Suspension Coilovers - Which to buy????
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 355
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From: Winter Park, FL
Coilovers - Which to buy????
I'm looking to change from my H-Sport springs and get coilovers for my ride. I'm on a budget and want to get them by the end of next week. Here is my list of what I can afford to get. If anyone has experience with any of these, please give me your opinion.
Koni - adjustable damper
H&R
Tein:Basic
Spax - adjustable damper
These are all about $1K.
Help!!
Koni - adjustable damper
H&R
Tein:Basic
Spax - adjustable damper
These are all about $1K.
Help!!
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
I had good luck with a set of SPAX. They worked well for autocrossing, and could also be adjusted to give a ride very similar to stock (or even softer). Of course you could also set it dramatically stiffer than stock.
Some folks have hinted at quality problems, but I didn't have any. I have PSS9s now, and there are times that I miss the SPAX.
Scott
90SM
Some folks have hinted at quality problems, but I didn't have any. I have PSS9s now, and there are times that I miss the SPAX.
Scott
90SM
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 397
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From: SF Bay Area
Originally Posted by 90STX
I have PSS9s now, and there are times that I miss the SPAX.
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: Winter Park, FL
Originally Posted by newbs49
I guess we need to know what your going to use your car for. Is this just for looks, ride, auto-x, track days, or a combination of these. 
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 628
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From: Indianapolis
Spax vs PSS9s
Bilstein damper body and shaft design is far stouter, and thus will defect less under load, in theory - winner PSS9
Adjustments - both can be reached without removing anything, but SPAX are much easier to use. SPAX have much more noticable detents, and they are evenly spaced. Bilstein "clicks" are much softer, though they have gotten easier to feel with use. There is a big step between 1&2, and 8&9 on Bilstein, with 2-8 very close together. Damper adjustements have similar felt change for each click on SPAX, while Bilstein is less linear. - winner SPAX
Springs - PSS9 spring rate is higher than SPAX. SPAX are linear rates front and rear, Bilstein are linear in rear and progressive in front. - I'll call it a toss-up, with a possible bias towards SPAX
Street feel - highly subjective and road quality dependent - streets here in Indiana are pretty cr@ppy, with frost heaves and lots of seams. SPAX were far more comfortable on these surfaces, and could be adjusted very close to stock ride feel (around 8-10), a bit firmer and "sportier" (12-15), or softer (5-7). Anything softer got sort of floaty and 70's Cadillac like. PSS9s at 9 (softest) in rear still transmits some seams as a sharp impact. Fronts at 9 less so, probably due to the progressive springs, but pavement ripples put the car into choppy oscillations despite trying a variety of settings, something the SPAX never did.
Autocross - the SPAX set at 24-28 depending on course and surface felt very good. Even at 28 (full stiff) the tires never lost contact with the track over bumps. Turn in was very immediate, especially with front damper settings approaching 28. I tried the PSS9s because I wanted to experiment with stiffer springs and damping, which they do have. The first two events they were brutal set on 1, but after that they seemed to wear in a bit and are now much better. They feel great except for intial turn in, where the front feels like it rolls more than the SPAX did. Again, this is probably because of the progressive front springs. I have to say that the behavior and grip of the SPAX were probably very close to the PSS9s (better in slaloms, maybe not quite as good in sweepers, but very subtle difference). I can't tell a difference using a g-cube, but of course autocross courses don't repeat like tracks so it is tricky to quantify. I suspect that the Bilsteins would be superior on a race track, but the SPAX were a definite improvement over stock too. I'll call it a tie, but I lean slightly towards SPAX.
Finish - the Bilsteins are impressive, but I had to send my first set back due to finish coating and weld defects. Return service was excellent. Bilstein is the winner so far, but I've only had them for about 25K miles while I put 40K on the SPAX before swapping. As I said before, I've heard of others having problems with SPAX, but I didn't.
Scott
90SM
Bilstein damper body and shaft design is far stouter, and thus will defect less under load, in theory - winner PSS9
Adjustments - both can be reached without removing anything, but SPAX are much easier to use. SPAX have much more noticable detents, and they are evenly spaced. Bilstein "clicks" are much softer, though they have gotten easier to feel with use. There is a big step between 1&2, and 8&9 on Bilstein, with 2-8 very close together. Damper adjustements have similar felt change for each click on SPAX, while Bilstein is less linear. - winner SPAX
Springs - PSS9 spring rate is higher than SPAX. SPAX are linear rates front and rear, Bilstein are linear in rear and progressive in front. - I'll call it a toss-up, with a possible bias towards SPAX
Street feel - highly subjective and road quality dependent - streets here in Indiana are pretty cr@ppy, with frost heaves and lots of seams. SPAX were far more comfortable on these surfaces, and could be adjusted very close to stock ride feel (around 8-10), a bit firmer and "sportier" (12-15), or softer (5-7). Anything softer got sort of floaty and 70's Cadillac like. PSS9s at 9 (softest) in rear still transmits some seams as a sharp impact. Fronts at 9 less so, probably due to the progressive springs, but pavement ripples put the car into choppy oscillations despite trying a variety of settings, something the SPAX never did.
Autocross - the SPAX set at 24-28 depending on course and surface felt very good. Even at 28 (full stiff) the tires never lost contact with the track over bumps. Turn in was very immediate, especially with front damper settings approaching 28. I tried the PSS9s because I wanted to experiment with stiffer springs and damping, which they do have. The first two events they were brutal set on 1, but after that they seemed to wear in a bit and are now much better. They feel great except for intial turn in, where the front feels like it rolls more than the SPAX did. Again, this is probably because of the progressive front springs. I have to say that the behavior and grip of the SPAX were probably very close to the PSS9s (better in slaloms, maybe not quite as good in sweepers, but very subtle difference). I can't tell a difference using a g-cube, but of course autocross courses don't repeat like tracks so it is tricky to quantify. I suspect that the Bilsteins would be superior on a race track, but the SPAX were a definite improvement over stock too. I'll call it a tie, but I lean slightly towards SPAX.
