Coilovers installed on my CL9

[kyfer]

Finally got my buddyclubs from the good guys at JDM Yard :D

Installed them with a friend today using this great guide:
http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/1st-gen-suspension/38891-diy-suspension-install.html

Only encountered 1 problem, the HID auto leveling sensor on the front wheel.
below you can see the bolt that goes onto a little bracket that the stock strut had, but the new coilovers didnt. Ive heard you can get aftermarket brackets that fit on, but i just wanted to do a short term fix, which is the 2nd photo.
http://i.imgur.com/mR6IAhc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dhopSQ3.jpg

Here are the before pics:
http://i.imgur.com/GD5HL8A.jpg

And after:
http://i.imgur.com/GMCtA5P.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MOBPc5S.jpg

the stiffness is set to 8 clicks front, 10 clicks rear.

The height is 115mm front and 125 rear (between thread locks).

[kil41t]

Looks good now you just need some nice wheels to go with the new ride height :)

[kyfer]

ohhhh dont you worry, im hanging out for them. just have to save up!

[Black Euro]

Hey buddy,
had the same issue with leveling sensor, do you know where i can source the aftermarket brackets?
Looks good btw! Keep it up!

[kyfer]

No unfortunately.

I have contacted jdm yard and they said they will look into it for me. Other members of the forum said they just cable tie them into position.

when I find out I'll post the out come on here :)

do you have buddys? And what's your set up?

[Black Euro]

oh okay! yea i got Buddy Club to! had em on for 1 month or so and i was surprised when the bracket didn't come with it! To be honest i have no idea what mine is set up is haha my mechanic did for me, i told him to keep it in the middle as i didnt want a rough ride! but its so good i hardly feel any of the bumps and it looks really good with my rims!

[kyfer]

Haha what colour is your euro? I'm looking for rims so just want to see what your on... Any chance of some picies?

[axispower]

how much did it cost? if i could afford coilovers i would... but thats my whole fortnightly paycheck in one hit.

[kyfer]

They cost me around $1300 from jdmyard.com. I installed them my self so that's where I saved.

I got quotes for both supply & install, and just install. Average of $2k for the supply &install (didn't ask which cookies) and average 700-800 to just install.

I spent hours on researching both coilovers and springs... If it takes you a couple of pay checks to save for the coilovers, I would strongly suggest thats the way you go. I saw too many people saying that they ended up buying coilovers after they just installed springs.

[kyfer]

Oh and depending on how low you go you might want to budget in a camber kit.. I just ordered mine.

what rims are on your euro btw?

[DreadAngel]

Hmmm...

How stable is the rear around bumpy corners and under hard braking? [Assuming you've already done wheel alignment]

Curious cause I would imagine the front damper being dampened harder than the rear?

[kyfer]

I was going to wait for my camber kit and wheels before I got a wheel alignment done on it, but with saying that, I can notice more stability and tighter handling.. The reason why I set it to those dampening settings is because of other peoples experiences with the specific height the car is.

what set up are you running on? Is there something I'm doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated :)

[axispower]

I got King springs, which I heard mixed reviews about. As of now, I guess I don't have anything to complain about. Touch wood. I lowered mine 30mm, an inch and a half, all round.

My mate had King springs on his evo and he HATED them, said they sagged like an old mans sack and bounced and scraped when he would have someone in the back seat. I havent had that problem yet, but I have been warned they will sag at least a centimetre, which I am fine with. If i had have lowered it 2"+, then I would be worried.

My wheels are Lenso Type-M 19" x 8.5" matte black with silver lip. When I got the wheel alignment, they said I MIGHT have to get a camber kit, but to just keep an eye on the tread on the rear wheels for now.

[Rooster]

^ I've wanted to lower my Euro with a nice spring and shocks combo.

How are King Springs working out for you? I am a bit reluctant on getting some but haven't seen any reviews about them on a Euro.
Did you get some shocks also?

[DreadAngel]

I was going to wait for my camber kit and wheels before I got a wheel alignment done on it, but with saying that, I can notice more stability and tighter handling.. The reason why I set it to those dampening settings is because of other peoples experiences with the specific height the car is.

what set up are you running on? Is there something I'm doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated :)

No no, its ok, I remembered doing the front stiffer than the rear off my head for a friend's CL9. It was running Tein's off my head, possibly Superstreet. Anyway when everything is done, try a few simple test to check your car's damper settings.

Find a route you're familiar with, if possible have road with sections that are both smooth and bumpy with varying speed and corners/roundabout. Obviously keep within the speed limit, you'll know when something very off with suspension setup.

