New bilstein/Kings setup: review

[SLY33]

Hi guys, i have recently replaced my tein HA coilovers with brand new Bilstein shocks (as sold by UAS ~$900 a set) and Kings Springs (Lows, but reset another 20mm lower). Also added whiteline sway bars front and rear.

I've had a chance to do some kays with the new suspension, and i will say that id never bother with used coilovers again. My concern is that you just dont know whats been done to them, regarding shock valving and spring tensions etc. My teins were off a drift car so i expected them to be firm, but they were unacceptable for me.

The bilsteins are sweet as. The ride is very sporty and firm but still soaks up the bumps very nicely, and i am no longer bouncing around like im on a bus. The progressive rate of the springs in the rear probably help this a lot.

I had all springs tested before i put anything in, just so i knew where i was. Stock springs are around 140lb's. The Kings are 180lb front, and 110/175lb progressive rate rears. I had detailed chats to the guys at bilstein who said the shocks are designed to work with ~25% stiffer springs, and that the Kings would suit them perfectly.

The car is able to be driven harder, faster and more confidently due to the increased feel and control of the suspension. The teins i had were hard and skippy and didnt really soak up bumps, just bounced/skipped over them. Ive said in another thread that the ride quality is nearly as good as standard, but with better handling than the teins.

Bottom line is that Jap coilovers were never designed for aussie roads, and for around the same price as a set of used coilovers you can get brand new shocks and springs, and a very nice handling car.

The quality of the bilsteins is obvious when you lay them down next to the original shocks, which look weedy in comparison.

Very happy with the new setup, highly recommended.

[strutto]

Good info... I now know which way I'll be headed come suspension time...

Out of interest, are the bilsteins adjustable for damper? I assume there is no height adjustment??

[SLY33]

not adjustable for damper, but if you get the right springs to start with, you wont need to adjust damper. read my bit in this this thread about adjustable dampers :

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...4767#post674767

they dont come with height adjustment, but the spring seat sits on a circlip on the shock body, and there is provision to machine grooves for this circlip up or down the body, so you can move the circlip and spring seat, and hence adjust height.

[strutto]

Cool. Good info in that link again! So are the springs a special order from Kings to suit the Bilsteins or just regular Skyline Kings springs?

[boosted32]

I have bought some Bilstein shocks and i have been trying to decide what springs to get. The shocks have 4 grooves to be lowered about an inch maximum, so i was considering using stock springs and lowering it an inch. This would be a good starting point as my current setup is shocking and I don't know what 'normal' is and what 'good' should be.

Do you think my idea is sensible or would you recommend going straight for the springs you got and lower up to an inch to get a look that I like (i assume they are lowered springs already though). I also like the idea of progressive rate springs... what sort of price am i looking at for the springs.

Thanks

[JaseR33]

How low is ur car SLY33? I am looking to get bilstein's to replace the standard shocks on my car, which has lowered springs already. It's pretty low with the 17" tyres at level with the guards. Could anyone tell me how much lower this is from standard? Apparently the Bilsteins are not designed for cars so low. Also which model Bils are they (sport or sprint)?

Cheers

[SLY33]

boosted: you could use the stock springs with the new shocks i suppose? i would do what i did and call the Aust. distributor for bilsteins and tell them your plan, and they will tell you how suitable it is.

check out http://www.bilstein.com.au/ and call (02) 9516 1182. I wish i remembered the name of the guy i spoke to, as he was very helpful and answered all my questions plus more.

i paid $270 for my set of kings "low" springs (1inch lowered)

strutto: they werent special orders, i believe they are referred to simply as "Lows"! I then had a spring manufacturer here in adelaide reset them 20mm lower (this was before i realised that i could machine grooves in the shock housing!). Note this was purely for cosmetic reasons and is actually detrimental to handling, as to maintain 100% suspension travel the Whiteline guys say dont go lower than one inch.

