which coilover is better? - and why stiffer isn't necessarily better - Page 4

91TB78 · 06-29-2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3h_Clap

that's what i like to hear.

I'm liking the KWs more and more.

I appreciate the help from the guys at RCE and Z1.

I purchased the V3s, a little hesistant with the progressive rear and tad softer rate, but after speaking with KW and weighing my options I made the decision for KW. Here are the decisions why:

1. Stainless construction for longevity
2. Rebuilt in the US with relatively quick turnaround
3. Longer rebuilt intervals
4. More droop travel than JDM offerings (less wheel lift)
5. Ultimate adjustability
6. Upgradeable to linear rear and higher rates front and rear if and when
7. I could use my existing PDE camber plates, which I very much like for their exact replication of camber settings.
8. I don't totally buy into the theory that the stiffest possible springs available are best for AutoX. European shock makers balance spring rates and damping vs. their Japanese counterparts which rely heavily on stratospheric spring rates.

Like I said, install is forthcoming, but I'm excited and first peek has me pretty excited to try them out.

Todd

Mykl · 07-18-2006, 12:36 PM

*edit*

reading comprehension > me

stealth-old · 07-31-2006, 05:23 PM

91TB78 Any updates on the KW's?

Chris · 10-18-2006, 05:30 PM

Which set would you guys recommend for me? Here is some info

06 STI
18x8.5 wheels
probably be running 235/40/18 but unsure of which tires yet
drive the car 3 or 4 days a week mostly on uneven Vermont roads and track days maybe twice a year.
never going to the dragstrip and probably never autoX'd
Don't care about noise or stiffness

I would like to stay under 2grand

**evilSTi7** · 10-18-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Which set would you guys recommend for me? Here is some info

06 STI
18x8.5 wheels
probably be running 235/40/18 but unsure of which tires yet
drive the car 3 or 4 days a week mostly on uneven Vermont roads and track days maybe twice a year.
never going to the dragstrip and probably never autoX'd
Don't care about noise or stiffness

I would like to stay under 2grand

I would say Tein SS-P's or the cusco zero 2r depending on how much you want to spend. If your willing to spend a little extra the KW's are just awesome.

Chris · 10-18-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilSTi7

I would say Tein SS-P's or the cusco zero 2r depending on how much you want to spend. If your willing to spend a little extra the KW's are just awesome.

What do you think of the HKS Hypermax RS? I haven't really seen them mentioned.

**Z1 Performance** · 10-19-2006, 08:00 AM

Chris - how can you not care about noise and stiffness

A coilover should not be noisy if its on a street driven car - and as for stiffness, if it's too stiff on a street car, it's either improperly sprung or improperly valved and handling will suffer as a result! This is especially true on the roads you guys have up there, which are very rutted from the weather changes, etc.

Tein SS-P would be a great choice and completely meet all your criterion - and not rattle your teeth either!

The HKS are not a widely used coilover on the Subaru platform

Chris · 10-19-2006, 08:37 AM

LOL thanks Adam. Do you think the dual perch verses single perch makes a differance in the SS-P versus the Flex?

You probably don't remember me but we've actually met and spoken a few times through email (although it's been over 2 years). I used to own a G35 coupe and hung around with the CT Z guys (Vic, Gerald, Greg)

**Z1 Performance** · 10-19-2006, 08:41 AM

It makes a difference when you're going for max drop and travel is key - for the average drop you'll see on a street car, it offers little benefit. Not to mention, the SS's ride quality to the Flex is night and day - ask anyone who has been in both!

You know what - small world!!!! Didn't you work for the gov't as I recall? I think we met at the big CT meet back a few years ago

**RaceComp Engineering** · 10-19-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Which set would you guys recommend for me? Here is some info

06 STI
18x8.5 wheels
probably be running 235/40/18 but unsure of which tires yet
drive the car 3 or 4 days a week mostly on uneven Vermont roads and track days maybe twice a year.
never going to the dragstrip and probably never autoX'd
Don't care about noise or stiffness

I would like to stay under 2grand

If your driving on rougher than normal roads up in Vermont, I would NOT NOT NOT recommend Japanese coilovers. The valving is WAY too aggressive for rough roads. Would recommend the European valving, which is much more forgiving on rough roads. Highly suggest the KW v3's. I have trouble putting Tein and KW in the same sentence.

Mike

**Z1 Performance** · 10-19-2006, 08:58 AM

While I'd normally agree (the KW are sweet BTW) - the SS-P are a thing of beauty on these cars - we've run them on all our local roads, as well as in NYC and they are quiet and very compliant and offer a bang for the buck upgrade

Chris · 10-19-2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z1 Performance

You know what - small world!!!! Didn't you work for the gov't as I recall? I think we met at the big CT meet back a few years ago

Yeh I still work for the govt. I think it was the big CT meet I just remember sitting at a table at hooters with you, Vic, Gerald, and a couple other people.....I remember Gerald asking if Adam from Z1 showed up to the meet and you were sitting right next to him

**Z1 Performance** · 10-19-2006, 09:06 AM

certainly a small world! You picked a great forum to join though...enjoy, and any questions, let us know!

