$500-$600 BEST suspension upgrades for the cash?

[PieEyedPiper]

I've scrounged $500 bucks and I can stretch it to $600 if I need to.

My stock shocks are shot so my ride needs new shocks for sure, and probably springs to go with them unless using the stock springs is kosher.

I realize coilovers are out of reach, but is there a spring/shock combo that would work well while staying within budget? Should I just dump my cash on the Koni yellows and re-use the stock springs until I can afford new ones (could be a very long time)?
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[98talonNT]

You may want to look into eibach pro kits springs if you dont want to harsh of a drop and pretty good ride quality while still maintaining pretty good handling as well. Also, as for the shocks, the koni yellows are amazing. Im running the next step down, if you could consider it that in the tokico illumina adjustables. I love them, nice range of adjustment and on 5 (stiffest) all the way around, the car handles excellent. Also, they wouldnt break your budget like the koni's would and you could afford to get the springs as well so you dont have to do two different installs. Just my two cents, check my pics if you want to see the drop.
-98talonnt

 

[DGajre777]

Tokico Illumina - US $365.00 on ebay, free shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...33590QQitemZ8058534681QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Eibach Pro - $230 shipped on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...33582QQitemZ8047208287QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Total cost $595. You still have $5 left for some cookies.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Coil-over's arnt out of reach, check out the ground control coil-overs at this site>>>http://www.dsmtuners.com/parts/default.php?cPath=2_43, and do strut tower front and rear bars, and spend roughly 560$.

 

[No_Skillz]

Most products in this price range are about the same. Eibach, teins, illuminas, agx... nothing's going to make you handle like an f1 car and nothing will destroy your car. Unless you do something really dumb like sportlines and gr2s.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Coil-over's arnt out of reach, check out the ground control coil-overs at this site>>>http://www.dsmtuners.com/parts/default.php?cPath=2_43, and do strut tower front and rear bars, and spend roughly 560$.

If I'm not mistaken is that just the springs though? I'd get those springs in a heart beat - I'd love adjustable ride height - but it seems like I'd still need shocks with those!

So far it look slike the illuminas + prokits combo would fit the bill the best.
I just can't decide how to do this though. Are the illuminas really that good? I feel like I'm skimping.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Hey what about Tanabe Sustec coilovers?

 

[98talonNT]

For typical street/track use the illuminas havent let me down yet. Plus, i like the way they adjust and are a good fit with the ebiach pro kit springs as well. As far as coilovers, obviously they offer more adjustability and ride height control. In a perfect world i think we would all have Tein dampers with electronic damping control, but the cost jsut doesnt fit most of us right now. For the cost, i think the illuminas are the best bang for the buck, esp for like 360 shipped on ebay, that is crazy cheap. So basically, any full coilover setup will offer a better range of adjustment, all just depends on wha tyou want to spend.
-98talonNT

 

[wongster]

For typical street/track use the illuminas havent let me down yet. Plus, i like the way they adjust and are a good fit with the ebiach pro kit springs as well. As far as coilovers, obviously they offer more adjustability and ride height control. In a perfect world i think we would all have Tein dampers with electronic damping control, but the cost jsut doesnt fit most of us right now. For the cost, i think the illuminas are the best bang for the buck, esp for like 360 shipped on ebay, that is crazy cheap. So basically, any full coilover setup will offer a better range of adjustment, all just depends on wha tyou want to spend.
-98talonNT

well i ordered tokico illuminia $279.96 usd shipped at www.sportcompactonly.com

but its delayed till may 15th sigh.. so waiting..

 

[PieEyedPiper]

oh wow. Thats a smokin deal.
I may just have to forget all these other options. Those prices are just too good. Thanks for the update!

 

[wongster]

oh wow. Thats a smokin deal.
I may just have to forget all these other options. Those prices are just too good. Thanks for the update!

yea man its a wicked deal its 100 bucks cheaper than ebay.. they will be available to ship for me may 15th... so if ## willing to wait that long which i guess i am.. go for it..

 

[wongster]

oh wow. Thats a smokin deal.
I may just have to forget all these other options. Those prices are just too good. Thanks for the update!

yea forget that deal.. i double check its thats 279 is for 1 rear and 1 front.. grrrr... so i decided to order mine on ebay... i have my eibach springs at home waiting.. so hopefully i can get my tokico illumina by next week and installed.. sigh...

 

[Ludachris]

You're in a tough spot. I'd usually suggest swaybars first, but you need shocks now. I always suggest Koni, but if you absolutely can't afford them, Tokico seems to be okay for street and light track use. If/when you get serious you'll probably want the Konis.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Thanks for the post.
Yeah I want the koni's pretty bad.. but it all comes down to the cash! I have a loose clunking driveshaft that I can't seem to diagnose so I gotta save some cash for that too.

I'm not even sure if my car will drive tomorrow or the next day - or maybe 3 years from now the driveshaft problem will finally need repair... I just don't know.

 

[gbell]

I know this is kind of unrelated, but I might have the same driveshaft problem. The U-joints are fine and I haven't spent much time figuring it out since I am spending spring semester in Japan (sexy JDM cars are everywhere). If you figure anything out about it mayeb you could let me know?

 

[Blk95gs]

I bought Tein basic coilovers for $675 shipped.

http://www.optionimports.com/tebacoki95ec.html

I like them. I have run these setups in the past:

97 TSi AWD: Tokico blues (strut/spring combo)
93 TSi: KYB AGX w/ Sprint springs
95 GS: Tokico blues w/ Eibach pro kits


I honestly like the Tein basics more than any of the past setups I had. None of them are that great, but the Teins have the feel that I was looking for.

 

[Morel]

Tokico Illumina - US $365.00 on ebay, free shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...33590QQitemZ8058534681QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Eibach Pro - $230 shipped on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...33582QQitemZ8047208287QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Total cost $595. You still have $5 left for some cookies.

QFT,

Can't go wrong with this set up.. Basically what I got on mine

 

[PieEyedPiper]

$675 is doable.

But now the question is, are the Tanabe Sustec S-OC Type II (non-helper spring) better than the TEIN basics?

Niether are adjustable, but both are height adjustable.
Both are ~$675.

And since they are not adjustable, would the illumina +prokits be better than these entry level coilovers?

 

[Blk95gs]

I guess it all depends on what you want. The ride on the Teins is stiff, but not uncomfortable to where I can't stand to drive the car over a bump.

I got away from dampening-adjustable struts because I personally have no need for them. I don't race my car, I just enjoy driving it. I did a lot of reading up before I bought coilovers, and I found that people have mixed feelings about almost everything besides GoFastBits, which are what...upwards of $2000?

Just from my standpoint, unless you really need to adjust their dampening for racing and what not, you'll likely never touch them.

 

[Pj97GST]

Just from my standpoint, unless you really need to adjust their dampening for racing and what not, you'll likely never touch them.

X2. I have Koni yellows up front, AGX's in the rear, and Pro-Kit's. I've also got the RRE lower front tie-bar, F&R strut braces, and Prothane suspension bushings.

Keeping in mind that I am the king of budget racing, and have hardly spent full price on anything for my car; my total in suspension mods is under $700

I bought my springs nearly new for less than $150, Koni's from Tirerack.com for a steal, AGX's were free for some labor, and the strut bars were gleaned off the trader, eons ago.

The Koni's/Pro-kits make for the basis of a great suspension, that can handle a day at the track hot-lapping just as well as day to day commuting.