JIC FLT-TAR Coilover thoughts?
#16
Helper springs are....ummm....helpful.
They help add droop travel (extension) and keep the main spring from being preloaded and keep the main spring from getting unseated from the perch when the damper is fully extended.
Not as necessary on dual height adjustable coilovers, but still nice.
- Andrew
They help add droop travel (extension) and keep the main spring from being preloaded and keep the main spring from getting unseated from the perch when the damper is fully extended.
Not as necessary on dual height adjustable coilovers, but still nice.
- Andrew
What would you guys say a good ride height would be for street and track use? I want it to be aggressive, but not as low as my Tein S-Techs(which IMO are a little too low).
Thanks again for all the replies. You guys are really helping understand this much better. Please forgive the newbie *** questions i keep asking.
#17
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Dual height adjustable coilovers let you adjust ride height at the spring perch, but also at the lower mount. This lets you lower the car without affecting bump travel, which is nice, but you also have very little droop travel, which isn't nice. It's often seen and always marketed as a great feature to have but in my opinion it is not necessarily something to look for. Most single height adjustable coilovers (only the spring perch is adjustable) actually have just as much or more bump travel for most realistic ride heights, but also much more droop travel when used with a helper spring. But if you want to slam the car though, dual height adjustable is the way to go.
You're right S-techs are too low....depending on spring rates and what you intend to do with the car, about an inch to 1.5 inches lower than stock is the range you should be in.
I personally am not a JIC fan, but Mueller's are probably fine.
- Andrew
You're right S-techs are too low....depending on spring rates and what you intend to do with the car, about an inch to 1.5 inches lower than stock is the range you should be in.
I personally am not a JIC fan, but Mueller's are probably fine.
- Andrew
#18
Dual height adjustable coilovers let you adjust ride height at the spring perch, but also at the lower mount. This lets you lower the car without affecting bump travel, which is nice, but you also have very little droop travel, which isn't nice. It's often seen and always marketed as a great feature to have but in my opinion it is not necessarily something to look for. Most single height adjustable coilovers (only the spring perch is adjustable) actually have just as much or more bump travel for most realistic ride heights, but also much more droop travel when used with a helper spring. But if you want to slam the car though, dual height adjustable is the way to go.
You're right S-techs are too low....depending on spring rates and what you intend to do with the car, about an inch to 1.5 inches lower than stock is the range you should be in.
I personally am not a JIC fan, but Mueller's are probably fine.
- Andrew
You're right S-techs are too low....depending on spring rates and what you intend to do with the car, about an inch to 1.5 inches lower than stock is the range you should be in.
I personally am not a JIC fan, but Mueller's are probably fine.
- Andrew
I appreciate your opinions.
#20
Ok, ended up getting a set of JIC FLT-TAR coilovers (hard version) w/ 10kF/14kR. Got them installed and got everything pretty much set-up. Ride height is about 1.8f/0.9r now and i'm currently running 5 clicks from full-hard all around. I think i'm going to raise the rear-end just a tad though. Have not gotten an alignment yet, but it looks like i'm running about -2.5f/-1.8r .
Wow, these coilovers are great. The car handles amazing After installation today, i went to one of my secret spots to do some testing. What suprised me, was that the car handles very neutral. Hardly any understeer or oversteer and very little body roll. Very predictable when pushed to the edge. I actually would like a little more oversteer, so i'm gonna get a good alignment and work on making the ***-end rotate just a little more on corner exit. Any thing i should think about to make the ***-end rotate better? I don't want it unpredictable, but i do want a little more oversteer.
With damper settings 5 clicks from full hard all around, the car rides very stiff, but yet still very comfortable. I'm not sure if i should try running it a little softer.
Suspension mods:
JIC Magic Flt-Tar coilovers (Hard version, 10kf/14kr)
Stock Rear Sway Bar
Stock Front Sway bar
Any thoughts on making this set-up even better? I'm really enjoying the car's handling at the moment, although i do feel i can probably set it up better.
Wow, these coilovers are great. The car handles amazing After installation today, i went to one of my secret spots to do some testing. What suprised me, was that the car handles very neutral. Hardly any understeer or oversteer and very little body roll. Very predictable when pushed to the edge. I actually would like a little more oversteer, so i'm gonna get a good alignment and work on making the ***-end rotate just a little more on corner exit. Any thing i should think about to make the ***-end rotate better? I don't want it unpredictable, but i do want a little more oversteer.
With damper settings 5 clicks from full hard all around, the car rides very stiff, but yet still very comfortable. I'm not sure if i should try running it a little softer.
