So I've read all the faq's in the suspension section (which hasn't been updated for a while). I've done tons of searches. But I'd like to hear what ppl are running now, their comments, and what their primary use is for (autox / HPDE / Street etc.)

My purpose for asking this question is because this will be my 2nd year autoxing / HPDE's. I want to become fairly competitive in BSP but also improve my HPDE experiences and learn all the trick's of the trade regarding dialing suspensions (within budget). I'll be running 265/35 RE11's when they come out in March. And honestly, I'm a little concerned for the large fendern gap I'll have running that tire size with stock springs. HOWEVER, performance will still hold priority over looks. I'm just a bit torn between a good spring / shock combo or coilovers.

So if possible, can the regular HPDE'ers / Autox'ers / Road Racer's post up the following info:

What suspension setup are you running (please state coil-overs / shock spring combo:
Swaybars:
What % street / autox / track do you drive:
Comments (ie. too soft springs, hard to reach adjuster nut, too much front bias etc.):

As for me, I don't think I'll be corner balancing the car just yet, I think I'll need more seat time this year than anything. But I'm starting my research

 

Rob - if your going to spend the money on a good spring/shock combo you would be better off with coilovers. They will cost approximatly the same but you will have much more adjustability with the coilovers. When I get some funds, I will be going with KW2. IMO these are a great balance for somone who drives their car on the weekends and likes to hit up a track/autox every once in a while. This is just my.02

 

Funny seeing this thread here as I am in the exact same situation. I am actually looking to get my car spec'd for BSP over the next year and suspension is one of the biggest things. I should preface that my reply is going to be strictly from the prospective of Auto-x, as that is what I have run. I've also run for 2 complete seasons.

Link to rule book:
http://www.scca.com/documents/Solo%2...lo_Rules_2.pdf

I'm not running anything yet but I plan to run Ohlins or Bilstien coilovers. If you want to be competitive, I suggest you take Evo School first and spend money on make yourself a better driver.

 

JIC FLT-A2's 10kg front, 12kg rear, but might change to the megan coilovers
Hotchkis sway bars
Used them for track, jic's are very stiff

 

you'd be doing yourself a disfavor by downgrading.

FLT-A2s are stiff i agree, but handles well when properly setup..

JIC's quality is better than some of the questionable Megan stuff..

if you want a good street coilover that can be trackable.. kw v3s offer great ride quality (lower spring rates vs their Japanese counterparts), and adjustability (bump/rebound) for the track. i am running on the kw clubsports. which i would think are great track coilovers that are streetable. the valving is different and i believe the spring rates are higher in the clubsports vs the v3.. if you're concerned with looks, the KWs can only be lowered a certain amount before you start reducing shock travel... setups like Zeal, TEIN, HKS have the tube that can be threaded lower to reduce ride height while keeping stock/piston travel the same regardless of height.. which was very nice.. but i'm not slammed, don't want to be... so the KWs are serving me well. my only complaint is KW's bump adjustment on the clubsports is a REAL pita. have to basically lift the car to get underneath to adjust...

my auto-xing friends have koni yellow/hotchkis spring with hotchkis f&r sway bars. honestly.. a great setup for budget conscious and if you dont get out to the track all the time, this is pretty good bang for buck...

regardless of which setup you choose, if you dont have the proper alignment and settings done correctly, it'll all be for waste... corner balance for coilovers and adjusting proper camber/toe settings play a big difference on feel.

 

I've got Koni Sports adjustable struts coupled with Tom Motorsports adjustable springs. I'm lowered ~2". The setup is real stiff but great for autocross & road course. In addition, the entire setup cost me $400 (Konis were bought used for $300).

 

Yea i was planning on going with KW's also but a bit out of my budget right now. Reading the Bilstein review ppl are saying the springs were too soft. But I guess that's a good thing for a dd/weekend warrior? Plus since I feel I'm so new to this, I wouldn't know how to get the most out of a top quality coilover

That's what I'm looking for!! A nice budget setup. I was hoping some ppl would chime in to comment on which springs would be good.

Would the typical eibach pro kit type lowering spring work well with an adjustable shock like the tokico dspecs?

 

Coilovers: Stance Gr+ 12k front 5k rear true coilover
Sways: Nismo
Front A-arms: Cusco
Purpose: Daily, autox atleast once a month, drift and road course several times a year.

I really enjoy my setup, I'm getting the car corner balanced in a few weeks and hopefully it'll feel even better.

 

I run koni yellow shock w/hotchkis spring and hotchkis f&r sway bars. I run some HPDE and mainly TT now...this is a pretty fast for the buck setup..

