Hi all.

Here is my little contribution to I-Club. Over the last few months while searching for suspension, I decided that I would try to set up some type of graph/chart/spectrum to compare characteristics of different coilovers and even shocks and springs. Please bare with me for the moment. I have everything written down in my notebook at my place at school. I am currently at home right now sooo... I am more or less doing everything off the top of my head. There are going to be a lot of blank spots I'll have to fill in over the course of this update.

Here is a key for the use/purpose of the set-ups.

Comfort - daily driving
Street - stiff, but not crazy stiff. For a stiff ride, but passengers may not like.
Race - very stiff and very uncomfortable

Here we go:


MOST COMFORTABLE

KYB AGX and Eibach Springs
Dampening: F: 3/4 R: 5/8
Spring rates: Don't know.
16x6.5" wheels (?)
2.5RS (GC) chassis
Use: Comfort
Notes: This set-up was the most comfortable. Car was lowered. Wasn't bouncy or rough at all.


Stock STi
Stock suspension
Use: Stock
Notes: Slightly more comfortable than the Helix coilovers.


BC Racing BR series (Unofficial and reviewed by charlesj)
Dampening: F: 10/30 R: 12/30
8k front, 6k rear
Dual 27mm bars
ALK
17x8 stockers or 18x8.5 track wheels
Whiteline lateral links
-2.75 front, -2.5 rear
Use: Comfort/Street
Notes: Not much stiffer than stock STi, pretty comfortable
Notes from DarkOnion: unofficial entry, but would probably be placed around here somewhere.
Review: https://www.i-club.com/forums/vbarti...e&articleid=10


HSD HS Coilovers
Dampening: Unknown
Spring Rates: Unknown
16x6.5" wheels
Use: Street
Rex chassis
Notes: This is about the same as the Helix coilovers. Definitely stiffer than STi stock set-up, but not as stiff as the AGX with Swift springs.


Helix Coilovers
Dampening: F: 16/18 R: 15/18
Spring rates: F: 8k R: 6k
17"x 8" wheels
235/40/17
Rex chassis
Use: Street
Notes: No body roll at all. Great coilovers for the price. Not too stiff at all. Definitely closer to a street coilover set-up. Not excessively floaty or stiff.
Review: https://www.i-club.com/reviews/showp...uct/983/cat/14

KW Competition 3
Dampening: unknown
Spring Rate: Unknown
17x8"
245/45/17
Competition ALK
Rex chassis
Use: Race/ but very Streetable
Note: This is a surprising set-up. There is no doubt that this set-up is a Race Setup. What is surprising is that this set-up ran really smooth. I mean really smooth. It is slightly smoother than the Tein Flex set-up if not indistinguishable, which is surprising. As I understand it, the coilovers really show their colors when you start getting up to race speeds. Since this test was mainly at street speeds, I wasn't able to see what it can really do, but I can tell you that for street driving, they are more smooth than some of the set-up's listed below.

Tein Flexes
Dampening: F? R?
Spring Rate: F: 8K R: 6K
17"x8"
235/40/17
GD chassis
Use: Street
Notes: This application of the Tein Flexes were really nice. They run really smooth compared to the AGX with Swift spring set-up. I am not sure what the spring rates are but I assume they are 8K/6K set up. Definitely not as rough as the other coilover set-ups listed below.

AGX with Swift Springs
Dampening: F: 3/4 R: 6/8
Spring rates: unknown
16"x7"
GC chassis
Use: Street/Race
Notes: These springs were designed to be both a competitive and street based set-up. They are not as comfortable as the Eibach's above, but are slightly stiffer, if not similar to the Helix coilovers listed above.