It might be a good idea to say here that everyones perception of what good handling/suspension is can be different! My car is a pure street car and i require it to handle like one, and get the most out of the roads it gets used on. Some people may like their street car to handle like a track car. I say this as the guy that bought my teins is happy with them! I would hate for someone to go and buy my setup and not be happy with it. I think the best idea is to organise a ride in a skyline with the suspension you are considering, if possible. With the forum as a base it shouldnt be too hard to catch up with ppl on a cruise etc.

Jase: the bilstein guy said up to 2inches lowered would be fine for the shocks. My car actually turned out to be a bit lower than i expected, as i didnt measure for the resetting, just used a guestimate from a photo of how the car previously sat with those springs

They dont have sport or sprint on the box, but i believe they are sport.

My fronts are possibly almost getting up under the guards, and the rears are just under the guards. This is using 1inch lowered springs, reset another 20mm lower, so they should be just under 2 inches lower. This is also with 19's.

here is a pic of the new ride height, technically yes it is too low, and if i put 4 people in the car it brushes the splash guards in the rear, the 275 19's probably dont help this either. With the upgrade sway bars and 2 people i only get light scrubbing of the plastic splash guards when pushing hard, which i find liveable with. Also i had to put a camber correction kit in the rear, as the insides of the rear tyres just rubbed on the spring seat. Now its fine. I would recommend an inch lower to be ideal, but then again i love that look

[boosted32]

I know what you mean about our perception of what good handling is. At present my car is a bit harder than normal at the back, but very hard and stiff at the front. It handles great f you are on a race track withoutany bumps.. turns in very well, feels settled during cornering. But i'm using the car more and more as a daily driver (I haven't been on an SA cruise for at least a year!) and i just can't put up with the bumps anymore.

I need a comfortable ride but with better than normal handling... and also a ride height which i wont get scared with on our backstreets which is what you seem to have achieved (apart from the ride height)...

PS: your car looks real nice at that height!

[Sydneykid]

Hi Sly33, what are the centre of wheel to guard measurements?

[HKSgtst]

sly33,

nice car and rims ! very very clean .. :uh-huh:

[craz0]

SLY33 that is one sexy Skyline Thank's for the info.

[qikshift]

sly33 nice words.. has helped me out alot on decided on what i should be looking at i currently hvae a set of bilsteins in the front (not sure how warn etc they are) and a set of stockies on the back (the way i bought it).

and the time has deffinately come to put some new shat in the sucker im now looking at getting new bilstein shocks all round with king springs like yourself...

im hoping for the gaurds to be pretty much be even with the top of the tyres (only slightly in the gaurds if anything) im purchasing 18s also 8s front and 9 rears....

do you think with this combo i will get nice handling (this seems to be the case from what i have read without feeling like im in a go-kart) and drop it down to be level with the top of my tyres ? or will futher adjustment on the circlip be required do you think?

thanks in advance

mark

[Guest RedLineGTR]

Thanks for the sweet review

[crooser]

if i was to buy this same bilstein /kings combo, how much should i be realistically charged

for installation?

thanks

[qikshift]

i got a quote for $1500 including installation at GT suspension in melbourne i got quoted today

[crooser]

booked in tomorrow for this same bilsteins/kings combo

my susp has gotten progressively worse over the last 4yrs

it should be like a whole new bus... cant wait

[craz0]

I just got some Whiteline Springs they cost me $350 delivered.

Here is a picture of the front standard spring against a Whiteline spring.

[crooser]

got my car back this afternoon... all i can say is WOW :crazy:

its feels like driving i'm driving a car half the size

no more spongy/soggy feeling

this package is highly recommended

[qikshift]

nice work! did u get lows or super lows for the kings ? did you use teh stock height adjustment that came with the bilstiens...

how for is your tyre from ur gaurd front and rear now?

im looking to get this setup soon if u hvae pics that would be even sweeter

mark

[crooser]

i had them fitted by the shop that supplied them.

$1550 fitted including wheel alignment

i got the King Lows

He measured the difference after install and told me 25mm lower at front

and the back went down 35mm. looks better now as i always thought the back was a little too high.