Best performance coilover for DD? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

spanishricer · 11-11-2006, 02:58 PM

Well here's the deal gentlemen. I've been running KTS coilovers on my car for the past year and a half. Nice coilover for the price, but they didn't turn out to be quite what I expected. I love them when I'm out having fun with the car around the twisties. But I hate them when I'm doing pretty much anything else. They're just too stiff. And there is no "soft" setting, from what I've found. I daily drive my car about 65 miles round trip daily, and not all the roads are perfectly smooth. Needless to say, the ride is bouncy and I pop up my rear wheels a couple times a day.

So I'm thinking about selling the KTS setup and investing in another coilover. Something a bit more comfortable, but still performance oriented. Like I said, I daily drive the car, so the ride quality can't be too harsh. I don't drift or autocross the car. Mostly just highway driving, some backroad fun, and an occasional trip to the drag strip. But I'd like something I could stiffen up, just in case we ever do have a track day.

Any feedback on a certain coilover setup that you've tried that seems like it might fit my driving style would be much appreciated. I'm mostly looking for real-world feedback, from people that have actually driven on the coilovers. I've read plenty of reviews on the newer stuff, (Tanabe Sustec Pro-7's look real nice on paper) but don't want to invest in a coilover that may or may not be what I'm looking for.

theicecreamdan · 11-11-2006, 03:54 PM

just buy some softer springs for the KTS coils.

TKfoshori · 11-11-2006, 03:58 PM

whats your spring rate, i cant imagine kts's being too stiff.

TAMTANIUM · 11-11-2006, 04:03 PM

KTS is soo nice to me
If you think that's stiff, then i don't know what to say...
Try loosen up the spring compress collars and put the damper to fully soft.

If you're not happy still after that. Get KYB shocks and Eibach springs. Guarantee you will be happy.

drew935 · 11-11-2006, 04:59 PM

I'm running Swift Springs - 6/4kg...my ride is a 100x better than running my normal Cusco setup. Running Cusco zero2's w/Swift Springs with the rest of stock suspension. The only other thing I added was subframe spacers. This is my dd and my car very balanced even for those 90mph highway curves.

oh yeah my Cusco springs that I had in there are 10/8kg. Shock setting is still at 2-front/ 1-rear

naed240sx · 11-11-2006, 05:44 PM

First of all, don't say kts are bouncy. Bouncy is when you have blown shocks. The ride is rough or harsh, but not bouncy.

Another vouch here for some softer springs. QA1 and others sell springs that will fit in 7/5 rates and others.

Jung918 · 11-11-2006, 09:32 PM

My friend has flex on his SW11 and it is really comfortable. Ask around and see if you can get a ride with someone with them.

nissantfsx · 11-11-2006, 10:00 PM

i think our definition of stiffness varies since we all have our own standards of what is stiff and what is not...
if coilover dampers are giving u a hard time...something like tokico shocks and tein springs would be nice...
i have megan track series on my car and i drive alittle over 50 miles daily...its pretty stiff...but i like it =)

ranisron · 11-11-2006, 11:00 PM

I have AGX + RSR race springs (5kg/4kg) = decent DD...

JVD · 11-11-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jung918

My friend has flex on his SW11 and it is really comfortable. Ask around and see if you can get a ride with someone with them.

Flex suck ass. My GR-6 ride 10x better. IMO obviously...

spanishricer · 11-13-2006, 12:29 PM

I'd rather stay with a true coilover setup, so it looks like my best bet will be to swap to some softer springs. Thanks guys.

*ManoNegra* · 11-13-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAMTANIUM

Get KYB shocks and Eibach springs. Guarantee you will be happy.

Coilovers =/ comfort. Aftermarket springs and shocks is the way to go for comfort but then you won't be looking l33t.

azndummie · 11-13-2006, 05:14 PM

flex's are a good balance ive ridden in them

GSXRJJordan · 11-13-2006, 11:59 PM

I love my Tanabe Sevens - I DD my car, and I was expecting as harsh a ride as Megan Track coils (12/10 springs, while my Tanabes are 10/8), but I was VERY pleasantly suprised. I set them right in the middle as far as damping, and they have a great ride around town. You definitely feel big bumps, tracks very well on everything. I would say it feel almost exactly like my dad's 02 corvette Z06 suspension - which is what I was comparing it to

aznpoopy · 11-14-2006, 08:44 AM

i might get flak for this but

my friend bought some nismo r-tune coilovers; 8/7 rate.
i got a ride along along route 1 in NJ... not a pleasant road to drive on with coils. ..
it was amazingly smooth. it felt like a spring shock set up. i was amazed. it was about 10x more comfortable than my silkroads, which have the same spring rate. the ride was stiff, but it handled even the biggest bumps pretty well.

downside is the inevitable nismo mark up, and the coilovers are only adjustable by shock perch iirc.

