You Decide

[WonderinAbout]

OK I have ruled my decision down to 4 names and I would like you guys to help me decide. Oh and is it necessary to change my stock shocks when I add the coilovers? I heard with some coilovers it is not necessary to do so.

[curveball3110]

ALWAYS change the shocks with coilovers. I didn't at first, and now I'm paying for it. Go with Ground Control Coilovers and Koni Yellow adjustable shocks. B/C of the high spring rate associated with coilovers, the Koni shocks are the only one that can dampen coilovers properly. The ride will not be as good as if you used non-adjustable springs. You can get away with KYB AGXs, but only with Ground Controls, or so I've heard. If you want a smoother ride, use Tokico Illuminas or KYB AGXs with Eibach Pro-Kit or Sportline springs. That's my best advice. Peace

[WonderinAbout]

So are you saying that if I dont change the shocks with the coilovers it will damage my car....or just change them for the more comfortable ride?

Thanks for your advice.

[curveball3110]

It won't damage your car, you can even drive with blown shocks for that matter, but coilovers have much higher spring rates than conventional springs. Say you're cornering in a car, and all the weight is on the outside corners. Where the spring rates come into play is when you're cornering, a coilover with a 300 lb. per inch rate means for every 300 lbs. on the spring, it compresses 1 inch. You need shocks that can properly dampen such a "bouncy" spring. Koni Yellows are the best out there. If you don't change the shocks with coilovers, you will receive a very bouncy ride because the stock springs can't damp them correctly. Also if you're going with coilovers get a camber kit unless the drop is within 1.5". Peace out

[WonderinAbout]

OK one more thing, do you know if the Ground Control or Skunk 2 coilovers require a wrench...or can you adjust them with your fingers? I'm thinking about ordering them today but I want to make sure I know what I'm getting. I just dont want to be suprised when I get something that I didnt expect

As always, Thanks for your advice

[curveball3110]

I believe that all coilovers use a locking wrench, that is specially made for the coilover and should come with the coilovers. At least mine did. Just don't lose the wrench, then you can't adjust them. Anything else?
p.s. what shocks are you going to buy with the coilovers?

[WonderinAbout]

Well I hope that I didnt disapoint you but I ordered the Skunk 2 Coilovers. It was between those and the Ground Control but I found a website that had the Skunk 2s for around $70 cheaper including shipping and handling. I know its not much but my family advised me to use that money towards my rims/tires. Did you say that you had Ground Control? If so how much did you spend on them? (if you dont mind me asking) As for the shocks I'm still deciding and that will have to be a purchase in the future. Hopefully the ride wont be too uncomfortable. Also before I purchased the Skunk 2 coilovers I called and asked if it required a wrench and the guy that I spoke with said that he had them on his car and he said that it comes with a wrench but he never uses them, he just adjusts them with his fingers. But I dont know I have heard people go both sides. Hope I didnt get ripped off


Well anyway I appreciate your help Curve

[curveball3110]

I actually don't have Ground Controls...but I'd strongly recommend that you have some aftermarket shocks ready when you install the Skunk2 coils. By the way, where did you get the coilovers? I'm always looking for new sites to add to my list. Later on...

[WonderinAbout]

I spent a lot of time looking through Super Street and other magazines trying to find good car websites. I found a couple of ok sites nothing real special.

www.stylincompacts.com

www.overboost.com/obs/default.asp

www.auto-motorsport.com

www.2kracing.com

www.speedpeople.com

www.shopresponse.com

www.nopionline.com

www.shopresponse.com/coilovers.html is where I ordered my coilovers.

I'm sure you have better so hook me up

[curveball3110]

Of course I do. Just put a www. in front and .com in the end (except where noted) I put some space between the top 11 sites and the rest - you should look at those top sites first. I know I may be missing some sites... I don't have any audio- or wheel-exclusive sites listed yet. Happy searching!

