Powered By Max coilovers
08-20-08, 06:51 PM
#1
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Powered By Max coilovers
I just got my set in the mail today. I will post up a review with some drive time. Does anyone else have a set of these?
08-27-08, 02:15 PM
#4
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Key Features:
COMPETITION SUSPENSION coilover key features:
* Full tap independent adjustments
* Aggressive damping range with fast adjust:
* Allows you to do 32 clicks of damping change in just 10 clicks!
* Pillow ball upper mount on front AND REAR!
* Replaceable shock & customizable spring
* Super low ride height ability
* Billet T6061 lightweight aluminum Lower mount with urethane bushing.
* All aluminum components are hard anodized
* High rigidity/High precision piston rod design exceeds racing standards
* Adjustable to super low ride height
* Full thread tap piston and locking collar allows vehicle height to be adjusted independent of the spring preload.
* 2 collar wrenches are included.
* Light weight T6061 aluminum spring perch and locking collar designed to bear the weight of vehicle
* Spring upper perch provides independance between the spring and the pillowball.
* Racing spring available to special order in custom Kg (even numbers only) .
Initial Impressions:
I payed for these on Thursday, got a confirmation email on Friday and they arrived at my house on Wednesday. I tore open the box like I used to when I was a little kid opening Christmas presents. The coilovers where individually wrapped in bubble wrap. I could tell right away that they where beefy. They looked and felt strong. I lined them up next to my stock struts and shocks (sorry no pics...) and they where noticabley lower without any adjustment.
Installation:
My friends recommended that I lower them all the way and then intsall them because its easier to raise coilovers then it is to lower them once they are on the car. I ignored the advice and put them on my car as they where. The installation was very straight forward and easy. I did the front ones first followed by the rears. Loosen the strut bolts but dont remove them. Remove the bottom bolts (dont know the technical name, they where rusted in and took a while to get loose). Secure the front breaks so they dont damage the break lines. Remove the top strut bolts and remove the stock suspension. Install the coilovers (I dont know if I mounted them right...the camber plates on these run diagonally instead of horizontally). The rears where even easier. I used a jack lift to lift the coilovers into the strut towers and then tightened them from there.
Driving on stock settings:
It was pouring outside (typicall Washington weather) so I didnt get to push the right away. I noticed that everything felt more built, stiffer. The steering felt more precise and crisp. I could feel every imperfection in the road. When accelerating and shifting at redline, the car didnt jerk anymore, the back tires just broke loose. I had no traction from first to third gear (lost traction in first, shifted, no traction in second, shifted, regained traction in third). After it dried up I got to drive around with my friends SC300. He has the same coilovers. I was following him and we where entering a spiral on ramp. He took off. I followed. I was in third gear and the shift buzzer came on. My body was being pulled to the side and the car was stable. No loss of traction it gripped the road.
Driving on the softest settings:
One of my friends (drives a silvia, works at a VW dealership as a mechanic) told me I should run them all the way stock for around 100 miles to properly break them in. I listened to him. They felt slightly more comfortable (who cares I bought these for performance not comfort) but still really stiff. Ive been sliding around on them lately. I can power over in second when its raining out. I actually feel like im in controll with these coilovers (stock chopped suspension felt sloppy, rushed and panicked). It is easier to countersteer and correct the car after a slide and it doesnt jerk after I correct it anymore.
Driving on the stiffest settings:
Coming soon...
Slight problem:
They pop at low/parking lot speeds. Ive been told by my friends that I need to tighten the top nut with an impact wrench and others that my pillowball mounts are binding...I emailed PBM and il keep you updated.
Overall: I am very pleased with these coilovers! They are exactly what I wanted and you cant go wrong for $1065 shipped!
COMPETITION SUSPENSION coilover key features:
* Full tap independent adjustments
* Aggressive damping range with fast adjust:
* Allows you to do 32 clicks of damping change in just 10 clicks!
* Pillow ball upper mount on front AND REAR!
* Replaceable shock & customizable spring
* Super low ride height ability
* Billet T6061 lightweight aluminum Lower mount with urethane bushing.
* All aluminum components are hard anodized
* High rigidity/High precision piston rod design exceeds racing standards
* Adjustable to super low ride height
* Full thread tap piston and locking collar allows vehicle height to be adjusted independent of the spring preload.
* 2 collar wrenches are included.
* Light weight T6061 aluminum spring perch and locking collar designed to bear the weight of vehicle
* Spring upper perch provides independance between the spring and the pillowball.
* Racing spring available to special order in custom Kg (even numbers only) .
Initial Impressions:
I payed for these on Thursday, got a confirmation email on Friday and they arrived at my house on Wednesday. I tore open the box like I used to when I was a little kid opening Christmas presents. The coilovers where individually wrapped in bubble wrap. I could tell right away that they where beefy. They looked and felt strong. I lined them up next to my stock struts and shocks (sorry no pics...) and they where noticabley lower without any adjustment.