Silverbullet · 11-14-2006, 09:05 AM

advertisers only list spring rates which may be misleading towards how stiff a set of coilvers will feel. You have to realize that the dampening and rebound will contribute to how stiff your ride will be. I have Tein HA coilovers with advertised 8/6 kg/mm spring rate while my friend has Megan 8/6 on his WRX and my other friend has K-Sport (remember those? lol) 10/8 on his S14 240. My Tein HAs feel stiffer than BOTH of those. Valving inside the dampeners make a huge difference although i would advise the Ksport, Megan or D2 coilovers for daily driving. Ive never felt KTS before so i dont know how those are compared to Ksport, Megan or D2.

If your really picky about comfort... look into shock and spring combo.

yudalicious · 11-14-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishricer

I'd rather stay with a true coilover setup, so it looks like my best bet will be to swap to some softer springs. Thanks guys.

last time I checked even the stock springs "coil over" the shock body...
the KTS has a TON of damping, a TON I tell you, getting TOO SOFT of springs willl result in a less than ideal set up. IF you think the KTS are too uncomfortable, just get some KYBs and Eibach pro kits, you can still call them coilovers if you'd like, because they are.

edit: since you don't really do any sort of real performance driving, just stick to shocks/springs.

*ManoNegra* · 11-14-2006, 09:42 AM

Also, having the car corner balanced helps a great deal. Have you tried that? Not cheap though.

drift freaq · 11-14-2006, 10:50 AM

If your looking for a good spring shock combo Tokico blue with Espelier springs works real nice. I had it on my coupe daily driver and the car was stiff and handled well but rode real smooth. A lot of people complemented the car on the suspension.
Coilovers wise what most people are saying is true. Most coilovers if bouncy are not adjusted right. A lot of people are running KTS and while not quite as nice as Stance or Tannabe 7's , enough people run them without complaints I would say you need to play with them more. Otherwise take them off, sell them to me. Get springs and shocks.

spanishricer · 11-14-2006, 11:15 AM

Haha, ok...I'm not going to swap in a shock/spring combo. A day will come when this car is no longer my DD, and I'd rather not downgrade my suspension setup now only to have to upgrade it again later. I'm just looking for a more versatile coilover setup, where there is actually a soft setting to go along with the hard setting.

ManoNegra, I haven't had the car corner balanced yet. I'm saving that for later on down the road, when the car is "finished."

articdragon192 · 11-14-2006, 11:15 AM

+1 for Flexes. I love mine.

yudalicious · 11-14-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishricer

Haha, ok...I'm not going to swap in a shock/spring combo. A day will come when this car is no longer my DD, and I'd rather not downgrade my suspension setup now only to have to upgrade it again later. I'm just looking for a more versatile coilover setup, where there is actually a soft setting to go along with the hard setting.

ManoNegra, I haven't had the car corner balanced yet. I'm saving that for later on down the road, when the car is "finished."

I doubt 7/5 spring rates will be comfortable enough for you, maybe even not 6/5? The problem isn't solely with the rates, the KTS has oodles of damping, it's curve is also more linear than degressive, so at high piston speeds like bumps and potholes it can be a pain. For a more versatile shock, maybe try Koni yellows? Never used them, but everyone raves about them.

240on430 · 11-14-2006, 11:08 PM

This thread and my small budget helped me decide to stick w/non adjustable coilovers. Anyone have sportlines for an S13?

11-11-2006, 02:58 PM	#1
spanishricer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arlington, TX Age: 44 Posts: 329 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: spanishricer Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Best performance coilover for DD? Well here's the deal gentlemen. I've been running KTS coilovers on my car for the past year and a half. Nice coilover for the price, but they didn't turn out to be quite what I expected. I love them when I'm out having fun with the car around the twisties. But I hate them when I'm doing pretty much anything else. They're just too stiff. And there is no "soft" setting, from what I've found. I daily drive my car about 65 miles round trip daily, and not all the roads are perfectly smooth. Needless to say, the ride is bouncy and I pop up my rear wheels a couple times a day. So I'm thinking about selling the KTS setup and investing in another coilover. Something a bit more comfortable, but still performance oriented. Like I said, I daily drive the car, so the ride quality can't be too harsh. I don't drift or autocross the car. Mostly just highway driving, some backroad fun, and an occasional trip to the drag strip. But I'd like something I could stiffen up, just in case we ever do have a track day. Any feedback on a certain coilover setup that you've tried that seems like it might fit my driving style would be much appreciated. I'm mostly looking for real-world feedback, from people that have actually driven on the coilovers. I've read plenty of reviews on the newer stuff, (Tanabe Sustec Pro-7's look real nice on paper) but don't want to invest in a coilover that may or may not be what I'm looking for. __________________

11-11-2006, 03:58 PM	#3
TKfoshori Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: WashingtoN Age: 37 Posts: 63 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	whats your spring rate, i cant imagine kts's being too stiff. __________________ For Sale

11-11-2006, 04:59 PM	#5
drew935 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silver Creek - San Jose Posts: 996 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm running Swift Springs - 6/4kg...my ride is a 100x better than running my normal Cusco setup. Running Cusco zero2's w/Swift Springs with the rest of stock suspension. The only other thing I added was subframe spacers. This is my dd and my car very balanced even for those 90mph highway curves. oh yeah my Cusco springs that I had in there are 10/8kg. Shock setting is still at 2-front/ 1-rear __________________ I'm driving fast -drew

