Need Opinion on Coilovers
03-10-11, 03:15 PM
#1
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Need Opinion on Coilovers
Hey Guys, I was wondering if you guys could give me your opinions on which coilovers to get. i have a 2009 ISF which is mainly used for street driving and will probably never see the track in the near future.
I priced out the BC Racing Coilovers and the KW V3 Coilovers. KW is about twice as much as the BC. Just wondering if i should go with BC and use the extra money on other items or go for the KW? Or maybe should i look at the Tein Comfort Sports?
Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance.
I priced out the BC Racing Coilovers and the KW V3 Coilovers. KW is about twice as much as the BC. Just wondering if i should go with BC and use the extra money on other items or go for the KW? Or maybe should i look at the Tein Comfort Sports?
Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance.
03-10-11, 03:39 PM
#2
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I would go with BC. They are really good coilovers for the money and if you not tracking KW in my opinion are not needed. I will be getting my coils tomo so cant wait.
03-10-11, 04:09 PM
#4
I have thought about this myself for a while and here are my thoughts on this...
I used to have BC racing coilovers on my IS300. Although they gave me the drop I was looking for, the "sophistication" of the suspension was a bare minimum and I'll explain why. The coilovers utilize a mono-tube design, much like Tein CS, so the "softer" you set that damping the floater it gets, and the "stiffer" you make it the bouncier it gets. The stiffness of the ride is driven mainly by the spring rates you go with. For me that meant either a harsh treatment if the damping is on "hard", or the risk of bottoming out on the "soft" setting. The bottom line is they work, just didn't feel all that great for DD. Tein CS are going to be pretty much the same, only they come with softer springs. You're paying extra for the brand name and a slightly more sophisticated valving system. Between the two, I would definitely choose BC racing for the VALUE.
That being said, If you really want superior suspension, you'd have to go with KW V3 coilovers because they use a 2-way pressure valve technology which controls the compression and rebound characteristic independently for a true "dail-in" settings. They also come with a lifetime warranty which is a nice plus.
My recommendation is to go with KW coilovers, unless you live somewhere with smooth silk roads or you don't plan on lowering your car all that much (so you stay on the softer damping setting).
Hans
I used to have BC racing coilovers on my IS300. Although they gave me the drop I was looking for, the "sophistication" of the suspension was a bare minimum and I'll explain why. The coilovers utilize a mono-tube design, much like Tein CS, so the "softer" you set that damping the floater it gets, and the "stiffer" you make it the bouncier it gets. The stiffness of the ride is driven mainly by the spring rates you go with. For me that meant either a harsh treatment if the damping is on "hard", or the risk of bottoming out on the "soft" setting. The bottom line is they work, just didn't feel all that great for DD. Tein CS are going to be pretty much the same, only they come with softer springs. You're paying extra for the brand name and a slightly more sophisticated valving system. Between the two, I would definitely choose BC racing for the VALUE.
That being said, If you really want superior suspension, you'd have to go with KW V3 coilovers because they use a 2-way pressure valve technology which controls the compression and rebound characteristic independently for a true "dail-in" settings. They also come with a lifetime warranty which is a nice plus.
My recommendation is to go with KW coilovers, unless you live somewhere with smooth silk roads or you don't plan on lowering your car all that much (so you stay on the softer damping setting).
Hans
Last edited by DS2k; 03-10-11 at 04:52 PM.
03-10-11, 05:13 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
My question is why coilovers? If you never plan on tracking the car? Why not save a bunch of money and do springs or a spring shock combo? you will save a lot of money. Are you planning on lower a whole lot? the only reason I see to go coilovers is if you want extreme lowering or are going to track the car. I would look at swift springs or others here like the Tein products.
just my $.02
just my $.02
03-10-11, 05:15 PM
#6
Apart from the fact that they are both called coilovers and they allow you to adjust ride height that is where the similarities end.
KW V3's are on a completely different level in terms of adjustment (compression and rebound vs rebound only), quality of materials (stainless steel shock body vs. steel) and valving/tuning. KW's for the IS F were co-developed with TOM's in Japan.
If any of the above matter to you the choice is clear. If you just want to adjust the ride height of the car and possibly "fiddle" with the dampening the BC's are the way to go. They both serve different ends of the market and have their place in it.
The other option is the newly released HKS Hipermax M1 for the IS F. If I didn't have KW's those would be my other choice. I had Hipermax's on my Evo 9 and the ride and handling were both amazing.
http://hksusa.com/products/?id=3926
KW V3's are on a completely different level in terms of adjustment (compression and rebound vs rebound only), quality of materials (stainless steel shock body vs. steel) and valving/tuning. KW's for the IS F were co-developed with TOM's in Japan.
