a4sport

any personal feedback or opinions?

TIA!

VincenzoL

iTrader: (1)

What are your functions? I have the Zeal V6 on my FC.

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

I have Zeal B6 on my FD. They are great with Grade A craftsmanship.

Fatman0203

Yea, I heard the HKs are over priced and over rated. Looked at TEIN lately?

Hamza734

Neither. Japanese coilovers are way overpriced and, for the most part, junk. When put on a shock dyno, a lot of these coilovers showed very little damping adjustment...20+ clicks dosen't matter for **** if the adjustment range is narrow. Pay less and get K2RD coilovers...

dis1

Function B6... see my website for a bunch of research I did. As for the adjustment levels I can tell a big difference between level 1 and 6 with the B6s. Level 1 makes them ok for the street while the higher settings are good for the track.

a4sport

thanks for the feedback any encounters with CUSCO? car will be built for track and some street

RETed

Most FC owners cannot afford these things - they cost more than the car!


-Ted

Hamza734

I've heard good things about Cusco but still, those things are like $1700! Take ~$1100, get the K2RD with the heim-joints and front camber plates. You'll still be able to cornerweigh and I think the Kayaba's have liftime warranties....Definetly was on the list of mods for me....if I hadn't sold me FC

VincenzoL

iTrader: (1)

There's still a huge difference between the Ground Control style kits and the integrated monotube coilover kits that we're talking about here.

I'm just gonna point out some differences. This is simple information. You can decide where the value may be.

With Zeals they can be custom valved, whereas the KYB's that can't be an off the shelf option.

Cuscos don't have overhauling capacity in US. Not many do internal replacments either. I think Tein and Zeal are two of the few JDM ones that do. Tein however will not do custom damping I don't believe.

The KYB and Tein stuff is primarily twin tube and when lowering the car you will lose some suspension travel, possible require helper springs to maintain preload at full extension.

The machine work on the Zeals is so nice. Cusco uses a similar manufacturing technique as JIC and HKS i believe. Where the lower shock bracket has a machined "sleeve" with stamped steel welded to it for application specifics. Whereas the Zeals are completely machined, one piece practically. Very beautiful. Warranty is another concern. JIC is 90days, Cusco who knows/depends where you get it, Tein is 1 year, Zeal is 6months.

Frankly, all of us can make a better suggestion if we knew the functions for your car: % street, % track. Type of driving style, and your overall budget.

If you want to compare something to KYB/AGX setup it would be the Tein HE most likely. Both twin tube includes camber plates, HE has plates for the rear also i believe. The difference is that the HE can be lowered without losing stroke, due to its independent lower bracket.

KYB/AGX: K2RD source, best entry level setup $1100.00, no rear mounts right?

Tein: prob around $1325.00 shipped is a good deal

Zeal B6: $2100.00 or so shipped
Zeal V6(Inverted): $2200.00 shipped

These are not retail prices but most likely what you would find as a forum member/repeat customer/or internet type sale. The Zeals if bought on net, mail order, will void warranty. So please call endless:
714-847-0694 and ask them who your local dealer is or what they can do to support you. They are so frikin' nice, those people.

I know out of all these setups Zeal makes the most models of coilovers for the FC. From street to Track only. Phemonal performance without sacrificing ride quality at all. I've gone thru the GC setups, Tein stuff, JIC's, racing beat springs, rsr springs, eibach, intrax, **** almost all of them. Now i have Zeals, it cost me more but it's the last coilover i will ever have to buy. They can even support my racing endeavors if I want to change specs in the future.

-Peace

RETed

Koni Sport yellows can be also.
Koni Sport yellows can be converted to double adjustable also.
I don't think any of the other mentioned brands can do this.


There are numerous shops that can handle the Koni's no problem.


Wow, where did you get this info from?
Do you have a reference?
I haven't heard the term "twin tube" in a long time, and most of the leading manufacturers have dropped that old design for a better (proven) mono-tube.


-Ted

dis1

Good writeup but the prices are a bit high. Retail is 2160 for the B6 on the FC and you can find them for 10% off easily. I found mine at 15% off. Also Zeal has a 1 year warranty, NOT 6 months. I had no problem getting my warranty pack from Zeal when I bought my coilovers from an online company.

b00b

just wondering,but which of these manufacturers have switched their designed from twin-tube to mono-tube?

-scott

RETed

Tokico is the most notable one.
Back in the 80's, it was "twin tube" this and "twin tube" that.
Tokico has quietly changed over to a mono-tube (check their literature) from the mid-90's on.

I believe the KYB AGX's are all mono-tube design, and it's all over their brochures.


