Here's where I am with our DD / HPDE(3-4) California car:

Suspension - Bilstein HD / GTWorx springs, Noltec CC plates, Perrin offset PSRS, Whiteline FSB, RSB, RCK, rack bushings, Energy trailing arm bushings, RS front diff, restacked rear diff, 17x9.5 Enkei RPF1 w/ 255/40 RS-3.
Alignment - Front -2.8 / 5.6 / 0, Rear -1.8 / 0
Brakes - braided lines, Performance Friction Z-rate pads (street), PF08/PF01 (track), Centric blank rotors, good fluid.
Power - 300/300.

The tires are consistently getting nuked on the outer / inner edges so I'm looking for more spring to keep the body roll in check, thinking starting with 10/12k from all the reading. On road performance is still important, and our roads pretty much suck.

Ohlins are much cheaper now @ $2600:
http://www.rallysportdirect.com/Ohli...s&src=2t02k7q8

AST 5100's are the same cost too:
http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/a...7-p-66098.html

Used AST's with extra springs, GC camber plates:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sa...or-plates.html

Fortune 510's $1250. I only mention these as they're starting to get some press and results.
http://www.maperformance.com/fortune...00-co-evo.html

A couple of the things that never seem to be mentioned:
1. DFV in the Ohlins, which probably isn't something any of the other companies have = better ride quality on the street?
2. The Ohlins are all aluminum = lighter and better heat rejection. Could contribute to the superior ride quality (less unsprung weight)?
3. Ohlins claims to have a low speed bleed that compensates for fluid temp change to keep performance consistent?
4. The AST and Ohlins are inverted up front (like stock) and thus likely a stiffer and more responsive solution?
5. How much different is the Gerrard valving vs. OTS?

I've searched and read just about everything. Not many comparisons between AST and Ohlins, but the Ohlins seem to come in with more street friendly love. Not really sure how close the Fortunes are to the big boys club.
If it looks like I've pretty much decided then you're right. Kinda leaving the door open for weekend input before I buy...

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm probably one of the few people that have used both AST 5100s and Ohlin DFVs. I would give the OTS ASTs the advantage in valving to handle heavier springs and the Ohlin's the advantage with body length adjustment. The AST's are also upgradeable to 5200 or 5300s where I think you need to buy Flags to get double adjustable with the Ohlins. Could be wrong on that though.

Since I have both sets in the garage right now, I sort of have a similar equal weighted decision on which to run. So here's what I think for me,

AST 5100s - Amazing, kick *** shocks. Have plenty of adjustment to handle the range of 10k to 16k Ive thrown at them. Perhaps a little more compression is needed for heavier rates though. At 12k they seem perfect. The lack of body height adjustment is a moderate annoyance. I don't even bother with the helpers cause they aren't near long enough and with my tire I need that extra clearance. Basically just set the car down easy and help the spring into place. NBD.

The Vorschlag top hats are worlds better than the thin Ohlins and come with built in caster. The bearings are massive and they have a bearing in the top to rotate so their is no springs bind if you're not running a Torrington bearing (these are a few hundred $$ extra option though).

Ride is just fine with these on lower rates but don't expect anything to work great at 700lb/in or higher. You just don't have the compression travel under static load so you unload without much effort in a rebound. That gives a feeling of harshness. Can be fixed using Tender springs (not low rate helpers) which I have but took off for clearance with the 285 BFGs.

Ohlin DFV - Super comfy at 10k/10k with the rebound turned down. 12ks (700) gets into the same situation as mentioned above. Less travel for a given load means fully unloading more often. Valving seems stretched at 12k but still works especially if lots/tracks are relatively smooth.

I really like having the body height adjustment after having other setups with it, hard to go back even if it doesn't really matter.

And the #1 biggest reason for me on the Ohlin's, Local support. I can drive these to a shop for valving and shock dynos. That makes a big difference for me because I'm not one to leave things as is.

BTW, I'm also selling my ASTs. Similar to what the other guy is selling but with Vorschlag plates and buyers choice of spring rates in 10k, 12k, and 16k with helpers or tenders. I just haven't posted mine to not undercut the other guy. Give his thread a chance to sell first.

 

Youve miss quoted the 510's. There a bit more (Around $1800.00 + w/the Swift springs & radial bearing kit). MAP is a great source for the quote on the FA C/o's

Make sure you have Terry at F/A spec out the proper set-up for you. I just picked up the 510's (10K 12K, Swifts & the bearing kit). Note: These are custom assembled & valved units so there is a lead time (ISO Certified & each set is Dyno'd)

 

sent you a pm

 

I have DFVs and the only complaint I have is that they come with spring rates that aren't optimum for track days. I'm running them in stock form and they perform beautifully with a rear sway bar but I wish these big companies would listen to the feedback they get from customers.

Ohlins should be shipping with 10k front and 12 rear or at a minimum 8k front 10k rear and not the other way around.

 

i went from the bilstein hd/gtworx set up to the ohlins dfvs from gtworx 8/10. ride quality is just as good as with the bilstein/gtworx set up, when u turn the valving to soft

 

Yep, I'm on earlier DFVs and before I even put them on the car I swapped the springs F/R. I've had them since 2009 and love them.

 

honestly i think it winds up being very difficult to find any reason to buy ast over ohlins or vice versa. i think the FA's are starting to really prove them selves but they may still be a small step below ohlins/AST but will anyone but a very high level driver be able to tell? i doubt it.

if i was buying right now i would be very inlcined to try and pick up one of the few setos of AST's that all of a sudden popped up...last year when i was ready there was next to nothing showing up used.

 

i think the only reason most people get ohlins over another brand is for the added ride comfort, isn't it? that's why i got mine

 

ive never seen much mention of everyday ride comfort on AST's but when you go beyond 8k/10k it probably becomes more of function of the springs anyway.

i got ohlins because i paid less than fortune autos lol.

 

^ and because i hooked chu up

 

i started out with Ohlins R/T Gerrard specs, then moved to AST 4100, then FA 510, and now running 510 dreadnought 2 ways.

reason for going to AST from ohlins was mod points for TT, since ohlins were inverted and AST wasn't. then i went with 510 because of local support and i wanted custom valving. they have a nice facility with inhouse shock dyno. i was able to tell them the exactly critical damping curve that i want and they can valve it for me. great guys to deal with if you are local.

Profesional Awesome team will be running FA 3-ways coilovers this year.

 

Thanks for the input Dallas, everyone. FA seems to be coming up for sure, but they are definitely not local for me. There are shops that can do Ohlins however. I've also seen lots of non-inverted struts getting worn-out pretty quickly on MacStrut cars, so I'm heavily biased there.

Honda-Guy, that's lame you get nicked on points as the Evo come stock with inverted front struts. Seems like you should get a pass re: strut tower brace or LSD.

Do the Ohlins upper spring peaches not have Torringtons out of the box? That'd be kinda lame.

 

since the TT classing changed, inverted shocks aren't an issue anymore.

 

No mentions of JRZ?