Best Coil-Over suspension for $1500-$2000

WRXwannbe · 03-26-2001, 04:19 PM

I want a CO suspension that will be used 95% on street and 5% in off-road.

I don't care about noise or comfort really.

Adjustability and durability are a plus, Coiling over is a necessity.

Anyone want to take a stab?

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Tuning Factory Inc. · 03-26-2001, 04:46 PM

I'd say Tein RA's or Zeal B6. Both should be around $2K. RA is alluminum with pillow ball mounts, Zeal is chrome-moly with alluminum mounts (pillow ball mounts in front).

Thug · 03-26-2001, 04:47 PM

DMS Gold's, and that is all.

Midwayman · 03-26-2001, 05:04 PM

Rode on some DMS golds this weekend... AWESOME suspenion.

Basshead · 03-26-2001, 06:35 PM

Cusco's, best ride and zero body roll...Come to seattle, i'll make you a Cusco customer

gtguy · 03-26-2001, 06:53 PM

DMS Gold. The end. Double-progressive springs, 30-way adjustable (one click makes a difference) 40mm shafts, inverted design, reassuring build quality and strength, the ability to take speed bumps at 40 mph.

They're perfect for your needs, as they were mine. Mind you, I haven't tried all the coilovers out there, but I vastly prefer them to Tein HAs, and someone just got rid of LEDAs for some DMS.

It's too bad you can't fly before you buy, though.

Kevin

JulianH · 03-26-2001, 10:42 PM

If you post in the Bay Area forum, I'm sure that there are people who will let you ride in and possibly drive their cars who have the setups you are considering. From everything I have seen, I personally would only consider the DMS and Cusco setups.

JulianH

GDA · 03-26-2001, 11:01 PM

Whats the deal with these DMS anyways?

I hear so much about them yet know nothing of them.

Are they like a godsend or something, my impression was that they are better for off road use.

I was planning on going with TEIN HA's with pillows for the rough northern california roads/freeways, unless someone can convince me to get the DMS setup.

thanks

EJ20WRX

Dave_Clark · 03-26-2001, 11:50 PM

Yes DMS makes shocks for rallying and that is what they are best known for. They built their reputation by winning rallies all over the world with shocks that last a long time and don't fail. So think about it, you want that kind of engineering to go into your street suspension, right?

The DMS Gold is not a rally suspension. It is designed specifically for fast road use and occaisional competition. It offers a comfortable ride quality and impressive cornering. And, unlike a Tein suspension, if you go through a bumpy corner your wheels will stay in contact with the road! They are also fully rebuildable.

But don't take my word for it, talk to a DMS owner, or better yet arrange for a ride.

Dave Clark
DMS-USA (253)437-2061
[email protected] www.dmshocks.com

WRXwannbe · 03-27-2001, 12:02 AM

So the consensus says DMS Gold with some saying tiens. What about the LEDA system?

hmmm...

Looks like I'll be saving up for the DMS then.

Now I just need to find people who have them so I can test them out.

[This message has been edited by WRXwannbe (edited March 27, 2001).]

ruf · 03-27-2001, 12:14 AM

Dave - Could you e-mail or post a price list for what you guys have available? You website doesn't have the Golds on it. I'm mainly interested in a brief description of the construction of the Golds, and I'd also like to know how much those 60mm units cost just for giggles. Or if you could update the website, that would probably be the best but most time-consuming option. Thanks!

Subie Gal · 03-27-2001, 12:21 AM

dont quote me... (i know u will anyway...) but i think the 60mm are like 6k??? something like that... they are just ridiculous!!!

and i love em.. hehehee
i know 1 person who has them...
1... only one....

hehehe anyway...
the golds are a great option for the street car... and they are tough enough for the occasional off road jaunt...

i chose the rally set up 50mm... because i am off road so often.... and ... eventually this car will have a cage in it... i said ... EVENTUALLY... lol but for now... at least i got the rally suspension outta the way...

dave??? need to host some 40mm Gold pics somewhere... let me know and i'll see what i can put up on my site...

jamie www.subiegal.com

gtguy · 03-27-2001, 06:55 AM

WRXwannabe, one or two people have sold their LEDAs for DMS setups, I think one a Gold, and Kelley Nelson went for a 50mm Giant set.

