Looking for opinion on coilovers on first gen
05-01-09, 01:15 AM
#1
Looking for opinion on coilovers on first gen
I'm having some second thoughts about replacing my suspension with OEM parts and thinking about getting coilovers instead. But of course, I have a bunch of questions in regards to that. Now, before I ask any question, let me just say that I'm considering the coilovers because a set of four actually seems cheaper than a set of OEM springs/shocks/mounts/bumpers/etc. Now onto the questions.
1) First of all, I understand that coilovers are sold as an entire, assembled unit? I understand that I wont have to reuse any parts of the existing struts or the strut mounts, is that right?
2) Who makes quality coilovers for the first gen? I heard tons of good stuff about Tein CS from the 2GS guys, but Tein doesn't seem to make a setup for the 1st gens. I was searching ebay and it seems that theres a bunch of no-name stuff, and then there are Megan LP, but when it comes to Megan LP, some of them are listed as 90-00 and some are listed as 95-00. There aren't any that are listed as 90-94. Does that mean that first and second gens are compatible, or ebay just lists them wrong? They are listed with part numbers MR-CDK-LL91
3) If first and second gen are indeed compatible, can I just use Teins made for 95-00?
4) How will the ride quality be affected? If I do install them, I will adjust them to stock height and keep it this way, I am not interested at all in changing ride height. And I'm riding on stock size wheels as well - 16" rims from LS430 with 225/60/16 tires. So if I set these, most likely Megan LP, on their softest settings, how close to factory will they be? How hard are they to adjust from soft to firm?
1) First of all, I understand that coilovers are sold as an entire, assembled unit? I understand that I wont have to reuse any parts of the existing struts or the strut mounts, is that right?
2) Who makes quality coilovers for the first gen? I heard tons of good stuff about Tein CS from the 2GS guys, but Tein doesn't seem to make a setup for the 1st gens. I was searching ebay and it seems that theres a bunch of no-name stuff, and then there are Megan LP, but when it comes to Megan LP, some of them are listed as 90-00 and some are listed as 95-00. There aren't any that are listed as 90-94. Does that mean that first and second gens are compatible, or ebay just lists them wrong? They are listed with part numbers MR-CDK-LL91
3) If first and second gen are indeed compatible, can I just use Teins made for 95-00?
4) How will the ride quality be affected? If I do install them, I will adjust them to stock height and keep it this way, I am not interested at all in changing ride height. And I'm riding on stock size wheels as well - 16" rims from LS430 with 225/60/16 tires. So if I set these, most likely Megan LP, on their softest settings, how close to factory will they be? How hard are they to adjust from soft to firm?
05-01-09, 01:24 AM
#2
Guys I did some forum searching, and I see that Megans are compatible across first and second gens, so thats resolved. Now I read some posts that D2's are superior to Megans, but I can only find these for 95-00. Are they compatible with 90-94 as well?
05-01-09, 06:56 AM
#3
Lexus Champion
i don't see why the D2's woudlnt' work as well for a first gen.
i wonder why people say D2's are better than megans? have those people used both on their LS's? i doubt it.
i know the megans i have are wonderful. on teh softest setting, they ride well but handle much much better than stock. they're over a year old and still function perfectly.
and yes, coilovers completely replace the old stuff as a unit. no disassembly needed of your old struts.
i wonder why people say D2's are better than megans? have those people used both on their LS's? i doubt it.
i know the megans i have are wonderful. on teh softest setting, they ride well but handle much much better than stock. they're over a year old and still function perfectly.
and yes, coilovers completely replace the old stuff as a unit. no disassembly needed of your old struts.
05-01-09, 07:58 AM
#5
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I have K-Sports on my car right now.
After riding around with them for about 3-4k miles now, I've been VERY impressed with the ride quality of the car. I am constantly driving 70miles a day on very crappy Atlanta roads, and they have not only held up extremely well, but handles the cars weight and absorbs bumps quite well.
I had a few buddys in my car this past weekend for a big car show here in Atlanta (Import Alliance) and after following down a TON of cars (seriously, like 20 in our caravan), just watching the other cars bounce around and looking in the rear view mirror and seeing MY passengers leaned back, comfortable as can be and almost tucking RIM, it was an understatement to say that the coilovers were better than average.
From a ride quality and to a build quality standpoint, I'd strongly stand by my K-Sports any day of the week.
Here is a picture of how low we were crusing the ENTIRE time going 75-90mph hitting pretty much every pot hole in sight (their pretty unavoidable!!)
BTW - my setup is K-Sport suspension on 18x9.5 +15 fronts and 18x10 -5 rears.