Finish - the Bilsteins are impressive, but I had to send my first set back due to finish coating and weld defects. Return service was excellent. Bilstein is the winner so far, but I've only had them for about 25K miles while I put 40K on the SPAX before swapping. As I said before, I've heard of others having problems with SPAX, but I didn't.
Scott
90SM
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,149
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Originally Posted by 90STX
Spax vs PSS9s
Bilstein damper body and shaft design is far stouter, and thus will defect less under load, in theory - winner PSS9
Adjustments - both can be reached without removing anything, but SPAX are much easier to use. SPAX have much more noticable detents, and they are evenly spaced. Bilstein "clicks" are much softer, though they have gotten easier to feel with use. There is a big step between 1&2, and 8&9 on Bilstein, with 2-8 very close together. Damper adjustements have similar felt change for each click on SPAX, while Bilstein is less linear. - winner SPAX
Springs - PSS9 spring rate is higher than SPAX. SPAX are linear rates front and rear, Bilstein are linear in rear and progressive in front. - I'll call it a toss-up, with a possible bias towards SPAX
Street feel - highly subjective and road quality dependent - streets here in Indiana are pretty cr@ppy, with frost heaves and lots of seams. SPAX were far more comfortable on these surfaces, and could be adjusted very close to stock ride feel (around 8-10), a bit firmer and "sportier" (12-15), or softer (5-7). Anything softer got sort of floaty and 70's Cadillac like. PSS9s at 9 (softest) in rear still transmits some seams as a sharp impact. Fronts at 9 less so, probably due to the progressive springs, but pavement ripples put the car into choppy oscillations despite trying a variety of settings, something the SPAX never did.
Autocross - the SPAX set at 24-28 depending on course and surface felt very good. Even at 28 (full stiff) the tires never lost contact with the track over bumps. Turn in was very immediate, especially with front damper settings approaching 28. I tried the PSS9s because I wanted to experiment with stiffer springs and damping, which they do have. The first two events they were brutal set on 1, but after that they seemed to wear in a bit and are now much better. They feel great except for intial turn in, where the front feels like it rolls more than the SPAX did. Again, this is probably because of the progressive front springs. I have to say that the behavior and grip of the SPAX were probably very close to the PSS9s (better in slaloms, maybe not quite as good in sweepers, but very subtle difference). I can't tell a difference using a g-cube, but of course autocross courses don't repeat like tracks so it is tricky to quantify. I suspect that the Bilsteins would be superior on a race track, but the SPAX were a definite improvement over stock too. I'll call it a tie, but I lean slightly towards SPAX.
Finish - the Bilsteins are impressive, but I had to send my first set back due to finish coating and weld defects. Return service was excellent. Bilstein is the winner so far, but I've only had them for about 25K miles while I put 40K on the SPAX before swapping. As I said before, I've heard of others having problems with SPAX, but I didn't.
Scott
90SM
Bilstein damper body and shaft design is far stouter, and thus will defect less under load, in theory - winner PSS9
Adjustments - both can be reached without removing anything, but SPAX are much easier to use. SPAX have much more noticable detents, and they are evenly spaced. Bilstein "clicks" are much softer, though they have gotten easier to feel with use. There is a big step between 1&2, and 8&9 on Bilstein, with 2-8 very close together. Damper adjustements have similar felt change for each click on SPAX, while Bilstein is less linear. - winner SPAX
Springs - PSS9 spring rate is higher than SPAX. SPAX are linear rates front and rear, Bilstein are linear in rear and progressive in front. - I'll call it a toss-up, with a possible bias towards SPAX
Street feel - highly subjective and road quality dependent - streets here in Indiana are pretty cr@ppy, with frost heaves and lots of seams. SPAX were far more comfortable on these surfaces, and could be adjusted very close to stock ride feel (around 8-10), a bit firmer and "sportier" (12-15), or softer (5-7). Anything softer got sort of floaty and 70's Cadillac like. PSS9s at 9 (softest) in rear still transmits some seams as a sharp impact. Fronts at 9 less so, probably due to the progressive springs, but pavement ripples put the car into choppy oscillations despite trying a variety of settings, something the SPAX never did.
Autocross - the SPAX set at 24-28 depending on course and surface felt very good. Even at 28 (full stiff) the tires never lost contact with the track over bumps. Turn in was very immediate, especially with front damper settings approaching 28. I tried the PSS9s because I wanted to experiment with stiffer springs and damping, which they do have. The first two events they were brutal set on 1, but after that they seemed to wear in a bit and are now much better. They feel great except for intial turn in, where the front feels like it rolls more than the SPAX did. Again, this is probably because of the progressive front springs. I have to say that the behavior and grip of the SPAX were probably very close to the PSS9s (better in slaloms, maybe not quite as good in sweepers, but very subtle difference). I can't tell a difference using a g-cube, but of course autocross courses don't repeat like tracks so it is tricky to quantify. I suspect that the Bilsteins would be superior on a race track, but the SPAX were a definite improvement over stock too. I'll call it a tie, but I lean slightly towards SPAX.
Finish - the Bilsteins are impressive, but I had to send my first set back due to finish coating and weld defects. Return service was excellent. Bilstein is the winner so far, but I've only had them for about 25K miles while I put 40K on the SPAX before swapping. As I said before, I've heard of others having problems with SPAX, but I didn't.
Scott
90SM
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