Mykl · 10-20-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z1 Performance

While I'd normally agree (the KW are sweet BTW) - the SS-P are a thing of beauty on these cars - we've run them on all our local roads, as well as in NYC and they are quiet and very compliant and offer a bang for the buck upgrade

Having been in, and driven multiple WRX's with the SS-P setup I totally agree. They're really underrated. IMO it's the best general purpose budget coilover setup for the Impreza.

XDNBC · 10-26-2006, 03:24 PM

Are there numbers for compression and rebound damping rates and do the various coilover setups state the range of adjustability? Then we can compare damping rates with spring rates and get a better idea of the system.
Also- I am curious about what sag people are running on their cars and what the full range of wheel motion is from fully elongated to hitting bump stops.
BTW: what are the stock comp and rebound rates, and the extremes from fully extended to compressed? I can measure the sag front and rear myself? I suppose I could measure the fully extended distance by jacking up the front and rear- but I am not sure how to measure the fully compressed length.
Sorry to be so mathematical. I have just bought a new STI Ltd and am interested in using it as a daily driver, for Solo 1 and 2, and non- competitive[?] track days. I am a biker and all these numbers are commonly measured and compared for various types of riding.

10-26-2006, 03:24 PM	#60
XDNBC Junior STI Driver Car: 2007 STI LTD Location: Vancouver,BC Posts: 107 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Are there numbers for compression and rebound damping rates and do the various coilover setups state the range of adjustability? Then we can compare damping rates with spring rates and get a better idea of the system. Also- I am curious about what sag people are running on their cars and what the full range of wheel motion is from fully elongated to hitting bump stops. BTW: what are the stock comp and rebound rates, and the extremes from fully extended to compressed? I can measure the sag front and rear myself? I suppose I could measure the fully extended distance by jacking up the front and rear- but I am not sure how to measure the fully compressed length. Sorry to be so mathematical. I have just bought a new STI Ltd and am interested in using it as a daily driver, for Solo 1 and 2, and non- competitive[?] track days. I am a biker and all these numbers are commonly measured and compared for various types of riding. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-18-2006, 12:36 PM	#47
Mykl S204 Racer Car: '04.5 STi Fav Mod: ZZYZX Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 2,749 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	edit reading comprehension > me

07-31-2006, 05:23 PM	#48
stealth-old Amateur STI Driver Car: 04 WRX wagon Fav Mod: Spec-C 13:1 steering rack Posts: 21 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	91TB78 Any updates on the KW's?

10-18-2006, 05:30 PM	#49
Chris Senior STI Driver Car: 06 STI...FP Green Location: Vermont Posts: 341 Join Date: Oct 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Which set would you guys recommend for me? Here is some info 06 STI 18x8.5 wheels probably be running 235/40/18 but unsure of which tires yet drive the car 3 or 4 days a week mostly on uneven Vermont roads and track days maybe twice a year. never going to the dragstrip and probably never autoX'd Don't care about noise or stiffness I would like to stay under 2grand

10-19-2006, 08:00 AM	#52
Z1 Performance Authorized Vendor Location: St James, NY Posts: 1,721 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (43)	Chris - how can you not care about noise and stiffness A coilover should not be noisy if its on a street driven car - and as for stiffness, if it's too stiff on a street car, it's either improperly sprung or improperly valved and handling will suffer as a result! This is especially true on the roads you guys have up there, which are very rutted from the weather changes, etc. Tein SS-P would be a great choice and completely meet all your criterion - and not rattle your teeth either! The HKS are not a widely used coilover on the Subaru platform

10-19-2006, 08:37 AM	#53
Chris Senior STI Driver Car: 06 STI...FP Green Location: Vermont Posts: 341 Join Date: Oct 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	LOL thanks Adam. Do you think the dual perch verses single perch makes a differance in the SS-P versus the Flex? You probably don't remember me but we've actually met and spoken a few times through email (although it's been over 2 years). I used to own a G35 coupe and hung around with the CT Z guys (Vic, Gerald, Greg)

10-19-2006, 08:41 AM	#54
Z1 Performance Authorized Vendor Location: St James, NY Posts: 1,721 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (43)	It makes a difference when you're going for max drop and travel is key - for the average drop you'll see on a street car, it offers little benefit. Not to mention, the SS's ride quality to the Flex is night and day - ask anyone who has been in both! You know what - small world!!!! Didn't you work for the gov't as I recall? I think we met at the big CT meet back a few years ago

10-19-2006, 08:58 AM	#56
Z1 Performance Authorized Vendor Location: St James, NY Posts: 1,721 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (43)	While I'd normally agree (the KW are sweet BTW) - the SS-P are a thing of beauty on these cars - we've run them on all our local roads, as well as in NYC and they are quiet and very compliant and offer a bang for the buck upgrade

10-19-2006, 09:06 AM	#58
Z1 Performance Authorized Vendor Location: St James, NY Posts: 1,721 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (43)	certainly a small world! You picked a great forum to join though...enjoy, and any questions, let us know!