K-Sport Kontrol Pro coilovers or Tein Basics?

[striker]

I'm planning on gettin coilovers for my 98 GT, but can't really decide.

Please give me some knowledge along with your answers.

Thanks

[sheepdog]

What year legacy? I would say Tein, I have their Flex coilovers on my GC8 and I love them. However K-sports are also reputable, I just have less hands on experience with that brand.

[Huffer]

Only problem with the Teins is that you have to custom fab the hood if you want to use the EDFC system. There isn't enough clearance on the strut tops to attach the control box.

Either coilover system is good - for most purposes. Tein do make a wide range, and K-Sports are relatively inexpensive.

[sheepdog]

I'm pretty sure Basic's aren't EDFC compatible anyways. You'd need to go up to super street or Flex's, if i remember correctly

[StatGSR]

^ actually i dont thins super streets can use them either, and i know basics cant cause they arnt adjustable. i think it needs to be flex of higher.

[sheepdog]

I think certain super streets can, it depends on the vehicle. Super Streets for my accord are edfc compatible, according to Tein's website.

[AussieDan]

You don't want the Flex in NYC, they're way too stiff (559/448), the Basic or Super Street both use more realistic 280/280 spring rates. These figures are based on the 02-03 WRX fitment Teins, which are the best match for BD/BG chassis cars.

That said, the Teins are designed to drop the front of the car quite a lot.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/P1010076JPG-1.jpg (http://photos.phpwerx.net/cars/Legacy/2005-06-19/800x600/P1010076.JPG.html)

That pic shows about the max height you can run in the front with the Tein Flex, from the specs (http://www.tein.com/ti/s40.html) the Basic and Super Street (without pillowball mounts) are even lower (-2.0 - -3.0" front), while the SS with pillowball mounts offers a similar adjustment range (-1.3 - -3.2").

Ksport does have a Legacy specific application, but don't specify the range of height adjustment on their website. I'm considering their GT Pro dampers myself, so if you call them up please post any info you get on the Kontrol Pro or GT Pro setups.

One thing I did notice is that they spec 504/280 spring rates for the Kontrol Pros, which seems a little high to me. The GT Pro specs are 392/280 which sounds more reasonable, especially for NY roads.

[dodik]

Hey striker im in brooklyn and I installed nex coilovers in december i cant really say much about them since i only drove for like 5k miles on them and all my bushings are old but if you want to know what it feels like to drive coilovers in NYC contact me and Ill take you for a test drive. personally I whish i just used GR 2 and some eihbachs. The bumps everywhere are really annoying!!!!!

[rougeben83]

You *could* try to get them with a softer spring rate, but the dampening may be too stiff for the softer springs, even at the lowest setting.

The good thing with Ksports (even the basics) is that they're coilover design allows for height adjustment without changing spring preload (they're independent of each other). Tein Basics will only lower the car if you compress the spring even more (changing preload).

Do the Tein's tophats double as camber plates as well? Ksports are camber plates, so you can play around with your suspension settings some more with them.

[striker]

Hey striker im in brooklyn and I installed nex coilovers in december i cant really say much about them since i only drove for like 5k miles on them and all my bushings are old but if you want to know what it feels like to drive coilovers in NYC contact me and Ill take you for a test drive. personally I whish i just used GR 2 and some eihbachs. The bumps everywhere are really annoying!!!!!

You really think that struts & springs would be better than coilovers?

Chris

[rougeben83]

Hey striker im in brooklyn and I installed nex coilovers in december i cant really say much about them since i only drove for like 5k miles on them and all my bushings are old but if you want to know what it feels like to drive coilovers in NYC contact me and Ill take you for a test drive. personally I whish i just used GR 2 and some eihbachs. The bumps everywhere are really annoying!!!!!

You really think that struts & springs would be better than coilovers?

Chris

It really depends on what surface you run on. There's plenty of coilovers for sale over in the RS/WRX forums because of one reason; ride was too rough. I'm from NYC too (currently in Detroit), a little give in the suspension is a good thing (along with ground clearance and ride height, but that's for another day), and honestly, there's going to be few places around there were you will be getting your money's worth out of the coilovers; the reason why coilovers cost at least 2x as much as a regular strut/springs is the ability to play with the settings (ride height, spring rates, damper rates, preload, suspension alignment, etc.)

Now if you are *really* set on being able to slam the car, then by all means the coilovers are really your only choice.

You can also look into Ground Control coilover sleeves/w AGX struts. Should be a good cost/performance compromise between all out coilovers and lowering springs.

[sheepdog]

I've never had good experiences with coilover sleeves. You can set coilovers high enough to not worry about ground clearance, depending on the brand or model. As for ride stiffness.... It comes with the territory. The adjustable dampening on my Teins also helps a ton with the ride quality.

[rougeben83]

I've never had good experiences with coilover sleeves. You can set coilovers high enough to not worry about ground clearance, depending on the brand or model. As for ride stiffness.... It comes with the territory. The adjustable dampening on my Teins also helps a ton with the ride quality.

Like I said, it really depends on where you drive, and how you drive. NYC roads can get pretty rutted (especially after winters), and even on the minivan (which has about 7" of ground clearance) there have been some ramps/driveways that I have scrapped the underside of the bumper. I know people that have cars here that are mildly lowered and have suffered the classic NYC-cracked-chin because the roads treated them very unkindly.

Get the specs on whichever coilover you use. Not all of them can get you back to stock ride height, and some can get you even a little above ride height. Do you research before you end up like the other guys posting their coilovers for sale because they couldn't handle the tradeoffs.