Jic or koni or Bilstien

[Redraceface]

hey guys I thought I would ask your oppinion on what kind of coilovers are the best for the money, and are good for track and autoX I've got it down to three: Bilstien, Koni, or jic-flt. Oh yeah also I want to keep it in the CS class at the autoX.

[Doppelgänger]

Unfortunatly, I don't know what CS allows for, but, i'd stay from the Koni coilovers. I had a friend get them and they blew out in less than a year and Koni wouldn't warranty them. I hear great things about the PSS9 kit and not much about the JIC (other than hteir customer service sucks).

What price range are you looking at if you don't mind me asking?

[Otto]

cant get coilovers in CS you can only replace the shock itself and use stock springs, cant change the rear sway bar use only the stock size wheel. Local advisement in CS is to get a big front sway, Koni sports and the stickiest DOT tires you can get on the factory wheels and thats it.

[Redraceface]

I think the most I'm willing to spend is in the $1700 range

[Redraceface]

cant get coilovers in CS you can only replace the shock itself and use stock springs, cant change the rear sway bar use only the stock size wheel. Local advisement in CS is to get a big front sway, Koni sports and the stickiest DOT tires you can get on the factory wheels and thats it.

If thats the case I may consider runing in a new class.

[MeFryRice]

Unfortunatly, I don't know what CS allows for, but, i'd stay from the Koni coilovers. I had a friend get them and they blew out in less than a year and Koni wouldn't warranty them. I hear great things about the PSS9 kit and not much about the JIC (other than hteir customer service sucks).

What price range are you looking at if you don't mind me asking?

I've never heard of a complaint with Koni's. I'm personally a fan of Koni's over Bilsteins (not that Bilsteins are bad).

If I decide not to run a full coilover system, I'm going to use H&R Race springs attached to Koni Race struts with a threaded body which will allow me to corner balance the car.

[ben91]

Kevin's 01 runs Koni sports with stock springs and I thought it was pretty damn good, considering the marshmello spring rates.

Personally, I build cars to satisfy myself and don't care what class that it would put me in, even if my car is super uncompetitive due to being grossly outclassed and outbudgeted by those who run with me.

Then again, look at Mike who runs SM2 with his turbo car and competes well with cars that are really in a whole other league.

[metalman]

What are the spring rates on the H&R's?

[ben91]

I'd *guess* 280/220 after riding in an H&R car. But that's a guess on something that's hard to guess about.

[MeFryRice]

H&R Race = 320F/275R

[ben91]

Damn, that explains the lack of a rear sway bar then.

[metalman]

Interesting. I think my GC setup is 375/250 as I recall...using Eibach springs.
The Eibach Pros (nothing like the springs on the GC) on the black & tan are a bit too soft...I have the rates somewhere but cant find them. One of these days I will change them. They were free so I cant really complain. ;)

[Redraceface]

soooo you guys like koni with Eibach springs?

[Redraceface]

Kevin's 01 runs Koni sports with stock springs and I thought it was pretty damn good, considering the marshmello spring rates.

Personally, I build cars to satisfy myself and don't care what class that it would put me in, even if my car is super uncompetitive due to being grossly outclassed and outbudgeted by those who run with me.

Then again, look at Mike who runs SM2 with his turbo car and competes well with cars that are really in a whole other league.

I kinna feel the same, and thats really why I was asking, I'm not about some B.A. auto X er who spends every last penny on a autoX champion car, I want a car that feels like its on rails but also competent in the CS class, but I think I may just sacrificce the CS class for better handling.

[wildfire0310]

I've never heard of a complaint with Koni's. I'm personally a fan of Koni's over Bilsteins (not that Bilsteins are bad).

If I decide not to run a full coilover system, I'm going to use H&R Race springs attached to Koni Race struts with a threaded body which will allow me to corner balance the car.

Yea I think a few people missed what Mike was talking about as for Knoi Coilover's sucking, not the Knoi Shocks. I know he is not saying the shocks suck as he had them on a few of his cars and pushed for them on mine. I do remember hearing that Knoi made a Coilover set for the miata and only heard bad things.

as to the OP, if you looking for something on the low end everyone seems to have good luck with Knoi Yellow shocks and GC coilovers. As for the JIC i haven't heard much for the miata but they are a big hit in the DSM world, but look to spend a pretty penny.

[amaff]

Ok, stop.


First of all, he said he'd like to stay C-Stock legal. That pretty much eliminates any 'coilover.' Your options pretty much boil down to the Koni Yellows, the Bilsteins, the KYB AGXs or the Tokico Illuminas.

Which means your options really boil down to the Konis or Bilsteins. I've heard people having decent success w/ the Bilstein HDs. The nice thing about the Konis, while they're a bit limited on compression damping, is that they're adjustable, allowing you to adapt to different courses or surface conditions.

Now, a custom valved Bilstein would probably be ideal, but they're also ridiculously expensive. I'd stay with the Konis for simplicity and cost. You're better off getting some cheap coilover perches (or even nice Koni ones) and used springs for around half the price. Their stuff's good, but it's nothing special that can't be beat by shopping around a bit.






And for those of you talking about Ground controls... I'm not a fan. There was a discussion on this on the old board, I'm not sure if it made it over or not.

[wildfire0310]

Ok, stop.


First of all, he said he'd like to stay C-Stock legal. That pretty much eliminates any 'coilover.' Your options pretty much boil down to the Koni Yellows, the Bilsteins, the KYB AGXs or the Tokico Illuminas.

