GR86 Lowering - Coilovers and Springs

Tein has workshop in the UK, everything can be done within the UK.

The RX1 feel more compliant that stock and give a better ride quality. That's all I can say really!
 
Grblue86 said:
Someone (sorry to be adding to the rumour mill) told me in one of the Caffeine and Machine meets that the Ohlin R&T weren't good on GT86, can't recall the exact reason he gave me but recommended not to go for them. I wonder if people have heard of that before or something to the contrary.
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It wasn't me but it is true. They revised the spring rates a couple of years into production and had unfavourable results. I'm pretty sure the rear was too soft and would bottom out as they don't have much travel, but saying that they have been changed again as the rates for front and rear are now the same, pretty sure they weren't before (think they were 60/40). Tein Flex As, now known as RX1s were popular.
 
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Grblue86 said:
Someone (sorry to be adding to the rumour mill) told me in one of the Caffeine and Machine meets that the Ohlin R&T weren't good on GT86, can't recall the exact reason he gave me but recommended not to go for them. I wonder if people have heard of that before or something to the contrary.
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I’ve seen posts from some in the American forums who think 6k spring rates are too pliant for mixed use…
 
There's no current UK stock of the Hipermax S until June but there are some Hipermax Rs - those are probably a bit too much for a 95% road car so I'll have to be patient I think. Ohlins not in stock until July/August.
 
Think I've found the setup that I want now. Going to pull the trigger very soon.

-KW V1 - there is a ZN8 specific set now. Not sure if it's any different to the ZN6 or just 50 quid more expensive. I plan on keeping them for a long time so the stainless is a big selling point.
-Pedders top mounts
-Camber bolts

I really don't want to make it too stiff or introduce extra NVH from metal top mounts. Im looking to take out the floaty feeling in direction changes while maintaining quality damping.
I've lucked out on some good results with spring / damper kits on previous cars (as well as ruining another with super stiff coilovers), but Coilovers will also give a bit of extra clearance for wider wheels and allow me to dial in the ride height.

I think I'll want to get some rear control arms too, as I want to add a modest amount of rear camber but don't want to lower it a crazy amount. I'm going to see how it turns out without first.

I want to order my wheels and tyres at the same time as I know I'll be desperate for them once the suspension is done, but I'm concerned about how much stuff will turn up at the same time 😅 and the size of the hit to my bank balance.

Just need to click that buy button now 😬
 
I got the Hipermax S imported from USA, which wasn't too expensive. This was before the GR86 specific Öhlins were available, but now with the price of the Öhlins and lack of included camber plates and considering the performance of Hipermax S for mixed used I am very satisfied.
 
Good to hear @hsb . They have some good video content on their site about the philosophy of the Hipermax range and how they're designed and manufactured and it's very reasuring - these are not a badge engineered generic product at all (my initial misconception) and they're entirely manufactured in house to a very high standard. They also have a high speed damping solution similar in idea to Ohlins DFV which I didn't realise too.
 
mackie said:
Good to hear @hsb . They have some good video content on their site about the philosophy of the Hipermax range and how they're designed and manufactured and it's very reasuring - these are not a badge engineered generic product at all (my initial misconception) and they're entirely manufactured in house to a very high standard. They also have a high speed damping solution similar in idea to Ohlins DFV which I didn't realise too.
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Yeah they seem to be their own design, and I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the products.
 
mackie said:
Good to hear @hsb . They have some good video content on their site about the philosophy of the Hipermax range and how they're designed and manufactured and it's very reasuring - these are not a badge engineered generic product at all (my initial misconception) and they're entirely manufactured in house to a very high standard. They also have a high speed damping solution similar in idea to Ohlins DFV which I didn't realise too.
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Which coilovers did you go for in the end?
 
GRistopher said:
Which coilovers did you go for in the end?
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HKS Hipermax S. Requirements were: usable on the road (i.e. no stupidly high spring rates), monotube, inverted on the front axle, single adjustable. The other option was Ohlins R&T but the lack of supply eventually put me off and it's hard to justify the significant extra cost.

I've had them on for a week now and I'm very happy. The build quality is lovely (almost a shame to hide them away) and a nice bonus is that they come preset for optimal ride height (no scraping or rubbing at all and I went out of my way to find the most evil speed bumps I could on my shakedown drive) and are even corner balanced to within 1% from the factory. I started with the dampers exactly in the middle setting (15 clicks back from max) and have since gone to 13/16 front and rear which feels bang on for me on the road. I found with the extra front camber (now set at 2.25 degrees) any stiffer and it took too long to settle into a corner, the slightly softer setting allows it to bite just that bit quicker as well as riding like stock. On track you can get away with much firmer ofcourse since you're loading the car up much more aggressively than on the road.

I changed wheels and tyres at the same time as well as adding a Cusco strut brace but I'd say the overall NVH from the front is certainly no worse but possibly slightly better. I suspect that's mainly down to tyres despite them having much stiffer sidewalls.

FYI with the factory ride height settings (the Japanese legal limit apparently) the rear camber on stock everything was bang on 2 degrees. I'd estimate the front to be around 1.5 using the OEM bolts with the factory top hat setting. I used top hole 16mm Whiteline camber bolts to equalise the sides to avoid having different strut angles side to side.

Another bonus is the Cusco brace has an integrated master cylinder brace and that made a lot more difference than I was expecting. Once the AP 4 pots and HEL lines are on I expect to have a very solid feeling pedal.
 
mackie said:
HKS Hipermax S. Requirements were: usable on the road (i.e. no stupidly high spring rates), monotube, inverted on the front axle, single adjustable. The other option was Ohlins R&T but the lack of supply eventually put me off and it's hard to justify the significant extra cost.

I've had them on for a week now and I'm very happy. The build quality is lovely (almost a shame to hide them away) and a nice bonus is that they come preset for optimal ride height (no scraping or rubbing at all and I went out of my way to find the most evil speed bumps I could on my shakedown drive) and are even corner balanced to within 1% from the factory. I started with the dampers exactly in the middle setting (15 clicks back from max) and have since gone to 13/16 front and rear which feels bang on for me on the road. I found with the extra front camber (now set at 2.25 degrees) any stiffer and it took too long to settle into a corner, the slightly softer setting allows it to bite just that bit quicker as well as riding like stock. On track you can get away with much firmer ofcourse since you're loading the car up much more aggressively than on the road.

I changed wheels and tyres at the same time as well as adding a Cusco strut brace but I'd say the overall NVH from the front is certainly no worse but possibly slightly better. I suspect that's mainly down to tyres despite them having much stiffer sidewalls.

FYI with the factory ride height settings (the Japanese legal limit apparently) the rear camber on stock everything was bang on 2 degrees. I'd estimate the front to be around 1.5 using the OEM bolts with the factory top hat setting. I used top hole 16mm Whiteline camber bolts to equalise the sides to avoid having different strut angles side to side.

Another bonus is the Cusco brace has an integrated master cylinder brace and that made a lot more difference than I was expecting. Once the AP 4 pots and HEL lines are on I expect to have a very solid feeling pedal.
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Where did you get the Hipermax from? I'm thinking it's going to be a good option.
 
WWGR86 said:
I have decided to go for HKS as well! Will see how it cope with the infamous UK road🤔
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How did you get on with the HKS Coilovers - was about to go for BC racing but have heard they are way too firm.
 
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