H&R vs. FK vs. Spax coilovers?

Onespeed24 · Jan 30, 2004

O.K. I'm ready to take the plunge on some coilovers. I'm down to these 3 setups. Anyone out there ridden in cars with these setups and can compare them head to head? I know not many have the Spax yet, but how about the FK and H&R. Is there any noticible difference in street ride quality? The one thing that keeps the Spax in the mix is they are adjustable. Any comments on that? Is there a $200 difference in the track quality between the H&R and FK? Slick, Bela, Gandalf? Any imput, since I know you've probably been on the track with both? Anyone else?
H&R = $986 + shipping
Track ability = ???
Street quality = ???

FK = $799 shipped
Track ability = ???
Street quality = ???

Spax = $859 + shipping
Track ability = ???
Street quality = ???

Obviously the best of both world's is hard to get, but I'd like to get as close to possible. Slightly better ride quality for slightly less track ability would be O.K. as long as they still work

.

Gandalf · Jan 30, 2004

Well ill tell ya what I know. The FK's seem to be a little firmer(damping) then the H&R which makes it a little bouncier then the H&Rs on the street. On that track its anyones guess but they both seem to be like great setups. The adjusters on the H&R's are easier to use(in the rear fronts are bassically the same). One problem with fk is that you can only get different front spring rates as they do not do make extra rear springs. FK great deal for the price. I Love my FK's and am not sure if I would be happier or not with the H&R's. Hope that helps

Kee

SlickShoes · Jan 30, 2004

I've been meaning to trade cars with Gandalf at the track for a while now. Maybe we can finally do this in at the Feb event. But I have driven his car with the FK's on it on the street, and I'd hardly say it was very much more noticeably bumpier on the street. To me, it was certainly streetable.

And from a performance standpoint Gandalf with his FK's is kicking some serious ass out there on the track. He's on street tires, while the rest of us are on race rubber and he's still within seconds. Sure a lot of this is the driver, but it would be hard to make up this much performance with a non-performing setup. So the FK's in my book are very track worthy.

The biggest drawback I see with the FK's, is the difficulty in running front camber plates. The FK's don't use the stock upper spring mounts, so you can't just slap on a Specialty Products camber plate, and get more camber. It might be possible with one of the soon to be released full upper mount camber plates, but I'm not positive on that.

And regarding the Spax, I haven't seen anyone running these yet, so all I know is what has been said on the jet. And so far, they seem to be pretty good, though maybe more on the streetable than trackable side of the house.

Onespeed24 · Jan 30, 2004

Well I guess that settles it, I will be getting the H&R's. I already have the camber plates so it would be a waste to not be able to use them. The adjustability of the Spax would be nice but I think I would drive myself crazy trying to set it just right. Like you say, the H&R is set and forget. Anyone else have any input before I put in the order, now's your chance.

AT1 · Jan 30, 2004

I'll be running the Spax coilovers when I get my tax refund. You can drive it after I get them adjusted.

thetable · Jan 30, 2004

I've ridden in garyk's car with the spax coilovers. Granted he is running custom springs, just the same it is suprisingly tolerable on the street.

BadIdea · Jan 30, 2004

The biggest drawback I see with the FK's, is the difficulty in running front camber plates. The FK's don't use the stock upper spring mounts, so you can't just slap on a Specialty Products camber plate, and get more camber. It might be possible with one of the soon to be released full upper mount camber plates, but I'm not positive on that.

I don't follow you here. Pretty sure I'm using the stock upper spring mount.

white03zx3 · Jan 30, 2004

Just installed Spax coilovers on my ZX3. It made a huge difference to my car. The ride is pretty stiff and it'll take some getting used to for me. I have the dampers set on 1 of 10 for the front and 4 of 28 for the rear and it's pretty tight on the street. I tried putting them in the middle, 5 and 14, but it turned my stock seats into trampolines! I'm hoping that when I change from 205/40's to 45's, it'll make a difference in that dept. I haven't ridden the others, so I can't compare. Just my $.02 on what I know.

garyk · Jan 30, 2004

after trying many combos on the race car, we settled on the spax coilovers. very happy with them, although the spring size makes it a little difficult to keep all the different rates we would like to. this is on a streetable racecar, used in emra sprint and enduro races, as well as some hpde,instruction and time trials. and joe, its comfy as long as you dont try to fit in the back. i remember dfl screaming on that short ride back to the track!

