migs647

iTrader: (19)

I'm having a really hard time finding good feedback on HKS coilovers. How do they stack up to Ohlins and KW? I've seen basic feedback about turn-in and ride, but what about track and autocross? How long do they last?

Adding complexity is the GT vs SP versions. How do they compare amongst themselves and others?

I'm heavily debating going with HKS GT coilovers for a few track days a year... but Ohlins have also dropped down to sub $2300.

Can we try and keep the fanboyism out of it and speak to true experiences?

WarmMilk

iTrader: (1)

I think a bigger factor than fanboyism is "I spent my money on this so it must be good dammit!" ism

sorry, no experience with HKS but I love the Ohlins on my Miata (switched from Fox coilovers cause I drove a car with Ohlins on it)

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

My friend with a X, and myself put ohlins on our cars before going to Chuckwalla last weekend. He changed the rear springs out for 10k swift springs on his X and the car was amazing. Idk what the HKS setup costs, but the ohlins are worth every last penny.

migs647

iTrader: (19)

Yah I meant to cover all fanboyism. From OMFG this is the best product ever and this product can't be beat by any other, to I don't want to feel inferior that I made the wrong decision.

Look I think all products can have their intents and purposes. I'm trying to figure out how HKS stacks up to ohlins. Is it 50% as good in certain conditions for specific tasks? Is it 90% as good? Better in some conditions?

migs647

iTrader: (19)

It's possible to get a set of HKS GT coils for under $1.4k. Almost $900 cheaper than Ohlins. $900 isn't much in the grand scheme of things, it isn't about the money in this case with me. Really it's that I'd really like to do an all HKS / Kansai car if possible. But I also don't want suspension holding me back on performance.

static_set

HKS is such a secretive company that the lack of information does not surprise me at all. I do know that HKS has a lot more going on than just racing - they build Japanese government approved shocks for earthquake protection even.


All of their data collection for baseline damper tuning happens by their JGTC drivers at the Fuji Speedway and then on the mountain roads by their facilities.


I remember seeing a thread about this over on an 86 forum a while back - let me see if I can dig it up for you.


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82714


There you go


-asher

WarmMilk

iTrader: (1)

in that case I say go for it. as I have no experience with the HKS I can't really say how they compare to Ohlins, but we know its a quality product. It may or may not be a little worse than Ohlins, but its not like HKS rebadged some D2's...


Mike Kojima of MotoIQ approves of them, and he's a suspension engineer by trade, suspension engineer for a drift team, works on a contract basis for KW. Safe to say he know's what he's doing.
Here's his review of them on a S2000
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...on-System.aspx
Didn't like them as much on a GT-R
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...on-System.aspx



another thing to consider. HKS put out a challege to US time attack scene to beat their GT-R. Pretty much their catalog of parts, but relatively tame as far as race cars go
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-R35-GT-R.aspx

this GT-R (on Ohlins TTX's) took up the challenge. it did beat the HKS GT-R, but this one is a pretty hardcore race car. Compared to this the HKS car can be considered a street car.
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-R35-GT-R.aspx

1:32.534 to 1:33.386, less than a second difference and the Lyfe GT-R has a lot more going for it than just the dampers... So I think you're safe going with HKS coilovers
results link
http://www.thespeedring.com/#NaN

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

That is a significant price difference, especially considering the HKS units will be a legitimate, high quality, JDM part. As warmmilk mentioned, you're not getting a Chinese damper with a logo slapped onto it. I would venter to say they are worth trying, just make sure the spring rates are more track oriented (around 10k, and the rates should be the same front/rear)

That's good data.

static_set

I didn't know about that challenge Warmmilk brought up... definitely some good information. Kind of makes me wish I would have saved some money and gone with them instead... Anyone want to buy some Aragosta Type S?



-asher

moparfan

Would this be considered the direct competitor to the Ohlins? With rates in link.

http://www.redline360.com/hks-coilov...0uQRoCsx7w_wcB

migs647

iTrader: (19)

Wow amazing information static and warmmilk.

I suppose worst case they don't work out for me and I can resell them for near what I paid.

WarmMilk

iTrader: (1)

so are you going GT or SP?

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

11k/8k springs are way wrong.

moparfan

Were you stock before the Ohlins? If so, what was the handling balance on the 10k/10k springs relative to that?

migs647

iTrader: (19)

I'm kind of on the fence, especially after reading that article on the s2000. I was leaning towards the GT, but if the SP are decent on the street for daily, then I could go that way as well.