Hey All

I have a few questions regarding coilovers for the Z:

1. Are low priced coilovers such as those from BC or Stance signicantly lighter than an aftermarket spring/strut solution such as an RS-R Down Springs/Tokico(sp?) HP combo?

2. If I were to set BC coilovers at similar hieght/damping configuration as the RS-R spring/Tokico HP combo, would they perform similarly?

3. It is my understanding that a coilover configuration puts greater stress on the connection point between the strut and the chasis. For a Z, is this change acceptable?

Thanks!!

 

It all depends on the spring rates and dampening quality. People seem to have good things to say about the BC's if all you are looking to do is go lower for looks.
The difference in weight between different brands will be negligible no matter what you end up going with.

For your third question, if you do a full coilover conversion in the rear it may put more stress on the connection point, but most aftermarket suspensions for the Z are not a true coilover int he rear.

 

I've tracked , drifted, and RAPED my BC's.. so not only are they 'good for looks' ...

Also.. BC racing g-35 won last weekend at Redline Time attack.

OP.. all of your Q's have been answered many times over here. lurk more.

 

1 - they might actually be heavier. the aftermarket coilovers use a larger shock body than stock sized ones... though the construction might be lighter, I doubt it.

2 - this is not a question that can be answered. you have different adjustability between the two setups, and you would need to give more information. if you meant 'if the two setups have the same spring rates and shock valving' then no, they would probably ride the same. there are so many variables (progressive to linear spring rates, damper construction) that this question should not be addressed at all.

3 - most coilovers retain the stock rear setup (seperate spring strut) so there is no difference in load, except higher spring rates. I run a 'true' coilover in the rear and it hasn't failed yet. but if you are concerned there is no reason NOT to just get an OEM rear layout. they all offer it.


the big differences between the two is none of what you listed, but the ride height adjustability, matched damper/spring profiles, dampening adjustment that you get with a coilover setup.

at the same time, some of the nicer spring/strut combos perform better than a cheap coilover. so... you know... do research on the setup you choose.

 

I realize that it depends on many variables. I realize it depends on spring rates and damping quality, that is why I gave the example of the RS-R Down Springs/Tokico HP combo relative to the BC's. Before you go bighting my head off to search, I know there have been multiple comparisons of the two. Most responses to such threads favor the BCs, but they do so because of the adjustability. I guess I was hoping for opinions on issue, assuming that the BC's were set as close as possible to the RS-R Spring/Tokico HP combo, and ignoring the adjustability aspect.

 

I don't know of anyone running the RSR/tokico combo, funny that there are so many comparisons... I wouldn't think the RSR would be the best since they have a pretty aggressive drop, don't they?

and so if you saw many threads, why did you make this one?

but anyway, different companies have different philosophies on how to achieve good handling, so you might get the same overall results but through different means. I can't speak for BC, but alot of the cheaper coilover setups are underdamped and over sprung, as they say. it's personal preference and I doubt many people have driven both setups.

I was recommended Stance over BC for that reason... but BC has been tuning thier setups from what it seems. I personally don't like the spring/strut setups because the cars sit too high with them, and you can't lower them any more.

 

Motormouth, thanks for your responses. The RS-R are supposed to only be a .6 inch drop. I made a new thread because my questions pertaining to the two options are more about impact on chassis integrity and unsprung weight. The other threads were just general which is better type discussions.

 

ah, maybe I am thinking of a different spring then.

the best springs for the aftermarket shocks are ones that don't drop too much. so the RSR seems pretty conservative. a friend recently got the tokico spring/strut combo. if you can find it, I would try to match brands. his car rides great. well controlled.

 

The spring on damper in the rear has shown no negative effects. Lots of race teams use or have used this coilovers setup. I use it myself and I wouldn't switch back to the OEM setup just becasue of the ease of ride height adjusments plus ease of installation and removal. The spring on damper also allows you to run lighter lower control arms with toe asjustment. I use the battle version lower control arms to adjust toe instead of those SPC toe bolts which wouldn't give me as much adjustment as I have with these arms.

I'd go with a spring on damper in the rear.