Website

importhookup
tribalpacific
nopionline
optionsauto
tornactive
tirerack
wholesalehyperformance
ardperformance
infinitemotorsports.net8
urbanimport
racesearch


lightningmotorsports
ebay
gotperformance
mmrusa
jdmautoparts
importtrenz
importfan
speedandstyle
bodykitsnw
autopartsperformance
doctorimport
dynamicturbo
import-trader
gmpperformance
streetbeatonline
stylincompacts
paautoracing
impactparts
extremedimensions
darksidemotoring
sportscar-parts
autodirectsave
autoaccessory
autobahnmotorsports
jspectuning
jdmprelude.streetracing.org
ipnindustries
stuff
shmotorsport
scvmotorworks
jcwsportcompact
landspeedracing
first-1
eautoworks
autotoys

Let know how it all works out for you. Peace

[WonderinAbout]

Well I wish I had asked you for those websites before I ordered the Skunk 2. I found the Ground Control coilovers for $5 cheaper than what I paid for the Skunks. :cry: I might call the place and see what their return policy is. Do you think I would be able to return them if I dont open them? I was also wondering would I have to buy shocks for front and back or could I just buy the front? And which website should I buy them off of?

[curveball3110]

Everybody's return policy is different, email or call shopresponse and ask. I can't find it on their website. They should be returnable, but I don't know for sure. As for shocks, Ground Controls care usually made specially for Koni Yellow shocks, which are the best out there and the only ones that I would trust on GCs. Buy them for all 4 corners, you won't regret it especially if you try the ride w/o the Konis. It will be bouncy and the stock shocks will blow in about 3 weeks. Where to get them I can't remember; I saw them on one of those websites I listed for around $520, which is a lot off the normal retail of $650-700 per 4. I'm sure you'll be able to find 'em. One last thing that I would recommend is a camber/alignment kit, if you plan the slam the car (lower it more than 1.5"). It'll save you a lot of money in tires. I found an Eibach kit for $130, which is half of the retail (Tirerack). Let me know if you have any other questions, I know 'cause I was once in the same place you are. Peace

[WonderinAbout]

Ok I have another question. What is the difference between the "Koni Yellow" and the "Koni Red" shocks besides one being adjustable and the other being non-adjustable? Or is there a difference? Do I need to get the adjustable shocks with the Ground Control coilovers? And would I be sacrificing a lot if I did get the "Koni Red"? There is a big difference in price and I was just wondering if I should go ahead and pay the extra money. I have seen the "Koni Yellow" for $525 and the "Koni Red" for $308.


Thanks.

[curveball3110]

If you get the Skunk2s returned ok then buy the GCs and Koni Yellows. The special thing about Koni Yellows is two-fold: 1) you ALWAYS want an adjustable shock, so when you want to spend a night of hard cornering, simply stiffen the damping on the shock or when you have a long freeway drive ahead of you soften the damping so you don't feel every little bump (via external knob), and 2) Koni Yellows are more aggressively valved than their Red counterparts, so you can lower your car more. With a more aggressively valved shock, it can properly dampen the high spring rates of GCs or Skunk2s. Also, if shopresponse won't let you return the coilovers, just put Koni Yellows on the Skunk2s. Your ride will still be very smooth. The only difference between GCs and Skunk2s are that GCs use Eibach springs on their coilovers and Skunk2 makes their own, which are actually excellent. So either way, your ride will be pretty dope. Let me know if any of that was confusing. I know I'm rambling on. Peace

[WonderinAbout]

Nope thats exactly what I needed to know. Now I just have to ask my parents for a loan to get the Koni Yellows and the Eibach camber kit. I had not planned on getting the shocks because I didnt know what I was getting into. But now with your help everything should go smooth. It will be 2 weeks until wheelmax.com can get the rims/tires that I want. So maybe soon after that I can get it all together. I appreciate your help, you have saved me time, money, and hassle.


Thanks for answering my questions.


P.S. When I get all of this done I will post pics so look for them in about 3 weeks :hehe: