Decent affordable coilovers
 

I installed Eibach Pro-Kit springs about 1.5 months ago and I'm not 100% on the ride height. My car is a DD year round so I thought a mild-drop was a good idea for when there is snow on the ground. But now I think it's not quite low enough, I'd like another .5" or so of a drop. And my drivers-side rear sits about .25" lower than the other 3 corners.

I don't want to get Sportlines because I don't want to be stuck being too low in the winter. So I am leaning towards adjustable coilovers so I can raise\drop the car by-season.

Are the Tein Street Basis coilovers decent for a DD? I don't track or anything, just strictly a daily driver. Any recommendations for the <= $800 range?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...426_103522.jpg

I strongly recommend the Tein's. We got our set from Mike @CSGMike and they are perfect for daily driving.

I also have Tein on my S14 and they provide a decent stance, while retaining ride comfort. Excellent value IMO

Nick C.

Thanks, I am going to definitely consider the Teins.

I'm torn though, there are times when I look at it and it looks clean and fine as-is. Then there are times when I can hardly tell it's lowered.

Here's a shot I just took
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...606_105229.jpg

I would also take into consideration that every time you raise or lower the car, you'll have to go get an alignment. Plus, will you really take the time to raise and lower it twice a year? I had the same thoughts as you when I first decided to put coilovers on my WRX back in 2002 and to be honest, I set them up for how I wanted them, got it aligned, and never touched the height again in the 10 years I had the car and was fine in NJ winters. I have KW V3's in the BRZ now and again, set the height and have been fine. It's quite a bit of work to have to lift, adjust, lower, measure all 4 corners twice a year and then have to get an alignment. Just something to think about.

Yea I know exactly what you mean, I had the same thought when I had my Integra GS-R years ago on Skunk2 coilovers. I set it and forget it, never touched the height once it was set even when purchasing the setup I had the thought of raising it for winters.

I commute 45 miles one-way to work so I need to have it drivable through snow in the winters. Maybe I'll set it only .5" lower than it is now, which may get me by in the winters. My commute is on heavily trafficked roads that rarely have any accumulation. I definitely do not want to spend $200 a year on alignments. I don't think my toe will be pushed out of spec by a variable .5"/.75".

I did just have it aligned about a month ago, so between the cost of the Eibach springs (~$200) and the alignment (~$95) I did throw money down the tubes, but I think I can probably sell the springs and get something back on them. They are hardly used, still have the box they came in. I just have to bite the bullet on yet another alignment if I get the coilovers.

When I was originally in the market for springs I had my mind set on the Sportlines, but I saw so many pictures of clean looking cars on these boards with the Pro Kit that I thought they'd be fine. Maybe I should have gone with a chubbier tire. Oh well, live and learn.

I don't know, I'm on the fence. The car does look clean as it sits now, just not quite as low as I'd like. My ride quality isn't like stock, but it's not terrible. My gf only complains sometimes.

I think your drop looks great, but I like the mild drop keeps it functional and keeps the factory geometry closer to spec.

do u need camber plates? If not, ST coils and call it a day?

Don't need plates.

I think just up close it looks worse, but from 20+ feet away it looks just right.

The extra .5" probably isn't worth ~$1,000.

A few hundo more... Bilstein B14. Can't be beat in the $1k range - Stainless steel build, monotube, inverted fronts, bilstein quality and engineering, rebuildable/revalvable/customizable, etc.

Keep in mind... Tein loves to rust (google it) ..and love to break too lol (adj knobs, shafts, lower strut mounts, etc).

RCE zero, ST, v1's, bilsteins all great entry level coils that can be had for not a lot of money.

Normally these are alot more. I have a set of the D2 Racing Circuit Series and I will tell you these are probably the best coilovers I have owned. I've had many different ones. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46606

They look nice, how is the build quality for the north east (snow\salt etc)?

Found them for $991 shipped
http://www.redline360.com/d2-racing-...AjEAiC0dfD_BwE

Build quality is top notch. Black coated and billet aluminum all painted. They come with top hats complete assembly swap out of original struts. These are BRAND NEW for $860 shipped. Retail from D2 Racing is $1,525.00. For the money they are better than most $1k coilovers. They also include NEW upgraded front adjustable sway bar end links.

why would you sell the best coilovers you have ever owned?

I've had zero problems with these and I really push my car. AutoX, Circuit track, and on the daily. There are people that have KW's that run $2,400 and break. :iono:

Please carefully READ the part where I said "I have a set of D2 Racing Circuit Series..." These are the RS Series that are for sale which are the STREET version of the ones that I own.

excuse me if im wrong but it just seems youre raving about this product while badmouthing kw in order to sell an extra set of coilovers.