After riding around with them for about 3-4k miles now, I've been VERY impressed with the ride quality of the car. I am constantly driving 70miles a day on very crappy Atlanta roads, and they have not only held up extremely well, but handles the cars weight and absorbs bumps quite well.
I had a few buddys in my car this past weekend for a big car show here in Atlanta (Import Alliance) and after following down a TON of cars (seriously, like 20 in our caravan), just watching the other cars bounce around and looking in the rear view mirror and seeing MY passengers leaned back, comfortable as can be and almost tucking RIM, it was an understatement to say that the coilovers were better than average.
From a ride quality and to a build quality standpoint, I'd strongly stand by my K-Sports any day of the week.
Here is a picture of how low we were crusing the ENTIRE time going 75-90mph hitting pretty much every pot hole in sight (their pretty unavoidable!!)
BTW - my setup is K-Sport suspension on 18x9.5 +15 fronts and 18x10 -5 rears.
love em
05-01-09, 06:48 PM
#9
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Yes Och, you will have to sacrifice either $ or ride quality. That being said I love my megans also, it was'nt as bad of a ride quality trade off as I thought it was going to be. They were stiff when I first got them in september and they got much smoother. I was someone who was worried about the ride quality also but I knew that going from stock to coilovers and 20's with 35 series front and 30 series rear tires was going to be a trade off.
To my surprise it was still pretty smooth. For example my friend just got a G35 sedan all stock and my car still rides much better. Maybe you can find a member locally that has megans and set up a test drive. I hope this helps you make a decision budy!
To my surprise it was still pretty smooth. For example my friend just got a G35 sedan all stock and my car still rides much better. Maybe you can find a member locally that has megans and set up a test drive. I hope this helps you make a decision budy!
05-01-09, 07:14 PM
#10
Hey guys, I dont mind if its a little stiffer, I'm not an old fart, however I dont want it to bounce around like a civic. My other car is a GS430, and if Megans ride qualite is comparable to stock GS430 ride, I wont mind it. Plus I'm gonna be riding on stock 16's, and I don't plan on dropping my car at all.
Now, as far as the ride height goes, whats the easiest way to adjust them? I never dealt with coilover before, so forgive my ignorance. I just dont wanna deal with height and camber issues, I wanna put them in, put the car on the alignment machine, and have everything as close to perfect specs as possible. So lets say if I adjusted them to maximum height before I install them, would that be around stock height or would it still be lower or higher?
And one more thing, do they last? How many years can I expect out of them? My original shocks are 15 years old, and are still not completely shot, how many years can I expect out of megans?
Now, as far as the ride height goes, whats the easiest way to adjust them? I never dealt with coilover before, so forgive my ignorance. I just dont wanna deal with height and camber issues, I wanna put them in, put the car on the alignment machine, and have everything as close to perfect specs as possible. So lets say if I adjusted them to maximum height before I install them, would that be around stock height or would it still be lower or higher?
And one more thing, do they last? How many years can I expect out of them? My original shocks are 15 years old, and are still not completely shot, how many years can I expect out of megans?
05-04-09, 06:42 AM
#15
Lexus Champion
Hey guys, I dont mind if its a little stiffer, I'm not an old fart, however I dont want it to bounce around like a civic. My other car is a GS430, and if Megans ride qualite is comparable to stock GS430 ride, I wont mind it. Plus I'm gonna be riding on stock 16's, and I don't plan on dropping my car at all.
Now, as far as the ride height goes, whats the easiest way to adjust them? I never dealt with coilover before, so forgive my ignorance. I just dont wanna deal with height and camber issues, I wanna put them in, put the car on the alignment machine, and have everything as close to perfect specs as possible. So lets say if I adjusted them to maximum height before I install them, would that be around stock height or would it still be lower or higher?
And one more thing, do they last? How many years can I expect out of them? My original shocks are 15 years old, and are still not completely shot, how many years can I expect out of megans?
Now, as far as the ride height goes, whats the easiest way to adjust them? I never dealt with coilover before, so forgive my ignorance. I just dont wanna deal with height and camber issues, I wanna put them in, put the car on the alignment machine, and have everything as close to perfect specs as possible. So lets say if I adjusted them to maximum height before I install them, would that be around stock height or would it still be lower or higher?
And one more thing, do they last? How many years can I expect out of them? My original shocks are 15 years old, and are still not completely shot, how many years can I expect out of megans?
i coudln't tell you however how they will sit at maximum height.... never experiemented wtih how high they would go.
i dont' think anyone knows how long they will last either.... they haven't been around longe nough!
it's kind of a gamble for someone in your situation.