I have had these on for about six months now as I got to test fit them for HKS. I had Hipermax Damper II�s on my last car as well and to no surprise they are sweet. I had the opportunity to visit the HKS factory a couple of years ago and saw how they machine all the parts there. I even saw raw spools of coil being prepped for winding as they do it themselves also. Finished parts are assembled by a bunch of guys wearing white cover-alls in a clean room. It's pretty impressive when you get to see the attention to detail and the huge operation they have as opposed to just seeing a picture on a web site of a finished product. All the parts that make up Hipermax Dampers are made in and assembled in Japan by HKS. Not outsourced in Taiwan or elsewhere.

Anyway, here are the facts. You can see pictures in my link to Sony Image Station (below). They have black damper bodies that are threaded for ride height adjustments. Spanner wrenches are included in the kit to adjust the spring perches should you decide to lower or raise is beyond the HKS factory setting. The factory setting is front =-30mm, rear =-25mm. That's 1.18 and .98 inches for the metrically challenged. Of course there is plenty of adjustment up or down from there. The upper pillow ball mounts are standard and they, as well as the spring perch and stiffness adjustment ***** are anodized in traditional HKS purple. Unlike the non-adjustable Hipermax LS the LS+ has 30 way adjustable stiffness front and back. The adjustment tool for the front is also included in the kit. It looks like a straight Allen wrench with a **** at the top. The fronts are adjusted simply buy sliding the adjustment tool into the top of the shaft that protrudes from your strut tower under the hood. Just pop the hood drop it on and start turning. Each setting clicks into place so you know when you've adjusted it. The rear adjustment as you can see in the pictures is actually located on the lower side of the damper body. You can still adjust them easily, just stick your had through two rim spokes past the brake rotor and turn it. It may be a little easier for me since I have 19� wheels. The springs have spring insulators on them to keep them quiet. It's just an added touch since they are mounted against aluminum upper mounts. You won�t get any clicking or noises from the suspension. The complete kit retails for $2040.00. No mods are necessary as they are a direct replacement for stock.

My impressions: It definitely looks better. It is by no means "slammed" out of the box. Later in my new wheel post you can see the ride height (I will come back and post a link to this thread when I get it up). The ride/stiffness in the "out of the box" setting was not harsh in my opinion but it is DEFINITELY stiffer (with stock wheels and tires). But hey that�s what a performance suspension does; you can�t get better handling with out going stiffer. The back felt noticeably stiffer. It made a huge difference in reducing the under steer that is there from the factory. The cars back end would bite more and rotated around corners much better, almost like it had the Z�s shorter wheel base. The "out of box" setting is somewhere in the middle so keep in mind you can adjust it to your liking with 30 adjustments available. I personally don't mind sacrificing some ride quality for handling benefits, and performance wise this kit is up to par. I like to rip through the industrial park that my work is in and some twisty's by my house, not to mention my occasional delusions of being the drift king here and there LOL. Even on the stiffer settings what I love about the HKS dampers is that they don�t turn little bumps or road imperfections into a jarring feeling. If you hit some repetitive expansion gaps on the highway you will feel it but for the most part it works well. Anyway what I just said almost doesn�t matter at all because of the following.

What I did was drove around for the last few days on the full soft setting to give some feed back since the stiffer setting are harder to describe. It felt very stockish (LS= luxury sport) and rode nice. I hit a stretch of highway on the way home where I know the fast lane has bad undulating expansion gaps. The setting change made a huge difference, it was far from harsh and soaked up most of the bumps, much like stock. KEEP IN MIND unlike my impression of the out of the box setting I tested the soft setting on my new wheel/tire package which have a lower profile with much stiffer side walls which will make the ride fell stiffer. I think if you are concerned about it being really harsh you don�t have to worry, it�s very livable for every day set up this way. This suspension can be adjusted to feel like a �full race� set up and go super stiff so I think you can� t go wrong. I have even taken some turns in the soft set up and it still handles pretty damn good. I think there is even enough roll stiffness to where I don�t think I will need sway bars. If you are going to do 1 suspension modification I would do this. Sorry for the long post, here is the link to the pictures:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287796975



'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, brilliant silver, graphite leather, premium, aero and nav packages.

 

Here is the link i promised to see the ride height:
https://g35driver.com/forums/showfla...sed&sb=5&part=


'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, brilliant silver, graphite leather, premium, aero and nav packages.

 

Gabe,

Thanks for all the info on the HKS system. I have been interested in the Hipermax LS coilovers for awhile, but I didn't know what the LS+ was. Great review, great pics. Don't apologize for the long post, I read every word.

Do they make the LS+ for the sedan?

