Choice of Coilovers?

[Enraged21]

Need some advice on what to get. I currently don't track my car. Only DD w/ some spirited driving. I'm looking to close a little bit of that wheel gap while still maintaining the ride quality (Stock or better).

I want to drop it about 2 inches but I read that dropping it too much will affect CoG and other suspension variables.

I'm looking at Ground Control. Only thing I heard was the ride was too bouncy. I like a firm ride.

Also cross shopping STANCE and Fortune Auto 500 since they're all not too far in price (about ~$100 difference in each)

I've read plenty of reviews of each coilover and narrowed it down to those three but I'm still undecided.

What would you guys suggest?

[fatoni]

two inches is a lot. lowering the car that much will do good for your cog but could be bad for the bigger picture. imo (which translates to no firsthand experience but based on the reputation of the companies), the ground controls are going to be the best of those.

you just spent a lot of money on a new car. dont get cheap on the parts that count.

[Enraged21]

Or I might just wait til ARK comes out with their DT-P coilovers. I just love their products.

[Enraged21]

Originally Posted by fatoni

two inches is a lot. lowering the car that much will do good for your cog but could be bad for the bigger picture. imo (which translates to no firsthand experience but based on the reputation of the companies), the ground controls are going to be the best of those.

you just spent a lot of money on a new car. dont get cheap on the parts that count.

I don't want to go cheap. But just can't afford KW's or Ohlins. I'd have to wait a year just to get those coilovers.

Also, how would lowering the car that low be bad in the long run?

[Alabang 86]

save your pennies (lots of pennies) and go for the Ohlins, just the fact that you know what they look like, make them the best.

[cnk]

Originally Posted by Enraged21

I don't want to go cheap. But just can't afford KW's or Ohlins. I'd have to wait a year just to get those coilovers.

Also, how would lowering the car that low be bad in the long run?

If you can't afford it, than that means you need to be more patient and save up more or give up budget elsewhere. Maybe skip the rims for a few months or look for a used set instead. If you rush just because you want to get everything now, chances are you'll end up paying more in the end if you buy something of lesser quality that doesn't last.

As for lowering the car, you are forgetting that lowering the car affects other aspects of the suspension geometry. If you just lower it and don't correct the other areas, you're asking for trouble. That trouble can be bad handling, uneven wear of tires, premature wear of tires, scraping everywhere you go, etc. If budget really is an issue, can you afford to be replacing tires all the time because your camber/toe settings are all over the place?

If your goal is just to lower it for looks, then just get some drop springs with a moderate drop and be done with it. Something like RCE Yellows would allow you to keep the stock dampers and should be mild enough that you can still get alignment back in spec without much cost. At the worst, probably just some camber bolts. If you go the coilover route and drop it 2" or more, than you'll most likely need camber bolts or adjustable top plates for the front and either an adjustable LCA or UCA. If you go with the LCA, then you may also need to upgrade your toe links if the stock ones don't give you enough adjustment. So you can see how your idea to spend $1k for coilovers to drop the car for looks could quickly snowball into a larger investment.

Don't get caught up in the "bling" factor just to say you have coilovers. There are folks on here that either truly have a use for them, i.e. track their cars, or they know what they want and have the budget for it.

[Enraged21]

Originally Posted by cnk

If you can't afford it, than that means you need to be more patient and save up more or give up budget elsewhere. Maybe skip the rims for a few months or look for a used set instead. If you rush just because you want to get everything now, chances are you'll end up paying more in the end if you buy something of lesser quality that doesn't last.

As for lowering the car, you are forgetting that lowering the car affects other aspects of the suspension geometry. If you just lower it and don't correct the other areas, you're asking for trouble. That trouble can be bad handling, uneven wear of tires, premature wear of tires, scraping everywhere you go, etc. If budget really is an issue, can you afford to be replacing tires all the time because your camber/toe settings are all over the place?

If your goal is just to lower it for looks, then just get some drop springs with a moderate drop and be done with it. Something like RCE Yellows would allow you to keep the stock dampers and should be mild enough that you can still get alignment back in spec without much cost. At the worst, probably just some camber bolts. If you go the coilover route and drop it 2" or more, than you'll most likely need camber bolts or adjustable top plates for the front and either an adjustable LCA or UCA. If you go with the LCA, then you may also need to upgrade your toe links if the stock ones don't give you enough adjustment. So you can see how your idea to spend $1k for coilovers to drop the car for looks could quickly snowball into a larger investment.

Don't get caught up in the "bling" factor just to say you have coilovers. There are folks on here that either truly have a use for them, i.e. track their cars, or they know what they want and have the budget for it.

