Coilover Help and Spring Rate Choices

[Burnie1000]

After a lot of debate I have decided that the 1st proper mod I want to carry out is Coilovers I have spent absolutely ages looking into what I want to buy but I need some help.

I have decided that I am going to purchase ZEAL Function S6

A 6-Way Piston Valve Shock (PVS) Dial mechanism adjusts the rebound/compression force with its Piston Valve Shock Technology, Level 1 being the softest and Level 6 being the stiffest. A lightweight, AluminIum Rigid upper mount with rubber bushing decreases noise level and eliminates vibration through absorption. (Strut-type uses Pillow Ball camber adjustable upper mounts for direct feel of suspension motion while helping to decrease piston rod tension). Rubber dust boots protect piston shaft against debris and other forms of damage to help increase life. ID60 SWIFT Spring (Street or Hard rates) maitains stroke and ensures a "seated" fit with upper and lower portions processed to a flat cut. A new and improved lightweight, single, monotube-type, AluminIum-Type Shell Casing Shock Absorber with a very large piston for direct feeling and steering response now also includes a DIV Free Piston inducing more pressure inside the shock and causing less on the spring enabling more responsive movement and a softer, smoother, more natural feel. DIV Free Piston also separates nitrogen gas and oil within chamber for increased life. The Adjustable Shock-Stroke System is a separate, adjustable lower cup/bracket used for height adjustability which eliminates problem of sacrificing stroke and altering spring tension. Spin the mechanism over the threaded shock casing up to lower (and down to raise) vehicle height. All Zeal Function Series systems include this height-adjustable system.

However what Spring Rates Should I Choose ? 12/8 or 14/10

How much would I feel the difference between these 2 set ups?

I had TEIN suspension before and they were utter **** I will never buy TEIN again. The only other setups I would consider are

ZEAL Function B6, ZEAL Function X or possible Ohlins if I could get them.

Car is a daily driver but im looking to take it to the track a few times a year and next year considering going to the Nürburgring.

Thanks Steven

 

[blinx9900]

is it a street car? track car? if you go to the track how often?

like are you 50% track and 50% street? or 80%track 20% street? there is a large difference between the two. and swift springs ride VERY stiff in my expereience.

 

[Bon87]

Anything above 10k will be overkill on British roads in my opinion....

 

[Burnie1000]

is it a street car? track car? if you go to the track how often?

like are you 50% track and 50% street? or 80%track 20% street? there is a large difference between the two. and swift springs ride VERY stiff in my expereience.

Mostly street car but a little bit of track use and 1/4 mile throughout the year.

So would I be better of with the 12/8. I thought it would be better if I went for the S6's over the B6's because they had swift springs and aluminium shocks.

Or in your opinion would I be better of with the B6 and 12/8 Spring Rates. B6's are cheaper as well but not as light.

Anything above 10k will be overkill on British roads in my opinion....

Whats the stock EK9 Spring Rates?

Last mistake I made with my last coilovers on my last car was that they were far too soft. I mean tbh I think I could put up with mega stiff suspension just as long as I knew the shocks werent going to burst.

 

[Burnie1000]

ZEAL Function B6

A 6-Way Piston Valve Shock (PVS) Dial mechanism adjusts the rebound/compression force with its Piston Valve Shock Technology, Level 1 being the softest and Level 6 being the stiffest. Lightweight, Aluminium Rigid upper mount with rubber bushing decreases noise level and eliminates vibration through absorption. (Strut-type uses Pillow Ball camber adjustable upper mounts for direct feel of suspension motion while helping to decrease piston rod tension). Rubber dust boots protect piston shaft against debris and other forms of damage to help increase life. ID60 Basic Spring (Street or Hard rates) maintains stroke and ensures a "seated" fit with upper and lower portions processed to a flat cut. A new and improved lightweight, single, monotube-type, chromoly-coated, steel-type shell casing Shock Absorber with a very large piston for direct feeling and steering response now also includes a DIV Free Piston inducing more pressure inside the shock and causing less on the spring enabling more responsive movement and a softer, smoother, more natural feel. DIV Free Piston also separates nitrogen gas and oil within chamber for increased life. The Adjustable Shock-Stroke System is a separate, adjustable lower cup/bracket used for height adjustability which eliminates problem of sacrificing stroke and altering spring tension. Spin the mechanism over the threaded shock casing up to lower (and down to raise) vehicle height. All Zeal Function Series systems include this height-adjustable system.

