Which sub <$1,500 coilover?

[protpibe]

Did you end up ordering the FA500's?

[fooddude]

I have made my final decision. This is based on:
- Price/affordability (I can't afford high end RCE, Tein, Ohlins, JRZ, etc. Those who can, will most like not get these and more power to them.)
- How the company demonstrates knowledge with their quick, yet detailed, answers (seems like they know, what they know, by heart and don't need a book and a lot of time to answer). Very professional.
- How a coilover system from them seems like it will be a 100% personal, one-on-one build (as opposed to being an "anonymous" unknown customer with an "off the shelf" coilover, that neither the customer nor big Japanese/German company/builder will never really communicate with each other.
- How every little detail of the coilover, damping, valving, dynos, build, parts and related advice and information is fully stated and given.
- All the great things it includes and what it is (custom rates, valving, a real coilover with real damping that works, build quality, QC, etc etc).
- The many great reviews and many, happy, long time users (from both HPDE and street).

My final choice will be:
Fortune Auto 510 (with either F/R 10kg/11kg or 10kg/12kg springs)


Now, that I have made my final decision, the only thing left is just a matter of time until I have saved up my pennies.


This discussion is done, hehe

Peace

[cdrazic93]

what is the conversion from lb/in to kg/mm and vice versa?

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

what is the conversion from lb/in to kg/mm and vice versa?

Divide: kgmm/0.0179
Multiply: lbin*0.0179

[Slow_86]

I plan on going Powered By Max coils here once good weather is consistent.

They're probably not the best for DD, unless you like a stiff ride. Had them on my previous S13, handled themselves well at drift events.

[Hachiroku14]

Originally Posted by raytrix

Stance Super Sport with Swift spring upgrade.

+1 just dont use the endlinks that came with it coz it knocks like hell. and if you set it up correctly ride is better than stock. (2.5" drop for me)

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I have made my final decision. This is based on:
- Price/affordability (I can't afford high end RCE, Tein, Ohlins, JRZ, etc. Those who can, will most like not get these and more power to them.)
- How the company demonstrates knowledge with their quick, yet detailed, answers (seems like they know, what they know, by heart and don't need a book and a lot of time to answer). Very professional.
- How a coilover system from them seems like it will be a 100% personal, one-on-one build (as opposed to being an "anonymous" unknown customer with an "off the shelf" coilover, that neither the customer nor big Japanese/German company/builder will never really communicate with each other.
- How every little detail of the coilover, damping, valving, dynos, build, parts and related advice and information is fully stated and given.
- All the great things it includes and what it is (custom rates, valving, a real coilover with real damping that works, build quality, QC, etc etc).
- The many great reviews and many, happy, long time users (from both HPDE and street).

My final choice will be:
Fortune Auto 510 (with either F/R 10kg/11kg or 10kg/12kg springs)


Now, that I have made my final decision, the only thing left is just a matter of time until I have saved up my pennies.


This discussion is done, hehe

Peace

I expect an in depth review.

[IAmNotTheDriftKing]

Just so you know, the FA510 are more track focused the FA500 are more street focused. The FA510 will be much harsher than stock.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by IAmNotTheDriftKing

Just so you know, the FA510 are more track focused the FA500 are more street focused. The FA510 will be much harsher than stock.

Track focused does not equate to harsher than stock. It is much the opposite. If it is "harsher", then setting up the suspension on a go-kart is the best for the track.

[chiefshayan]

I'm having the same dilemma between the 500's vs 510's. The only differences I noticed were that the 510's use amsoil oil (which I think can be switched out on the 500's which use P synthetic 5w or 10w shock oil) and use the word "ultra" which I guess means more suitable for the track.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe @ft86speedfactory uses the FA500's on their S/C track car.