I'm not bad mouthing anyone. Just stating you spend money on a decent set of coilovers that break. Most people hear of other companies that make coilovers and are scared because they aren't BC, Stance, Tein, KW, RS-R, etc.

Why are you selling them?

I have the Circuit Series installed in my car. No use for them.

@B-R-Z:

Since someone is so adamant on talking sht on KW...

My advice and to be blunt ..don't buy those "D2"s. Or better, do research..and then you'll figure out on your own what's quality and will not buy them.

There's a reason why someone needs to overhype them. Idk about you, but all the praise from one person about generic coilovers would is a red flag and make me suspicious....especially about coilovers with no good real reviews. Seems very suspicious and like someone is trying to trick/scam you.

Listen to others. There's a reason why you will read more than one (actually, several) person recommending the same coilovers (RCE, KW, Bilstein)...and that is because they're proven and good.

Summary - stick with something high quality (KW, RCE, Bilstein..or even Tein, HKS, etc.). Avoid cheap generic coilovers that are super cheap and too good to be true. (there's a reason why they are super cheap, but yet with so many features)

In a few words - You get what you pay for.

With Bilstein B14's at $1000, it boggles my mind why anyone would go for the other lower quality brands like BC, D2, and Megan for the same price. For quality, reliability, and durability for a daily driver, the Bilstein B14 should be a no-brainer.

If someone put a set of D2 coilovers and a set of Bilstein B14 on 2 different cars, and then inspected them after 3-5 years of DD use ...I will put money on the B14 that they will still be working fine, fully operable and in good condition..while the D2's will be corroded, blown and/or broken.

Yes...it's a bargain. I think the B14 retail is truly $1500 of engineering/quality (unlike some other generic coilovers that post high retail just to lure you in and trick you); but I bet they just lowered it because the market is heavily saturated.

I'd easily choose B14 if my budget was $1k....but I want to save a bit more and go for the T2 or R&T.

I may go bilstein, my buddy ran them for 3 years on his S2000 then sold them to a mutual friend who is still using them, total of ~10+ years.

rsr sports i

Everyone is suggesting coilovers. I have not heard anyone once suggest a Koni and an RCE yellow combo. Probably close if not compairible to the B14 without the height adjustability (rather single adjustable) or SS coating, for a similar price.

Because if you read the OP's post you would know that he wants to be able to adjust the height between summer and winter. You can't do that with Koni's and RCE yellows.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

It's so superfluous to keep raising and lowering the ride height, needing an alignment every time. But if it's height adjustability you want then B14 will last you a long time.

And please remember for coilovers to work properly they do need to be rebuilt once and a while, which is dependent on usage.

Yes I know, we hit this already in an earlier post. I would probably set it at a height that will work for both seasons..or just have an alignment done for summer height. I'm just afraid to go with a spring again and not be 100% content with height.

The issue with needing an alignment after each height adjustment was also made earlier in the thread. It can be mitigated somewhat in the front if you have camber plates and mark them for each height. That would at least get you close and as long as the difference in height wasn't too much, the toe shouldn't be impacted too drastically. The issue would be the rear since camber and toe are interlinked.

As for requiring rebuilds, true, but the same can be said for just using replacement shocks and lowering springs as the shocks will wear out after time and need to be replaced.

You can also search the springs on this forum for their height and see which one you like the best, if that might be applicable.

RCE yellows offer little drop, so that might not be for you. There's also the RS*R which drop a lot more, something to think about. Don't neglect those options and look at all the springs. you may look over a set of springs that would have been ideal height, but spent more for a coilover setup.

This kind of thinking will get you the best bang for you buck; in terms of ride quality, overall performance, and visual appeal.

That's what I did with prokit springs, I looked at a ton of pics and thought it looked perfect.

Idk, I might not even do anything. I'm like 80% content with it. Might not be worth a grand to go through with it, or if I do I might wait til next season. I do like not scraping my bumper on everything.

Raising and lowering would be not only a pain in ass between seasons but don't forget alignment costs and time to in the equation. While it's a nice thought I think year 2 you'd be like F this... Take your time and don't cheap out or jump to something you're not happy with. For a DD and not going to low Prokit springs, RCE etc is likely just fine for your needs.

That's true, but not everyone would be willing to hack up their stock suspension to fit those Koni inserts. If anything, I'd rather get the Bilstein B8. But then again they cost more than the B14 once you factor in springs. So in the end it's still better to just get B14. I reckon they are the best bang for buck DD coilovers on the market.

I may just stick with the Pro Kit springs. I really like how I never scrape my bumper on anything and my ride quality is decent. The drop does look good, I think only on some angles and lighting it looks like there's more fender gap than there really is. From a distance it looks absolutely perfect. I do not track the car or anything, so the drop is only for aesthetics. For an extra .25"-.5" drop it probably isnt worth ~$1k+.

You're right. Good call.