Best coilovers for a daily driver?
11-08-13, 08:00 PM
#1
Best coilovers for a daily driver?
I'm gonna upgrade my suspension so why not coilovers right? I daily my car and never go on a trip more than 50 miles, 5-6k miles a year on my gs 400, it's about time for an upgrade from that jittery clunky 15 year old suspension, what are you guys running for your daily and how is the ride quality? Are coilovers that much better than oem? I've never had them, recommendations ? What are you running and do u like them? Any input would be awesome! Please share!
11-09-13, 03:24 PM
#3
Well, most coilovers ride like crap compared to stock. They have limited suspension travel too, tend to be loud and they don't last as long as stock.
That's a couple reasons not to go with coilovers. Are you trying to turn the GS into a race car or keep it feeling like a Luxury car? If I was trying to keep a car driving like stock or a bit better than stock, I'd get upgraded conventional shocks like Bilsteins.
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...8&autoModClar=
Maybe something like this.
That's a couple reasons not to go with coilovers. Are you trying to turn the GS into a race car or keep it feeling like a Luxury car? If I was trying to keep a car driving like stock or a bit better than stock, I'd get upgraded conventional shocks like Bilsteins.
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...8&autoModClar=
Maybe something like this.
11-09-13, 04:41 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
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Depending on what your price range is, I'd definitely recommend Fortune Auto coilovers... love mine. Not to mention, built (and rebuildable) in the US, customizable spring rates, etc. etc.
11-09-13, 04:59 PM
#6
Only reason I went with coilovers was because of ease of install, adj. (height/dampening) . I loved the bilstein HD's and Swift spring combo I had on my previous GS. With 30mm RCA's the drop was as low as the coilovers i'm running now.
Megan's set on 6 clicks in the front 3 clicks in the rear dampening. Car rides great. Depending on road conditions, I would get a set of megan EZ and call it a day for daily driving.
Megan's set on 6 clicks in the front 3 clicks in the rear dampening. Car rides great. Depending on road conditions, I would get a set of megan EZ and call it a day for daily driving.
11-09-13, 05:30 PM
#7
Coilovers are not meant for Daily..This is like a Oxymoron...
it's about time for an upgrade from that jittery clunky 15 year old suspension,
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11-10-13, 05:21 AM
#8
All systems are completely built in-house by our engineering staff in Richmond, Virginia. We insist on building bespoke suspension in order to offer some of the best quality control in the industry.
Figs takes Megans and does pretty much the same thing. Replaces the springs with decent springs and sets the valving to something to match the particular car. If I was going to buy a cheap coilover, I'd probably look at what Figs is offering.
Just say'n.
11-10-13, 06:52 AM
#9
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Not really sure how a "name just screams China", but it is what it is. Still, after all was said and done (the Swift springs aren't standard), they were still relatively inexpensive... but not cheap. Not to mention, I don't think you'd get a 1-2 week turnaround time for them to be rebuilt/revalved/etc. on a Chinese-made coilover.
11-10-13, 08:44 AM
#10
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I run EZ streets on my GS (got the car that way) with the ride currently lowered about 1"-1.5" from stock I'd guess. I run the setting at 3 clicks from max, which is up from ... max the PO had (which felt like something would break every time I hit a ripple). So while it's not the most comfortable compared to how a Lexus is supposed to feel, it's definitely planted but could use a little softer setting. I may actually go ahead and try 5-6 clicks in the front instead of 3 and see how that goes.
As for handling, it's not bad, I can't notice much of a lean in turns and it's not Ricer Bouncy (TM), but I do feel like the steering and/or bushings in that area might be up for some grease/replacement as it's not laser precise as it should/could be (like my wife's Accent or friend's Juke Nismo LOL), or that it can be softer to ease the ride over some of the smaller bumps on the road. But I take it the EZ streets are just not meant for that level of tuning so I just accept it for what it is for now (I think the exhaust drone is a much more bigger problem for passengers than anything hah).
As for handling, it's not bad, I can't notice much of a lean in turns and it's not Ricer Bouncy (TM), but I do feel like the steering and/or bushings in that area might be up for some grease/replacement as it's not laser precise as it should/could be (like my wife's Accent or friend's Juke Nismo LOL), or that it can be softer to ease the ride over some of the smaller bumps on the road. But I take it the EZ streets are just not meant for that level of tuning so I just accept it for what it is for now (I think the exhaust drone is a much more bigger problem for passengers than anything hah).