[fooddude]

@IAmNotTheDriftKing @chiefshayan

I think "harsher" or "suitable" are the wrong words when describing the 510 or a similar perf/digressive focused shock; and, "capable" is a better word...ie: "510 is more track capable", but that doesn't necessarily mean un"capable" or "harsher" on the street (unless the global and overall custom valving will be built to be very very stiff and have more high-speed force than the "Street" coilover's high-speed force) ...since the ultra digressive valving actually helps much more in street/harsness/bumps/rough roads than anything else (keeps bumps and other high-speed shocks/movements to a minimum, since it tapers off, "blows off" and isn't linear/progressive like a "street" non-digressive damper)..all while still having much more force on the slow-speed damping section. ..Hope that made sense.


*I think another way, and more easier way to think about it is, using a number ranking, from softest to stiffest..Example
- The cheaper 500: Handling firmness 3, bumps/rough road firmness 8
- More digressive OTS 510: Handling firmness 6, bumps/rough road firmness 8 (same as the 500)
- or, softer valved 510: Handling firmness 5, bumps/rough road firmness 7 (rides better on the street than the 500)
- or, a firmer valved 510: Handling firmness 9, bumps/rough road firmness 11 (which in this extreme case, WILL be rougher than the "Street" 500; but only because everything else, including low-speed damping, has been raised significantly)

Now, let's take that "Street" linear 500 to have the same low-speed as the 510:
- firmer 500: Handling firmness 6, bumps/rough road firmness 11
(much harsher ride than the OTS 510's handling of 6 and rough road firmness of only 8)

*(just a caveman/layman's example to make it easier to understand ....none of this is actual data obviously, lol)


From what I understand and have read - the 510 has different valving design (more digressive), better internals (ie: ohlins shims), oil, etc., etc.


Like CSG stated...just because it's track-focused doesn't mean it'll be harsh on the street...if anything, it'll be much better on the street vs a linear damper of the same low-speed force/firmness, due to having a digressive curve that can "blow off" high-speed damper bumps and flattens/tapers off after low-speed movements...unlike a non-digressive shock, that is linear, that only gets stiffer and stiffer, the higher and higher the speed of the shaft becomes.

If you look at some PVP dynos, comparing a "Street" damper to even a "Race" focused damper....you will notice even the mildest and softest of "Street" coilovers, will have roughly the same amount of high force firmness at the 8in/sec. mark on the graph compared to an even much more "Race" focused damper, which basically means it will be just as "stiff" over high speed bumps, but at least the race damper has the ability to have much more Force lbs on the low speed section (which counts), while the "Street" damper cannot. Now, imagine if the global damper valvings/settings of that "Race" ultra digressive coilover were toned down even less...it will be much smoother over high speed bumps than the "Street" coilover, while still being able to handle(ie: driver input & low speed movement) much better than the "Street" coilover.

[fooddude]

I know it's not specifically a "500" series coilover; but I think this picture explains it better and we can pretend that the "Generation 1" as a non(or less) digressive shock and pretend as if it was a "Street" 500 series. You can see the older/Gen1/less-digressive shock is much more stiff at high-speed shafts compared to the newer and more digressive Race damper....all while being able to be firmer where it counts in the low-speed(driver inputs) section.

Now..if you want to take it a step further (since, the Gen 1's red line on the graph is actually a pretty digressive curve still), then erase that red line, and replace it with a totally non-digressive Linear line, a completely Straight line..it would be the same at high-speed harshness and will be even worse and softer at the low-speed section... my point - a digressive shock is a more comfortable shock.

[chiefshayan]

I don't know nearly enough about suspension systems, but that was a great read and I think I understood about 90% of it. I've talked to the guys at FA and spoke about a 50/50 DD/Track setup and they steered me towards the 500's.

The 500 series is their golden-child and something they emphasize their advertising on and spend the most time refreshing (the 500's have been refreshed recently (v5) and the 510's haven't been refreshed in quite sometime (v4)). FA said their 500's were for occasional track-use and their 510 is for track use only.

[CSG David]

Curious to read how these will work out for you.