 

[Dino-Spumoni]

Tell zeal to split them up and give you 12k front 10k rear. Not super stiff for the street (i'm sure you'll like that rate), but you want the front and rear to be closer than a 4kg/mm spring rate difference that zeal offers. Think about the stock ek9, the spring rate front to rear is the SAME however the rears are progressive spring, fronts are linear rate (3.5k if I remember correctly). If your reeal serious about how the car does at the track, get another 14k set of 2 for the rear so you can have 12k front 14k rear rates for the track. When you're done you just throw your 10k ones back on the rear for the ride home. However, you should not switch your shocks front to rear, even if the mounts are interchangable.

 

[blinx9900]

i run a pretty big gap front to rear 440 front and 250 rear IIRC. car rides great imo. and someone correct me if im wrong but dosent aluminum corrode faster? especially in cold (british) climates?

 

[Dino-Spumoni]

The mounts will be more lightweight if they are a strong aluminum vs. painted steel. And as far as corrosion, I'm sure zeal has coated aluminum mounts to fight corrosion. I never really heard of corrosion being a big problem. The only reason something would deteriorate faster in cold climates is because of rain, snow, and road salt.

 

[SpoonCTR]

Zeal is a good choice, but all zeal suspension are stiffer than other brands.

 

[Burnie1000]

Tell zeal to split them up and give you 12k front 10k rear. Not super stiff for the street (i'm sure you'll like that rate), but you want the front and rear to be closer than a 4kg/mm spring rate difference that zeal offers. Think about the stock ek9, the spring rate front to rear is the SAME however the rears are progressive spring, fronts are linear rate (3.5k if I remember correctly). If your real serious about how the car does at the track, get another 14k set of 2 for the rear so you can have 12k front 14k rear rates for the track. When you're done you just throw your 10k ones back on the rear for the ride home. However, you should not switch your shocks front to rear, even if the mounts are interchangable.

Thanks for the information. Is it true that when you order the suspension from ZEAL you can ask for any spring rate? I read that on another Honda forum.

Can anyone quote what suspension spring rates they are using the now and how they find it just so I can compare. I mean its not the Spring Rates that determine how stiff the suspension is its the shock absorber the springs just determine the ride height. However if the springs are stiffer than usual it will prevent the car bottoming out during hard driving and make the suspension a bit harder than usual.

The mounts will be more lightweight if they are a strong aluminum vs. painted steel. And as far as corrosion, I'm sure zeal has coated aluminum mounts to fight corrosion. I never really heard of corrosion being a big problem. The only reason something would deteriorate faster in cold climates is because of rain, snow, and road salt.

Aluminium does not corrode with water and air it needs salt but as Dino said ZEAL coat the shocks to prevent this.

 

[blinx9900]

Aluminium does not corrode with water and air it needs salt but as Dino said ZEAL coat the shocks to prevent this.

i was born in london and IIRC cold weather=snow which = salt on the road

 

[Dino-Spumoni]

I chose PIC performance 10k/f 8k/r. I chose this because I don't really track the car and the roads around here have many bumps and potholes. If I had another 1000 to use on coilovers, I would have gotten the 12k/f 10k/r setup. Some people like a stiffly sprung car and some like a softer ride. When you have a street car and like a nicely sprung but softer ride the spring rates can be much stiffer in the front, like what is offered by some tein coilovers. Its safer that way.

Matt Koestner, an autocrosser and tuner for Dent Sport Garage, used 12k/f 14k/r on his race/street integra.

The Progress Suspension/ Hasport integra race car uses 22k/f and 20k/r. This car kicks complete ass, and notice how they are all within 2kg/mm. This is a race car, so you would think they would use stiffer springs in the back to promote oversteering, but the back is already stiff as hell (the car is going to rotate) and the front is slightly harder to compensate for front dive during hard braking after the straights.

Any self respecting suspension company like Zeal should offer custom spring rates matched to a shock valved for the spring rate and vehicle.
And contrary to what you said Burnie1000, the springs do determine how stiff the ride will be, but the dampers do play a large part. The damper determines how fast the spring compression and rebound happens. The dampers should not be underdamped or overdamped for the aplication however.

 

[Burnie1000]

i was born in london and IIRC cold weather=snow which = salt on the road

I know what your getting at but i'm pretty sure they will be fine. It's not like its just bare aluminium there coated to protect them. Tbh Aluminium is more resistant to salt than steel which 99% of coilovers are made of. And its not like ull drive around 1 day and the next a hole with have corroded all the way through.

More worried about choosing the correct Spring Rates