JIC FLTA2 Coilovers
Dampening: Forgot (will update)
Spring rates: F: 7K R: 5K
17" wheels
ALK
GC chassis
Use: Street/Race (In the middle)
Notes: Coilovers are not as rough or as stiff as the HKS Hypermax II or the Cusco-Zero2R listed below, but is definitely bouncier. However... the bounciness, even though more frequent, is not as big bounces.
Review: https://www.i-club.com/reviews/showp...uct/445/cat/14

Stance GR+
Dampening: F: 8/15 R: 6/15
Spring rates: F: 8K R: 6K
17" wheels
215/45/17
GC chassis
Use: Race
Notes: Stance Coilovers would fall somewhere in there. I think they are definitely harsher than the JIC, but are somewhere near the Cusco's, and definitely more tame than the HKS Hypermax II's. These springs are really stiff on the GC. If you want something more comfortable, consider 7K/5K set-up. The 8K/6K on the GD's are more comfortable than the 8K/6K on the GC.
Review: https://www.i-club.com/reviews/showp...7/limit/recent


Cusco-Zero2R
Dampening: Don't know... yet...
Spring rates: F: 12K R: 10K
17x8.5"
ALK
Bugeye chassis
Use: Race
Notes: Stiff and bouncy, but not as uncomfortable as the HKS Hypermax II. This car set-up does require experience and practice handling the car.
Reviews: https://www.i-club.com/reviews/showp...uct/102/cat/14


HKS Hypermax II
Dampening: Lowest for F and R
Spring rates: F: 8K R: 6K
18x8"
235/40/18
ALK
Rex chassis
Use: Race
Notes: More sharp feelings on bumps (speed bumps, blinkies, road imperfections) than other coilover set-ups.

MOST STIFF



More to come as I add them.

 

Good idea, hopefully this will be a good reference for people for a long time.

One question, did you happen to get tire sizes? As sidewall can make a big difference on how a car feels. For example, S-03s on a 225/45/17 vs a RE-92 205/55/16 can completely change how harsh a ride is.

 

I did get most tire sizes, but like I said, these things are off the top of my head. I left my notebook with all this info in Davis.

 

ive got a damn stiff setup for you!!

ground control coilovers 800lb Fronts 900lb Rears
Jdm STI Spec C Type RA Inverted Struts 44mm
Whiteline 29mm Rear Sway
Cobb 24mm Hollow Front Sway..


Now thats a stiff ride, ask me how i know =)

 

Haha. I'll have to ride with you sometime and then I'll put a few notes in and place you in the spectrum somewhere.

 

Like it....interesting and different. Very rear biased


Here are my two past setup on an 06 STI

Custom Robi-Spec KW V3 Clubsport
7k front, 8k rear
Dual 27mm bars
ALK
17x8 stockers or 18x8.5 track wheels
Whiteline lateral links
Cusco camber plates all around
-3.25 front, -2.5 rear

Stiffish and did not deal well with sharp dips

BC Racing BR series
8k front, 6k rear
All other parts same as above
-2.75 front, -2.5 rear
Not much stiffer than stock sti, pretty comfortable

 

The BC's, I can probably classify somewhat near the Helix coilovers and the AGX and Swifts. Until I actually ride the set-up, I can't accurately place it on the spectrum though.

 

Kev, I like the idea of this thread a lot. However, there is a key variable you need to point out/discuss... The quality of the road AND the location where you tested these different setups. Ideally, you want to test these setups on the same stretch of road. Also, it would be a good idea to test them out around the same period of time unless your test bench was at a track, because seasonal differences in the road and construction could alter the "feel" of the road you are currently riding on.

 

Hey Jon. All of that is really true. Most of the suspension that were tested were in the same area and relatively the same time of day.

It should probably be noted that this guide should be use as a general estimate. Things such as wheel size, tire size, road conditions, and other mods will vastly change the ride comfort of your car.

 

My setups were tested at sebring raceway, city streets in Tampa, and highways. Pretty good variation.

 

no bc racing coilovers in there

 

Send me a free set and I'll be more than happy to put it into the spectrum.

I think that charlesj did mention some things about them, though.

 

like the review thats on this site or evo-m? he got a set from bc...

they are as good as tein flex...but smoother then stock sti...like butta!

 

Yeah, the review is on the front page of this site that I did. I wouldnt quite say smoother than stock, but damn close to stock ride. They only gave up a little over 2 seconds and sebring to the custom KWs (twice the price) and most of that time was in turn 17 and 1 which are very high speed and bumpy.

 

I guess I can put it up unofficially. Let's do that.

Also... maybe you can tell me what dampening settings you were using.