Coilover or springs/struts??

[mazdaspeedmyk]

Just backing up what ksconekiller is saying.

From the Koni FAQ on tirerack.com:

Q: How far can I safely lower my car?

A: KONI shocks are designed to fit standard height cars and can work with lowered cars as long as they don't bottom out internally and become damaged. Unlike some shocks, KONI's are not position sensitive so they will work properly anywhere in their stroke range providing they are not bottoming or topping out. Different vehicle suspension designs have different stroke travels but a good rule of thumb is that most vehicles can be lowered acceptably about 1 1/2 inches, beyond that the possibility of bottoming increases rapidly although some longer stroke cars can go lower. Most vehicles are equipped with bump stops to keep the shocks and springs from bottoming out. When lowering a vehicle be sure to reuse your bump stops because they are cheap insurance to avoid bottoming damage. Remember also that severely lowered vehicles typically have negative effects on suspension geometry, ride quality and handling, and tire and suspension part wear.


Tire Rack : Koni FAQ

[silvrMZhatch1]

Originally Posted by JosephJ85

I ordered my Koni Str.t's from AJUSA dot com for $319 Shipped and Eibach Sportlines on Ebay for $217 Shipped. Honestly for $536 shipped i dont think you can get a better deal and they have the Struts readily available

sounds like a good deal to me! whenever you get em installed let us know how you like the setup. I may go the same route. idk about eibach sportlines but str.t's with a bigger drop 1.25".

Originally Posted by Dnick454

In my opinion, even if you don't NEED coilovers, you may as well get them for the simple fact that you're spending almost as much money on springs and struts anyways.

After dealing with all that crap (and probably having a blown set of shocks), it's time to buy new shocks/struts and you're right back at the same price of a nice set of coilovers.

And to address another point... yes Raceland coilovers are the cheapest of cheap when it comes to suspension. That being said, they're still coilovers and offer adjustable height for 400 bucks and won't blow your stock struts and springs if they do die.

I'd have to agree with you on your points about the cons of springs/shocks, hence why im looking to upgrade, but $536 shipped is more like almost half coilovers. at least BC which seems to be what everybody on here has for the non-speeds. I could look past some little issues for $550 Just curious, are you saying you'd go Raceland coilovers over springs and aftermarket shocks/struts??

Originally Posted by ksconekiller

Yellows are designed to ride in any position within their travel. Str.t shocks are able to be used with a lowering, but Koni generally recommends no more than about an inch. You'd probably be okay with RM 1.25 with the Str.t, but the Sportlines or RM 1.75 would not be advised. They might be okay, but I wouldn't risk it.

Do you remember where you read that info about the yellow/str.t comparison? Didnt see that on their site. EDIT: nvm thanks msmyk..

[Rherold9]

Originally Posted by silvrMZhatch1

Just curious, are you saying you'd go Raceland coilovers over springs and aftermarket shocks/struts??

Lol... if you are asking this question please go shocks+struts and some 1.25 RMs...Seems like you want that drop. But, just read Warlord's post. People who say go racelands have obviously never used them... He hated them and took them off after spending hundreds of dollars trying to get them to work.

[ksconekiller]

Originally Posted by silvrMZhatch1

Do you remember where you read that info about the yellow/str.t comparison? Didnt see that on their site.

No, I don't remember where I first heard it, but I've known it for years. It may have been when I was at a shock seminar a few years ago with Lee Grimes from Koni. Now that I've put a little thought into, I think that's when it was. At that time, the str.t and FSD were just coming out, so they got mentioned a bunch.

The Konis yellows are happy sitting at any point in their range, but you can extend that range by getting them shortened. Not really an option on the front struts, but able to be done on any single shock. As an example, Miata shocks are available with stock-sized or shortened bodies depending on how low the car's ride height is.

[silvrMZhatch1]

Originally Posted by Rherold9

Lol... if you are asking this question please go shocks+struts and some 1.25 RMs...Seems like you want that drop. But, just read Warlord's post. People who say go racelands have obviously never used them... He hated them and took them off after spending hundreds of dollars trying to get them to work.

Already have RM 1.25". want to go lower. I already read through it. I asked cause it sounded like that was what you were saying by they're the cheapest of the cheap, but still coilovers. Sounded like you were saying any coilovers (including raceland) are better than an aftermarket spring/shock strut combo.

Originally Posted by ksconekiller

No, I don't remember where I first heard it, but I've known it for years. It may have been when I was at a shock seminar a few years ago with Lee Grimes from Koni. Now that I've put a little thought into, I think that's when it was. At that time, the str.t and FSD were just coming out, so they got mentioned a bunch.

The Konis yellows are happy sitting at any point in their range, but you can extend that range by getting them shortened. Not really an option on the front struts, but able to be done on any single shock. As an example, Miata shocks are available with stock-sized or shortened bodies depending on how low the car's ride height is.

So no str.t's w/ a big drop. Thanks.

[JosephJ85]

Lol thanks to you guys making me question my own decision ive canceled my orders for the Str.t's and Sportlines and going the coilover route.... so now the question is which brand should i go with... Hellllll NOOOO to raceland so... any suggestions... i should be placing my order by next week so i need to decide soon

[mazda3UR]

i'm wondering what people think of the yellowspeed coilovers that are being sold in a GB on 247.
Super cheap but are they cheap all around...

[JosephJ85]

OK so ive been doing a lil searching on which coilovers to get and im steering towards ST Suspension Coilovers... they are made by KW which is what i was thinking of getting in the first place...

has anyone tried these out...

ST Suspensions - coilover kits.... I like the fact that they have a 5year warranty over the 1year that BC has...

Any help or suggestions is highly appreciated

[Rherold9]

Well my last words are going to be if you want to spend extra $500-1000 on good COs instead of springs/struts+shocks go ahead. No point in COs unless you are tracking and adjust height. Problems with not springs settling right are very few and you could end up with a bad CO it happens. Also, there are so many pics of drops that you know what drop you will be getting with the springs.. COs also go bad just as springs/struts+shocks will. But, yes in the end of I had the extra money I'd go with COs but they arent necessary or worth the cost imo for normal DD...

[JosephJ85]

Originally Posted by Rherold9

Well my last words are going to be if you want to spend extra $500-1000 on good COs instead of springs/struts+shocks go ahead. No point in COs unless you are tracking and adjust height. Problems with not springs settling right are very few and you could end up with a bad CO it happens. Also, there are so many pics of drops that you know what drop you will be getting with the springs.. COs also go bad just as springs/struts+shocks will. But, yes in the end of I had the extra money I'd go with COs but they arent necessary or worth the cost imo for normal DD...

My main concern with Strut/Spring setup is that i have the Skyactiv and really dont want the uneven drop... I DREEEAAD our wheel gap... Also i live in NY and dont park in a garage so my plan with the CO's was drop it enough to get rid of the wheel gap completely (about2" all around ) in the summer and when winter rolls in i would raise the height a bit. This is my first suspension mod on any car ive ever had and dont want to end up spending any amout of cash and then regretting it. strut/spring and id be stuck at what ever drop even, uneven, or unsatisfied... with the Coils if my drop is uneven i could always adjust it... I had ordered Koni strt and sportlines for $536 shipped... the St Coilovers would only cost me an extra $356 plus about 40 in shipping...