-Ted

b00b

wow.ive been so blind.i never really looked at tokico or the kyb shocks.ive always been looking at koni sports or tein SS coilovers.thanks for the info ted

-scott

VincenzoL

iTrader: (1)

It appears that the KYB's are monotube and do implement the free floating piston that many of these higher brand dampers have as well. This would explain why many say they ride harsher than the tokicos.

Reference: KYB America: 630-620-5555

The Tokicos however, when calling them, were instructed that the HP and illuminas are still Twin tube, low pressure nitrogen charged dampers. Just spoke to tech support to confirm.

Reference: tokico USA 1-800-548-2549

How long will the KYB's last for? For those of you who have them or have used them.

FYI, there are only maybe 5 Zeal/Endless official dealers now. The mail order aspect of the Coilovers and Big Brake systems has been eliminated. If they are mail ordered they will not carry warranty.

Please hear me out. I work with Endless very very tightly. I am fully aware of their program. They have implemented a 6 month warranty, but based on your situation they can be flexible. This was done for liability purposes. As i'm sure you guys know that products raced rarely retain warranty.

While I do know the Endless product and program the product will only suit a small demographic. If you want ride comfort and outstanding handling then you don't have many options.

Ted I emplore you to come and check out the product. Go for a test drive in one of our cars.

Peace.

RETed

Oops, you're correct.  I've got my facts all messed up.  I apologize for the misinformation.


I don't think there's an Endless dealer in Hawaii, but the Endless / Zeal products are way out of my price range.  I do run Tokico Illuminas + GC coilovers on my FC currently.  I will be upgrading to Koni yellows soon.  I have extensive experience with the Tokico, KYB AGX, and Koni Sport yellows.  I have limited experience with the Tein RA's and Cusco Comp series on the FC.  I don't see the advantage over the these products with a set of Koni yellows with a matched coilover set (i.e. K2RD), especially for the price difference.

If I do come across any new products (including Endless / Zeal), I will keep an open mind.


-Ted

VincenzoL

iTrader: (1)

Ted, what island are you on?? Endless is currently setting up a distributor in Hawaii. Not sure if you'll find a FC with it, so it won't be apples to apples, but you'll get an idea of the ride quality, build quality, and handling aspects of Zeal. They have a G35 and a few other vehicles. On Oahu.

Functionality wise i totally agree with you Ted, but I've totally experienced all these setups. The only advantage I got from going to an integrated setup/production model coilover, was ride quality. Amazing. Please PM me next time you're in NorCal, SoCal, or Arizona. I got buddies in those areas with FC's that will let you drive their cars. I'm sure you'll be surprised. It's still expensive as hell, but at least you'll be able to evaluate it. To some it's a reasonable expense, and to others they'll say, "Dude, i got my car for half that price." lol.

It was nice going thru these motions with ya Ted. This is what it's all about, providing unbiased, experience based information.

It would be nice if the original poster would indicate his functions and budgets. This was supposed to be for him. lol. % track or street, etc.... No one should make a rec without asking these questions. No one. lol. Right Ted? I know you'll agree with me. I've read much of your outstanding info from your charitable site.

Ciao.

a4sport

hey guys thanks for the feedback...sorry for the delay in response...

anyhow, the use of the car would be probably 60% street/ 40% track, if not 50/50.

my goal was to get the best performance mainly rather than street comfort (although maintaining drivability/comfort for the street would be nice) these are a big investment – like u said almost a major fraction of the vehicle's cost – yet i 'm willing to put it into the car since i believe it's one of the best things you can do for your car for track/circuit purposes.

i've heard some mixed comments off the board in regards to the zeals from people here in socal that previously were running them. i have heard great things for cusco about drivabilty for both track/street (which i will hopefully be able to try before i make my decision). as for HKS nobody i know has them due to price but comments from forums have given them good reviews. so i'm still left in the dark to what i want to invest in.

does anyone know what the purpose/benefits of an inverted shock absorber?

TIA again guys!

~ k

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

Here are some photos for the Zeal B6 prior to installation

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bkc...han1/my_photos

BC

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

Here are some photos for the Zeal B6 prior to installation

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bkc...han1/my_photos

BC

Black7Conv

Last week I installed the TEIN Type Flex (Driving Spec Control Master) coilover kit with
Pillow Mounts & EDFC (Electronic Damping Force Controller). The kit is overpriced and I hope when I drive my car in the streets that I will 'see' a very good handling...

VincenzoL

iTrader: (1)

Since you're in SoCal come and visit me. Go for a ride in my car. We're putting the RE motor in it right now, El Monte area. But seriously. This thing should be running real soon. Totally take you for a ride and you can determine for yourself. I have the street rates on this setup, my last red FC at sevenstock had the hard rates. So make a relative comparison please.

Call me: 619-459-0068 and we'll see if we can't get together. I stay in OC, aliso viejoish area.