ZX3 Canuck · Jan 30, 2004

The biggest drawback I see with the FK's, is the difficulty in running front camber plates. The FK's don't use the stock upper spring mounts, so you can't just slap on a Specialty Products camber plate, and get more camber. It might be possible with one of the soon to be released full upper mount camber plates, but I'm not positive on that.

Huh? When I had the FK's, I ran the stock upper spring mounts...

thetable · Jan 30, 2004

i remember dfl screaming on that short ride back to the track!

I think that had something to do with the screws on the rear brace that rich happened to be sitting on.

Onespeed24 · Jan 31, 2004

So, what is the verdict on the FK's? Stock upper mount or no? From the sounds of it the Spax are pretty stiff, even on full soft, is this true. What is the build quality like on the Spax? We all know the H&R's and FK are very well crafted pieces, the same for the Spax?

AT1, when do you think you will get your Spax, I will come help on the install. Maybe that will help me decide which way to go. What tires will you be running? I need to get mine soon enough to run the March event, and before I blow the money I have.

Gandalf · Jan 31, 2004

All I remember was that when we were installing the coilovers we tried every way we could to get the camber plates on and they just wouldnt go. I gave up and other kept trying to find away for me but it just didnt pan out. If anyone found a way to do PLEASE let me know cuz I would LOVE more negative front camber.

belacyrf · Jan 31, 2004

Yea regardless of using the stock upper mount (which it does use, on top of it's own plate), you cannot fit Camber Plates on them.

SlickShoes · Jan 31, 2004

I don't follow you here. Pretty sure I'm using the stock upper spring mount.

Ah... ok, my mistake. I thought I had heard the upper strut mount was different, and that was why the specialty products camber plates wouldn't work.

white03zx3 · Jan 31, 2004

I don't know that the Spax are necessarily stiffer than others. All I know is that you usually pay for what you get and the Spax run about $895. I think you have good pics, but I can't help w/ which is better since I have only ridden one. If I had to do it agian I would still buy these. The overall ride for any application is awesome. I just need to get used to the "good" ride.

AT1 · Jan 31, 2004

So, what is the verdict on the FK's? Stock upper mount or no? From the sounds of it the Spax are pretty stiff, even on full soft, is this true. What is the build quality like on the Spax? We all know the H&R's and FK are very well crafted pieces, the same for the Spax?

AT1, when do you think you will get your Spax, I will come help on the install. Maybe that will help me decide which way to go. What tires will you be running? I need to get mine soon enough to run the March event, and before I blow the money I have.

Hopefully middle of February.

BadIdea · Feb 2, 2004

Yea regardless of using the stock upper mount (which it does use, on top of it's own plate), you cannot fit Camber Plates on them.

That puts a dent in my plans.

Hitokiri · Feb 2, 2004

I never seen or rode anything with Spax coilovers but I did read an article in Sport Compact Car (I think it was the Nov. '03 edition or the Oct'03 edition) in which they put some Spax adjustable coilovers on a Mini Cooper.

Here's the article from SCC magazine. The column about the coilovers is located at the bottom of the story.

Onespeed24 · Feb 4, 2004

Well just when I thought I had made a decision and was ready to order I find the Ford Racing Coilovers made by KW on the McNew's website. Anyone running these? Are they on the same level as the H&R's? Thanks again.

H&R vs. FK vs. Spax coilovers?

Onespeed24

Gandalf

SlickShoes

Onespeed24

AT1

thetable

BadIdea

white03zx3

garyk

ZX3 Canuck

thetable

Onespeed24

Gandalf

belacyrf

SlickShoes

white03zx3

AT1

BadIdea

Hitokiri

Onespeed24

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