Suspension Plan, for suspension noob Options

[CilverSeliST205]

I am quite a suspension noob so please bear with me,
If you had $1500 to invest into suspension components what would you get assuming:
you got, rims and tires your happy with and not planning on replacing
your not planning on getting any kind of expensive coilovers (just yet)
lots of oem parts in your suspension that are wearable need replacement.
You also have tein ss spring that you can stay with or change for better.
Only mild brake upgrades if any (no bbk etc.)
Your ride got ~280whp

So basically what brand/specs:
sway bars
strut bars
frame brace/arm bar (does this mod have any NOTICEABLE impact??)
dampers/springs
brake pads
anything else

also what other components would you upgrade or replace (because they might be worn out)

Thanks!

[LewFX]

sway bars....suspension technique ver.2..call nopi and try to get GB price
strut bars....rear go with defgephs, front...trd or c-one
dampers/springs...stay with your teins
brake pads....hawk, ebc, akebono
struts....bilsteins
end links....those fancy ones for 65 a pair

[Valo666]

i would say the exact same as what few said, except for strut bars i would also say J-speed F&R and for shocks also GR2s, aswell as for the end links the 65 ones hes refering to are the twos are us ones.

[Sinyk]

are those suspension techniques sway bars much better, or a noticeable improvement, over the stock GT-S sway bars?

[jdg371]

Yes. The ST sways will help out alot vs stocks

Front Strut - 3pt. I think TRD might be the one for it.
Rear Strut - Owners choice, GT4 Rear or The one posted above.
your TIEN SS should be fine, if any chance you will replace it, GC with custom spring rate + Koni Yellows
Brake pads - Hawks

[LewFX]

gr2s are not an upgrade, just a stock replacement...why not upgrade to performance shocks and struts?

[purplegt4]

i would say the exact same as what few said, except for strut bars i would also say J-speed F&R and for shocks also GR2s, aswell as for the end links the 65 ones hes refering to are the twos are us ones.

j-speed is quite expensive. be frugal.

[RCTCelica]

I am quite a suspension noob so please bear with me,
If you had $1500 to invest into suspension components what would you get assuming:
you got, rims and tires your happy with and not planning on replacing
your not planning on getting any kind of expensive coilovers (just yet)
lots of oem parts in your suspension that are wearable need replacement.
You also have tein ss spring that you can stay with or change for better.
Only mild brake upgrades if any (no bbk etc.)
Your ride got ~280whp

So basically what brand/specs:
sway bars
strut bars
frame brace/arm bar (does this mod have any NOTICEABLE impact??)
dampers/springs
brake pads
anything else

also what other components would you upgrade or replace (because they might be worn out)

Thanks!

this is just a suggestion, being that you do plan on getting coilovers in the future. i would take the money and put it towards the tein ss coils. spend you money right so you don't have to spend twice.

as for the suspension compenents, i would suggest the following for your budget:

-suspension tech. front and rear sway bars
-cusco front strut bar (being that you will never find the trd one anymore)
-cusco rear strut bar
-cusco frame brace
-hawk pads with slotted sp rotors
-bfg ss lines

you save money on shipping by getting mostly cusco parts.

[Valo666]

i would say the exact same as what few said, except for strut bars i would also say J-speed F&R and for shocks also GR2s, aswell as for the end links the 65 ones hes refering to are the twos are us ones.

j-speed is quite expensive. be frugal.

i got mine for $150..not that bad. also if you look at how hard it is to find a c-one 3 point or a trd sturt bar, the j-speed is a decent bar for the price and its pretty easily avaliable.

This post has been edited by Valo666: Jul 24, 2007 - 10:49 PM

[CilverSeliST205]

Thanks for suggestions

Now is a frame brace something worth investing into? noticeable improvement? are there disadvantages?

Should i get front and rear endlinks? what other components that wear can i replace while im under there?

Jdg371 what spring rate would you recommend on ground controls?

gr2s are not an upgrade, just a stock replacement...why not upgrade to performance shocks and struts?

Im going to get some kind of full coilovers, mainly because i dont like how low the car sits on the tein springs, if i can get away with konis+ground controls without too harsh of a ride and at least .5" higher then i might just settle for that.

[Remy]

gr2s are not an upgrade, just a stock replacement...why not upgrade to performance shocks and struts?

Yes if you car is dropped get some bilsteins instead of kybs.

[CilverSeliST205]

gr2s are not an upgrade, just a stock replacement...why not upgrade to performance shocks and struts?

Yes if you car is dropped get some bilsteins instead of kybs.

where can you get them bilsteins for 6gc? are they adjustable?

[LewFX]

theres a guy on ebay techdeals1 who sells 2 front inserts and 2 rear struts for 310 shipped. and no they are not adjustable, just stiffer shocks than gr2

[CilverSeliST205]

Thanks lewfx!

Any opinions on GC + Koni combo ? Comfortability? Performance?

[LewFX]

Ive never heard of a gc and koni combo

[jdg371]

Custom spring rate GC [example. 280F/340R] It all depends on how high of a spring rate you want to go [Higher means less comfort, but benefits perfomance driving]

To use Koni Yellows [Adjustable Konis]
You will need to shorten the strut casing. I believe 2 members have done this so far and recorded it. Coomer being one of them.


This is what the track guys use. I just reread your first comment. This direction will be somewhat become more costly. Bilstien + GC would be an easier combo to create [not much info can be given with the GC + Koni] [OTS Koni Yellows are avail for the 6gc overseas from my past reading here... ]

[CilverSeliST205]

Custom spring rate GC [example. 280F/340R] It all depends on how high of a spring rate you want to go [Higher means less comfort, but benefits perfomance driving]

To use Koni Yellows [Adjustable Konis]
You will need to shorten the strut casing. I believe 2 members have done this so far and recorded it. Coomer being one of them.


This is what the track guys use. I just reread your first comment. This direction will be somewhat become more costly. Bilstien + GC would be an easier combo to create [not much info can be given with the GC + Koni] [OTS Koni Yellows are avail for the 6gc overseas from my past reading here... ]

I can source koni shocks for 550 and GC coilovers for ~$350 that comes out to ~900$ with that money i could add another $100 and get KSport coilovers or add $250 and get tein SS. Or i can get NEX coilovers for ~$700 (4way adjustable shock, monotube) but i havent heard anything about them. Arrrgh i dont know what to do...
what are your opinions on ksport or NEX coilovers?