Review Fortune Auto 500 AWD coilover review
#1
Fortune Auto 500 AWD coilover review
I have had these coilovers installed on my 2009 G37xS sedan for about two weeks now. As has been indicated in another thread, the packaging was excellent, and they appear to be a quality product. All the adjustments work well, the install was straight forward and nothing needed to be modified to fit. THMotorsports was great to work with, it just took a little longer than anyone planned to actually get this developed. But hey, I'd rather wait and it be right versus rushing out a crap product. So no complaints here.
I decided to get the Swift spring upgrade, had street valving and the rear adjustment extenders. 11kg/mm front, 8kg/mm rear spring rates.
The OEM rear spring setup is a little different than other coilovers I have seen for our cars. The rear spring still sits in the OEM location, but there is an adapter that the spring sits in. Guess it was easier to develop as it appears to be the same type of spring that is used in a truecoilover (versus the bigger diameter OEM spring).
I am still messing with the damping settings, and right now am about in the middle settings. So far it rides much better than my previous Swift lowering springs paired with OEM struts. I am lowered to about 26-1/2" all around measured from ground to top of the wheel well at the fenders. Ride is a smotth and a little firm, but none of the gut retching crashing on large bumps as before. Seems to be appropriate for a sport luxury sedan. Larger potholes will sometimes cause a bit of spring noise, but it isn't a bottoming out sort of sound that makes you cringe.
So I am very happy with this set up so far. Will see how they react as time goes on, and there will be the Chicago winter to deal with in a few months.
Hope this helps anyone contemplating this setup for your AWD G!
I decided to get the Swift spring upgrade, had street valving and the rear adjustment extenders. 11kg/mm front, 8kg/mm rear spring rates.
The OEM rear spring setup is a little different than other coilovers I have seen for our cars. The rear spring still sits in the OEM location, but there is an adapter that the spring sits in. Guess it was easier to develop as it appears to be the same type of spring that is used in a truecoilover (versus the bigger diameter OEM spring).
I am still messing with the damping settings, and right now am about in the middle settings. So far it rides much better than my previous Swift lowering springs paired with OEM struts. I am lowered to about 26-1/2" all around measured from ground to top of the wheel well at the fenders. Ride is a smotth and a little firm, but none of the gut retching crashing on large bumps as before. Seems to be appropriate for a sport luxury sedan. Larger potholes will sometimes cause a bit of spring noise, but it isn't a bottoming out sort of sound that makes you cringe.
So I am very happy with this set up so far. Will see how they react as time goes on, and there will be the Chicago winter to deal with in a few months.
Hope this helps anyone contemplating this setup for your AWD G!
Last edited by Jethro; 08-03-2014 at 10:29 PM. Reason: Added spring rates
The following 15 users liked this post by Jethro:
afrayedknot (05-09-2019),
bikezilla (07-11-2016),
blnewt (07-24-2014),
Coltrane1 (03-27-2017),
dbeachy1 (07-16-2015),
and 10 others liked this post.
#2
The Steering Wheel Guy
iTrader: (12)
Looks great, nice to see a good coilover option for us AWD guys. I'm surprised you had such a bad experience with the swift springs, they have quite the following. I have eibach springs on my AWD coupe and I'd describe the ride similar to how you explained the coil setup, except no spring/damper noise. The ride is a bit more form than stock, but nothing overwhelming. Larger bumps are handled quite impressively. There is a noticeable bump, but the car doesn't feel as though it will fall apart by any stretch.
#4
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
Thanks for the write up. I was looking at gettin on the group buy for these but I just didn't have the funds at the time.
These sound great so far and I think I'll be doing th swift spring upgrade, +1 on your spring rates. I think I'll e looking to so these within the next six months, if your review stays true to all and stays that way over time I can see these being a big hit with the awd guys!
These sound great so far and I think I'll be doing th swift spring upgrade, +1 on your spring rates. I think I'll e looking to so these within the next six months, if your review stays true to all and stays that way over time I can see these being a big hit with the awd guys!
#6
Registered User
Awesome review Jethro. I concur. I have the exact same set up, except the extenders. The ride feels a lot different from stock. Feels firmer and doesn't squat when i punch it. Overall I'm happy with the coil overs. My wife usually drives this car so I haven't been able to really give it a good test and feel but so far so good. I also threw on some 20x10.5 ET35 all the way around wrapped in 275/30's while I was at it.
#7
Awesome review Jethro. I concur. I have the exact same set up, except the extenders. The ride feels a lot different from stock. Feels firmer and doesn't squat when i punch it. Overall I'm happy with the coil overs. My wife usually drives this car so I haven't been able to really give it a good test and feel but so far so good. I also threw on some 20x10.5 ET35 all the way around wrapped in 275/30's while I was at it.