My main concern would probably be the suspension geometry.
If I went with Stance I would end up getting their LCAs as well.

I'm a noob and just don't know what goes hand in hand with each other.
This is my first car, and first time modding as well. Definitely want to do it right.

[ShikoBariki]

Stance is good quality coils the are based in japan and have come a long way and now here in US. I would recommened getting the matching LCA from stance and maybe looking into GTspec toe arms and match it with gtspec LCA. then you are going to need to upgrade your front and rear endlinks. Whiteline offers these if you want to stick with one manufacturer.

my current set up is Stance coils, LCA, gtspec adjustable toe arms whiteline rear and front endlinks. Although i need some alignment done it is working out as of right now. As cnk mentioned you need to determine how far you would go as far as budget and quality. You get what you pay for and if you do shortcut be prepared for consequences if any does occur.

best advice is save up and do some research as to what exactly you are trying to achieve with you set up. Suspension should not be taken lightly as CNK mentioned it is one of the main things most people dont understand that has a great impact how a car performs and handles.

if any corrections need to be made correct me

[Enraged21]

Originally Posted by ShikoBariki

Stance is good quality coils the are based in japan and have come a long way and now here in US. I would recommened getting the matching LCA from stance and maybe looking into GTspec toe arms and match it with gtspec LCA. then you are going to need to upgrade your front and rear endlinks. Whiteline offers these if you want to stick with one manufacturer.

my current set up is Stance coils, LCA, gtspec adjustable toe arms whiteline rear and front endlinks. Although i need some alignment done it is working out as of right now. As cnk mentioned you need to determine how far you would go as far as budget and quality. You get what you pay for and if you do shortcut be prepared for consequences if any does occur.

best advice is save up and do some research as to what exactly you are trying to achieve with you set up. Suspension should not be taken lightly as CNK mentioned it is one of the main things most people dont understand that has a great impact how a car performs and handles.

if any corrections need to be made correct me

I plan on going with Stance coilovers with the LCA. How low of a drop can I get with that set up without affecting the suspension geometry?

[EnjukuAK]

Anytime you go with coilovers it is going to compromise ride quality/smoothness of ride, but some obviously a bit more than others.

On our shop car we have run the BC Racing BR type, in my opinion they ride pretty well, a bit more bouncy than the stock suspension, and over harsh bumps/transitions they are a good amount more stiff, but nothing too harsh.

The Stance and Fortune should ride reasonably similar.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Enraged21

Need some advice on what to get. I currently don't track my car. Only DD w/ some spirited driving. I'm looking to close a little bit of that wheel gap while still maintaining the ride quality (Stock or better).

I want to drop it about 2 inches but I read that dropping it too much will affect CoG and other suspension variables.

I'm looking at Ground Control. Only thing I heard was the ride was too bouncy. I like a firm ride.

Also cross shopping STANCE and Fortune Auto 500 since they're all not too far in price (about ~$100 difference in each)

I've read plenty of reviews of each coilover and narrowed it down to those three but I'm still undecided.

What would you guys suggest?

You'll get what you pay for. They're perfectly fine for lowering and/or stancing a car, but I wouldn't recommend either for any sort of spirited driving. Keep in mind, when reading reviews, that most guys that stance their cars do not do any sort of remotely spirited driving.

You always want to set up your car for the harshest/worst case scenario they will ever see. This is why the car comes with airbags; you never want to USE them, but they're there when you need em. Harshest/worst case scenario.

Spending a little more coin will go a long way in getting you that extra handling you're looking for.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by EnjukuAK

Anytime you go with coilovers it is going to compromise ride quality/smoothness of ride, but some obviously a bit more than others.

On our shop car we have run the BC Racing BR type, in my opinion they ride pretty well, a bit more bouncy than the stock suspension, and over harsh bumps/transitions they are a good amount more stiff, but nothing too harsh.

The Stance and Fortune should ride reasonably similar.

That could not be less true. A well damped (and properly set up) system will ride *better* than stock. You'll have a very refined ride where you know exactly what is going on with the road (whether it's bumpy, smooth, rough, etc.) but without jarring, intrusive feedback and enhanced cornering grip.

Unfortunately, you typically don't see that kind of ride quality until you get to the higher end dampers.

[Enraged21]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

That could not be less true. A well damped (and properly set up) system will ride *better* than stock. You'll have a very refined ride where you know exactly what is going on with the road (whether it's bumpy, smooth, rough, etc.) but without jarring, intrusive feedback and enhanced cornering grip.

Unfortunately, you typically don't see that kind of ride quality until you get to the higher end dampers.

So what setup would you recommend?

[FRS2NV]

HSd is pretty oplualr and offer smooth ride if your looking for a set!