If any of the above matter to you the choice is clear. If you just want to adjust the ride height of the car and possibly "fiddle" with the dampening the BC's are the way to go. They both serve different ends of the market and have their place in it.
The other option is the newly released HKS Hipermax M1 for the IS F. If I didn't have KW's those would be my other choice. I had Hipermax's on my Evo 9 and the ride and handling were both amazing.
http://hksusa.com/products/?id=3926
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03-10-11, 06:03 PM
#8
My question is why coilovers? If you never plan on tracking the car? Why not save a bunch of money and do springs or a spring shock combo? you will save a lot of money. Are you planning on lower a whole lot? the only reason I see to go coilovers is if you want extreme lowering or are going to track the car. I would look at swift springs or others here like the Tein products.
just my $.02
just my $.02
03-10-11, 07:13 PM
#9
Any conversation about spring rates without discussing shock valving is almost meaningless and oversimplifies all of the factors that determine ride comfort and handling among other things. Both the spring rate, shock design and valving play a roll in ride harshness and handling. The fact that the HKS spring rates are 16/10 kg/mm (896/560 lbs/in) does't necessarily mean that the ride quality has to suffer.
I've driven an IS F with the HKS M1 coilovers and they are marginally stiffer than my KW's and and still have better control/valving than the Tein CST's for the IS F which have rates of 671/559 lb/in that I drove.
03-10-11, 10:05 PM
#10
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Thanks everyone, i appreciate everyone's opinions. While i do want to improve the ride quality of my car, i definitely want to explore an aggressive look by lowering the car along with getting some new rims.
I checked out your link on the Hypermax but those a quite a bit more expensive than what i was quoted on for the KWs. So i think those are probably out of the question.
I never thought about going the shocks and springs route but i would like the ability to adjust the height of the car if needed.
I checked out your link on the Hypermax but those a quite a bit more expensive than what i was quoted on for the KWs. So i think those are probably out of the question.
I never thought about going the shocks and springs route but i would like the ability to adjust the height of the car if needed.
03-11-11, 05:31 AM
#11
Any conversation about spring rates without discussing shock valving is almost meaningless and oversimplifies all of the factors that determine ride comfort and handling among other things. Both the spring rate, shock design and valving play a roll in ride harshness and handling. The fact that the HKS spring rates are 16/10 kg/mm (896/560 lbs/in) does't necessarily mean that the ride quality has to suffer.
I've driven an IS F with the HKS M1 coilovers and they are marginally stiffer than my KW's and and still have better control/valving than the Tein CST's for the IS F which have rates of 671/559 lb/in that I drove.
I've driven an IS F with the HKS M1 coilovers and they are marginally stiffer than my KW's and and still have better control/valving than the Tein CST's for the IS F which have rates of 671/559 lb/in that I drove.
I'm not trying to win an argument here... just sharing my thought process.
Hans
03-11-11, 09:34 AM
#12
I have the BC Coilovers on my IS-F...and I have HKS Hipermax Preformers (Japanese version of the Hipermax III) on my Supra. Yes, two different cars but nonetheless. In regards to the BC Coilovers; I decided to go with these after talking to FIGS who gave me good advice about which coilovers to choose (KW's vs BC...he sells both). I went with the BC's because of price as well as from the reviews I read. Also my IS-F was mainly for daily driving, and very occasional track. So far I'm not disappointed. I have them set to 17 clicks up front and 14 clicks in the back (from soft). This gives about the same firmness as stock, but handling is improved, daily driving isn't as harsh, and it isn't nearly as bouncy as stock. I initially had some severe oversteer, but I got it corner balanced and aligned and it feels perfect now. In regards to my HKS Performers on the Supra, they are actually smoother and offer just as good handling as the BC's but these coilovers were about $1800. I say go with the BC's for your F...you won't be disappointed. Talk to FIGS for a great price...Darshana S...
03-11-11, 11:09 AM
#13
i haven't tracked my car yet but i just drove the 2011 IS F and LFA at infineon and i have to say that these coilovers are better than what i previously had on (eibachs)...
it really depends on what your definition of "improve" is...
if you're really talking about ride quality as in comfort, then you can adjust these to ride a little softer and get a different spring rate and viola... more comfort...
get a stiffer spring rate and adjust accordingly and you're good to go for a firmer ride...
if you're not tracking your F and just driving around town, i think BC/megan is a good value... i had several F owners/drivers drive my car with these and they feel it's a good overall improvement over stock...
just my 2 cents from personal experience...
03-11-11, 02:53 PM
#14
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From reading reviews, I would go with KW's (if you don't care about the cost).
You can't go wrong with BC Racing though as other members have mentioned. BCs are the best bang for the buck.
You can't go wrong with BC Racing though as other members have mentioned. BCs are the best bang for the buck.
