Coilover suspension vs. Replacement suspension parts

[Astro Boy]

What exactly are you after? I've been able to beat wholesalesuspension on most prices in the past?

[project.r.racing]

G4 coilovers from JustJap in Sydney, $1399 inc. shipping... Offering a 2 year, no questions asked, replacement warrenty.

Best bang for you buck suspension deal currently in OZ that I'm aware of.

Ryan

[ROB-80E]

Any insight into coilovers with tops to suit the BG astina yet?

[project.r.racing]

Originally Posted by ROB-80E

Any insight into coilovers with tops to suit the BG astina yet?

Same as before, buy BA Astina or BG Familia coilovers and have the front top plate make in the BG Astinas shape.

I don't think anyone will ever make them due to the ages and popularlarity of the car.

Ryan

[phly]

I might be interested in either the d2 or g4 coilovers. How do these 2 compare to each other and other more expensive coilovers and where can i source them from?

If i go non-coilovers, i'm considering some whiteline shocks, springs and swaybar since they have an article about it and it seems like theyve developed something thats tried and tested for the BA Astina
http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles/RH_Astina95a.htm

If not that then maybe the common KYB or Koni shocks with some complementary spring (Still undecided about the springs with this combination yet. Need to seek advice for this)

[Rupewrecht]

JIC and Hotbits also make coilovers for BA.

[project.r.racing]

And K-Sport for BA. JIC don't make coilovers for BA, they made them for the BA. haha

HotbBitz = Quality unknown, overpriced, ugly chrome styling.

G4 = Okay to good quailty, same product as D2 and K-Sport, 2year warrenty as above from JustJap.

D2 = Okay to good quality, same product as G4 and K-Sport, 1 year warrenty, D2 company are assholes to deal with.

K-Sport = Okay to good quality, same product as G4 and D2, dunno who supplies them?

JIC = Good quality, front top plate too thin tho, (above brands are thicker,) no warrenty as they are 2nd hand, good 2nd hand prices ($600-$800 from Dan,) but you run the risk of having to rebuild them if dampers is failing as they are 2nd hand, (add $300 to cost). But normally works out cheaper than new.

Ryan

[Astro Boy]

Originally Posted by project.r.racing

K-Sport = Okay to good quality, same product as G4 and D2, dunno who supplies them?

I do, but I've got no idea what the warranty is...

... that's not very good product knowledge now is it!?

[FEM]

no greg.. no hehe.

so.. your telling me that you can get a BA coilover and put a BG top on it?

[newman]

the astina can use the familia coilovers in the rear, its only the front tops that are the issue.

I've just purchased g4 coilovers and i am nothing but happy. yes stiff but thats what i wanted. Couldn't be happier.

[phly]

Sounds like g4s are the way to go for coilovers. Seems decently priced and i'm in sydney so maybe i can get it for less pickup and cash LOL. How would the G4s compare to the Whiteline package. From the looks of the prices on the whiteline website, im thinking springs and shocks will cost about the same as the G4 coilovers?

And whats the difference between specs for the G4 coilovers? I see street, drift and track.

[phly]

I went out to wholesale suspension on the weekend and had a chat with them. Their suggestion was King Springs and KYB shocks fitted and supplied with wheel alignment for $1100.

Is this a good price and also more importantly is this a good combination?

From the feedback ive read, it seems you guys dont recommend this combination, but the guy at wholesale suspension reckons it isnt great cuz alot of people leave their bump stops too high and arent letting their shocks do the work which is why its a rough ride with this combination.

Im not too fond of this combination either but he didnt really try recommend anything else to me when I asked him about other products even though I said I dont mind paying a little more for some better quality stuff. Especially getting something other than the King springs. Maybe cuz theyre the supplier for Kings. They didnt recommend the whiteline gear cuz they said i would only be paying for branding pretty much.

I don't think i'll go coilovers no more cuz labour is gonna be 500 bucks ontop of the cost of parts so itll be about 2000 bucks. I was more looking at spending at most 1500 and I dont think i'll really have a use for coilovers anytime in the near future. So im thinking i can probably get springs and shocks that are a little better. I dont wanna go Eibachs cuz the guy told me it would only lower my car by 15mm or something like that.

I'm really in it for looks and a little extra handling. One more thing they told me was that I could only lower my car 2 inches if I go springs and shocks. Is he right in saying that? Not that i'm thinking of going any lower though.

What to do?

[project.r.racing]

labour is less if fitting coilovers...! lairs as coilovers will take 2-4hrs to fit, 2-4hrs x $80per hr = $160-$320. any more and you are being ripped off. this includes height adjustments and various little changes that need to be done to coilovers after fitting. I myself charge $200 flatrate for fitting coilovers, normally take me 2-3hrs depending on car and f@#king stuck bolts.

---

$1100 is a good price for what is on offer, but it is your call on the king springs, good for city driving, bad for performance, and probably won't lower the car enough for you tastes. (only 35mm / 1.25")

Originally Posted by phly

So I can probably get springs and shocks that are a little better.

i don't think so for that price. cheapest price = lowest quality product.

Originally Posted by phly

One more thing they told me was that I could only lower my car 2 inches if I go springs and shocks. Is he right in saying that?

there is no 2" lower springs made by King Springs unless they custom job by them, then you will not be getting it all for the quoted $1100.