I think that the double progressive springs work the mojo. I had Tein HAs with pillows, and here's the best way that I can describe the difference between the two.

The turnoff to my office is a 90-degree, second gear corner with abysmal road conditions. You get expansion cracks, bad pothole patches, the works.

With the Tein HAs, at speed through that corner, the car would quite literally leave the ground. With the DMS Golds, it just tracks. I can even grab some more throttle if I want. It isn't as ultimately flat as it was with the Teins, but quite close.

EJ20, if you have rough roads in NoCal, take it from a guy who had rough roads in the Chicago area with his Teins w/pillows. Don't. Unless you have a very tolerant other half, and yourself are tolerant.

The car will be flat, but the ride quality will be poor, and the pillow balls will be noisy. I don't mean to make it sound like Teins are bad, because they aren't. I might still have mine if my other half hadn't said "But whatever you want, just get those things outta here."

But now that I know the difference, the Golds are worth the very minor price uptick. And not that anyone cares, but the Golds are lighter than the Teins, too.

Also know that with Teins, the high spring rates means that much of the strut's adjustability isn't all that usable. Lower settings don't work all that well. I was at something like 11f/13r of 20 possible clicks.

The lower spring rate from DMS means that more the of adjustability is available. Just for yuks, I dialed up a ride that was as soft as a Legacy L for a co-worker (8f/8r), but it handled light years better. Admittedly, the 17" P1s and Dunlop 9000s helped.

Everyone will say that their particular coilover preference is the best. Basshead's a Cusco fan, and Subie Gal dug the ride when she rode in them. They don't have the vast range of adjustability of the Golds, and AFAIK, they aren't rebuildable. Teins are nice too.

But you did ask about the best

Kevin

TR · 03-27-2001, 09:28 AM

how often do you need to rebuild Coil-Over's? when you do, how involved is it? can just any mechanic do it?

over_rev · 03-27-2001, 09:30 AM

so pillow balls are bad for street use? (in terms of ride comfort.)

Scottie · 03-27-2001, 09:40 AM

Dave mentioned that some '02 WRX owners have already purchased DMS Golds. If anyone has them installed on a WRX already, I would greatly appreciate to hear what you have to say. Especially if they have been installed on a WRX wagon.

Dave,
It would be really nice if you had a DMS-USA website. You list all the info that is asked for over and over again.

Jamie,
So, you had no problem swapping your DMS 50mm Gaint struts over from the Legacy to your RS? Did you have to replace any of the struts? From the pictures of your crash, I would have thought at least one of the front struts would have been damaged.

adamsrs · 03-27-2001, 09:56 AM

I paid $2000 for my G|A|B Rev coilovers and they are ok.
adamsrs www.unnatural.org

gtguy · 03-27-2001, 10:15 AM

Hey Scottie, go over to the WRX forum. There are a couple of guys there who have put Golds on their new Rexes. My friend has his Golds, but not the car yet.

over_rev, pillow balls are fine in terms of comfort, but they'll be noisy on bumpy roads. I think that it was a combo of the high spring rates and pillow ball noise that became the pea under the mattress to my princess.

TR, rebuild intervals for a street-driven coilover are usually a long-ass time, if you'll pardon the untechnical lingo. There isn't even a rebuild interval specified for the Golds, according to Dave Clark, but he guessed something like 4-5 years.

I won't speculate as to what's involved in a rebuild process, however.

Kevin

over_rev · 03-27-2001, 10:49 AM

what's the benefit of pillow ball?

ColinL · 03-27-2001, 11:11 AM

twofold--

dynamic camber control... under high cornering loads, the stock soft rubber mounts will allow camber changes.

suspension oscillation... with higher rate springs, the mount itself moves instead than the suspension, leading to undesirable bounce / chop.