Trending Topics
#8
Updated first post with the spring rates.
A slight update: Regarding the handling with these coilovers - Car definitely handles better than stock or with the Swift/OEM damper setup. Damping is controlled which makes you want to push the car a bit into turns, not like before were it felt like the car was a bit out of control and slowing down was required. Car changes direction well, haven't pushed it too far on the street (and won't) but am happy with the handling so far. BTW, I am still on OEM swaybars, so can't say how this compares to a G with aftermarket sways. But I don't need the best handling car, this is my sporty DD, and these coilovers fit that goal so far.
A slight update: Regarding the handling with these coilovers - Car definitely handles better than stock or with the Swift/OEM damper setup. Damping is controlled which makes you want to push the car a bit into turns, not like before were it felt like the car was a bit out of control and slowing down was required. Car changes direction well, haven't pushed it too far on the street (and won't) but am happy with the handling so far. BTW, I am still on OEM swaybars, so can't say how this compares to a G with aftermarket sways. But I don't need the best handling car, this is my sporty DD, and these coilovers fit that goal so far.
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Central NJ Hunterdon County
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I am very interested in hearing more from you 2 who are running 09 g37x, and 09 g37xS sedans with the "Fortune 500" coil overs. I am a multi-G35 6spd and g35x owner and modifier. Now I have a 09 G37xS sedan and I saw your posts and hope you can help me with some unknowns I have, first off did you need anything besides the coil overs to run your car lower, and why did you go with the fortune 500's instead of BC's? All I've focused on so far is getting the lowest 0-60 time with out taking the bottom end out for uprgrades so far and because I do a lot of hard high speed tight turn and heavy braking threw some 14" Akebono brakes on it and increased air flow and cooling so I don't hurt her because I am also running 400 past the factory rpm limit to keep it from needing shifted to 3rd since i have the 7 spd auto and have it set up to think it's in a higher altitude to keep it from detatation. So now I am interested in a few chassi stiffness modifications but before I do that I am debating running a progressive coil spring drop or coil overs. Does lowering the 09 g37xS require any other modifications to get a proper alignment? If I do swap wheels it would be for 18" TE37'S and if I have enough room to play with I would like to go to 18x9 inch wheels but basically I just want to know if I need adjustable arms or links to keep things nice and straight, that's all. Also one quick question specifically for Jethro, you saw your pics with the optional damper adjustment and I just wanted to be sure, you do still have to use the shock/strut wrenches to change your ride height though, correct? Thanks guys, and or ladies, I haven't checked out everyones names and stuff. Sorry. Names Charles, thanks for your time, hope you can help me decide which plan is best for me so I appreciate any advice, tips or whatever opinions you may have running the setup you are running. So thanks again.
#10
Registered User
I suggest you take a look at my old thread here https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...mber-kits.html . I was clueless to what I needed to do to make it possible for me to lower the car. After days of searching and reading, I was able to find out exactly what I needed to do to make it happen. Fortune Auto also sells the 510 series which are more for track use. I'm not 100% if they make those for the X. The 500's are of good quality and feel better than the stockers.
Is this a daily driver also? You might also want to look into sway bar and strut bar upgrades.
Is this a daily driver also? You might also want to look into sway bar and strut bar upgrades.
#11
why did you go with the fortune 500's instead of BC's?
Does lowering the 09 g37xS require any other modifications to get a proper alignment?
Jethro, you saw your pics with the optional damper adjustment and I just wanted to be sure, you do still have to use the shock/strut wrenches to change your ride height though, correct?
Does lowering the 09 g37xS require any other modifications to get a proper alignment?
Jethro, you saw your pics with the optional damper adjustment and I just wanted to be sure, you do still have to use the shock/strut wrenches to change your ride height though, correct?
Depending how low you go, camber kits would be required. I have a front and rear set from SPC on my car.
Yes, you are correct, you need to use the wrenches to adjust the height. The rear is a little trickier to change because the spring and damper are not together.
Hope that helps, sounds like your cars have some nice work done to them!
#13
I may have to upgrade this winter. I feel like my car is underdampened and it is annoying and sometimes makes the car feel like it is out of control especially when there's a bump.
#14
Small update: Have been driving the car a lot more due to a job change. Still no noises from the rear, and am still happy with the setup. Am still tweeking the damping settings, and haven't found a perfect setting yet, but it is mostly due to the terrible roads here in Chicago. I keep switching between a stiffer setting to improve handling vs a softer one so it rides better on the commute.
Anyone else have these installed yet? Feel free to add feedback here...
Anyone else have these installed yet? Feel free to add feedback here...