ZenEfini

When you set your coilovers on a lower perch, do the struts become compressed? My understanding is that TEINs are like this. Thanks!

E-mail: DDDoug35@hotmail.com

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

Depends on which tein. Not all of them result in loss of stroke. Like the Tein Flex, RA's or RE's, etc... do not. Some other brands which do not sacrifice suspension travel when lowered are:

JIC FLT-A2
Zeal B6
HKS HiperdamperII
Apexi N1
Cusco Zero2R
Many more from Japan

What's your budget? What are your functions for the vehicle? Those are very important.

PEace, Rishie

sbaker25

Rishie, can you confirm this? Based solely on looking at both product descriptions and photos, it doesn't look to me like the HKS setup allows ride height adjustment indpendent of preload.

Also, I think that only the Tien RE model provides this, not the RA. I think the RA only has the same spring rates as the RE. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Am I wrong or was it an error on your part?

On a side note, does anyone have any idea how popular the Apexi is vs. something like the Tien RE or the JIC FLT-A2 in Japan amongst track only cars? Basically, what I'm wondering is what the people around the world who run the FD in wheel-to-wheel competition use for their race cars.

rynberg

Why, is your car an actual race-only car? Most of the aftermarket coil-overs use springs that are way too stiff for street driving. 800+ lb spring rates do not belong on the street. Even if you can tolerate the kidney crushing ride, the car will actually handle worse because you will be skittering over every frigging bump.

Another thing I've noticed is many of the coil-overs do not maintain equal wheel rates. Most of them seem to have been set-up for cars running large front anti-roll bars and staggered wheel fitments.

sbaker25

Yes, my car is track only.

I am assuming that your comments no wheel rate are in reference to the fact that some setups, such as the Tien RE, are using the same spring rates all around where the stock configuration uses lower relative rates on the rear.

Have you actually done wheel rate calculations, either by empirical measurement or mathematically with suspension geometry measurements. Or are you assuming that the wheel rates were equal from the factory?

And what leads you to believe that equal wheel rates are something to strive for?

rynberg

Yes, on an FD, the wheel rates front and rear are equal, with softer springs in the back (1.4 stiffness ratio). Reducing this ratio, ie running stiffer springs in the back and increase the rear wheel rate relative to the front, will balance the car more toward oversteer.

I think most of the coil-overs are set up this way because of the staggered wheel setups everyone seems to run in Japan, which balances the car towards understeer. Also, most people only upgrade the front anti-roll bar, again leading to increased understeer.

So, if you are running the common "Japan set-up", most of those coil-overs probably result in a fairly balanced car. On a car without a bigger front bar and with equal tires all around, they will balance the car more towards oversteer. The JICs and some of the Teins preserve the 1.4 stiffness ratio (or pretty close). It seems like most of the HKS, Apexi, etc., do not.