RS2001 · 03-27-2001, 11:36 AM

So how much are the Golds? I thought they were around $3000. I'm saving for these my self, but haven't really got a solid price on them.

peepshow · 03-27-2001, 01:17 PM

IIRC, the DMS Gold setup is ~$1800 plus shipping from Australia. If that is incorrect, I am certain that someone will enlighten me!

DLC · 03-27-2001, 03:25 PM

I've come across a nearly impossible deal on some DMS Golds, so hopefully i'll be the first one i know of on Golds and a BF Legacy.

Needless to say, i can't wait, even though i must.

Basshead · 03-27-2001, 05:24 PM

i feel sorry for those that have pillowballs that make noise...mine don't..CUSCO!

GDA · 03-27-2001, 07:13 PM

Hmmm. Well I think that that the DMS offers more adjustiblity than the CUSCO's of comparable price.

Now as far as the teins are concerned. The HA's with pillows are $1585 shipped.

I am not worried about the noisy pillows, but about that traction deal on bumpy corners, and how the DMS will stick as opposed to the Tein not sticking to the road.

Any other information that will convince me to spend a extra $300 for the DMS Gold?

thanks guys, i might change my mind and want to get DMS golds, as im saving up for anything right now.

EJ20WRX

03-26-2001, 04:19 PM	#1
WRXwannbe Scooby Specialist Member#: 1954 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Long Beach, CA, USA Vehicle: 1997 Impreza L/WRS WRB	Best Coil-Over suspension for $1500-$2000 I want a CO suspension that will be used 95% on street and 5% in off-road. I don't care about noise or comfort really. Adjustability and durability are a plus, Coiling over is a necessity. Anyone want to take a stab? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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03-26-2001, 04:46 PM	#2
Tuning Factory Inc. Vendor Member#: 3600 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA	I'd say Tein RA's or Zeal B6. Both should be around $2K. RA is alluminum with pillow ball mounts, Zeal is chrome-moly with alluminum mounts (pillow ball mounts in front).

03-26-2001, 04:47 PM	#3
Thug Precious ❄ Member#: 603 Join Date: Dec 1999 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Norfeast	DMS Gold's, and that is all.

03-26-2001, 05:04 PM	#4
Midwayman Scooby Specialist Member#: 1997 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Des Plaines, IL Vehicle: 2006 Acura TL 6spd STMGM6 alumni	Rode on some DMS golds this weekend... AWESOME suspenion.

03-26-2001, 06:35 PM	#5
Basshead Scooby Specialist Member#: 112 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Snohomish, WA Vehicle: 2011 Jetta TDI Black	Cusco's, best ride and zero body roll...Come to seattle, i'll make you a Cusco customer

03-26-2001, 06:53 PM	#6
gtguy Scooby Guru Member#: 2184 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT wagon Platinum Silver Metallic	DMS Gold. The end. Double-progressive springs, 30-way adjustable (one click makes a difference) 40mm shafts, inverted design, reassuring build quality and strength, the ability to take speed bumps at 40 mph. They're perfect for your needs, as they were mine. Mind you, I haven't tried all the coilovers out there, but I vastly prefer them to Tein HAs, and someone just got rid of LEDAs for some DMS. It's too bad you can't fly before you buy, though. Kevin

03-26-2001, 10:42 PM	#7
JulianH Scooby Newbie Member#: 2035 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spokane, WA	If you post in the Bay Area forum, I'm sure that there are people who will let you ride in and possibly drive their cars who have the setups you are considering. From everything I have seen, I personally would only consider the DMS and Cusco setups. JulianH

03-26-2001, 11:01 PM	#8
GDA Scooby Specialist Member#: 4324 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: (925) CA Vehicle: 02 GDA Platinum	Whats the deal with these DMS anyways? I hear so much about them yet know nothing of them. Are they like a godsend or something, my impression was that they are better for off road use. I was planning on going with TEIN HA's with pillows for the rough northern california roads/freeways, unless someone can convince me to get the DMS setup. thanks EJ20WRX

