Coilovers

From Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki

The primary benefits of choosing a coilover setup over individual springs and shocks is height adjustability, and the engineering that has gone into making them a cohesive system. If you are interested in what springs and shocks do individually and what makes a spring or shock "good" for a car, please visit their individual Wiki pages.

Contents 1 Available Coilovers 1.1 Aragosta 1.2 Bilstein PSS 1.3 Bilstein PSS9 1.4 Blitz 1.5 Buddy Club 1.6 Central 20 Race 1.7 Central 20 Street 1.8 Cusco Zero1 1.9 Cusco Zero2 1.10 D2 Racing 1.11 Eibach Pro Street 1.12 Esprit 1.13 GAB 1.14 HKS Hipermax II 1.15 HKS Hipermax LS 1.16 HKS Hipermax LS+ 1.17 HKS Hipermax RS 1.18 HKS Hipermax III 1.19 HKS Hipermax III Sport 1.20 JIC FLT-A2 1.21 JIC FLT-A2 RS 1.22 K-One 1.23 Kei Office 1.24 KW Variants 1.25 Kg/mm 1.26 Megan Racing 1.27 Mines 1.28 Nismo S-Tune 1.29 Ohlin 1.30 Pros Engineering 1.31 Quantum 1.32 Racing Gear 1.33 Tanabe Sustec Pro S-OC Type 1 1.34 Tanabe Sustec Pro S-OC Type 2 1.35 Tanabe Sustec Pro S-S Type 1 1.36 Tanabe Sustec Pro S-S Type 2 1.37 Tein Basic 1.38 Tein CS 1.39 Tein Flex 1.40 Tein Flex JDM 1.41 Tein SS 1.42 Tokico D-Spec 1.43 Tokico HTS 1.44 Tommy Kaira 1.45 Veilside Pro 1.46 Veilside Standard 1.47 Zeal Function V6 2 About Coilovers

Available Coilovers

Below, we have all of the currently available Nissan 350Z performance coilovers (at least from reputable companies - we do not believe in endorsing cheap eBay crap).

