I know threads like these are all over the place and all too common LOL

I've been reading until my eyes are crossed and I can't seem to make a decision on my own. Can anyone with experience give me some opinions of these two coilovers? I need to make a decision within the next couple days, and they both seem pretty decent.

From what I can tell, at my skill level, I would honestly be happy with either. So I'm thinking to go with whichever is cheaper. However, the pricing is close enough that I would hate to end up with an inferior set up over a couple hundred dollars.

ASTs have Vorshlag plates.
Both have Swift Springs.
ASTs appear to have no helper springs.
9k/11k on both

Car is performance oriented. I do an occasional autox, (but don't really care how the car performs there) as well as HPDE and time attack. Stock aero for now, splitter and wing are in the works, but it will be a while.
Full poly bushings, PSRS, Robi rear sway. 255 R-S3 or RE71R.

I do not daily the car.

I do have a concern after reading about difficulty finding support for the AST's. With the Fortune Autos, I have spoken with Terry and he seems to always be accessible, knowledgeable, and the company seems very good at providing support. Not to mention contingency rewards

 

Where are you seeing 4100's? Their website shows the lowest option as 5100's, which are expensive. You might as well get ohlins at that price point..

 

the 4100s are from a private party. both the AST and FA are in the $1600-1800 range. far cheaper than Ohlins + having them valved + stiffer springs, unfortunately.

 

Call Terry at FA & ask him to prescribe the best set-up for you on the 510's (He is an EVO owner & a damper specialist)

Ask him if FA has ever reversed engineered an AST

 

i've spoken with Terry, which is the only reason i'm considering FAs. he's always been easy to reach and very forthcoming with information. he's the one that convinced me i need 510s because the 500 just won't work for long (the car is evolving past the point they would be useful).

i'd feel kinda weird asking he's done work on another company's stuff, though. LOL.

 

I would take new over used any day. and FA seems to make good stuff.

 

The ASTs are fresh with 0 miles on Vorshlag bearings and and dampener rebuild.
The advantage of FAs is not having to buy a pair of springs to get the rates I want.
I gave read Of a couple people buying FAs and having to send them back to have the valving corrected. That worries me a little bit.

 

Lets do this
I know you will, but for sure get the Swifts & the bearing kit

We need you on the FA team

 

I did read the 510 comes with the bearings. If I do the FAs, I will order them with the standard springs. I have a set of 11 K Swift Springs here at home. All I would need to do is order 9k for the front.

 

9k is too soft for the front...and no i dont have a set of those for sale lol.


i was after ast's for while, but then wounding up getting my ohlins used. most things i read have ohlins a step above ast, but ast is still very good. i think fa is close...

at the end of the day i think youll be fine with either

 

i actually went with the AST due to cost. the FA were just going to cost me too much out of pocket. i honestly feel the AST 4100, FA 510 (or even the 500, for now) would all work fine for me. i doubt i would be able to tell the difference. hell, i woulda kept the KWs, if it wouldn't have cost me so much for the revalve, springs, and camber plate rings.

so, the AST it is. it looks like they are 8k front and 10k rear (if my lbs/in to hg/mm math is right) but i have some 11k springs i can always toss on the back and move the 10k to the front if i find a need to. if the front has enough travel, i'm okay with the 8/10 for now.

now.. had i been able to find a used set of Ohlins... LOL to that.

 

ive been debating selling my ohlins, but the price on a set of something like JRZ singles or MCS is $3-5k, and im not at that level yet. although i may wanna die when i find out how much it will cost me to rebuild the one that has a mild leak...

 

$300 per corner, after parts, last I checked. But it's been a while. Not including shipping LOL

 

Where did you get this quote?

 

Not sure. I was looking into a used set that needed a rebuild. I called 100 diff places.