1) Compliance [Low Speed] - Go through a bumpy section at lower than posted speed limit, note how much resistance and wandering the Front & Rear of the car does.
2) Compliance [@ Speed] - Repeat above except @ posted speed limit
NB: Obviously if previous testing is very dangerous to readjust damper settings first.
3) Balance [FF] - Accelerate to lower than posted speed limit in different manner eg slow accel & fast accel + brake in different manner eg slow brake & fast brake. Do this on both smooth and bumpy sections taking note of how the car respond.

You just have to adjust accordingly to ensure you have near 100% control at all times =)


I got King springs, which I heard mixed reviews about. As of now, I guess I don't have anything to complain about. Touch wood. I lowered mine 30mm, an inch and a half, all round.

My mate had King springs on his evo and he HATED them, said they sagged like an old mans sack and bounced and scraped when he would have someone in the back seat. I havent had that problem yet, but I have been warned they will sag at least a centimetre, which I am fine with. If i had have lowered it 2"+, then I would be worried.

My wheels are Lenso Type-M 19" x 8.5" matte black with silver lip. When I got the wheel alignment, they said I MIGHT have to get a camber kit, but to just keep an eye on the tread on the rear wheels for now.

Well known fact King Springs aren't spectacular.

[axispower]

@Rooster

Because I wasn't lowering it anything crazy, my mechanic said I'm still within the legal and designed "range" of the stock shocks and that it isnt necessary to change them- and that also included adding the 19" wheels.

I drove it with 17" stock wheels and stock springs for over a month, so I was used to the feel of the car on the road. Now, I don't know how it feels for those with coilovers or better springs, but for me, now with the thinner tyre and the King springs, its still a cruisy drive- but there are times where I can feel every bump on the road. There's a highway near where I live that has the most retarded pothole (it won a national award for being the most retarded pothole) that has been "fixed" very unevenly- I drove over it once and now avoid it every time. Nothing bad happens, just an ugly feel that I didnt notice until I changed the springs and the wheels.

All in all, I can't complain about them. I've had no problems with them.

Thats my "review" lol

@DreadAngel

Yep that's what I've heard. I WAS worried at first, but so far, it seems fine.

[kyfer]

thanks for that Dread, i think i might make the front a little harder... but it seems pretty responsive and stable.

Axis, i really like those wheels, what offset?... where did you buy them from and how much did they set you back if you dont mind me asking?

[axispower]

They're great wheels. So great that I didn't even have them for a week before I scuffed one of them.

I wanted to kill myself. But, I sanded it back and repainted the lip matte black and silver and you actually cannot notice it. Looks brand new.

Anyway, I got them from Tempe Tyres. You walk up to the Muslim girls wearing hijabs at the counter, you point at some wheels on the wall and say "gib me 4 of dem." You give them the keys, you wait for anywhere between 15 mins to an hour, depending on how busy it is, (in that time you can go out the front and watch them put the wheels on) and then they bring the car back out, you pay the Muslim girls wearing hijabs, who make no eye contact with you and show no emotion, and off you go.

The 19" x 8.5" were approx $1600 to buy and have them installed. I have no idea what the offset is though, sorry. Also, the wheels sit inside the wheel arch, slightly in, slightly out. Looks good and tame at the same time.

Check their website for more wheels. I was interested in the Lenso Comos and the Lenso Eurostyles as well.

[axispower]

Oh wait... you're in Perth. That isn't going to help you much. You could order them in though I would think? Call Tempe Tyres during the day tomorrow, they're open everyday if you're still interested.

[mrgu]

Great job done.. Bc is def better than tein ss according to most users .. DIY ftw .

Coilover will be my last mod

[mrgu]

I am thinking of Cusco coilover haha

[Rooster]

@Rooster

Because I wasn't lowering it anything crazy, my mechanic said I'm still within the legal and designed "range" of the stock shocks and that it isnt necessary to change them- and that also included adding the 19" wheels.

I drove it with 17" stock wheels and stock springs for over a month, so I was used to the feel of the car on the road. Now, I don't know how it feels for those with coilovers or better springs, but for me, now with the thinner tyre and the King springs, its still a cruisy drive- but there are times where I can feel every bump on the road. There's a highway near where I live that has the most retarded pothole (it won a national award for being the most retarded pothole) that has been "fixed" very unevenly- I drove over it once and now avoid it every time. Nothing bad happens, just an ugly feel that I didnt notice until I changed the springs and the wheels.

All in all, I can't complain about them. I've had no problems with them.

