Upgrading wheels and suspension after 70K miles...

[FXSTC-99]

Hey guys, long time since my last post… :-) I see a lot of new rides out there… things looking good…

Well, here my dilemma. I bought 4 wheels 18x8.5 (+45 offset) wrapped on 235 / 45… they should arrive next week. I would like to drop the car during the wheel installation. I have been reading old post for the last two weeks to catch up with new information on suspension but I see the market does not care much about us 3rd gen. Alt. It seems like options are limited to:

Active Tuning setup (koni – kyb) – (perhaps the original setup since Altimat)..,
KYB GR2 with eibach springs
Tein Basic coilovers..
Other setups..

Questions:

- I only see KYB GR2 listed at their KYB website for the 2.5 and not for the 3.5 alti… well, same car body but different weight... does it matter? Is it the same shocks for all 3rd gen Altis?

- Tein coilovers look like are very well made. Based on my reading, it seems like those who own them split to a 50 / 30 / 20 % based on love it / like it / hate it… I understand what lowering accomplish and the effects on your ride quality… but are these Tein coilovers so hard on the ride quality even if you adjust the height of the shocks(coils) to match the height of the AT / Prokit setup or the height of Prokit with GR2s? I mean, from what I gather seems like ProKit with GR2 shocks gives the “best” ride of all the other combinations for a daily driver, but I can only assume the unit inside the Tein coilover will outlive the KYB GR2 shock and it’s perhaps the reason for considering the Tein…

- For those who own the Tein Basic coilover setup… Based on my reading, some people repented from purchasing the Tein coilovers, but I also see that most people like to drop their cars as low as possible with the coilovers… How is the ride quality when setup at a 1.3” drop… -- again, comparing to the height of the Prokit / kyb setup…

- For those with KYB and Eibach ProKit… seems like the preferred setup.. I also read KYB shocks are a bit silimar to OEM shocks… are these shocks taken well the beating?


- Active Tuning setup owners… Any complains with the setup? I know some of you have the AT setup for a while now… Have you had to change shocks yet? Have you riden on a GR2/Prokit car to compare rides? Any comments?

I guess my top choices are either the Active Tuning/Prokit or Tein coilovers… but just based on the assumption that such setup will outlive the K-GR2 / Prokit setup. If that’s not the case and the GR2s / Prokit setup last a long time, why bother expending the extra money?

If you could chime some light to this lengthy story it would be appreciated as I hope to have my new wheels and suspension ready very soon, hopefully by next week. Thx.

Fx..

[CRTS 3.5]

Seems like this one got passed over. I can't comment on the aftermarket setups listed but would like to upgrade / lower my suspension also. So hopefully we'll get some thoughts / reply's.

[SE-Rious]

AT set up with Sportlines here. The adjustable dampening feature of the koni/kyb combo is superb. Easy access too, esp if you have wide spoke wheels (for the rears).

To finish off your suspension, I highly recommend getting the Nismo sway bars and and TAZ Endlinks. Your Alty will corner as if it's on rails. High speed manuvering will be rock steady and the call of the open road will entice you, not give you a heart attack. You will truly be able to "enjoy the ride."

[CRTS 3.5]

Originally Posted by SE-Rious

AT set up with Sportlines here. The adjustable dampening feature of the koni/kyb combo is superb. Easy access too, esp if you have wide spoke wheels (for the rears).

To finish off your suspension, I highly recommend getting the Nismo sway bars and and TAZ Endlinks. Your Alty will corner as if it's on rails. High speed manuvering will be rock steady and the call of the open road will entice you, not give you a heart attack. You will truly be able to "enjoy the ride."

sounds good, I would love to be able to adj damping once I find the right height (without spending an arm and a leg - and riding like a race car). How's the ride for a daily driver? tell me about the koni/kyb combo?

[SE-Rious]

Originally Posted by CRTS 3.5

How's the ride for a daily driver? tell me about the koni/kyb combo?

Everybody has different tolerences when it comes to that. I prefer a more performance enhanced ride thus my current set-up. Others might find it too stiff or uncomfortable. That's the beauty of adjustable dampening. There's a setting for everyone...

[onetimer]

I have my Activetuning setup on the softer side. Last year (first year on the AT setup) my car seemed to ride like a truck and I had horrible clicking noises going over small bumps. Then I put on the winters on my stock wheels and the clicking went about 95% away. Now when I put my nismo wheels back on the car, it doesn't click much and the ride doesn't seem as bad. Last year I would have given the setup a 6 but this year it is up to a 9. I just swerve to avoid huge bumps.

[FXSTC-99]

Originally Posted by SE-Rious

AT set up with Sportlines here. The adjustable dampening feature of the koni/kyb combo is superb. Easy access too, esp if you have wide spoke wheels (for the rears).

To finish off your suspension, I highly recommend getting the Nismo sway bars and and TAZ Endlinks. Your Alty will corner as if it's on rails. High speed manuvering will be rock steady and the call of the open road will entice you, not give you a heart attack. You will truly be able to "enjoy the ride."

Great. The endlinks is a good idea. The dampening feature is also available in the TEIN SS option but is kind of $ high $....

I'll probably be sending my struts to AT for setup. What else should I consider upgrading / replacing (suspension wise) while the struts are out of my car? mounts? ??