The Official Coilover/Springs/Shocks Thread

[johnwoo]

from searching this forum and others it seems like the ix struts can fit in the shortened housing also, since they are roughly 3-4 inches shorter than stock. i was wondering if anyone had first hand experience with how they performed with stiffer springs up front and also if any other extra parts or mods needed to be done to make them fit. thanks and great thread.

[use2dub]

Im guessing this would be the correct place to ask this question.
Does anyone know the inside diameter of a stock shock?
also the length of front and rears
Thank you in advance

[plmichal]

Eh, I guess i'll just continue saving up for bc coilovers, something which has gotten nothing but good reviews.

good idea. its a great product. I nearly shit a brick when i spent a grand on "just" coilovers but it is SOOOO totally worth it.

[Ayman]

Be safer to ask the guys who have had them on their car the longest. I'd rather not comment on a product I know squat about.

The H&R's that I own...top notch quality. Then again if you can find a set these days and at under 2K for them is rare.

Eh, I guess i'll just continue saving up for bc coilovers, something which has gotten nothing but good reviews.

[M-technik-3]

would it be safe to ask on this thread what people think about their set of JOMS coilovers?

Be safer to ask the guys who have had them on their car the longest. I'd rather not comment on a product I know squat about.

The H&R's that I own...top notch quality. Then again if you can find a set these days and at under 2K for them is rare.

[Ayman]

would it be safe to ask on this thread what people think about their set of JOMS coilovers?

[Danny]

Raxe.

[glucklich21]

Who's car is this? I've never seen someone else with the wheels I have.

[M-technik-3]

Yeah but this has been done a few times now correct.
H&R Nurburgring coilovers

FK's can't find these to much these days

J-stock

[Wh33lhop]

Great work Jeff. The only thing I would add is that the viewer should take note of whether the car is an early or late model because of the differing rear arches. Late models have arches that are about an inch lower so they have less rear wheel gap but more of a perceived reverse rake than early models.

I've heard about the Mustang rear Konis; it is a neat trick to get top adjustability on the E30. IIRC they may also be shorter than E30 shocks, but don't quote me on that.

[e46s54dr]

^ Fucking awesome, youre the man! Im actually running some kyb shock from an older camaro in the rear while my bilsteins were sent out to get rebuilt. I must say that they ride pretty damn good. Definitely firmer on dampening and it took out alot of my rear wheel hop. I got the new shocks for free from a buddy of mine. I guess its pretty popular amongst the ae86 corolla and drifting world. Its a direct bolt on except for itll need a metal sleeve for the lower bushing which I bought and cut from my local Lowes. I have the first set which are 42.00 each but Im planning on trying the kyb agx's for the hell of it. For anyone who wants a set of good cheap rear shocks, you will not be disappointed in either of these.

http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/2000/chevrolet/camaro/shock_absorbers/rear_shock_absorber.html?

Regular kybs - 42.00 each
3593=117389

82-02 rear KYB AGX; part #743019 Camaro: Retails 100 bucks each

[jaywood]

Let's start with spring rates:

Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360

For coilovers, there are plenty of options as far as what spring rate you want. Companies such as GC, and BC, both allow you to choose your own rate. I would give them a call if you want custom rates...it'll depend on what your purpose is (track, DD, etc...)

I have BC coilovers, my rates are 10k/12k. It's my DD. It's stiff ;)


Here are pictures of some setups people have (take note of whether the car is an early or late model because of the differing rear arches. Late models have arches that are about an inch lower so they have less rear wheel gap but more of a perceived reverse rake than early models)

Eibach Pro-kit



Eibach Pro-kit





Eibach Race



IE3 (no pads in the front)



H&R Sport





H&R Sport



Vogtland springs with lower rear spring pads removed



M3 springs



Stage 1 Dinan



KW 60/60



Options for coilovers:

Ground Control "GC" kit
BC Racing
Cosmo
C3 Motorsport
JOM
D2
AST 4100
TCkline
NEX
Vmaxx
Ksport
Gaz




Full GC kit with shortened housings



Full GC kit with shortened housings



C3 Motorsport kit



JOM





BC




Seems like there are a lot of questions as far as what needs to be welded when installing BC coilovers...the coilover gets welded onto the knuckle like so



You first have to cut down the original strut housing so that there is only 50mm left of it



D2



Here is a pic of the cosmo coilover installation (spring perch is cut off)







Shocks


Brand/Model----F/R----Fits----------------Made For-----------Part #-----------Notes----Verified?

Bilstein Sport……Front 318is,325,i,is…….Corrado G60……………………..F4- P30-3066………..(*1)........Yes
Koni Sport....……Front 318is,325,i,is…….85-90 Golf/Jetta.……………..8611-1258-Race…….(*5).......Yes
Koni Sport………..Rear 318is,325i,is……..94-04 Mustang Exc. IRC…..8041-1186-Sport……(*2).......?
Koni Sport………..Rear 318is, 325i,is…….94-04 Mustang Exc. IRC…..8042-1134-Sport…….(*3)......?
Koni Sport………..Rear 318is, 325i,is…….87-93 Mustang, 8 cyl……….8042-1026-Sport…….(*3)......?
Koni Sport………..Front 318is, 325i,is…….Corrado G60…………………….8641-1198-Sport……..(*1).....Yes
Koni Sport (GC) Front 318is, 325i,is…….E30…………………………………..?..................... ......(*4).....Yes
Koni Sport………..Front 318is, 325i,is…….05-08 Subaru Legacy……….8610-1447-Sport……..(*6)....?


1 – Corrado G60 shock casings are shorter, thus these are used for people lowering their spring perches and running spacers under the shock. Shock casing diameter is also 6mm narrower. Custom gland nut for Bilstein Sports – # U232A1

2 – Mustang Koni Sport rear shocks are used because they are top adjustable, unlike the Koni Sport rears made for E30’s

3 – These Mustang Koni Sports are double adjustable (External Rebound and Compression), as opposed to single adjustable like the ones above.

4 – I’ve heard these Koni Sports carry the same part number as the Corrado G60 Koni Sports, however, they are “custom valved” specifically for Ground Control. Anytime I try to get more info on them from Ground Control they avoid the questions… Dimensions? Part numbers? Revalving description? Who knows, but they’re $50 more than the G60 shock.

5 - Double Adjustable (External Rebound and Compression). Shock casings are shorter, thus these are used for people lowering their spring perches and running spacers under the shock.

6 - Koni Sport top adjustable - Made for Subaru Legacy (Liberty) 2.0, 3.0, 3.0R incl. GT Wagon

There are also shocks from Tokico and KYB, but I haven't heard many good things about them


A popular set up is bilstein sports and h&r sports/race






If there's anything I should add let me know.

This is info I've compiled over awhile now, so I don't know exactly who helped me out on this...but thanks to all the photographers and others who wrote up some of the lists with part numbers. Hopefully this will help out some people.