11-11-2006, 09:32 PM	#7
Jung918 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CA Posts: 3,203 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	My friend has flex on his SW11 and it is really comfortable. Ask around and see if you can get a ride with someone with them. __________________ Sale: Hello Kitty Horn Button S14 Rear Valences K.Y. Gordon the Thief (Tony Chen)

11-11-2006, 11:00 PM	#9
ranisron Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bloomington, IN Age: 43 Posts: 766 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have AGX + RSR race springs (5kg/4kg) = decent DD... __________________ U13 and S13 zilvia members are friendly

11-11-2006, 04:03 PM	#4
TAMTANIUM Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Socal. wc Age: 38 Posts: 1,022 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	KTS is soo nice to me If you think that's stiff, then i don't know what to say... Try loosen up the spring compress collars and put the damper to fully soft. If you're not happy still after that. Get KYB shocks and Eibach springs. Guarantee you will be happy.

11-11-2006, 05:44 PM	#6
naed240sx Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 206 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	First of all, don't say kts are bouncy. Bouncy is when you have blown shocks. The ride is rough or harsh, but not bouncy. Another vouch here for some softer springs. QA1 and others sell springs that will fit in 7/5 rates and others.

11-11-2006, 10:00 PM	#8
nissantfsx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Castro Valley/Oakland/Davis Age: 40 Posts: 111 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i think our definition of stiffness varies since we all have our own standards of what is stiff and what is not... if coilover dampers are giving u a hard time...something like tokico shocks and tein springs would be nice... i have megan track series on my car and i drive alittle over 50 miles daily...its pretty stiff...but i like it =)

11-13-2006, 12:29 PM	#11
spanishricer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arlington, TX Age: 44 Posts: 329 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: spanishricer Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'd rather stay with a true coilover setup, so it looks like my best bet will be to swap to some softer springs. Thanks guys. __________________

11-13-2006, 05:14 PM	#13
azndummie Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: orange county Posts: 1,362 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	flex's are a good balance ive ridden in them __________________

11-13-2006, 11:59 PM	#14
GSXRJJordan Post Whore! Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,135 Trader Rating: (19) Rides Gallery: GSXRJJordan Feedback Score: 19 reviews	I love my Tanabe Sevens - I DD my car, and I was expecting as harsh a ride as Megan Track coils (12/10 springs, while my Tanabes are 10/8), but I was VERY pleasantly suprised. I set them right in the middle as far as damping, and they have a great ride around town. You definitely feel big bumps, tracks very well on everything. I would say it feel almost exactly like my dad's 02 corvette Z06 suspension - which is what I was comparing it to __________________ Jordan Innovations has a new web site! www.JordanInnovations.com -- All your favorite FD Pro Drifters love it, trust me -- www.JordanInnovations.com

11-14-2006, 08:44 AM	#15
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i might get flak for this but my friend bought some nismo r-tune coilovers; 8/7 rate. i got a ride along along route 1 in NJ... not a pleasant road to drive on with coils. .. it was amazingly smooth. it felt like a spring shock set up. i was amazed. it was about 10x more comfortable than my silkroads, which have the same spring rate. the ride was stiff, but it handled even the biggest bumps pretty well. downside is the inevitable nismo mark up, and the coilovers are only adjustable by shock perch iirc.

11-14-2006, 09:42 AM	#18
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	Also, having the car corner balanced helps a great deal. Have you tried that? Not cheap though.

11-14-2006, 10:50 AM	#19
drift freaq R.I.P. Aya, always love Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood Posts: 18,564 Trader Rating: (215) Rides Gallery: drift freaq Feedback Score: 215 reviews	If your looking for a good spring shock combo Tokico blue with Espelier springs works real nice. I had it on my coupe daily driver and the car was stiff and handled well but rode real smooth. A lot of people complemented the car on the suspension. Coilovers wise what most people are saying is true. Most coilovers if bouncy are not adjusted right. A lot of people are running KTS and while not quite as nice as Stance or Tannabe 7's , enough people run them without complaints I would say you need to play with them more. Otherwise take them off, sell them to me. Get springs and shocks. __________________ "Having a lot of tracks on a song is like putting stickers on a car to get more horsepower" New Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebV1OnbRsw Buy my mounts! http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items/51531...ns-mounts.html http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/317539...e-mouts-6.html

11-14-2006, 11:15 AM	#20
spanishricer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arlington, TX Age: 44 Posts: 329 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: spanishricer Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Haha, ok...I'm not going to swap in a shock/spring combo. A day will come when this car is no longer my DD, and I'd rather not downgrade my suspension setup now only to have to upgrade it again later. I'm just looking for a more versatile coilover setup, where there is actually a soft setting to go along with the hard setting. ManoNegra, I haven't had the car corner balanced yet. I'm saving that for later on down the road, when the car is "finished." __________________

11-14-2006, 11:15 AM	#21
articdragon192 Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West covina Age: 39 Posts: 6,792 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	+1 for Flexes. I love mine.

11-14-2006, 11:08 PM	#23
240on430 Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 230 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This thread and my small budget helped me decide to stick w/non adjustable coilovers. Anyone have sportlines for an S13?