Is a straight coilover set better than buying separate shocks and springs? If so, any suggestions on which coilover system would be the best for 2006 06mt with sport tuned suspension package?

 

YES i would like to know this as well

 

i think coilovers are better becasue the shocks are designed to be specifically paired with the springs. a shock and spring combo is better if you're on a budget or what some kind of specific effect like the d-specs. (i forget what it is but i know that there special and good)

 

just a bit confused regarding lowering.. if you saved a few $$$ and bought some springs and shocks, would that be cool? when would cambers and all that other $hit come into play?

 

Most say 1/2 inch drop is safe. Anything over that and you are kinda on your own. Some say 1 inch works fine for them, very little unusual tire wear. Some say that 1 inch is too much and it eats tires. Good luck

 

haha, so would the 2004.5+ oem z's be the best choice? does it really even make that big of a difference in looks with the oem z's? (anyone have pics?)

 

Is half an inch even noticeable? People like the 1in drop all the way around, but there are few people on the forums who run into unusual tire wear. Will you run into neg camber issues with coilovers>??

 

it doesn't matter if you use coilovers or springs and shock. camber is totally different, with any drop more that an 1in-ish, you experiance too much neg. camber

 

The amount of drop causes camber problems. Dropping the car causes the suspension geometry to pull in the top of the tire. It doesn't make any difference whether you're using springs/shocks or coilovers.

Another benefit of coilovers is that the height of the car can be adjusted after thay are installed.

 

^..

so if youre looking for an inch all around is coilover worth it? or would shocks and springs suffice without having to deal with any other probs or would coilovers be the best choice?

 

I really don't see a 1" coupe drop as being a issue for a shock and spring setup in the area that I'd want to be most concerned about providing that oem coupe shocks are NOT used (thinking about shock piston travel or bump travel) We would be talking about a setup that uses 350Z Tokico D-spec shocks. For a 1" drop I could see 350Z H-techs, 350Z Swift springs, Hotchkis springs. Now of course it's a different ball game if the springs above are not stiff enough for you.

The problem I also see if we move the conversation to coilovers is, you have lot's of coilovers to buy that look nice on paper, but don't measure up on the whole because they don't have the greatest valving or they aren't blessed sensicle spring rates for use on real north american road condtion's. That being said the coilover product's that come to mind that aren't too far from oem that come to mind are Tein CS, HKS LS and Bilstein Pss/Pss9. Though it would be very intesting to see someone opt for Silk road coilovers and take advantage of how you can spec custom spring rates, a 7Kg or 8kg/7Kg setup comes to mind. Getting speperate ride height/spring preload adjustability would be the main draw with the Silk Road setup.
http://www.driftfactory.com/product_...ef42554c321b5d

 

Bottom line, if you are asking the question "which is better coil overs or spring/strut" then you don't know the performance difference between them, and you shouldn't even think about wasting yoru money on coil overs.
You are going to pay at least double for coil overs. Adjustable ride height is not the only difference between coil over shocks and a spring/strut setup....