Yo,



Okay, I'm currently running Tokico Illuminas and Tokico springs on my 1989 GTUs.

I'm currently pretty happy with the set up, good handling and not too harsh for the street. I use my car as a weekend blaster and roadrace/auto X use.

What's the big deal with coilovers?

I know you can adjust the ride height, and preload the springs so you can cornerweight the car...and most coilovers have more adjustment...but is that worth the $1500-$1700 you have to spend?

I just want to drive, not fiddle with my shocks all day. If I did get coilovers, I would go to Roger Krause and have it cornerweighted...but does it make such a huge difference?

My buddy Dana has the JIC FLT-A2's...and they're stiff as a ****. I know the Tein RA's aren't meant for street use...

So what gives? What's so great about coilovers vs. a strut type suspension?

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Coilovers = Bank!"

 

Coilovers are really a race application. There okay for the street but can to stiff.....I like them for everything, mostly the adjustability, but usually you find what works and thats that!!!

Yes, they are spendy, and are they worth it? probably not, unless your all out racing on the track and or you can justify spending the money. Your setup obviously works so don't sweat it..... Save your money and buy things you need... Don't put yourself in debt trying to keep up, its not worth it...auto-x and have fun!!

Brad

 

GEE!, I only spent about $550 for Ground Control coil overs for my FD.

 

Yo,


Bully for you! Now tell me /why/ you did...what's so great about coilovers?

Kevin
1989 GTUs "If I get enough good reasons...maybe I'll even buy some!"

 

Adjustability, the option to swap springs on a fly. The ability to change the valving should you need to. Definitely the shortened shock body. Monotube definitely has benefits. Weight benefits.

Stiffness all depends on where one has set the damping. I know Dana has his setup pretty high for track. Last I checked it was around 10. I can see why they would be stiff as a ****. Whereas mine are set at 1 and 2 for the street with my 17's and 18's. They ride great to me.

It's kinda like adding up everything. Get a monotube shock/strut, sleeve coilovers, pillowballs, camber plates and you might as well buy an integrated system.

That's all I have to offer. IMO, suspension has been one of the best mods aside from exhaust on the FC. And coilovers while expensive can be extremely justified.

Later, Rishie

 

Ride height adjustability can be a very important adjustment for avoiding tire rubbing. Cornerweighting the car is also a useful reason to have ride height adjustability. The ability to choose from a wide range of spring rates is also a nice plus that you get with coil-overs (I've had 2 front and 3 rear sets installed in my car in the last two years).

Their harshness is determined by the upper mounts (rubber or ball joint), spring rates, and shock settings. I can't run stock spring rates on my coil-overs because the springs would bind (because they are short and small diameter versus the stock springs) but you don't have to go super stiff. I'm running 450/350 now (versus 280/200 stock), which is quite a bit softer than most coil-overs for the FD. I suspect that you could go even softer with "true" coilovers instead of the M2 kit on my car. I like the setup on my car now, though, so I don't have any desire to go softer and the current setup doesn't bind.

I really like being able to adjust the ride height (as low as it can go without rubbing when driven hard, which ends up being far higher than "slammed"). Swapping springs is useful, too. I don't fiddle with it much -- I am trying to find the "one best" setting for my purposes. But I think it takes some swapping and adjusting to get the car tuned for your preferences and driving style. Without the coil-overs, I would likely be stuck with a setup that I think could be improved (tires rubbing, wrong balance), but I'd have to switch to coil-overs to get there.

-Max

 

Couldn't have said it better. I like the versatility it has to offer.