Can anyone give a good description on exactly how the handling improved from switching to coils? Even better if you have KWs.

I know Tanabe and some others can maintain a comfortable ride quality, but I'm wondering more about the performance improvement. I know theoretically it works but would like to hear from first hand experiences.

Braking, cornering, slalom (weaving), maneuverability.......

Please chime in too if you were disappointed with your coils.


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Never heard of anyone dissapointed with coils. I know that the v3 guys all love theirs. KWs dampening changes durring high speeds and low speeds so its a smooth ride on the highway and, depending on your dampening setings, very aggresive on the track.

 

Good coil overs allow the driver to have full control Over the suspension. The spring rates can be custom ordered to match vehicle wieght and driving style. Also the valving of the shock itself allows to dial in the shocks compression and rebound. Some can also adjust over all ride hieght while maintaining proper shock travel. Then there's pillow ball mounts and over all wieght and construction of the system and what you can aford. But there's even more to get into. Maybe someone will post something that's a little
more clear. Better yet. Send it to Greg he can drill some holes in it for you. LOL

 

when my friends on springs ride in my car.. and i go fast on uneven roads.. they say whoah!! what a smooth ride.. not harsh at all... now i dont know how different it is with springs and coil since i never had springs before...

btw they made those comments considering how low my car is.. so i guess coilover doesnt sacrifice ride quality even when ure slammed to the ground..

additionally, i never felt a decline in ride quality from stock after slamming my car.. handling never felt any worse either..

(kw v3)

 

Tanabe Sustec Pro S0C. Sharper turn in to corners, greater feeling of handling stability all the way through a corner, more predictability at the limit of lateral traction, much less occurrence of VDC kicking in during hard cornering, less squat during hard braking, less squat during fast acceleration, far less body roll during lateral change of direction.

 

Anyone care to chime in with BC racing coilovers? Iv'e heard great stuff about these?

 

Tanabe produced a noticeable effect in all those categories? Wow. Making me think twice about KWs.....
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I <3'd my JICs (which are FS)

It was a huge improvement in handling, BUT i have to disclaimer that i was only on stock suspension for 10days, then got Htechs, so i went from only knowing Htechs to the JICs.

But i went from the JICs to stock now so i still feel the difference.

I was able to take a 20mph turn at 60, consistently, every night. Now on stock susp i can take it at like 40-45.

 

Yep. Most any coilover that's doing it's designed job will produce those benefits, not just Tanabe. The differences between brands are whether they have adjustible damping (which these Tanabe's don't), quality of construction, spring rates, and things like these. The basics of what benefits they give should be consistent regardless of brand.

 

That's good to hear. I've heard mixed feedbacks on different people's experience.



Thanks for all the info.
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I have BC Racing and I dropped it about 2 inches and then had my car corner balanced. It handles ridiculously better than stock. Plus they are 30 way ride adjustable so if I am taking it on a run or to the track I can make the ride really stiff and then for dd I can soften it almost back to stock feel.

 

Is it worth it to get it corner balanced if I don't track?
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I don't think so.

 

Danny I'll let u decide on ur own man. U can test drive my car later tonight when I go drop off those lids. See if u feel the difference.

 

I think what he is trying to say is that the Tanabe's inspire more confidence compared to whatever he had before. Its going to be tough to claim which coilover handles better than the other without hard data such as laptimes. I think Tires, alignment, lightweight wheels, and driver experience are going to make a much bigger difference on handling than just coils. It just doesn't make sense to get coils for peformance and then you then slap on 20 in wheels that add on so much unsprung weight.

As for streetablity, the KW's are going to be second to none. BC's... you get what you pay for. Don't get BC's. Stiff =/= better handling. If you hit a bump at high speeds and you have your coils set to extremely stiff rebound, your tires will lose contact with the ground and thats no good for laptimes. One thing to note is that KW's and the tanabes are twin tube valved while JICs are monotube (which make for much for aggressive valving hence rougher ride quality).

It's probably not worth it to get corner balanced if you don't plan to track but who knows.... If you are going to get coils, I would do it right and get something that is streetable, gives you adjustability in terms of rebound and compression (thats the whole point of a coilover), and is going to treat you well at the track should you decide to go.