Thats my "review" lol

@DreadAngel

Yep that's what I've heard. I WAS worried at first, but so far, it seems fine.

Ah right I was actually going to get the 18's in the eurostyle 7 from tempe tyres
Is it possible for you to provide pictures of your car so I can see what it looks like?

[axispower]

Yeah if you can go at least 19" (insurance wise etc., if you care about that sort of thing) then do it. Because some days I wish I had gotten the 20s. Apparently we're only allowed to go 2" bigger, so the 20s would be "illegal" or just wouldnt pass through the pits- but I'd still do it, in retrospect. At least 19s man. 18s = dont bother.

24691

Just used paint to cut out the numberplate. That's the best photo I have of the wheels up close.

What colour is your euro?

[Rooster]

It's silver as well, I'll think about the 19's but leaning towards 18's.

How is the matte black wheels anyway?

I have an 03 model so 16's are the stock

[axispower]

Ah alright.

Seriously consider the 19s though... you don't want to fork out $1500 for wheels that could have looked better. As my Greek uncle says; "You can never go too big"

Yeah I was thinking the Lenso Eurostyle7 as well after seeing the Eurostyle6 in one of the pics on their website... but when I got there and had a look at all the wheels up close I decided on the Type-M with the silver lip that they had suggested originally. I'm very happy with them- I still think they were the best choice for the silver Euro. I love all the matte black, and the silver lip breaks it up and sets it off with the satin silver paint.

[Rooster]

Yeah the Type M suits it more.

I got a quote from wholesale suspension for Eibach springs and Koni shocks for $1990.
That's a rip.....

[axispower]

Jesus. Might as well get coilovers for that kind of money- considering the King springs cost me... approx $300.

[Rooster]

I would get Kings but I don't know...

[axispower]

^I know dat feel mang.

[Rooster]

How much can you get a blistein/eibach combo online anyway?

I'm not sure of even what is the right one etc

[axispower]

^Just email them. That's what I always do.

[longers]

From past experience. Do it right the first time you will save yourself time and money. I went from springs to coils and honestly wish I just went straight to coils.

[DreadAngel]

Jesus. Might as well get coilovers for that kind of money- considering the King springs cost me... approx $300.

Not really, though that price maybe $$$ [Kinda weird actually that price, might be our exchange rate or something]... I'd rather a shock & spring setup then a set of coilovers worth <$1.5K... No coilover in that price range has been good for me...


How much can you get a blistein/eibach combo online anyway?

I'm not sure of even what is the right one etc

Bilstein even more expensive than Koni...

[Rooster]

Yeah I know, I got quoted 2k at heasmen steering. But it's not worth that much to me.

I only want it for the aesthetic look really without sacrificing too much ride comfort for how it is now.

King springs + koni shocks is a cheaper alternative I would go but so many people have told me to stay away from kings...I'm going to get some 18's first and after a month if I want it lowered I'll probably have enough $$ to get it then, or just wait for my tax return :)

[axispower]

Not really, though that price maybe $$$ [Kinda weird actually that price, might be our exchange rate or something]... I'd rather a shock & spring setup then a set of coilovers worth <$1.5K... No coilover in that price range has been good for me...



Bilstein even more expensive than Koni...

My logic was more... if you're going to pay over $1500 for springs/shocks- you might as well get coilovers because the price range for that is up in that ballpark as well.

[aaronng]

Jesus. Might as well get coilovers for that kind of money- considering the King springs cost me... approx $300.
Eibach springs with Koni or Bilstein shocks crap all over coilovers for daily driven cars. This combo is the same if not more expensive than coilovers for good reason.

The only thing you give up on is height adjustment and hard spring rates (which is good for track, shit for street since potholes will damage your rims!).

[Black Euro]

Haha what colour is your euro? I'm looking for rims so just want to see what your on... Any chance of some picies?

http://i.imgur.com/fB2XW4H.jpg

Enkei RP03 18X7.5 running on 225/40

[DreadAngel]

Eibach springs with Koni or Bilstein shocks crap all over coilovers for daily driven cars. This combo is the same if not more expensive than coilovers for good reason.

The only thing you give up on is height adjustment and hard spring rates (which is good for track, shit for street since potholes will damage your rims!).

Exactly =)

Bilstein shocks dampen much better than majority of coilovers in that price range while Koni also shows up many of the coilovers too. Sure if you're after dumpage and don't care about comfort or car control then low end coilovers are suit you, however if you're after lower than factory but retain control and comfort [Improve even since factory is too conservative] then shocks & springs are the go ;)