Which means your options really boil down to the Konis or Bilsteins. I've heard people having decent success w/ the Bilstein HDs. The nice thing about the Konis, while they're a bit limited on compression damping, is that they're adjustable, allowing you to adapt to different courses or surface conditions.

Now, a custom valved Bilstein would probably be ideal, but they're also ridiculously expensive. I'd stay with the Konis for simplicity and cost. You're better off getting some cheap coilover perches (or even nice Koni ones) and used springs for around half the price. Their stuff's good, but it's nothing special that can't be beat by shopping around a bit.






And for those of you talking about Ground controls... I'm not a fan. There was a discussion on this on the old board, I'm not sure if it made it over or not.

He did say "I may just sacrificce the CS class for better handling. " so I think he is on the fence about what to do, but hey now he knows what his options are if he stays C class.

[amaff]

He did say "I may just sacrificce the CS class for better handling. " so I think he is on the fence about what to do, but hey now he knows what his options are if he stays C class.

reading fails me, I totally missed that part. Ep0ch fail.

[wildfire0310]

reading fails me, I totally missed that part. Ep0ch fail.

well that was in his last post so, easy to miss.

[amaff]

found it!
I kinna feel the same, and thats really why I was asking, I'm not about some B.A. auto X er who spends every last penny on a autoX champion car, I want a car that feels like its on rails but also competent in the CS class, but I think I may just sacrificce the CS class for better handling.

It's not terribly hard to make a CS car handle extremely well, and you don't need to be "that guy" to do it. Front sway bar, sticky tires, good shocks. Done. And it'll be stupid fun. I have had as much fun driving stock-class cars (including thoroughly unprepped ones) as I have driving my nearly full blown STS2 car (I say nearly because I can't justify spending $5k on shocks...)


My buddy's CSP car on the other hand is a whole different level of ridiculous LOL

[mustangtomiata]

What is CSP? and I think I'll be buying coil overs in jan., I would like compression and rebound adjustability, with stiff spring rates and I'd rather not spend more than 1200-1500, any suggestions?

[Doppelgänger]

Yea I think a few people missed what Mike was talking about as for Knoi Coilover's sucking, not the Knoi Shocks. I know he is not saying the shocks suck as he had them on a few of his cars and pushed for them on mine. I do remember hearing that Knoi made a Coilover set for the miata and only heard bad things.



Correct. I was saying the Koni coilover kit was junk. The Koni "yellows" are fantastic. I ran them on my 96 and my 99 with both Raching Beat "race" springs (too soft for me) and H&R "race" springs (felt GREAT).

For a little more than your stated budget, you can get AFCO from Flyin' Miata.
I'd imagine the JIC stuff is good. Also, H&R sells a coilover kit (from TireRack), has anyone heard anything about them?

[MeFryRice]

H&R makes the coilover kit for only the NB and NC. So I guess this brings up this question, what year car does the OP have?

[wildfire0310]

H&R makes the coilover kit for only the NB and NC. So I guess this brings up this question, what year car does the OP have?

yea but you can swap NB shocks and springs over to an NA, it will just sit higher at the same settings.

[amaff]

What is CSP? and I think I'll be buying coil overs in jan., I would like compression and rebound adjustability, with stiff spring rates and I'd rather not spend more than 1200-1500, any suggestions?

C-Street prepared. 1990 with a 1999 engine swapped in, Megasqurt, full craziness suspension, 13x8s w/ 255/45/13s. Ridiculous ride, so fun.


And for that price you're probably looking at a set of BCs. Hell, a set of Koni Yellow Races will set you back that much by themselves. And honestly, they're a good shock, a great shock for the money, but not a great shock (a la koni 28 series / moton)

[ben91]

I have been amazed by Koni Sport with Ground Control coilovers. I'd imagine that the FCM coilovers are also pretty freakin nice.

If I had your budget, I'd also look very seriously at these
http://www.949racing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=127&HS=1

[amaff]

I have been amazed by Koni Sport with Ground Control coilovers. I'd imagine that the FCM coilovers are also pretty freakin nice.

If you're considering ground controls, you may as well just get a set of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MAZDA-MIATA-90-98-COILOVER-SPRINGS-90-91-92-97-95-Blue_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a543Q7c66Q3a2 Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2e c0Q2em14QQhashZitem370114590441QQitemZ370114590441 QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
and some springs and save yourself $200.

[Redraceface]

thank you guys for all of your input, look foward to seeing you at the next autoX.

[Doppelgänger]

thank you guys for all of your input, look foward to seeing you at the next autoX.

Why not one of out next getogethers? lol

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

:lol: that's a good point! Our last one wasn't too far from Winder either!

[silver280zx]

how ar megan coilovers, they come with camber plates, and are in the $800 range, the rates are 10kg front and 8kg rear. I dont kow how many lbs that is, but i do know thats stiff as hell, and i think the megans are like 36 way adjustable.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I loved them on the suby and so do quite a few others I know. There is some brand snobbishness but I remember even the guy at Gran Turismo saying they are a good coilover setup when we were getting Casey's old 240 aligned.

[toddr]

As far as NB parts on a NA, I have bilstein and GC coilovers made for a NB on my '95.
Just change to NB shouck mounts which gives you a little more clearance anyway. works well when you lower it. I just ordered everything from fat cat motorosports with his bumpstops.

[Redraceface]

Why not one of out next getogethers? lol

Sure where, and when is the next one?