Aragosta Damper Design: Monotube, forged aluminum Damper Adjustment: 12-way adjustable Piston Size: 46mm Manufacturer: Aragosta	Bilstein PSS Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: none F Spring Rate: 370 (+18%) R Spring Rate: 240-420 (+23% max, progressive) Stiffness transfer: +5% stiffness to rear Piston Size: 46mm Manufacturer: Bilstein Notes: dampers are performance valved, possible to swap rear springs for linear, 5" O.D.	Bilstein PSS9 Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: 9-way adjustable F Spring Rate: 370 +18% R Spring Rate: 240-420, (+23% max, progressive) Stiffness transfer: +5% stiffness to rear Piston Size: 46mm Manufacturer: Bilstein Notes: dampers are performance valved, Possible to swap rear springs for linear, 5" O.D	Blitz Manufacturer: Blitz
Buddy Club Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: Adjustable Height Adjustment: Full adjustment F Spring Rate: 748 R Spring Rate: 280 Manufacturer: Buddy Club Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload	Central 20 Race Damper Adjustment: Full adjustment Height Adjustment: Full adjustment F Spring Rate: 12kg/mm R Spring Rate: 7.5kg/mm Manufacturer: Central 20 Notes: Original Design with Quantum Dampers, ODM Sprint springs	Central 20 Street Damper Adjustment: Full adjustment Height Adjustment: Full adjustment F Spring Rate: 10kg/mm R Spring Rate: 8kg/mm Manufacturer: Central 20 Notes: Original Design with Quantum Dampers, ODM Sprint springs	Cusco Zero1 Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: none Height Adjustment: Full adjustment F Spring Rate: 560 +78% R Spring Rate: 392 +15% Stiffness transfer: +63% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Cusco Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload, Rear springs in OEM location
Cusco Zero2 Damper Adjustment: 5-way adjustment Height Adjustment: Full adjustment F Spring Rate: 560 +78% R Spring Rate: 392 +15% Stiffness transfer: +63% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Cusco Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload, Rear springs in OEM location	D2 Racing Damper Design: Monotube Aluminium Damper Adjustment: 36 positions Height Adjustment: yes F Spring Rate: 840 +168% R Spring Rate: 728 +113% Stiffness transfer: 55% stiffness to front Manufacturer: D2 Racing	Eibach Pro Street Part #: 6364.711 Height Adjustment: .8-1.6" drop Manufacturer: Esprit	Esprit Damper Adjustment: Full adjustment Height Adjustment: Full adjustment Manufacturer: Esprit Notes: designed to run evenly on the street and circuit, Piston and shaft designed by HKS
GAB Manufacturer: GAB	HKS Hipermax II Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: 30-way adjustment F Spring Rate: 504 +61% R Spring Rate: 504 +47% Stiffness transfer: +14% stifness to front Manufacturer: HKS Notes: HKS most aggressive setup	HKS Hipermax LS Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: none F Spring Rate: 448 +43% R Spring Rate: 448 +31% Stiffness transfer: +12% stiffness to front Manufacturer: HKS Notes: comfort ride system	HKS Hipermax LS+ Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: adjustable F Spring Rate: 448 +43% R Spring Rate: 448 +31% Stiffness transfer: +12% stiffness to front Manufacturer: HKS Notes: Tuned more aggressively than the LS, but not to the RS level, in spite of the RS actually using softer spring rates. Special Note: This 350Z version does not transfer as much roll stiffness to the front as the G35 version, but does use softer valving specs in it's dampeners
HKS Hipermax RS Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: 30-way adjustable F Spring Rate: 448 +43% R Spring Rate: 448 +31% Stiffness transfer: +12% stiffness to front Manufacturer: HKS Notes: Marketed as HKS’s track coil over with a good street ride, it is more aggressive then the HKS LS+ and does not transfer as much spring stiffness to the front.	HKS Hipermax III Damper Adjustment: adjustable Manufacturer: HKS	HKS Hipermax III Sport Damper Adjustment: adjustable Manufacturer: HKS	JIC FLT-A2 Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: 15-way adjustable F Spring Rate: 560 +78% R Spring Rate: 672 +98% Stiffness transfer: +20% stiffness to rear Piston Size: 40mm Manufacturer: JIC Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload. This setup is known for it’s street ride harshness, but also for good track performance.
JIC FLT-A2 RS Manufacturer: JIC	K-One Manufacturer: K-One Notes: ohlins dampers	Kei Office Manufacturer: KEI Office	KW Variants Damper Design: Monotube F Spring Rate: 485-525 (progressive) R Spring Rate: 240-548 (progressive) Manufacturer: KW Notes: V1: non adjustable dampening, V2: adjustable damping, V3: separate adjustability for compression damping AND rebound damping and is the only product of it’s kind at this time.
Kg/mm Damper Design: Monotube F Spring Rate: 840 R Spring Rate: 280 Manufacturer: kgmm Notes: JDM only. Use rear springs on the rear coil over bodies AND a progressive spring in the oem location. Closest translation is that the progressive spring adds 200lbs to the rear rate.	Megan Racing List Price: 900$ Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: 32 ways F Spring Rate: 10kg R Spring Rate: 8kg Manufacturer: Megan Racing	Mines Height Adjustment: F: -25mm R: -20mm F Spring Rate: 6.12kg/mm R Spring Rate: 7.34kg/mm Manufacturer: Mines	Nismo S-Tune Damper Design: Twin Tube Height Adjustment: none (-20mm fixed) F Spring Rate: 8.1kg/mm +43% (progressive) R Spring Rate: 8.9kg/mm +48% (progressive) Stiffness transfer: +5% stiffness to rear Manufacturer: Nismo Notes: Includes pillowball upper mounts. All rates tuned specific for Z.
Ohlin List Price: $2790 Damper Design: PCV valve adjustment on monotube Damper Adjustment: 20 way Height Adjustment: 2 way F Spring Rate: 10 kg/mm R Spring Rate: 7 kg/mm Piston Size: 46 mm Manufacturer: Ohlins Notes: These units incorporate Ohlins unique PCV vale technology, which literally will go from street to track without ever compromising handling or comfort. The PCV setup uses a primary and secondary valve to compress and displace fluid in the chamber. PCV=parallel compression valve. If it translates literally, "valve gear of the compressed side which is set in parallel". In other words it controls the flow of the oil inside the cylinder in the time of compression, by providing another sub piston which works in parallel to the main piston	Pros Engineering Manufacturer: Pros Engineering	Quantum Manufacturer: Quantum	Racing Gear Manufacturer: Racing Gear
Tanabe Sustec Pro S-OC Type 1 List Price: $1100 Damper Design: Twin Tube Height Adjustment: * F: +.25,-1.75 in R: +0,-1.5 F Spring Rate: 10kg/mm, 560lb/in R Spring Rate: 8kg/mm, 448lb/in Manufacturer: Tanabe Notes: Uses helper springs, adjustable rear spring	Tanabe Sustec Pro S-OC Type 2 Damper Design: Twin tube Height Adjustment: * F: +.25,-1.75 in R: +0,-1.5 F Spring Rate: 10kg/mm, 560lb/in R Spring Rate: 8kg/mm, 448lb/in Manufacturer: Tanabe Notes: No helper springs, adjustable rear spring	Tanabe Sustec Pro S-S Type 1 Damper Design: Twin tube Damper Adjustment: F: 4-way R: 8-way Manufacturer: Tanabe Notes: Uses helper springs	Tanabe Sustec Pro S-S Type 2 Damper Design: Twin tube Damper Adjustment: F: 4-way R: 8-way Manufacturer: Tanabe Notes: No helper springs
Tein Basic List Price: $890 Damper Design: Twin tube Damper Adjustment: none Height Adjustment: continuous F Spring Rate: 504 +61% R Spring Rate: 504 +43% Stiffness transfer: +18% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Tein	Tein CS Damper Design: Monotube Damper Adjustment: adjustable F Spring Rate: 392 +25% R Spring Rate: 392 +15% Stiffness transfer: +10% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Tein Notes: comfort ride	Tein Flex Damper Design: Twin tube Damper Adjustment: 16-way adjustment F Spring Rate: 672 +114% R Spring Rate: 672 +98% Stiffness transfer: +16% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Tein Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload. Harsh ride noted by many. Carefully read reviews, since JDM and early versions have softer springs. Other spring rates can be obtained from Tein.	Tein Flex JDM Damper Design: Twin Tube Damper Adjustment: 16-way adjustment F Spring Rate: 560 +78% R Spring Rate: 560 +64% Stiffness transfer: +14% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Tein Notes: Original specs offered in U.S.Now spring rates on USD version is 672/672. Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload.
Tein SS Damper Design: Twin tube Damper Adjustment: adjustable F Spring Rate: 392 +25% R Spring Rate: 314-392 +15% (progressive) Manufacturer: Tein	Tokico D-Spec Image:Tokico D-Spec Coilover.jpg Part #: DSK512 Damper Adjustment: 16-way Height Adjustment: no (1" drop) F Spring Rate: (linear) R Spring Rate: (linear) Manufacturer: Tokico	Tokico HTS Image:Tokico HTS Coilover.jpg Part #: HSK607 Height Adjustment: no F Spring Rate: (linear) R Spring Rate: (linear) Manufacturer: Tokico	Tommy Kaira Manufacturer: Tommy Kaira Notes: made by Bilstein
Veilside Pro Manufacturer: Veilside	Veilside Standard Manufacturer: Veilside	Zeal Function V6 Damper Design: Inverted Monotube Damper Adjustment: 6-way adjustment F Spring Rate: 560 +78% R Spring Rate: 448 +31% Stiffness transfer: +47% stiffness to front Manufacturer: Endless Notes: Full-length adjustment and height adjustment for separate setting of the height and spring preload

