Which route should I go? need opinions!

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:31 am

Okay, I've decided to definitely go with coilovers. Now, everyone says BC, Megan's and KW's/Mopars are the best bang for the buck - so I've been doing some research.

The best Megan deal is 1xRacing: $800 + $18 S/H for brand new Megan Street
However, and this is where I'm stuck...there is a guy down in FLA selling his used Megan's (18k highway miles, he claims) because he is selling his blue SRT-4 - he wanted $700, I talked him down to $630 shipped. Should I take it? That does sound like a pretty decent deal...and only about $200 more than what my Toki Blue / H&R Springs cost me...

Another however though is:
The best BC deal is eBay: $1,000 + Free S/H

Are BC's really that much better than Megan's? Why, what makes them better? They both have a 30-32 dampening system, camber adjusts on Front, Mx sales the rear camber adjust plates that Ryan said fit his rear Megans, both seem to only come with a 1 year warranty. At least if your BC gets damaged, you can order a new one for $95 - that is a pretty good PRO.

Another option is the KW's which run about $1300 (kind of steep) but they are corrosion resistant and come with a lifetime warranty...so that's pretty tempting never having to worry...

ST (Street Tech) Coilovers run about $1100 and are actually made by KW (in Germany). They offer a 5 year limited warranty and are also corrosion resistant. However, after looking at them closely, it doesn't look like they are designed with the same style as the others...it appears they only have 1 spring perch ring. All of the others have two spring perch rings up top and one locking ring on the bottom which you use to adjust. So...if you have to adjust your height by the top ring, wouldn't that affect spring pre-load? I found a place in San Francisco that will ship a set of ST's to my door for $875. That's a really good deal considering everyone else is $1,100++

I live in the North, and will be running these coilovers year-round - what is the true likelihood / personal experiences y'all have had with either Megans or BC rusting / seizing up? I read about the Boeshield T9...

Opinions, opinions, opinions, please!

TIA

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:11 pm

i like my BCs and i'm in the midwest. also BC is just a rebrand megan, just different colors.

i didn't buy KW because i don't think y9ou can adjust the height without affecting the spring rate.

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:19 pm

I did some more research and read all 9 pages about the ST Coilovers over on the SRT Forums - the members who have them, love them. The 5 year warranty would definitely make me feel more at ease knowing they would either be repaired or replaced.

As far as adjusting height in relation to spring load...it is not affected. The ST's have a "helper spring" that pre-loads the main spring. So basically your main spring stays put and the helper spring either compresses or expands to lower/raise the car. I was concerned about that as well. A guy I contacted regarding it stated "no, the springs are valved specifically for those shocks and the rates are matched for street use. dampening is also preset. the design is identical to KW Variance 1. Tried and true product."

I found the ST's on 1xRacing for $758.26 shipped! That is a damn good price for being a KW "little brother" product! The only thing that I don't like about ST/KW's is the fact that you must transfer your top mounts

That isn't an issue for me, as I bought all brand new mounts when I installed my Toki's - but that means that I'll have to reinstall my old OEM mounts with the Toki's when I go to sale them. I was hoping to be able to include the new top mounts to get more for them. Oh well...the buyer could always use their own mounts as well...

As of right now though - I am really leaning towards these ST's. The AGP's looked nice as well, but I am not going to deal with no warranty being offered. Struts can have problems and blow - some times they last a long time, others may blow in a few thousand miles. I'd rather be under warranty.

trojmn · Post by **trojmn** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:32 pm

Are the ST's also serviced by KW usa over in Cali? I would assume they are, but something to consider if you want to cash in on your warranty. Good guys IMO, only complaint is that if they dont have something, its coming from Germany. That and thier product manual is mostly in German. Still good service. Non-warranty rebuilds iirc I was quoted $80 if just a reseal, max 150~ish if needs a new rod and that included return shipping.

Tro

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:42 pm

trojmn wrote:Are the ST's also serviced by KW usa over in Cali? I would assume they are, but something to consider if you want to cash in on your warranty. Good guys IMO, only complaint is that if they dont have something, its coming from Germany. That and thier product manual is mostly in German. Still good service. Non-warranty rebuilds iirc I was quoted $80 if just a reseal, max 150~ish if needs a new rod and that included return shipping.

Tro

Great info, Tro! Thank you

I take it you are running KWs? How do you like them? Ride quality, response, handling, adjustability, etc.

trojmn · Post by **trojmn** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:00 pm

yeah not apples to apples here....And have no idea how that compares to the ST /v1. Are the ST spring seats are also metal reinforced composite?

I got a screaming deal on an incomplete set of 3r/ClubSports and an oddball single adj rear. Hence I was ready to have them rebuilt and even ordered 2 upper springseats that didnt use. I used GroundControl camberplates in the front, just ask for the 60mm seat and give your thread measurements. I had the rear GC 2.5" seat turned to 60mm and then used a fabricated/reinforced rear strut mount. 60mm H&R 60N/50N mm (336/228lbin) springs. Even with more than 2x the spring rate, the ride is heads and shoulders better than Eibach Pro on SRT struts . IMO I can tell they are very good dampers but Im not really in the position to tell you they are better than someone elses. But IMO damping is better over the very rough road (think original rt66 brick) than Koni Sport inserts GC sleeves irc the spring rate, which felt bouncy/harsh on the same streatch. It is a firm ride but not harsh at all and IL interstate sucks bad with nasty bridge transitions.

Only had 1 autoX (rough concrete) so far but Im scheduled for a 2 day evolution school at the end of the month. Still working on the new setup, but initial impressions are very good.

Tro

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:14 pm

The spring seats are made from composite Polyamide for corrosion resistance - just like the KWs are. The BC/Megan/D2/etc. are steel based and do/will rust. Another reason why I'm leaning towards the ST C/O

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:26 pm

yea im not really impressed with those i still like the BC coilovers

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:14 pm

I keep hearing people refer to them as "just another China/Taiwan product" so I'm really leaning away from the BC/Megan's. Nothing is going to happen to them during the 1 year warranty...it'll happen once it's up.

I know myself pretty well, and if I'm dropping a grand on coils - I want to be "protected" so to speak. Not only in the aspects of a warranty...but also corrosion/rust protection as I live in PA where it can snow quite a bit sometimes w/ freezing temps where you can't always wash off the coils. Hearing of people having to treat the BC/Megan's with spray in hopes of them not seizing up just makes me nervous haha I'm sure the BC's are very nice coils, however - if only I already lived in the south

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:10 pm

So u get the st's? I'm looking to get coilovers within the next couple months and was wondering which u chose

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:42 pm

My Megans are two years old now and none are rusted or seized... The car is also garage kept and they have less than 5000 miles on them probably.

03SXTGUY · Post by **03SXTGUY** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:13 am

Sorry NyNeon, I held off on the coilovers and did a brand new retro with FX-R 3.0 projectors haha I haven't checked back on this thread in a while. When I do save up the money for coilovers, I most likely will go with the ST's unless I find an unbeatable deal on a used set of megan's or BC's :looks at Ryan and smirks: