Your spring / shock combo setups

[hispanicpanic]

So i've been out of the car scene for 5 years..... I'm recently getting back in. I have no idea of the aftermarket anymore for s14's, but my zenki needs suspension. I also don't have cash for 1000 dollar coilovers. I previously had KTS coilovers on my old s14 (8kg/mm front 6 kg/mm rear) And they were phenominal. They weren't TOO rough for daily driving, but if you dialed in the damping just right, they'd rape on the track.

So far its still my daily driver, so i need a suspension setup to be able to handle street bumps and whatnot, but i also wanna be able to take the car to the track and kick some ass.

What spring / shock combo's do you guys have/ suggest??

I was thinking kyb AGX shocks and RS*R Race springs. They have the highest spring rate i've found in springs, but the agx shocks only adjust rebound, which is ok i guess, but i'm afraid the compression isn't what i need.

Can those be revalved??? Who can revalve shocks?? Do you guys have any other suggestions??? I'm not a suspension guy, so valving definately isn't my forte'.

[Matt93SE]

I'm running the KTS myself. personally I say save your pennies and wait till you can afford another set. Cheap out now and you'll just be doing it again in a couple years since you're not happy.

The hot setup around here are Koni yellows (or 8610/8611 race shocks in OE-like custom housings) with CG type coilovers. That's going to run you $2000+ before you're done though. at least that's my guess since the housings are about $350 a pair, 8610s are $250 each or so, and the GC kit is $400 for the set with pick-your-springrate. That's just grabbing numbers from memory on prices though, and you'll still need adjustable strut mounts and other stuff before you're done.

AGX and RS*R are a compromise since they're "street struts" and stiff springs. nothing out there short of a Koni Yellow or a full coilover really has enough damping for a good track setup on stiff enough springs to make it fun.

Just IMO... YMMV.

[Longfellow]

S14 with KTS coilovers, 6kgmm front, 4.5kgmm rear.

Works just as well for me and isnt as harsh as the stock 8k/6k set up it came with.

[Def]

I drove a car with KTS coilovers and was not a fan. Way way too much compression damping for the amount of rebound. I'd rather piece together a koni yellow setup for the same price or less from what I felt.

8610s used to be about $150ish each, not sure if they went way up or not.

[racepar1]

I would say that the best spring/shock combo you could put together would be the rsr race springs you were looking at with koni yellows. The yellows are quite expensive though, you would likely end up over $1000 unless you find good deals on used parts. I would say that AGX's or tokico blues would be a good compromise. I love my blues on my Q-45, but they are not adjustable. Oh, and the AGX's are not re-valveable to the best of my knowledge, but I wouldn't worry too much about the compression anyways.

I really don't get why everyone has been posting about coilover setups in a thread about spring/shock combos.

[Longfellow]

Because I have his old coil-overs with softer springs, and they work well for his problem.

Its cheap too, buy a used set of KTS coil overs, move the rear springs to the front, and buy new 4.5kgmm springs from GC and you're done.

[hispanicpanic]

thats real interesting longfellow, i never thought of that. I'd immagine that the KTS shocks would provide crazy stiff damping for street driving, even with lower spring rates.

Also i'm afraid that with the lower spring rate, it would cause the shocks to blow prematurely. If any combo costs upwards of 900 dollars, i may as well just buy KTS coilovers since i can get them for 1089.

But your saying that kts with 6/4.5 setup is pretty smooth on the street?

[hispanicpanic]

also if i do get koni yellows, how do i know what kind of valving i need?

[McCoy]

Its cheap too, buy a used set of KTS coil overs, move the rear springs to the front, and buy new 4.5kgmm springs from GC and you're done.

I was running the silkroad RM-8A's (I think I got that right) coilovers on my 240sx like this (333F/300R) and it still sucked on any road that wasn't glass smooth. My koni 86XX setup with 550F/400R rides better on the road than the silkroad setup ever did.

I guess if your strapped for cash it works...

[jmauld]

I was thinking kyb AGX shocks and RS*R Race springs. They have the highest spring rate i've found in springs, but the agx shocks only adjust rebound, which is ok i guess, but i'm afraid the compression isn't what i need.

Can those be revalved??? Who can revalve shocks?? Do you guys have any other suggestions??? I'm not a suspension guy, so valving definately isn't my forte'.

Avoid the AGXs. The RS-R race springs are a good choice, but go with Koni's or better yet a Bilstein insert.

The only two cheap, major brand shocks that you can get revalved are Koni and Bilstein. Koni revalves = $150/strut, Bilsteins are $70/strut.

[KA240SX808]

for Bolt-On Spring/Struts combo's I vote for either Nismo S-tune (It's pricey but it's built well) or RS*R Race Springs with Tokico D-Spec struts.

[Matt93SE]

FWIW, I have the NISMO S-tune setup on my G and I'm happy with it for a street car. way too soft for a track car, but it works on the street.

[hai1206vn]

i've been Nismo S-tune springs/shocks on my s14 for half a year. I feel that these springs (not shocks) are the best oem-style out there. One of the stiffest set with the least drop. They're quite firm but comfy enough.

RSR race springs are very similar (slightly softer front) in rate but they lower too much. Even with my Nismo springs which sit 1" higher, I get only about 40mm shock travel up front before bumpstop.

Now the problem is I don't think you can buy the springs alone. Preferably, I'd pair Nismo springs with Koni yellow shocks, and extend the front housing to gain some 1-1.5" travel.

Nismo shocks are made by KYB. I had a Stance GR+ before, but not any better shocks (read: Koni or above) to compare. The Nismo high speed damping is not bad, but lack low speed rebound. Roll at corner entry is quite a lot.

Sway bars are very important to band aid these springs. I run stock rear and Progress front.

[ZainRacer]

I have AGX shocks with KG/MM springs (4.6 kg/mm Front and 3.8 kg/mm rear) on my S13. I like it for daily driving, its a little harsh over bigger bumps on the freeway but aside from that its great.
I haven't tracked my car yet but I have used this setup for a few autocrosses and 1 drift event and it worked well for both.

The main problem I have is lack of shock travel in the front; I have less that 1in of travel with a trimmed koni bump stop...

[jmauld]

The main problem I have is lack of shock travel in the front; I have less that 1in of travel with a trimmed koni bump stop...

You can fix this by switching to Koni or Bilstein inserts. Just cut the bottom of the strut housing and extend it lower.