So is there anybody out there currently running Spax Coilovers?
How long have you been running them?
What do you think of the quality?
Do you have the Series 1 or 2?
What is the difference from the Series 1 and 2?
Is the dampening adjustable without removal of the suspension?
How is the ride?

Also to this point the best price i've found for these is at BATinc. for $949 but i don't know if those are for the series 1 or 2?

Anybody actually find a lower price?

Thanx!

 

From previous owners for Civic, etc. I heard they weren't that great.

 

Look into Leda and KW, just for the sake of research.

In fact, go to http://www.webbmotorsports.com/suspension.php and look at the coilovers Randy has on his site...there is a write up on all of them. Also look in the garage section under performance modifications for threads on these and other

L

 

You will probably hear a variety of opinions, but I've had SPAX coilovers (RSX) on my '03 Cooper S since March of 2003. Since then I've put about 36,000 miles on them, along with 40 autocrosses. They've been paired with both P&D and K-mac camber plates at -2.2 degrees camber in front, -1.7 degrees in the back. I've used 16x7.5, ET43 Kosei K1-R wheels w/ 215/45-16 Azenis and 16" X-Lites w/ 205/50-16 Artic Alpins. No rubbing. No issues. No noise (if everything is installed properly in the first place).


Adjustments on the front struts are made from under the hood just like many other adjustable struts. I use a nut driver, but a socket and ratchet would also work. The rear shocks are adjusted using a **** on the side of the shock body, located near the bottom of the shock. If you lay down behind the car, parallel to the rear bumper, it is very easy to reach the adjustment *****. Both front and rear shocks are click adjustable through 28 settings.

Set on 1, they are slightly softer than stock. The spring rate is different, so the ride is not exactly the same. I use that setting in the winter (along with the softest setting on the RSB) to remind myself not to destroy the snow tires. ;-)

Set on about 5 I think they are close to the stock ride compliance. I normally run around central Indiana set at 12 in the summer, which feels pretty good. If I'm lazy after an event I leave them set at my autocross settings, which are between 24 and 28 in front and between 26 and 28 in the rear.

28/28 at Peru (concrete) feels great. The car transistions quickly, the steering feels sharper than at lower settings, and the car still doesn't react badly to the bumps. Rougher surfaces force lower settings, as do really tight turns. I've been known to go a couple weeks at a time at those settings, but they are noticably firmer. You don't want to drink a hot cup of coffee like that, or have an open top cup in the car, at least not on our roads.

Making shock adjustments is literally a matter of about 2 minutes for all four shocks. That includes popping the hood, getting the nut driver out for the front shocks, and carefully counting the clicks. If you are just adjusting by one or two clicks it is pretty darn fast.

Your price is about right. I've heard of others with quality problems, but they've worked well for me. Fit was no problem at all, which is part of why I chose them. Ride height adjustment range on my car varies from taller than stock to lower than I can run on the street and still get in a driveway. I'm about an inch lower than stock for most of the year. SPAX makes two versions depending on build year (to account for the really early 2002 builds with different FSB mounting). My Sept '02 build uses the later version.

Scott
90SM

 

Thanks for the input Scott, your post really gave me some confidence in these again. The price on LEDAs and Bilsteins are so high, H&R aren't adjustable, and KW are too soft for competition. These SPAX seem like a great compromise.

I've still got the concern that many manufacturers of camber plates note that they shouldn't be used with SPAX coilovers, which is a mod I'd definately like to do. How are your K-macs holding up? Do you have the race or street version? Thanks for the info.

 

Thank you Sadales,

You've also given me great confidence in this kit. I have been researching coilover kits for a while now (its not easy) and i was set on getting the KW's. But then i heard about how soft their spring rates were and decided against them.

I would love to get LEDA's or PSS9's but they are waaaaay too much $$$$. The Spax's look like a great compromise but i didn't want to compromise quality too much.

I'm an Avid autocrosser and have started doing a few track days a year and want to have all the benefits i can get from coilovers, ride height adj., corner weighing, dampning adj., etc....

I'm also interested in the camber plate problems as i look forward to pairing these with a set of plates shortly afterwards.

Thanx again! Anybody else actually have them on their MINI's?

 

I've had no trouble at all with the K-mac camber plates and the Spax coilovers. I have the street (non-spherical bearing) version. The spring top-hats that come with the camber plates are eccentric so you'll want to get them lined up right, but it's really obvious how they help you get additional clearance for negative camber.

Again, I've heard storys about people having problems with the Spax products but I've had no issues at all. If you look there have also been issues with KW, H&R and Leda. I'm betting that for each of those companies there were some early tweaks to be made but that each has many happy customers. Part of my decision was based on the fact that the Mini Challenge used them before the cars even came to the US so Spax had a bit of a head start getting fit issues straightened out.

Scott
90SM

 

Thanx again Sadales,

I think out of all the coilovers this is a great choice for the budget minded racer due to your posts. Kind of sad to see not many other people with this kit, but i have been noticing a little bit in the MINI community that if it doesn't have a big pricetag it must be crap type of mentality.

Ohh i don't think i noticed in ur previous post if you had the Series 1 or 2 or if you know what the difference is?

I know i'll have some more questions later, thanx again!