I am looking for the best street suspension and have done a few searches for the all around. I am currently stuck between these 2 tein Flex w/ edfc & the Buddy Club racing spec. i plan on tracking the car a few times each season for fun but also daily drive my 350 and loking for comfort and handling when needed. i like the edfc but also that lil gadget isnt goin to sway me from buying better coilovers.

 

tein flex is awesome on street.. but leaves quite a bit to be desired for track purposes or any kind of handling..
i believe speed mag did a test. and the stock nismo suspension was better on the track than the tein suspension was.
if it were my money.. i would go w/ zeal coilovers.
they are one of the best handling coilovers i had ever ridden in.. and i greatly regret selling them...
hehehe

 

For someone looking for comfort, I'm not understanding your two choices. You have other choices that are more sensicle for what your after.

All "Stiffer then oem" figures are vs 2003/2004 car's and do not reflect 2004.5+ car's where the rear oem rates were upped from 342lbs to 427lbs

Tein Flex (twin tube construction, adjustable dampners
Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload
Spring rates 672/672
Stiffer then oem by F+114% R+98
Side Note: Extremely high spring rates mean even when the adjustable damping is set as low as possible, you may not find ride quality happiness, several reports of this setups harshness exist Yet a few owner comment’s of a “like stock ride quality” also exist. However given the fact that they use a spring stiffness that’s over 100% stiffer then oem, if ride quality is of concern, either hitch a ride in a car equipped with them or make a different choice. In addition, several review’s have been done by people actually having the original more softly sprung Tein Flex coilovers do not take their comments to mean the same as the one using the current product, the original product specs are listed below under Tein Flex JDM.


Tein Flex JDM specs (can be special ordered est 6-8 weeks delivery)
Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload
Spring rates 560/560
Stiffer then oem by F+78% R+64%
Side Note: This is the original specs first offered in the U.S. with the Flex, shortly after it’s introduction the specs changed to those listed further above (672/672)

Buddy Club Racing spec coilovers (this setup uses 4 springs on the rear of the car) Monotube construction, full length height adjustment separate from preload, adjustable dampners
Spring rates in LBS Front: 748lbs Rear progressive 336 to 672 + 280 linear on dampner
Stiffer then oem springs by F+238% R+233% to 331%
$1555
Side Note: Notice spring stiffness vs oem and rear progressive rate spread.


I would recommend the Zeal setup, then the HKS RS* (*if you can set the car's ride height where you want it and not have excess preload with reduced dampner piston stroke since they do not have full length adjustment)

Zeal function V6 coilover (Monotube construction, adjustable dampner) $2855
Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload
Spring rates 560/448
Stiffer then oem by F+78% R+31%
Note: Ok, yes they are expensive. But they are from a exceptional company with a exceptional reputation and posted owner reviews that match.
$2800

HKS RS (Monotube construction, adjustable dampning)
Spring rates 448/448
Stiffer then oem by F+43% R+31%
Special Note: “Marketed” as HKS’s track coil over with a good street, all posted owner review's are positive.
$1600 when on sale

 

i saw the revision on the new flex with spring rates and like am not looking for a stock ride quality ive driving rough riding suspensions and am used to it. i just want something streetable but able to perform like wise on the track and if need be rebuildable. thanks for all the info.

on my other setup mr2 ive run tokico illuminas, custom konis currently and off the shelf H&R progressive springs. that along with trd treated suspension components makes a stiff ride but fun for auto-x, thats really what im looking for in a streetable suspension but also looking for a full coilover setup something matched a little better. thanks again for the info.

 

honestly..
best street coilover.. i/m/o would be the zeal function xs..
i've had some evo friends...
say it ride better than stock.. and loved them sooo much.

 

you can purchase new springs for almost every coil over out there...

TEIN, TANABE, HKS, JIC, etc etc...

Here is a link to our TEIN Replacement springs section if you feel like going dizzy... Let me know if you need help getting the best springs for your desired ride quality...

http://performancenissanparts.com/ca...?cPath=292_857

Here is a link to our JIC replacement springs... Let me know the type of ride quality you want and ill let you know the best rate...

http://performancenissanparts.com/ca...th=951_959_960

 

jason i didnt even know that was available, thanks that makes things a lot easier to decide especially with the current deal i was offered. If im not happy with the ride quality ill be giving you a call buddy.

 

You cannot just pick and choose spring rates on coilovers. You have a very narrow range that differ's from coilover to coilover and brand to brand. Step over that range and you are asking performance compromises that not many are blessed with talent to sense or uncover or your left with a ride and drive quality that you can't believe you did to yourself. Just because a given coilover has adjustable dampning will not save you, compression dampning and rebound changes happen together, you need them to be seperate, only the KW variant3 coilover has that. Tein will tell you that you can go +or- with the Flex by 112lbs (2Kg) and beyond that your need to revalve. For the other companies expect their techs to either guess what is ok or to artfully dance around avoiding giving you a straight answer. Jic may give you a straight answer, but maybe not. Frankly I would not touch Tanabe.

 

Tein has the ability to rebuild, and the last time I called HKS they said they would have have the ability to rebuild here in the U.S. vs Japan only.

I can tell you first hand that Custom Koni's for the car would have to include shortened piston shaft's, why Koni gave us longer shaft's then oem is totally beyond me (grrrrrr )

 

Gsedan

Could you expand on your comment: "Frankly I would not touch Tanabe"?
I was waiting for their SS or Seven offering, given i'm guessing that they will have the spring rates i'm looking for. 10kg/mm front 8kg/mm rear. Others in that range as you already know are the zeal's/cusco/unitech but are more expensive obviously.
Are your concerns a quality issue? fitment issue? proper damping issue (they use kyb)?

I do not know much about tanabe with respect to their suspension products. What I do know is that I've come to respect your opinion on these boards .

Also, as to not highjack this thread, curious if you will post your impressions of your current project soon? I'm interested in how you feel the 448F/375R is working for you.

thanks pp

 

rite... you have to get the correct spring id and length... and you can not increase or decrease spring rate more then a certain amount before you have to rebuild... but you will be supprized what 1kg more in the front and 1kg less in the rear will do...