Suspension mods:
JIC Magic Flt-Tar coilovers (Hard version, 10kf/14kr)
Stock Rear Sway Bar
Stock Front Sway bar
Any thoughts on making this set-up even better? I'm really enjoying the car's handling at the moment, although i do feel i can probably set it up better.
#21
Can anybody give me some advice on ride height? I really want to get my ride height set-up perfectly before i get the alignment done, or else it will be a waste. I'm thinking i might still be a little too low. It's a little taller on all 4 sides then my ****ty Tein S.Tech's. But much tighter, so i have very little sag and the rear end is much less mushy.
So, what's the optimal ride height i should shoot for? I know some of this is personal preference, but there is some science to it regarding roll-center and geometry being thrown off...etc.
Thanks for all your help fellas.
So, what's the optimal ride height i should shoot for? I know some of this is personal preference, but there is some science to it regarding roll-center and geometry being thrown off...etc.
Thanks for all your help fellas.
#22
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I sure hope JIC improved their design. I had a set that were complete garbage. Rebuilds are pricey too. Don't get them wet or drive with them in any kind of bad weather....they will decay pretty badly.
So as for your ride height question.....it really is up to you. I would not recommend going any lower than your lower control arms parallel with the ground.
So as for your ride height question.....it really is up to you. I would not recommend going any lower than your lower control arms parallel with the ground.
#24
I sure hope JIC improved their design. I had a set that were complete garbage. Rebuilds are pricey too. Don't get them wet or drive with them in any kind of bad weather....they will decay pretty badly.
So as for your ride height question.....it really is up to you. I would not recommend going any lower than your lower control arms parallel with the ground.
So as for your ride height question.....it really is up to you. I would not recommend going any lower than your lower control arms parallel with the ground.
#25
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Last year....FLA IIs. I won't go into detail....needless to say I sent them in for a rebuild because the bottom knob broke on one and the other locked up. I was told they were in an accident because of the damage to them.....I was never in an accident....they just got damaged from daily driving.
I won't buy JIC again.
I won't buy JIC again.
#26
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This is a very tricky question. If you want exactly the right answer, it's going to depend on springrate, tire choice, surface, temperature, and a lot of other things. For a street car, 1" lower than stock is a pretty sweet spot. You probably want to lower the rear the _same_ amount as the front; something like 14.5" F, 13.5" R measured hub center to fender lip.
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#29
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Get a corner balance and alignment. For the most part, if it is a good alignment shop, they will do it all for you so long as you give them a ballpark and an intended use (basically DD, mixed use, or race aggressive) and they should handle camber and ride height to something appropriate. The one important point I was always told is you want the lower A arms to keep a negative angle to the ground, ie pointed down or at the lowest ride height perpendicular to the ground. Any lower and the geometry goes to hell.
FWIW, I have Endura Tech coilovers and I would say I am moderately pleased with them. I got them cheap and I think they did improve handling a touch but they are reasonably stiff (even lower rates than you). From everything I have read, and GTWORX said this before, a real quality suspension set up is not inherently harsh. Some of the highly adjustable, perfectly valved coilovers will have incredible spring rates and yet have a good ride. For the cheaper deals, it is one or the other...
FWIW, I have Endura Tech coilovers and I would say I am moderately pleased with them. I got them cheap and I think they did improve handling a touch but they are reasonably stiff (even lower rates than you). From everything I have read, and GTWORX said this before, a real quality suspension set up is not inherently harsh. Some of the highly adjustable, perfectly valved coilovers will have incredible spring rates and yet have a good ride. For the cheaper deals, it is one or the other...
#30
I ended up raising the ride height again today. I have lower A-arms level with the ground(actually slightly pointed down). I only had to raise everything about a quarter inch. The right side needed to come up a little more, as it was slightly lower than the left. I did a rough camber adjustment using a string and a weight(mostly to get the sides even), as i'm going to get the car aligned next week, the car was pulling slightly to the right due to more negative camber on the left side than right. The pulling went away and the car does feel more balanced(mostly due to ride height methinks). I'm anxious to get it aligned.
I appreciate everyone's input. It's really helped me with my decision and set-up. I also softned the rear by 1 click(5 clicks from full hard in front, 6 in rear). I will play around with the damper settings more this weekend. I think i can go a little softer in both front and rear.
I appreciate everyone's input. It's really helped me with my decision and set-up. I also softned the rear by 1 click(5 clicks from full hard in front, 6 in rear). I will play around with the damper settings more this weekend. I think i can go a little softer in both front and rear.