Need help navigating the confusion of coilovers and setups!

R

Renhalt

Member
Location
Lexington, KY
Car
2008 fx35
To start I am finally to the point to replace my struts, I have wanted to drop it since my new tires and rims. At the time of the kido group buy my money tree was not blooming or I would have purchased then. So, I'm obviously going with the coil overs vs. stock and after reading many, many threads I'm I the state of confusion or indecision.

My car is an 08 awd, My rims are are 20x10 and my tires are 285/50/20 and I am 45 degree offset with 10mm spacers all the way around. I have 18 inches from the center of the hub to the lip of the fender and 2 1/2 inches from the top of the tire edge to the fender lip. I do not track but drive very agessive on the street as well as the back roads of ky which are great! I want the handling with a comfortable ride, i want to lower but not so much to trim the fenders and last but not least i would like to do this without second mortgaging my house!

I have read many, many post and threads and can't determine what the best setup and bang for my buck would be, can someone with knowledge on the coil overs please tell me what to order and and the best place and pricing would be? Also what other work will be in order to swap them out, any help would would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!
 
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As far as pricing, I can hook you up with BC Racing coilovers with custom spring rates(if needed at no charge). PM me for more details. You can adjust coils so you wont rub or anything, if you don't want to go really low.
 
I would work with Zebra for coilovers. I was in the same boat, I wanted to lower, but not to the point of having to roll the fenders. The nice thing about coilovers is that you can set them to whatever level works for you. I think I'm sitting at about an inch to inch and a half from tire edge to fender lip.

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That's what I'm looking for, how's the ride?

---------- Post added at 06:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:05 PM ----------

Also what setup did you go with 12 and 8? Also what setting did ou find works best.
 
I like the ride, it's firm, but there's adjustable damping that you can configure to your liking.

Mine are 10KG front, 12KG rear.

In terms of damping, my rears are set right in the middle, and I have the front end a little softer.
 
They changed the springs rates, it was a custom order. You can get custom spring rates on BC coilovers also.
 
BC and Megan are basically the same, maybe there's a difference somewhere, but not that anyone can see. Rumors are they're made in the same place, which I could see happening. Kido's are a little different, but not performance wise. Just small stuff like the way they're assembled and where the adjustment knobs are. If you plan to adjust the damping a lot, the Kidos might be irritating since you either have to buy the extender or take your wheel off. With BC's or Megans, you can do it wheels on. Not a big deal either way. They're all very adjustible, they all drop about the same.

Bang for the buck wise, the prices are all very similar. They're all made in Taiwan. I run BC's because Kido wasn't around when I got them. Otherwise, who knows. If you don't plan to go too low, the stock spring rates are fine. Looking at your wheel specs, you wouldn't rub unless you slammed the car.

BTW Zebra, I will get those new springs from you at some point. I just don't have time to install them these days, so don't see the point of buying and then putting them on the shelf. Thanks for the quote a while back.
 
So, the million dollar question, after pricing different options. KIDO OR BC's? The BC'S are a little more but they offer a better warranty. I'm ready to buy, just don't know which one! Coilover owners please chime in!
 
Honestly, I love the KIDOs, but I would go BC simply because they are easier to adjust when on the car.
 
smijus said:
Honestly, I love the KIDOs, but I would go BC simply because they are easier to adjust when on the car.
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I think I agree with this. I have never changed the rear damping on the KIDO's because it's such a PItA. I have BC's on my my other car and have dialed them in perfectly. There's not a huge difference in terms of performance that I can appreciate. Maybe the KIDO's ride a little better than the BC's, but that's almost a worthless comparison when it's on two different cars...

Lance would be the one to say for sure. He's had both.
 
Where exactly are the BC coilovers available at? I was looking at their online store and I don't see them available for the fx (only the g35, g37, and m43/45)
 
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raheelc said:
Where exactly are the BC coilovers available at? I was looking at their online store and I don't see them available for the fx (only the g35, g37, and m43/45)
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PM me for me details. I can order them for you.

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Ok, so I have decided to go with the BC's. But from what I have read the the standard setup they sell the front springs are too light, and since I can get custom spring weights. What do you pros suggest?
 
Go with 10 Kg in front since you're not planning to go low enough to have to roll the fenders. Stiffer springs helps when going over big dips on the road and handles a little tighter. I had 10 Kg and 12 KG in the front on my FX35 back then. I personally like the feels of the 12 kg a bit more.
 
La, ur post is a little confusing. Your said go with 10's up front, but then said you prefered the 12's. So which do you suggest? 10 or 12 up front? And what in the rear?
 
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