Installation:
My friends recommended that I lower them all the way and then intsall them because its easier to raise coilovers then it is to lower them once they are on the car. I ignored the advice and put them on my car as they where. The installation was very straight forward and easy. I did the front ones first followed by the rears. Loosen the strut bolts but dont remove them. Remove the bottom bolts (dont know the technical name, they where rusted in and took a while to get loose). Secure the front breaks so they dont damage the break lines. Remove the top strut bolts and remove the stock suspension. Install the coilovers (I dont know if I mounted them right...the camber plates on these run diagonally instead of horizontally). The rears where even easier. I used a jack lift to lift the coilovers into the strut towers and then tightened them from there.
Driving on stock settings:
It was pouring outside (typicall Washington weather) so I didnt get to push the right away. I noticed that everything felt more built, stiffer. The steering felt more precise and crisp. I could feel every imperfection in the road. When accelerating and shifting at redline, the car didnt jerk anymore, the back tires just broke loose. I had no traction from first to third gear (lost traction in first, shifted, no traction in second, shifted, regained traction in third). After it dried up I got to drive around with my friends SC300. He has the same coilovers. I was following him and we where entering a spiral on ramp. He took off. I followed. I was in third gear and the shift buzzer came on. My body was being pulled to the side and the car was stable. No loss of traction it gripped the road.
Driving on the softest settings:
One of my friends (drives a silvia, works at a VW dealership as a mechanic) told me I should run them all the way stock for around 100 miles to properly break them in. I listened to him. They felt slightly more comfortable (who cares I bought these for performance not comfort) but still really stiff. Ive been sliding around on them lately. I can power over in second when its raining out. I actually feel like im in controll with these coilovers (stock chopped suspension felt sloppy, rushed and panicked). It is easier to countersteer and correct the car after a slide and it doesnt jerk after I correct it anymore.
Driving on the stiffest settings:
Coming soon...
Slight problem:
They pop at low/parking lot speeds. Ive been told by my friends that I need to tighten the top nut with an impact wrench and others that my pillowball mounts are binding...I emailed PBM and il keep you updated.
Overall: I am very pleased with these coilovers! They are exactly what I wanted and you cant go wrong for $1065 shipped!
08-27-08, 07:50 PM
#7
Lives on the Forum
I'm always very sceptical about cheap coilovers, it's not cheaper if they break in a year or two and you have to replace them, or if they turn out to suck and you have to replace them.
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08-27-08, 10:14 PM
#9
also my camber plates are facing different directions. if you turn them you can add caster and add negative camber. turn yours so they are they are like / rather than yours that are like \
the slashes indicate the top hat. lol get it?. once you change them you can push the coilover back to add negative camber and it will also induce postive caster
the slashes indicate the top hat. lol get it?. once you change them you can push the coilover back to add negative camber and it will also induce postive caster
08-28-08, 05:26 PM
#11
caster gives you more camber as you turn the wheel. the more caster you have, the less camber you need for the same amount of cornering grip.
the downside to too much caster, is that it increases steering effort, and i think something else.. cant remember.
in your case, i'd rotate the plates 90 degrees, and set camber around 1.5 degrees. as a starting point.
the downside to too much caster, is that it increases steering effort, and i think something else.. cant remember.
in your case, i'd rotate the plates 90 degrees, and set camber around 1.5 degrees. as a starting point.
08-28-08, 06:45 PM
#12
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caster gives you more camber as you turn the wheel. the more caster you have, the less camber you need for the same amount of cornering grip.
the downside to too much caster, is that it increases steering effort, and i think something else.. cant remember.
in your case, i'd rotate the plates 90 degrees, and set camber around 1.5 degrees. as a starting point.
the downside to too much caster, is that it increases steering effort, and i think something else.. cant remember.
in your case, i'd rotate the plates 90 degrees, and set camber around 1.5 degrees. as a starting point.
http://www.gtfactory.jp/cms/e107_plu...wtopic.php?233
heres a pic.
10-28-08, 02:54 AM
#14
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Man ive had these bad bois for almost a year and they have been through some rough roads!!! man they still feel like the day i got em... more people on here need to try these and stop bashing them, i mean really its a great product that ive had many other drivers drive my car and say WOW what suspension is this, followed by do they make em for my car... so unless you guys have ever ridden in a car with these bad bois just stop bashing them
06-03-09, 02:32 PM
#19
i got mine yesterday and cannot seem to remove the passenger side stock suspension! i tried a breaker bar Ive tried soaking it overnight and tried again this morning! i think im gonna have to pay to get it done at a shop because i don't have an impact gun!!!!!
07-06-10, 02:21 AM
#24
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I was referred these buy a s13 buddy (we all have a handfull) but was kinda skeptic on them seeings as they're the only legit coilovers for 1k (I think). But glad to see everyone liking them. Think I'm gunna have to get some!
07-07-10, 01:16 AM
#25
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just installed mine with a friend. took us 7 hours LOL. mounted the camber plates wrong i had to take tires off again and turn them. rode them around the block and my alignment is all messed up haha but pretty stiff.... didnt set the coils evenly and all the sides are lowered at different heights... anyone know an easy way to lower them without removing the lower struts to turn them?