Note: You have to jack up the rear to adjust the rear shocks...but that isn't a big deal

I really like this setup...but might go with slightly stiffer springs...

 

What would your suggest for stiffer springs than Hotchkis?

I plan on running Koni Yellows/ with Hotchkis springs and bars.

 

RS*R Ti2000 springs
Hotchkis "V2"? sways (softest front setting, middle rear setting,)
Koni Yellows (a hair softer than the halfway point, both front and rear.)
9.5X17 +35mm R and 8.5X17 +31mm front SSR Comp-H wheels (about 16lbs/each)

I am running two different brands of tires and a staggered 275/255 setup. (Kumho XS rear and Dunlop Star Spec front.) I have a matching set of XS in the same staggered setup ready to mount once my present set shows some cord, (Shouldn't be long) and hope to soften up the rear sway bar once they are on.

(The XS's have a little more grip than the Star Spec's, once they heat up.)

I drive a company vehicle so I wouldn't call my Z a DD. However I do autocross at least two days / month, and I don't change anything other than air pressure at the track. The car is "dialed in" pretty well between street and track.

 

I agree some of the megan products are questionable, but happen to know that the megan coilovers are made from the same manufacturer that does apexi coilovers. I wouldnt mind the kw's but they are a little pricey.

 

Let me put it to you this way.

I ran the Megan coilovers your talking about as a test to generate a review at the request of Megan.

I disliked them so much that I never heard a reply from the vendor that shipped them to me. They have terrible damping and the only way I could get rid of them was to purchase softer front springs. Otherwise as a honest person I would have tossed them in dumpster rather then wishing how they were on another living soul.

 

just cuz its from the same mfg as Apexi.. doesn't mean the valving specs are the same, nor the internals...

i mean megan makes decent stuff for things that don't matter.. i.e. shift ****. or exhaust midpipe, or muffler, or strut bar.. but when it comes to stuff that adversely affect car handling (coilovers, sways) and take G-load.. i'd just save up a few hundred more and get a used set of something better...

 

i guess i'll throw my .02 in here.

i do not autocross at all and only attend about 5 or so track days a year, coupled with about 8k street miles a year.

i started with the tockico d-spec kit. to date this has been the most comfortable setup i have tried. it gets very little love on the forums but is a very solid street setup--i would imagine it would be a decent auto-x setup for bumpier lots.

i switched to hks hipermax 3 non-sports. they were pretty good and i still have them laying around but i constantly craved more spring--esp in the front. the ride was not as good as the dspecs but very tolerable.

i recently purchased a used set of jic's with 14/12 springs from rickdogg on here. the ride is comparable to the hks' even with the increase in spring. imo these rates are about at the limit of what i would ever consider running for anything other than track duty--to which i have no track use of the jics to date. i will be purchasing a new set of front springs here shortly and give those a shot.

i badly want to try the clubsports but i will prolly spend that money elsewhere as i am satisfied with the jic's for now.

on all the setups i have had the hotchkis sways in various states of adjustment. the most aggressive alignment i have run was with the dpecs and spl front arms which i had -2.0 camber all around 9.5 pos caster and i have always used zero toe.

 

I run in SCCA B Stock Solo (autocross).

Alignment: Stock
Shocks: Koni DA shocks - re-valved
FSB: Eibach
RSB: Stock

 

Cheston, just wondering, whats your take on Stance coilovers?

 

I have always lumped Stance, and Megan Racing in the same category...wouldn't surprise me if they are the same product...rebadged.

There are so many companies, including some of the most popular brands, that have no expertise or R&D in the suspension realm...yet claim to make track ready coilover systems.

On a budget, I like TEIN or the lower end KW stuff. On a higher budget, or faster driver/car, KW Clubsport, or JRZ RS Pro.....everything above that is just way baller.

In all honesty, the 350Z can be incredibly fast with just springs and shocks. I'd spend the money on tries and brake pads instead...IMHO.

 

I run a set of ZEAL Super Function coilovers with 16/14 springs with a coilover in the rear. I subscribe to the theory of massive spring rates and no sway bars like the Japanese tuners. Sebring is a rough track and I do get bounced around alot, but the valving seems spot on. Definetly better than the D2's I used to have. The ZEAL's are worth the money IMO. I drive my car 5% street and 95% track. I jhave the Hotchkis sways, but they are too soft to be of any use.

 

yeah. i agree with Sharif on that one.. the lower price point in Megan/Stance/K2/etc stuff makes it very appealing... but ride quality probably isn't nearly as good as a well paired shock and spring setup...


i really wonder how much better the moton race suspension coilover systems are vs the high-end HKS/TEIN/KW/zeal race suspension..