGroin

So you only bought teins to brag about price, how often do you even use your Teins on the track?????

What's this BS I hear about Eibachs and H and R's being more prone to sagging?If anything I would be more worried about the j-spec brands' sagging.

Juicyjosh where did you get this misinformation, crap 90 percent of the SCCA RACERS run Koni Yellows on Ground Control coilovers, using...get this....Eibach springs!!!!

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

I tend to agree with Pat in the sense that I'd be more worried about premature sag with some of the new found JDM brands than Eibach and H&R which are just huge. Especially Eibach. I know many Japanese who switch their coils to ERS springs for their linearity as well as price point.

I don't know what else you guys were talking about, just commenting on that one thing.

Rishie