Hmm, Last Friday, I drove over some nice NYC roads on queens blvd, "BOOM BOOM" and ... my wheels survived (sheesh), and I parked at my gf's place, and drove the Mazda3 instead for the weekend.

Today, I took my 8 back, hmm ... my coilovers are making noises

--- it seems that after driving it for a while, the noise will disappear, but when the car cools down, it comes back again
--- it could be the bearings on the lower A arm. not sure.

Worst is, its not just corner thats making noise, it seems that all 4 corners are ... I have to confirm it tomorrow or Wednesday (need to take it out and see)

F-U NYC Government ! For giving us the best roads ever !

I hope its just some part like the sway bar holder (whatever its called) needs some love ... I mean lube.

Anyway, now I can probably sent those back to HKS for a rebuild, I have yet to give them a call. but in the mean time I was thinking, it might be other stuff thats making noises and my coilovers are actually still ok?

but whatever the result is, this thing popped up in my mind ----


Maybe its time to try something NEW ?

Don't get me wrong, HKS's Hipermax is actually very very durable, I drive like ... mad almost all the time and NYC has probably the shittiest roads ever in history. Especially now the government has no money.

then another problem comes, since NYC roads are so great, should I really just go back to stock? cuz I think non-adjustable shocks are more durable. I dunno.

if I go back to stock, I have can either reinstall my original set of Tokico, buy a new set of R3's Bilstein (assume that its really plug and play) or just buy some replacement set like Bilstein's HD shocks or something like KYB. (yeah I know I have shinka and my shocks are a tiny bit bigger, but i dont think it really have much difference so...)

if I go for another set of coilovers. which one do you guys recommend ?

Bilstein's PSS9 --- it seems alright, tested on Nurburgring, but I don't like the inverted design, meaning I have to adjust stuff at the BOTTOM of the shock body. not on top. (for the front at least)

Mazdaspeed --- not very expensive, but the construction seems pretty "crappy" (durability concern)

KW Varint 3 - seems great. swear by a lot of users. Just not sure how good it handles bumps and potholes. cost almost as much as what I paid for my Hipermax.

Eibach Multi-Pro Coil-Over R1 - seems kinda whack, I dont see anybody use this. any comments ?

Tein's whatever coil over - a lot of people said Tein's coilover is fuxking garbage. May I ask why ?

Stance coilover - GR+ or AL+ --- I had a set for my FC but I sold it with only 400 miles on it. its not bad for track, but its WAYYYY too bumpy for Street use, even at the softest settings.

Aragosta --- some higher end stuff (for street coilovers), cost twice as much as KW/Hipermax. I have a friend he has it in his RX8 overseas, he swear its the best thing ever, handles bump easy and handling is superb. Just dunno how durable it is. he has it for about a year only.

Tanabe Pro Seven --- same price range as HKS and KW, anybody have experience wit this ?

Thas all I can think of right now. hmm. will update this post if I remember anything.

 

I like my Stance GR+ coilovers...but i do agree...they are quite bumpy for our streets (I'm not running the softest setting...5 clicks front, 7 clicks rear)

 

Alot of people swear by Tein S.Techs on Koni Yellows, thats what I have and im running at 50% stiff and I like it... Only bad part is to adjust the rears you have to remove them and fully compress the pison in the shock...

 

Koni's + S-techs is a great combo. I ran that for years with no issues.

NYCGPS: I doubt all 4 coilovers kicked the bucket at the same time, the Hypermax III's appear to be very durable and well built.
Go lube up those bushings, check your endlinks, and report back before you go spending even MORE money on suspension parts.

 

Make sure you follow Jedi orders or you will subcumb to the Darkside...


Mu ha ha.......

 

yea im gonna check it out tomorrow.

it is kinda weird that it only "whines" when its cold (sit overnight)

so ... will see what happens tomorrow.

 

Update:

Both my front coilovers DID got murdered.

Left side is totally broke

Rightside is bent

I am super pissed right now ...

 

what?
how did they break? are the roads near you THAT bad? I was in NYC this past summer, they didn't strike me as that bad.


R.I.P. HKS Hypermax III's.

 

I just notice it today.
See if I can snap a pic later...

P.s. a tonado hits nycand I ve been stuck intraffic for the pasa 2 hours ....

 

Hey mate..

Crap news...afaik the R3's Bilsteins are different and won't fit correctly on a S1.

BUT, the S1 40th Anniversary and Shinka Bilsteins will, not cheap though "if" you go genuine.

I would go with whatever other guys in the know..know.

 

Yeah, I was looking at the parts catalog and I was like "hmm, Damper with Spoiler?" and it cost like 3 times as much as the "regular" stuff.

Why it won't fit? the R3 Blistein. just wondering.

I still have my Shinka's Tokico ... worst case is I will reinstall those while I sue the city to get my money back ...

 

R3 (all Series 2) have different shocks front and rear by part number, I think it has something to do with both the Lower Mounting and Coil Flange (my terminology), 'Team' knows the exact difference....but they are different.