Top Quality Coilover brand? *Close Thread Please*
 

I don't plan on tracking my car but I want a look that's lower than stock, and can keep me from scraping on speed bumps or ramps, or even potholes.
I tend to drive faster than I should with a low car but it is what it is. My FRS is my daily drive.

I'm not looking for anyone's biased "I have HSD coilovers and love them. Haven't ever had a problem."
I want to find the hard facts on each coilover and determine:

Best coilover, unlimited budget
Best, for under around $1200
& the best one for brands under around $800

With my research so far, I've found that Fortune 510 look promising, with a nice warranty, and good customer service. What else is out there?

Why not just get sti pinks or RCE yellow?

If you have found FA coils promising after reading comments from experienced tuners/drivers than you would probably be happy with any cheap taiwan coilover?

Look through the suspension sub forum there are a couple good threads about cheap suspension components.

EDIT: It is hard to give "facts" as many companies don't give shock dynos and you have to decide who's "professional" advice you are going to listen to when someone is trying to sell you a product. That is why I think the best advice is to look at people who track and daily drive their car for advice. Since you just putt around town an experienced butt dyno from someone like that would be perfect.

You're gonna get what you pay for.

You want a lowered car, but don't want to scrape. You don't want to spend, but want the quality of something that costs a lot.

You need to decide what exactly you want first. Why do you even want coilovers? You can achieve the look you want with just springs. $800 coilovers will give you the exact same look as $8000 coilovers.

I'm on lowering springs right now; provided by the dealer I got my FRS from. I want coilovers to stiffen my suspension so I don't bounce. I'm scraping right now lol :/ It's bad. Yet at the same time I want a low look. There's got to be some kind of balance. I'm going from 17" tires to 19" for one thing, to cut out my wheel gap.
I considered air suspension at first and was really thinking about it but figured I'd forget it. All I'm hearing is negative things. I just don't know what to do >_<

Also, I drive fast and cut corners quick. All the time. And by quick I mean I lose my traction for a second. Thus; my reasoning for coilovers


Maybe there's another solution to my problem?

The FRS is my first real car. I drove a beat up Honda odyssey before that. I'm clueless and need all the help I can get honestly :/

Going from 17" to 19" won't actually cut your gap, it's the tire size that matters, 215/50/17 would cut your gap, and allow you to break the rear tires lose easier (providing your new tire is a gt tire like the stockers)

The worst mod I ever did to my FXT was coil overs with a 2" drop, it made it handle amazingly well for a forester but I destroyed my daily driving ability, if there was 27 cents on the floor board driving down normal streets I know that it was 2 dimes a nickel and 2 pennies.

Mind you these were the best coil overs for the fxt, Megan racing custom design 32 settings, around 1200 for the set. I will not be doing coil overs on this car, it's suspension from factory is amazing...

19" rims will also make it harder for you to break free and wiggle ur ass around, just something to think about.

Sounds like you want something that high end coilovers provide (good damping), but don't want to really pay the price.

If you're losing traction, get better tires. Tires are the only part of the car that touches the ground, and will make the single largest impact on performance within your budget.

Your springs sound like complete shit, that's where most of the bounce cones from, so you might want to look at rally sport direct or something like that for a better set of springs.

Springs are springs. It just sounds like the OP's springs are too stiff for the stock dampers.

Where you buy the springs from doesn't magically change the spring rates.

Define high end, and price.. Given that I was originally planning air suspension, my budget isn't too small. $2000 would be the absolute most I'd spend on coilovers.
& yes, I was looking into Nitto stick tires.


@Adeets - I wouldn't be surprised if my dealer gave me shit springs lol, I regret buying the car from them. Should've gotten it 110% stock but what's done is done.
But I don't understand the 17" -> 19" and the 215/50/17. Those numbers don't mean anything to me. Again, I'm new to the actual mechanics of cars but I'm trying my hardest to learn. There's just so much haha. Also, What do you mean break my tires loose?

True springs are springs but they probably slapped on something cheap with spring rates that don't work for the FRS

Price doesn't affect spring rates, only consistency in the rates.

6k+ is the price an entry level high end damper. At 2k, you're not even in the realm of two way adjustable dampers.

If you want a cheap solution, get some softer springs.

I agree, looks like your spring rates are too stiff which would cause your over bouncing. Replace cheap dealer springs.

Just get TRD springs and call it a day. I mean they were designed by factory and will give you that lowered look you're after. "215/50/17" is a tire size; Width/Profile/Wheel. Like Mike said you're gunna have to spend a bit of coin to get some decent coilovers for racing. I don't see why people concerned with ride height and appearance don't just go for bags. I mean you can clear potholes and get that sweet slammed look and get a feature in Stance magazine.

Do you know what springs the dealer had installed in your car?

Original plan was bags but I guess the FRS just isn't a car you should bag :/ I'll look into springs I suppose. & correct my tire szes.

@gatorbushmen no idea.

@ApolloSki @CSG Mike How do I figure what spring rate I need?

& doesn't Fortune 510 offer custom spring rates & high end dampening?

We have Tein coilovers on our FRS, I'd definitely recommend them. It's a quality product at a fair price. The stance looks great, the car handles better, and the ride is still pretty comfortable. It's a win-win for the $$

Nick C.

I think you need to do some more research on this forum.... spring rate research has already been done for you.

