Suspension Buyers Guide - Start On Right The Foot - Super Street Magazine

Did you cheap out and slam your car with a set of chopped springs? Does your car bounce violently down the highway on your way to work? Do girls refuse to ride in your car because they lose their lunch after a trip around the block? When trying to take a corner fast, do you have to slow down to a grandpa-like pace because your car starts bottoming out as you approach the apex? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we think it's time you seek help from a trusted source. Now maybe Super Street isn't exactly what you would consider trusted, but meh, close enough! As soon as you're finished drooling and panting, go to the following pages and view all the fine footwork parts. We're sure you'll find a cure for your sickening, masochistic, chopped spring complex. But take your time before you go on; we understand.

AC Autotechnic
CNC machined of 16061 aluminum and made in the USA, AC's line of strut braces stand apart from the crowd of cheap, low quality bars. Available to stiffen the front, rear, lower, and upper ends of your ride.
Info: 626/812-8388, www.acautotechnic.com

A'PEXi
The N1 Evolution Damper is the latest coilover from A'PEXi. Available in three variations set up for where and how you plan to drive the most: street, circuit, or drift. These choice dampers were developed by extensive use in professional motorsports.
Info: 714/685-5700, www.apexi-usa.com

APR
Flex Control Bars from APR are designed to do just what the name says: control flex. Designed to reduce chassis flex during hard cornering and constructed of 6061 billet aluminum, these bars are just what your ride needs for your high-speed donut escapades in the grocery store parking lot.
Info: 626/480-0090, www.aprperformance.com

Arospeed
Designed to make handling more responsive, Arospeed's Classic Strut Bars also add some sparkle to your ride. These bars are polished until you can see yourself in them. Shiny good.
Info: 866/276-7733, www.arospeed.com

Benen
Benen has a variety of chassis stiffening bars and braces for your ride. The pictured X-Member Brace is designed to use factory mounting holes-no drilling required. It also weighs only 1.45 pounds, so it won't turn your car into an automotive Dom Deluise.
Info: 650/598-9461, www.benen.com

Blitz
The Damper SR was developed in conjunction with Sachs Racing Suspension, bringing German technology to Japanese cars. It's designed to provide excellent handling combined with a comfortable ride. What more could you want for a street car?
Info: 626/839-8350, www.blitz-na.com

Comptech
Made of titanium, Comptech's Titanium Series Shock/Strut Tower Braces have a high ratio of strength per pound. This means they don't have to weigh as much as aluminum braces to have equivalent or better strength.
Info: 916/933-1080, www.comptechusa.com

Cusco
The Zero-2R is Cusco's top of the line suspension kit. Using a design similar to that used on JGTC and WRC cars, it provides great rigidity and resistance to side loads. The shocks are five-step adjustable, so you can set them for a wide range of conditions.
Info: 888/591-6277, www.napsusa.com

DC Sports
The classic strut bar copied by many. The DC Sports Billet Strut Bar is CNC-machined from 6061 T-6 aluminum. DC uses TIG-welded fittings and mounting pads to make sure this bar will last far into the future.
Info: 310/484-2322, www.dcsports.com

DNX
LC suspension systems include coil springs and performance dampers designed to work together to lower your vehicle and provide excellent handling and ride comfort. Since they come as a kit, there's no guessing involved, such as when you pair a set of springs from one manufacturer with dampers from another.
Info: 734/384-7815, www.dnxperformance.com

Eibach
Eibach springs are used by racing teams at the highest level of motorsports. Its Pro-Kit brings the same level of quality relied upon by teams in F1 and WRC to your street car. These springs are designed to provide high performance handling and give your car a lower stance. They're also backed by a million mile warranty.
Info: 951/256-8300, www.eibach.com

Energy Suspension
Suspension bushings are an often overlooked part of a performance suspension buildup. Like anything, a suspension is only as good as its weakest link. Hyper-Flex System polyurethane bushings replace your soft, squishy stock bushings for an increase in stability and control.
Info: 949/361-3935, www.energysuspension.com

Espelir
Active Super Down springs are designed to lower your car 1.5-2 inches for sexy looks, especially if your car has aftermarket wheels. The spring rate is also increased by 20-30 percent for stability and a comfortable ride.
Info: 562/946-6820, www.mackinindustries.com