About Coilovers

In the strictest technical sense, a "coilover" suspension is a system that has a shock absorbers strut inside the cylinder of a coil spring. That means that while a 350Z /G35 has a coilover front suspension setup, the rear is not. By common usage, however, a kit that replaces the shocks and springs is still referred to as a "coilover kit". And buying springs and shocks separately doesn't make the setup any less of a "coilover".

The primary benefits of choosing a coilover setup over individual springs and shocks is height adjustability, and the engineering that has gone into making them a cohesive system. If you are interested in what springs and shocks do individually and what makes a spring or shock "good" for a car, please visit their individual Wiki pages.

Few shocks offer height adjustment, and those that do generally lack the granularity of control. Some use rings on the strut body to attach a circlip, which means to adjust the height the strut has to be removed and there are only so many settings available. Springs don't offer height adjustability either, so the height drop offered is all you will get.

However, the biggest gain is the time and effort the company has gone to when engineering their product. The performance of springs and shocks need to be matched to each other, as well as to the weight and weight distribution of the car.

You could buy springs and shocks from the world's best manufacturers of such products, but the best ingredients do not neceesarily make the best cake. You still need a chef to put the ingredients together in the right amounts. With individual springs and shocks, the "chef" is the purchaser. Which is not an issue if the purchaser is a suspension guru and has experience with the two specific products or the resources to mix and match springs and dampers until they find something that works. But for most of us, we don't have the expertise nor the time and money to keep swapping parts and testing them in a controlled environment until we find two that are "just right" for each other as well as provide the ride / handling compromise we are after.

With a coilover kit, you know that the company has tested their product. They have found a spring rate that suits the weight of the car for their advertised purpose (whether it be for street, rally, drag or circuit use) and shock absorber valving that matches the spring rate. If the shocks are adjustable, then the range of adjustment will suit the springs. So you can rely on the manufacturer's reputations for getting these setups right in the past as well as their build quality, rather than just the build quality that individual components manufacturers offer, and then your own reputation (or lack of it) for their suitability to each other and the intended application.

Covered in this article

Coilovers, struts, shocks, springs, suspension

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