HKS Hipermax GT or SP?

[Scott@HKSUSA]

Here at HKS USA HQ we get asked about the differences between the Hipermax GT and SP series quite a bit. And while either series work great on the street and/or track, choosing the right series for your needs and expectations will only add to your driving enjoyment. So to help dispel the myths and rumors between the GT and SP series,we put together this short & sweet video to explain how they're different. Please enjoy!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR_rNCScwx0"]HKS Hipermax IV GT vs. SP Coilovers - YouTube[/ame]

For specs & more info, please check out:
http://www.hksusa.com/frs-brz-hipermax-4-gt-suspension/

http://www.hksusa.com/br-z-frs-hiper...sp-suspension/

[finch1750]

@OmarYasin

[tahdizzle]

I am very pleased with my SP coilovers.

Ride is tolerable and being able to adjust for my autoX/track days is defintely a must.

[Shankenstein]

Thanks for posting up the video, and it's always good to have an industry representatives on the forums.

Question 1: You said that the SP is 5-25% stiffer, but Evasive (and your website) list the same spring rates and damping ratios. The spring rates in our thread are different from that too. Link to BRZ/FRS Suspension Options Thread Mind helping us straighten it out?

Question 2: What is PNE?

My wild guess is physical vapor deposition of a nitride powder coat onto a eutectoid steel. Start with a low-carbon alloy that won't rust too easily, then case harden it at low temps with a material that also colors and coats it.

[mrk1]

Very pleased with my SP's

[PeterFRS]

im in the market for coilovers for coming season,
thank you for straightening that out! it was always a grey area that i could not get a certain answer.

[troek]

@Scott@HKSUSA so would you say the preset damper setting on the SPs is critical dampening?

[Scott@HKSUSA]

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

Thanks for posting up the video, and it's always good to have an industry representatives on the forums.

Question 1: You said that the SP is 5-25% stiffer, but Evasive (and your website) list the same spring rates and damping ratios. The spring rates in our thread are different from that too. Link to BRZ/FRS Suspension Options Thread Mind helping us straighten it out?

Someone may have fat-fingered a copy/paste, but the SP spring rates for the FRS are 25% firmer on the front and 50% firmer on the rear. Front damping is the same between the GT & SP, rear damping is 28% firmer on the SPs.

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

Question 2: What is PNE?

My wild guess is physical vapor deposition of a nitride powder coat onto a eutectoid steel. Start with a low-carbon alloy that won't rust too easily, then case harden it at low temps with a material that also colors and coats it.

You may be 100% correct, it's the name for the process but I don't know the make-up or ingredients. I'll see what I can find out and get back to you guys on that.

[tahdizzle]

So... one question still not answered @Scott@HKSUSA, who makes the coilovers?

[Scott@HKSUSA]

Originally Posted by troek

@Scott@HKSUSA so would you say the preset damper setting on the SPs is critical dampening?

I'm not sure I'd say it's "critical," it's just HKS' recommended starting point. After they tracked the car at Fuji Speedway and after they've blasted through the back mountain roads by HKS, their drivers and engineers determine the optimum damping setting for the best handling and comfort for either condition. And that's the baseline damping setting Hipermax coilovers get shipped out with. Ride height is evaluated & set the same way.

Based on your car's mods & weight, you may find your best track setting at +10 clicks from baseline. Driving home from the track -5 clicks from baseline may be the most comfortable for your roads. But that's entirely up to you.

[Scott@HKSUSA]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

So... one question still not answered @Scott@HKSUSA, who makes the coilovers?

haha. Not the first person to question.

Without hesitation I can honestly report that every Hipermax coilover is 100% designed, manufactured, assembled, tested, and shipped from HKS' Fujinomiya facility in Japan. I've stood next to the employees while they hand assemble every coilover with white gloves. I've been in the machine shop and watched raw stock get machined into bodies and shafts. I've watched the pistons get final machined and qualified. I've watched raw spring steel get wound & cut into the coils. I've been 190+ mph in R&D cars during Hipermax testing at Fuji. It is real deal race car stuff.

HKS takes their suspension so seriously, the Japanese government endorses it for earthquake suspension in building foundations over there. And those shocks are made by the same people on the same assembly line as the Hipermax coilovers for our cars. Needless to say, quality, performance, and attention to detail is extremely high. Almost ridiculously high.

I digress but HKS takes a lot of pride in their suspension operation. It's not re-branded or manufactured by anyone but HKS in Japan.

[troek]

interesting. yeah im still trying to determine the best settings to use on my SPs. Im not a consistent enough driver to let lap times decide so ive kind of been using how it feels on the track and how it handles bumps on the highway and such.

[TylerLieberman]

I had HKS Hipermax II Coilovers on my S14 way back. Had them on the car for about 4 years and never had a single issue.

Fantastic system and I'd definitely recommend them to anybody looking for a good all around setup.

[GT86drifter]

"from the factory the frs/brz shocks are inverted" .....WUT?!