BTW, your G is sweeeeeeeeeeet.

...Skeleton Cru

 

Skeleton,
Thanks a lot. From what I understand drawing from a converstaion I had with a friend at HKS a while back, the LS was designed with concept and valving for the sedan, the Hipermax II for the Z, and the LS+ for the coupe. However, as far as I know all three suspensions will fit and work well on all three cars since they are the same basic chassis and all close in weight. If you are splitting hairs I'm sure that spring rates and valving might be more ideally suited for a specific model. I think the best thing to do if you need additional help in deciding call one of the sales/tech guys at HKS, they are pretty knowledgeable. If you are just going to see all street duty I'd probably get LS unless you want to dial in the stiffness, otherwise im sure they have picked a very streetable setting. If you think you might get wild and do some lapping, autocross or drag here and there I'd get the LS+. The II's would likely be same scenario as the LS+ but the whole range of stiffness would be moved up. Hope that helps, these are just my opinions, you have to learn about the product then decide what's cool for you.

'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, brilliant silver, graphite leather, premium, aero and nav packages.

 

Here is a tip for adjustments for anyone who gets these, I had to do it on my last set as well. The dampers are 30 way adjustable but when you turn clockwise you can get more than 30 clicks. Clicks past 30 don't do anything. Go full stiff (all the way clockwise until it stops so you know your at full stiff) then back it down to whatever you want. You might want to check them out of the box to be sure also. Counting from the top down is the best way tomake sure they are all on the setting you want.

'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, briliant silver, all options. Brembo upgrade all 4 corners, 19" Gunmetal LE3T's, HKS Hipermax LS+, HKS Legamax exhaust, Gialla grill.

 

Thanks for the review. I didn't really consider the HKS until readinbg your post. Thanks for making it detailed. I mioght buy them instaed of the Tein Flex.

03.5 Sedan/B. Silver/Prem/Winter/Aero/Tint/Rims
69 Chevelle Hard Top BB/4.11's/Posi

 

I don't plan on any track time, strictly street duty.

Thanks for the advice!

 

Skeleton,
I would say if you don't car about adjusting the stiffness and want a street friendly coilover with ride height adjustment only get the LS. It will still improve the handling and the look as it will increase some roll stiffness, improve transitional response ect and it's cheaper. If you really want to dial it in for some canyon carving or whatever go for the LS+, you can always run the softest setting on those also but I don't think it will be as cush as the LS. Tire choice if you change wheels will also affect ride. I think either way you are getting a high quality coil over system.


'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, briliant silver, all options. Brembo upgrade all 4 corners, 19" Gunmetal LE3T's, HKS Hipermax LS+, HKS Legamax exhaust, Gialla grill.

 

Yeah, I'm leaning towards the LS. Thanks Gabe.

 

I'm sure it will work well, I've had good experience with the Hipermax sets that I have had in the past.

'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, briliant silver, all options. Brembo upgrade all 4 corners, 19" Gunmetal LE3T's, HKS Hipermax LS+, HKS Legamax exhaust, Gialla grill.

 

I dunno I wouldn't run them, the LS system use's lower rear spring rates in G35 applications and considering the heavy bias in it's valving rates towards comfort, it should be considered by those seeking comfort. Anyone looking for a <font color=red>performance increase</font color=red> , you should make a different choice. And then you get into the matter that Tein offer's their CS coilover, which is also a comfort coilover.

Take note:
HKS LS G35 sedan
Front 448lbs rear 336lbs
Oem
Front 314lbs rear 340lbs
Front +43% rear -1%

Increase your front spring rate +44% and you are NOT looking at a improvement in the behavior of the car when pushed, let alone taking into account how the dampners are valved. Another point is that the 350Z HKS LS coilover's use better spring rates 448lbs/448lbs some Z owners running the LS have commented that they love the ride quality, but if your seeking performance, make a different choice.







"All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.�
Edmund Burke

G35 6mt

 

Good point. I should have included the rates in my post, ok so I missed something:
The spring rates are as follows. Front: 496.03 lbf/in. Rear: 440.924 lbf/in. I agree if you want a performance increase I would go LS+ like I did, or maybe even Max II's. Like I said the softest setting is very livable for the guys who are worried. If you just want adjustable lowering and a soft ride the LS plus offers valving that matches the rate so at least you don't have to worry about blowing shocks or premature wear while maintaining a cush ride. I wouldn't get them, but to each his own.


'03 G35 Coupe 6spd, briliant silver, all options. Brembo upgrade all 4 corners, 19" Gunmetal LE3T's, HKS Hipermax LS+, HKS Legamax exhaust, Gialla grill.