11-10-13, 08:45 AM
#11
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Fortune Auto - the name just screams China. The look of the coilovers says "China" too. The Koyo bearings and the swift springs suggest taking a second look. Construction quality isn't up to KW standards but, for a cheap coilover. They seem to be making all the right noises. Pretty local too which is a plus.
Figs takes Megans and does pretty much the same thing. Replaces the springs with decent springs and sets the valving to something to match the particular car. If I was going to buy a cheap coilover, I'd probably look at what Figs is offering.
Just say'n.
Figs takes Megans and does pretty much the same thing. Replaces the springs with decent springs and sets the valving to something to match the particular car. If I was going to buy a cheap coilover, I'd probably look at what Figs is offering.
Just say'n.
11-10-13, 11:12 AM
#12
but they actually test their coilovers and offer a 5year warranty. Suggest you do some research.
Megans, BC's, Fortune Autos all serve a purpose. They're entry level coilovers for people who just daily drive their cars and want to slam them. They're the cheapest game in town which isn't bad or good. I do think it's misleading when people try to tell a noob they ride great when they have 2-3 times stock spring rate. They end up spending $1200 and another couple hundred for install and alignment then have a car that rides nothing like stock.
11-10-13, 11:10 PM
#13
Don't get something cheap... especially if it's a daily.
More so if its your only mode of transportation. The last thing you want is your car down for days because you skimped a few dollars on a coilover and need replaced.
You may want to look into rubber upper mount coilovers. Most coilovers on the market for our cars are pillow-ball which gives a more 'direct' steering feel but less give. You may want to consider getting new rubber upper mounts while you're at it though.
I had the HKS Hipermax LS and currently on Bilstein PSS; both are rubber uppermount. I have been daily driving my GS for probably over 5 years in the **** midwest roads. The HKS were awesome but I blew them after hitting a massive pothole... the Bilstein so far has been awesome.
Quality is, well, Bilstein. German TUV approved (which is said to be "the strictest in the world, and getting a road permit for custom-built vehicles is said to border on the impossible." per wiki. I think roadgoing KWs are also TUV.
As someone else said, it might be a good idea to check out your bushings. Good luck.
More so if its your only mode of transportation. The last thing you want is your car down for days because you skimped a few dollars on a coilover and need replaced.
You may want to look into rubber upper mount coilovers. Most coilovers on the market for our cars are pillow-ball which gives a more 'direct' steering feel but less give. You may want to consider getting new rubber upper mounts while you're at it though.
I had the HKS Hipermax LS and currently on Bilstein PSS; both are rubber uppermount. I have been daily driving my GS for probably over 5 years in the **** midwest roads. The HKS were awesome but I blew them after hitting a massive pothole... the Bilstein so far has been awesome.
Quality is, well, Bilstein. German TUV approved (which is said to be "the strictest in the world, and getting a road permit for custom-built vehicles is said to border on the impossible." per wiki. I think roadgoing KWs are also TUV.
As someone else said, it might be a good idea to check out your bushings. Good luck.
11-12-13, 02:42 PM
#14
so much wrong info in here. what is your budget, what is are you trying to achieve? how much driving do you do? are you trying to slam the car? just a moderate drop? or even just a conservative drop? answer those questions first. I would stay away from ksport, d2, and megan just because I have personal issues with them. I have bent multiple struts from ksport, I am on megans right now on my GS and if you're trying to get low like me they are not the coils to go for. Im borrowing them from a friend until i can pick up new ones this week. I highly recommend fortune auto as well, I have heard nothing but good things from them, I know a few people that use them for the track and they like them. With megan i am on them right now and they bounce because of improper usage, yes i am sagging the spring to get lower because the mount is all the way up already. Thing is though, megans are notorious for blowing. I don't know the truth about this so don't take my word for it but it has been thrown around that KW suspension has bought megan recently. not sure if its true though.
11-19-13, 09:57 PM
#15
so much wrong info in here. what is your budget, what is are you trying to achieve? how much driving do you do? are you trying to slam the car? just a moderate drop? or even just a conservative drop? answer those questions first. I would stay away from ksport, d2, and megan just because I have personal issues with them. I have bent multiple struts from ksport, I am on megans right now on my GS and if you're trying to get low like me they are not the coils to go for. Im borrowing them from a friend until i can pick up new ones this week. I highly recommend fortune auto as well, I have heard nothing but good things from them, I know a few people that use them for the track and they like them. With megan i am on them right now and they bounce because of improper usage, yes i am sagging the spring to get lower because the mount is all the way up already. Thing is though, megans are notorious for blowing. I don't know the truth about this so don't take my word for it but it has been thrown around that KW suspension has bought megan recently. not sure if its true though.