Ford Racing
Do you own a non-SVT Focus? Do you wish you had an SVT? Well, you can at least have the upgraded suspension of the SVT Focus with the SVT Focus suspension kit from Ford Racing. Benefits include a lowered stance and improved handling characteristics without ride degradation.
Info: 586/468-1356, www.fordracingparts.com

Greddy
GREX triple tube strut bars use a monocoque aluminum tube shaft to retain strength with and maintain low weight. These bars bring GReddy quality at a reasonable price.
Info: 949/588-8300, www.greddy.com

HKS
Hipermax RS coilovers have been designed for use around the world. They've been developed at circuits all over the globe and tested on streets in Japan and the USA. These coilovers will help you perform your best at the track and still let you get to school and work in comfort.
Info: 310/491-3300, www.hksusa.com

Honda Factory Performance
These spring and shock kits from Honda Factory Performance were developed by some of the same people who developed the suspension setups for cars such as the Acura NSX and Integra Type-R. You can't go wrong with OEM Honda quality.
Info: www.honda.com

Hotchkis Tuning
TVS suspension kit components are designed to work together for your specific application. There's no guesswork involved because these kits have been tested on the street and track. You can rest easy knowing that your suspension system actually improves your cars handling.
Info: 877/4-NOROLL, www.hotchkistuning.com

JIC
The FLT-A2 coilover setup is JIC's flagship suspension kit. It features 15-step adjustable dampers so you can adjust for different tracks or driving conditions. You can also adjust ride height independently of the spring perch, allowing you to maintain maximum suspension travel when lowering your car.
Info: 562/803-6122, www.jic-magic.com

Kansai Service
This limited edition strut bar for the Evolution is constructed of titanium. The triangle design makes it as many as four times stronger than some other bars on the market.
Info: 310/ 515-6420, www.lot-usa.com

Kazama
Suspension parts from Kazama are constructed for heavy duty. These rear upper arms and toe links allow you to adjust the camber and toe of the rear wheels of a 240SX. They also help rid the rear suspension of some of its mushy feel.
Info: 310/618-0600, www.more-japan.com

Koni
Koni's 1130 Sport Kit is a set of matched progressive lowering springs with Koni Sport shocks. The shocks are usually externally adjustable, so you can personalize the shock settings to your preference. This kit will give your car that nice low stance and improve cornering stability with less roll.
Info: 859/586-4100, www.koni-na.com

Ksport
Kontrol Pro coilover kits include 36-step adjustable shocks with monotube construction. These features and others such as an adjustable body are usually only featured on much higher-priced suspension setups.
Info: 480/821-8900, www.ksportusa.com

KYB
AGX sport adjustable shocks and struts feature four- or eight-stage adjustable damping. They are adjustable externally, so there is no need to take them off the car to make adjustments. You can easily set them up for a mountain pass or to go pick up your non-existent girlfriend.
Info: 630/620-5555, www.kyb.com

NAMS
The Gacchiri Support from NAMS (Nagisa Auto) reduces flexing of the unibody by creating a triangular support between the front door hinge and the strut tower. This also helps increase steering response.
Info: 310/618-0600, www.more-japan.com

Neuspeed
Choices, choices, choices. Instead of one type of spring to suit everyone, Neuspeed has several types to suit your car's purpose. They vary in lowering and spring-rate aggressiveness, from SofSport to Race springs.
Info: 800/423-3623, 800/388-7171, www.neuspeed.com

Nismo
The Power Brace is designed to strengthen the front section of a 240SX where the tension rods attach to the chassis. It replaces the existing brackets with ones that are fully boxed and reinforced. The increase in rigidity improves steering response and accuracy in hard cornering.
Info: 626/965-5060, www.superiornissanmotorsports.com

Prodrive
The same company who builds Subaru's WRC car engineered this Impreza spring kit. Not only do they lower your car by 25mm, they also help your Impreza, WRX, or STi attain even better handling than the stock springs allow. With these, you're one step closer to your fantasy of owning an Impreza WRC.
Info: 949/757-1799 www.prodrive.com

