G4 Coilovers

[dooby87]

Looking into buying a set of G4 coilovers for my 180sx, as these probably best suit my budget. Who has had much expericence with them, and have they had any problems.

ie. a mate of mine done less than 5000km on his set before one started leaking, also i have heard that people have had major trouble when it comes to warrenty when things do go wrong.

Any one have any suggestions about other brands of suspension that are in the same price range, thanks!

[blck32]

go for some hsds im about to get a set for my 32

[Bliksem]

Pretty sure I read on this forum G4's and D2's are the same thing - different colour... apparently both made in China, basic valving and not the best quality...

From what I can gather Tein super streets are comparatively priced...? I also havent heard any complaints about the HSD's

[msnismo]

A friend has the G4's in his 32.... extremely rough ride.. even with the damper all the way adjusted... worse than my Jap spec Teins which are only height adjustable....

Although.. he has never had any issues with them... possibly he hasn't set his up right though.. wouldn't of thought that they would be that stiff!

[clkngezz]

yeh very good thread, im looking into buying these as well as they are to suit my budget! MSNISMO, what type of g4's were they to be a rough ride? were they the street spec ones? or the drift spec?

[dangerous_daveo]

So how much are these things? Because from experience I gotta say, if you can hold off another few months and save a bit more money to get a better product its well worth the wait.

[negativecamber]

i have G4's in my Rb S13 Silvia (8kg/F and 7kg/R)

i dont mind them at all and if anything does happen to leak or break, i know i have a 2 year replacement warranty no matter what.

[salad]

So how much are these things? Because from experience I gotta say, if you can hold off another few months and save a bit more money to get a better product its well worth the wait.

100% agreed. These things are basically bottom of the barrel type things, do you really want that for such an important part of the car? And especially when good dampers for not much more.

Edited July 18, 2007 by salad

[siddr20]

Friend had some g4s.. one shocked leaked from just normal driving under 2 months of use!! WOW..

but they replaced the whole shock for free.. so warranty wise they look after you..

however, they are pretty stiff when driving sydney roads..

[Beer Baron]

HSD, G4, D2 whatever you call it, my advice would be to drive a car with them installed then drive a car with something like bilsteins, or tein mono-flex. then make up your mind. there is a massive difference between them.

[salad]

Even the Buddy Club dampers can be had for just over $1600 and they seem to work quite well. I've got a couple of dyno sheets for these if anyone's interested. The certainly dont look crap anyway.

[Ronin 09]

they are probably an ordinarily valved shock with very heavy spring rates to control the body movement.

people buy them and equate "Stiff" = "good handling"

Rule of thumb - run the lowest spring rates you can for what you want to do, and get the best shocks to control those springs.

[dangerous_daveo]

HSD, G4, D2 whatever you call it, my advice would be to drive a car with them installed then drive a car with something like bilsteins, or tein mono-flex. then make up your mind. there is a massive difference between them.

Damn right.

I've had 3 different set ups in my car (88 cefiro). 1st when it came from japan, it has kei office adj coilovers, with 450lb front springs, and 350lb rears, it was stupid, they eventually leaked, so I got them rebuilt. The rebuild had the rear springs go to the front, and I bought some new rear springs. So this gave it 350lb fronts, 200lb rears, and shocks revalved (no longer adjustable) to suit those springs, this was a massive improvement over the kei office orginals.

I then had 3 of those 4 rebuilt shocks die in less than 12months. Which is when Sydney Kid got a call, explained whats good, what isnt and why. I've now got the bilsteins in (with the 350&200lb springs) and the again was MILES better. As in the ride was smoother, the car felt more stable, and its definately quicker around corners.

Seriously, just spend the money once, and buy the good stuff, get spring rates that suits the car. If you dont want roll, get thicker anti sway bars.

[clakka]

I have a set of G4's in my 32 and the only problem I have had is with the supplier screwing me around and giving me the wrong parts etc. The ride isn't too rough (I have 7(f) and 5®) and I really like them. Improved handling alot of adjustment in height and good bang for your buck. It is all well and good for people to pay them out but I find they are doing the job and am quite happy.

My 2 cents anyway.

[salad]

^^^Compared to what?

[Steve]

two things that shit me about them

1/ they f**k up quickly - and need to be replaced, which is a PITA, and just after the warranty expires they die again, so you are stuck with worthless garbage that you can even sell

2/ they are a shit ride - really, for those of you who think they are good - get some decent coilovers in your ride and then say that again - you wont

They have no rebound adjustment, so when you adjust the dampening, you only adjust the bump - and the dampening adjustment only works for 50% of the range

For a few dollars more - HSD are MILES in front, they actually half decent shocks, half decent adjustment, and they will last alot longer than G4 (less headaches, less screwing around replacing under warranty, redo wheel alignment [more cost] etc, etc)

For a few dollars more you can get GAB or Buddy Club - as pointed out, and they are also miles in front of G4/D2 garbage

Or, if you dont want to spend more money, buy a decent shock and spring combo - minimal stuffing around (setting damping and heights) - they bolt in, they work

Most people dont want to, and dont know how to spend the time needed to set up coilovers well - they just want to be able to jump in and drive - if you fall into this category, definately consider a spring/shock combo

[nuganen]

how do you tell if there's something wrong with the suspension? like if its leaking or something like that? the car will handle differently? or do you just need to have a look at it everytime you finish driving the car?

cheers

[Steve]

leaking, knocking, car feels unstable or gets upset easily when going over bumps, back end feels loose, back end feels skittish, front end feels skittish, front end feels loose, car starts to understeer or oversteer (more than normal) all could be signs of suspension problems.. and more.

[Aif]

I have a set of G4's in my 32 and the only problem I have had is with the supplier screwing me around and giving me the wrong parts etc. The ride isn't too rough (I have 7(f) and 5®) and I really like them. Improved handling alot of adjustment in height and good bang for your buck. It is all well and good for people to pay them out but I find they are doing the job and am quite happy.

My 2 cents anyway.

i second that and i have bin in rides with tien and D1's. tiens where very nice but im still happy with my g4's

Aif

[Anquetil]

Have had G4's in my S15 for about a year now, they are to stiff for me, and i'm not one to whinge about driveablility and exhaust noise blah blah.

It really does struggle to put the power down on average quality (most) roads. On a nice smooth track I'd imagine they would be fine.

Once I come across some money I will going the SK gear...

Edited July 27, 2007 by Shane