---

if you are only looking for looks and some improved performance, the spring/strut combo is the better option for you to go. how old are your current shocks??? if not too old, you could do spings / front strut brace / rear sway bar for $600 + labour + wheel alignment, and walk away with a good handling package, but adding shocks into it would improve things alot more.

ryan

[phly]

Originally Posted by project.r.racing

i don't think so for that price. cheapest price = lowest quality product.

I was thinking of spending up to 1500. So an extra 400 ontop of what he quoted for possibly some better stuff?
Should I get better shocks or better springs or compromise by spending a bit more on both?

Originally Posted by project.r.racing

there is no 2" lower springs made by King Springs unless they custom job by them, then you will not be getting it all for the quoted $1100.

The guy told me he could do 4 KYBs (dunno which kind. is there any particular model i should be getting?) and King Springs all around to lower my car 2" for $1100. But i'm really unsure about this combination still.

Originally Posted by project.r.racing

how old are your current shocks???

I think its still the original shocks. The guy says the shocks are alrite but theyre on their way out and suggests I do it all in one go to save in labour costs.

[Astro Boy]

Originally Posted by phly

I went out to wholesale suspension on the weekend and had a chat with them. Their suggestion was King Springs and KYB shocks fitted and supplied with wheel alignment for $1100.

Reasonable considering fitting is supplied. The actual parts come to about $800.

I don't think i'll go coilovers no more cuz labour is gonna be 500 bucks ontop of the cost of parts so itll be about 2000 bucks. I was more looking at spending at most 1500 and I dont think i'll really have a use for coilovers anytime in the near future.

Koni Shocks, and Eibach Springs. That is the best you'll get without spending big dollars. Will definately come in below $1500 for the parts, but then you'll need to allow a bit for fitting.

I'm really in it for looks and a little extra handling.

Eibach's for the win. They'll drop it about 40mm which is between Kings Low and Super Low, and is the best for handling.

[phly]

Originally Posted by Astro Boy

Eibach's for the win. They'll drop it about 40mm which is between Kings Low and Super Low, and is the best for handling.

How's Eibachs and KYB shocks? 40mm is close enough to the 2 inches he said I could lower my car by. And is 2 inches really the maximum lowering for my BA Hatchback?

Aren't Koni's more expensive only cuz theyre adjustable? I dont think i'll ever adjust it after i put them in.

I got quoted i think 500ish-600 for Eibachs front and rear. And something like 1100 for Koni shocks. Dunno which type though.

What models of these parts should I be looking at? KYB (insert model name). Koni (insert model name). Eibachs (insert model name)

[Smikey]

I got Eibach pro-kit springs, not sure what the official lowering number was though, but here's a picture of it (rims will no doubt be different), these are on 17" 215/45's http://www.animatsu.com/mike/movies/newsuspension.jpg


my car was lower than 2" before on dodgy chopped springs and raised up, and i have no regrets looks wise, infact haven't scraped my underside yet! Plus the eibachs provide good small bump absorption (progressive springs) as well as reducing body roll. They may not be as racy and predictable as linear springs but there's everyday comfort and firmness as well as performance.

and my post on all that suspension jazz
http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showt...ht=montgommery

I got Koni yellow inserts which the stiffness are adjustable at the front. And i have yet to adjust them (correction: reds are a cheaper and adjustable off the car). The labour to install the inserts into the housings was a killer though so make sure the labour is taken into account.

[Astro Boy]

How's Eibachs and KYB shocks?

Will do the job fine. The eibach's will work this most shocks as they're not a spring that demands a lot from a shock.

Aren't Koni's more expensive only cuz theyre adjustable? I dont think i'll ever adjust it after i put them in.

Yes, but also because they are a better damper, the adjustment aside. The adjustment is good as it allows you to dial in a spring, and also as the shock wears you can correct this.

I got quoted i think 500ish-600 for Eibachs front and rear. And something like 1100 for Koni shocks. Dunno which type though.

Yeah, I can do the Eibachs for about $525-$550 depending on which kit.

The Koni Yellows for memory are well under the grand mark though....

What models of these parts should I be looking at? KYB (insert model name). Koni (insert model name). Eibachs (insert model name)

KYB Excel G, Koni Yellow (or otherwise call sport Sport), Eibach Pro Kit.

I got Koni yellow inserts which the stiffness are adjustable at the front. And i have yet to adjust them (i think the reds are a bit more adjustable and more expensive).

Other way round. The yellows are more expensive and are externally (on the car) adjustable. The red are only adjustable off the car as they're internally adjustable.

[project.r.racing]

Originally Posted by Smikey

I got Eibach pro-kit springs, not sure what the official lowering number was though, but here's a picture of it (rims will no doubt be different), these are on 17" 215/45's http://www.animatsu.com/mike/movies/newsuspension.jpg

My King Springs that I had fitted to my BA hatch lowered the car the same as this pic, so 35-40mm lower from standard height...

My current coilover suspension is 70mm lower at the front and 65mm lower at the rear now.

Ryan

[phly]

Originally Posted by Smikey

I got Eibach pro-kit springs, not sure what the official lowering number was though, but here's a picture of it (rims will no doubt be different), these are on 17" 215/45's http://www.animatsu.com/mike/movies/newsuspension.jpg

Thanks for the pic Smikey. Gives me something to visualise with. The ride height looks pretty good. Not too high, not too low. I'll need to give my car a measure tomorrow to see how much guard space its gonna leave me with cuz I got 18's with 215/35 tyres. I dont really want too much of a gap between the wheel and guard. Might need to go coilovers. Either that or make up for looks by using the money i save from buying shocks and springs and get a front lip and skirts instead LOL

Hmmm decisions decisions.