Alright, so here is the deal. My Spec is getting new rims soon, and I have 2 big issues that I am looking to settle. I have not gotten much help on B15 sites (more on that below), and I respect the opinion of people over here.

The issue is what to do about my suspension. I have 2 basic choices- conventional suspension (springs and struts) or some type of coilovers. First option is the conventional route. Like most Nissans, the B15 has lousy suspension travel, but the Spec has not yet bottomed out on me. I like the stock suspension, but really want is about an inch lower in the front and .5-.75” in the rear, mostly for mere aesthetics.

The problem is that not many companies (read: 2) make aftermarket struts for the B15. Koni makes their setup for the B15, but it is priced at around $400-500 and requires a donor strut, meaning I can never go back to stock to sell it. KYB makes a GR-2 strut that is REPORTED (per KYB’s site and a conversation with their technical services rep) to have 20% greater damping force than stock struts, which seems perfect for what I want to do. But there is a catch- though I cannot find a single person who has USED them with lowering springs, everyone over on the B15 sites swears that the moment they are installed they will explode, taking with them a large portion of Idaho. Of course, I am exaggerating somewhat, but in all seriousness, they swear that the GR-2s are a 100% stock replacement and that they will never withstand the increased spring rates of lowering springs. I have talked to KYB and given the spring rates of my chosen springs (Tein S-Tech), they say that they will not only withstand the springs, they were DESIGNED for it. They will also warranty the GR-2s for the life of the car as long as I use the S-Techs or something with a comparable drop. The B15 guys say that this is all marketing and that the GR-2s will just blow. Nobody has actually TIRED them, as far as I can tell, but they are SURE that they won’t work- just based on their personal opinions. The problem with just trying it is that all of my parts are new, so if I want to sell/return them and get my money out of them, now is the time.

The Spring-and-strut route will run me $250. The 2 coilover setups are about $700-800. I am considering the Tein Basic Coilovers and the Nismo Coilovers. The Nismo are more expensive but are swap-in ready (no assembly/disassembly required- just unbolt the top and bottom strut bolts and swap them in) and offer no adjustability as to height or damping force. They are reported to ride as good as (or better than) stock and to handle much better than stock, with a 1” drop in the front and a 0.6” drop in the rear. The Teins can be set to a similar height and are reported to me almost as comfortable as the Nismos, and are cheaper, but require that you re-use your stock strut mounts (or buy another set), and offer adjustability.

I plan to autoX maybe a few times a year, and I have great, twisty roads to drive almost daily. Cost is a bit of a factor, but I have sold some extra parts lately and have the money now to do the whole suspension now. After this, I may not have another opportunity for a while. Part of me thinks that $700+ for suspension just seems like a LOT of money, just to enjoy my commute a little more.

 

here you go:

http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread....ght=koni+steve

Go over to sr20forum.com. You need to talk to Steve Foltz (98sr20ve) He knows what he is doing and has built several autocross sentras. Here is the one that my friend bought and recently sold (cause he crashed it and didnt want to go through the trouble of fixing it):

http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread....ght=koni+steve

I bought a set of koni red inserts from steve abd he installed them and shortened them accordingly....perfect! He also can bend your rear beam to 0 toe for better handling.

The car that I posted a link to I have personally spent hours in and cant begin to describe how well it handels....Steve built it to take to VIR and raced on a regular basis, but was still bearable on the street. He had a set of his custom shortened 10" Ground Control coilover Koni struts all the way around. He can answer any question you have and set you up with it too

 

I never considered that there are SR20 B15s as well and that SR20forum might be of help...It never dawned on me to check there...

 

Pat, weren't you complaining in another thread about ride quality?

I personally would go with spring/strut combo (better ride, more travel, just as good performance for street - I don't care what anyone says.)

Though if the s-techs for the B15 are anything like the ones for the Maxima, avoid them like the plague...

 

Everything I've read about the Nismo setup makes it sound great...the only downside being the cost.

I've researched options for my buddy with an '05 Spec and have come to the conclusion that were it my car, I'd get the Nismo setup or Tein Basics.

 

I don't think I was...if I did, I must have been talking out my ****. Anyway, I am considering just keeping the price reasonable and doing springs and struts. The $400 difference could be spent better elsewhere.

I got an offer to buy NEW KSport coilovers for $675 shipped, but they are a little more harsh than are the Tein or Nismo option.

 

If you want a non-coil over package, check out ChrisCar's specials on Hyperco coils. They are specially made for the b13-b15. Pair them with koni inserts and its AWESOME! Its exactly what I had on my B13 because I didnt want to pay for a set of teins or custom coilovers, but still wanted something that could hang on the track. If you havent heard of this brand search around on the sr20forums and google....you will be pleased. and the price isnt to much more than eibachs.

 

You can get the Ksports with custom spring rates...

I'm inclined to go with the Nismo setup, though. It's never a bad thing to have performance parts for a car that were developed by the car's manufacturer...

 

I'd love to have Konis, but they run $450+, and by the time I buy those and a set of springs, I am up to almost the price of coilovers.

Tell me more about this ChrisCar guy- where can I find him, on sr20?

 

Ksport won't go much softer in the front than they already are, and they won't go any softer in the rear- at least not without a waiver of warranty.

Still, $675 is tempting...

 

Did you find a place with a good price for the Teins? $700+ shipping was the best I could find.

 

here you go:
http://www.sr20forum.com/search.php?searchid=1770025

I am not positive that he has ever done a b15, but i know he has done b14s and b13s.

 

I don't think you're going to find much better than that.

Still, I think the best balance of comfort/performance will be found in the Nismo setup.

Like previously mentioned, you can't go wrong with parts engineered (by the manufacturer, no less) specifically for your car.

 

I just got a PM from ChrisCar....He told me that Hyperco doesnt make anything for a b14.....sorry about that, I thought they did.