Read the stickies, see the numbers, and make your decision.

I know others have said it but it's not been made abundantly clear: the answers you want for coilovers is way beyond what you were originally asking for, and your lack of experience in this (and all the answers) is making it more difficult.

To make it simple: don't worry about what spring rates are best. Don't worry about what handles good/bad. You need to draft out your goals and simplify your solutions from this.

From what I get, your goals are:

- lower car slightly
- better ride quality
- 19" wheels

Springs + a good set of aftermarket shocks will be good for what you want to do. Or, you can do coilovers, but I think the key here is to NOT worry about the actual detailed specs, and worry about what type of service/support is provided with the purchase. Some companies have all their manufacturing located overseas, and their version of "warranty work" is to just provide you a replacement shock cartridge for you to swap out. No actual revalve/rebuild work done in the US.

As for what "plus sizing" means, use this:
http://tirefinder.toyotires.com/

Input the car, and then select +1 or +2 in the Plus Sizes for +1" diameter or +2" diameter increase. You can then see the equivalent larger tire size that's the same diameter (or very close).

Tire diameters will vary slightly between manufacturers but this is a good start to figure out what sizes are and mean.

-alex

The consensus on this forum seems to be that the best coilovers in your price ranges are:
$800 - ST coilovers
$1200 - RCE Tarmac 0
$2000 - ?

This is just what I've noticed, I don't own any of these nor am I associated with either company.

215/50/17 215 is width of the tire in mm, 50 is the ratio between tire sidewall height vs width, so take your width and times it by what ever the ratio is ( IE 215 x.5 = 107.5mm 215/40/17 would be 215x0.4 = 86) and the 17 is the rim diameter.

So 215/45/17 (8.46 inches wide, sidewall 3.81 inches tall, 17" wheel.)
And 255/40/17 (10.03 inches wide, sidewall 4.01 inches tall, 17" wheel.)

17to 19 changes alot to get the same diameter tire from stock 215/45/17 you'd have to go to a 215/35/19 which cuts about an inch off of your sidewall increasing Noise and vibration.

Also with the bigger rims/tires breaking loose, or loosing traction becomes more difficult since there's more mass on the wheels. Also going a bigger rim doesn't mean your gonna fill your fender gap.

I'd recommend if you enjoy how it handles from stock N/A then go with a wedsport tc105n 17x8 or 17x8.5 rim and keep the stock tires.

If your going FI, it's a whole different ball game.

IMO I'd go FI before I touch the suspension. (It's actually what I did, see my build below.)

No. There's consensus. For example for $800 I wouldnt buy coilovers at all

Different setups for different goals. There's no 1 size fits all solution

You know what your problem is.. Your listening to people on the Internet instead of people that have what you want.. I know of three members at least that have bags on their car and love it.. One even does trackdays.. If you want to bag your car then bag it.. Don't listen to the "purist" that think only expensive coilovers and expensive light weight wheels are the only thing that should be put on this car.. Because unless your going by that theory then your still doing it wrong.. For every hater of a certain brand you'll find a lover.. 86 speed factory rides on FA and embarrasses people on 3-4k suspension all the time..

You stated your not tracking your car, if you want a good ride and go low then bags are the way to do it.. Look up Noel and get his advice, the cat from Hawaii that's bagged, get his advice.. The haters of bags most likely never been on them.. These are not the bags from way back when, when bags on the same axle were T together and the vehical bobbed and weaved and swayed.. I think you'll find the kits made just for our car are more then enough performance for you.. If your trying to set lap records, then bags won't work.. If your wanting adjustable ride and a great quality ride.. Bags are what you want

Well aren't you special.

Just because you wouldn't buy a set for $800 doesn't mean there isn't a "best" option in that price range for someone like the OP who's only looking for a nice ride in his lowered car.

IMO this is the best post in this thread. If you were into tracking, springs rates would matter. Bags are the way to go for a low DD and will work damn well with 19s. It's pretty much the perfect answer for what you want which is great ride quality which will get you low but is easily raised so that you don't scrape and as long as you go with a reputable company you'll get good quality bags.

anybody have experience with these coilovers?

http://www.titanmotorsports.com/tyvecoforfr.html

I wish I could thank you all for your help but I don't have that ability yet, being a newer member lol..
Anywho; I guess bags does seem like my best option. You're right about the love hate thing. I was just caught up in all the hate and it drove me away from wanting bags :/
Now, backing up to the research I did on bags earlier... the only question left is.. Follow Noel and do Airrex.. Or follow Rotiform and go Air Lift Performance... :iono:

I have the $850 ST coilovers (same as KW V1) and love them. Spring rates are not too stiff, and they lower the car to 2" lower or more. They feel like they are valved correctly for the spring rates, and the ride is great.

I had Ohlins R&T coilovers on my last car with stiff spring rates, and while they were very nice, I never used the adjustments, and hated the ride.

The Ohlins might be a good choice if you want to spend more for a better coilover.

The KW V3 offers adjustability, and I think the same softer spring rates as the ST's for I think $2200.

And now you're just proving my point. I wouldn't, maybe OP would. There is no consensus, because there are different goals and different driving styles

lets just sit and think about that for a little bit...

im no expert but i agree you get what you pay for however ST coils seem to be good for the money or fortune auto.

You should get Penskes

Skip looking at coilovers. Eibach Pro-kit and Koni Sports.