Racing Gear
Many circuit racers and drifters in Japan use V Stage Dampers from Racing Gear. Now they are available in the States, so you can have the same race-car feel in the turns that our fellow tuning junkies in the Pacific Rim have enjoyed for years.
Info: 626/448-0150, www.invidia-usa.com

Skunk2
These adjustable coilover kits from Skunk2 have become somewhat of a classic suspension part. Affordable but not cheap, they maintain the high level of quality we've come to expect from Skunk2.
Info: 951/808-9888, www.skunk2.com

Spoon Sports
This Crossbeam Bar stiffens the chassis of your S2000, helping to make it even more of a corner-carver than it already is.
Info: 707/584-9300, www.opakracing.com

Sprint Performance Suspension
Offering drop heights ranging from 1.5 to 3.25 inches, Sprint lowering springs can give your car the look you're after. They are manufactured in the USA, ISO 9001 certified, and come with a lifetime warranty.
Info: 909/989-5250, www.sprintspring.com

Stillen
The factory sway bars on your car are usually too small and flimsy to control body roll during hard cornering. Stillen sway bars are made from high-strength, aircraft-grade steel and have high torsional strength for maximum effectiveness.
Info: 866/250-5542, www.stillen.com

Strange Engineering
These new coilover shocks from Strange Engineering for Hondas are constructed of aluminum to keep weight down. They are double external adjustable, meaning you can adjust bound and rebound separately with two different knobs. You can also get the shocks with Hypercoil springs in spring rates suitable for drag, street, or circuit.
Info: 847/663-1701, www.strangeengineering.net

Tanabe
Sustec Pro RR coilover suspension kits were developed with data collected from Formula Nippon drivers. These coilovers are designed for use on the track and are built to take loads of punishment. For footwork pros, spring rates and shock valving can be customized.
Info: 310/783-0200, www.tanabe-usa.com

Tein
Type Flex dampers from Tein are a solution to your daily driver/track car woes. These versatile coilovers are at home on the rough roads of LA, on the tightest mountain road, or at your favorite track. They also feature an anti-rust coating on the spring perch threads, to keep them looking good.
Info: 562/861-9161, www.tein.com

Tenzo
The R-Type strut bar braces the front strut towers to help reduce flex in the front of your chassis. This can help create quicker turn-in.
Info: 661/250-3000, www.tenzoracingsports.com

Toda Racing
Fightex coilovers are designed and manufactured by Toda Racing using the latest technologies. They feature aluminum construction, which contributes to lightness, suspension cooling, and corrosion resistance. The Type FS is designed to be the perfect balance between street and racing potential.
Info: 714/327-0181, www.todaracing.com

Tokico
D-Spec suspension kits feature sport springs along with extra-wide range adjustable shocks. They are infinitely adjustable between the hard and soft settings, making it possible to find the perfect setting for any type of driving.
Info: 800/548-2549, www.tokicogasshocks.com

TRD
Springs and shocks from TRD use more aggressive valving and spring rates than stock to improve handling and reduce body roll for your Toyota.
Info: 800-688-5912, www.trdusa.com

Ueo Parts
Katsuhiro Ueo's new company created this four-point rear shock tower bar for the AE86. For the clueless: Ueo-san was the '02 D1 Grand Prix Champion. This rear bar reduces flex in the rear of your little hachi.
Info: 310/618-0600, www.more-japan.com

VeilSide
Strut tower bars from VeilSide are constructed from aluminum, reduce body flex, and improve steering response. They're polished and feature a VeilSide plaque for those of you who want to bling.
Info: 310/835-5684, www.veilside.com

Whiteline
Group 4 adjustable dampers were developed to be durable and maintenance-free. On strut applications, a large 46mm piston is used. The damper kits can be ordered specifically for circuit, drift, race, or drag.
Info: 616/399-9025, www.globalperformanceparts.com, www.whiteline.com.au

Zeal
The Function-V6 coilover from Zeal is for vehicles with a strut-type suspension. They've been designed to be especially strong against high side loads that struts must endure. Another noteworthy feature: The shock's nitrogen chamber is located as far away from the brakes as possible, resulting in less chance of the strut overheating during hard driving.
Info: www.endlessusa.com