03-26-2001, 11:50 PM	#9
Dave_Clark Scooby Specialist Member#: 1015 Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Seattle, WA, USA	Yes DMS makes shocks for rallying and that is what they are best known for. They built their reputation by winning rallies all over the world with shocks that last a long time and don't fail. So think about it, you want that kind of engineering to go into your street suspension, right? The DMS Gold is not a rally suspension. It is designed specifically for fast road use and occaisional competition. It offers a comfortable ride quality and impressive cornering. And, unlike a Tein suspension, if you go through a bumpy corner your wheels will stay in contact with the road! They are also fully rebuildable. But don't take my word for it, talk to a DMS owner, or better yet arrange for a ride. Dave Clark DMS-USA (253)437-2061 [email protected] www.dmshocks.com

03-27-2001, 12:02 AM	#10
WRXwannbe Scooby Specialist Member#: 1954 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Long Beach, CA, USA Vehicle: 1997 Impreza L/WRS WRB	So the consensus says DMS Gold with some saying tiens. What about the LEDA system? hmmm... Looks like I'll be saving up for the DMS then. Now I just need to find people who have them so I can test them out. [This message has been edited by WRXwannbe (edited March 27, 2001).]

03-27-2001, 12:14 AM	#11
ruf Scooby Newbie Member#: 3558 Join Date: Jan 2001	Dave - Could you e-mail or post a price list for what you guys have available? You website doesn't have the Golds on it. I'm mainly interested in a brief description of the construction of the Golds, and I'd also like to know how much those 60mm units cost just for giggles. Or if you could update the website, that would probably be the best but most time-consuming option. Thanks!

03-27-2001, 12:21 AM	#12
Subie Gal GC84Ever Super Moderator Member#: 301 Join Date: Sep 1999 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: WA Vehicle: 1970 FF-1 & '70 Van 02 WRX/01 RS	dont quote me... (i know u will anyway...) but i think the 60mm are like 6k??? something like that... they are just ridiculous!!! and i love em.. hehehee i know 1 person who has them... 1... only one.... hehehe anyway... the golds are a great option for the street car... and they are tough enough for the occasional off road jaunt... i chose the rally set up 50mm... because i am off road so often.... and ... eventually this car will have a cage in it... i said ... EVENTUALLY... lol but for now... at least i got the rally suspension outta the way... dave??? need to host some 40mm Gold pics somewhere... let me know and i'll see what i can put up on my site... jamie www.subiegal.com

03-27-2001, 06:55 AM	#13
gtguy Scooby Guru Member#: 2184 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT wagon Platinum Silver Metallic	WRXwannabe, one or two people have sold their LEDAs for DMS setups, I think one a Gold, and Kelley Nelson went for a 50mm Giant set. I think that the double progressive springs work the mojo. I had Tein HAs with pillows, and here's the best way that I can describe the difference between the two. The turnoff to my office is a 90-degree, second gear corner with abysmal road conditions. You get expansion cracks, bad pothole patches, the works. With the Tein HAs, at speed through that corner, the car would quite literally leave the ground. With the DMS Golds, it just tracks. I can even grab some more throttle if I want. It isn't as ultimately flat as it was with the Teins, but quite close. EJ20, if you have rough roads in NoCal, take it from a guy who had rough roads in the Chicago area with his Teins w/pillows. Don't. Unless you have a very tolerant other half, and yourself are tolerant. The car will be flat, but the ride quality will be poor, and the pillow balls will be noisy. I don't mean to make it sound like Teins are bad, because they aren't. I might still have mine if my other half hadn't said "But whatever you want, just get those things outta here." But now that I know the difference, the Golds are worth the very minor price uptick. And not that anyone cares, but the Golds are lighter than the Teins, too. Also know that with Teins, the high spring rates means that much of the strut's adjustability isn't all that usable. Lower settings don't work all that well. I was at something like 11f/13r of 20 possible clicks. The lower spring rate from DMS means that more the of adjustability is available. Just for yuks, I dialed up a ride that was as soft as a Legacy L for a co-worker (8f/8r), but it handled light years better. Admittedly, the 17" P1s and Dunlop 9000s helped. Everyone will say that their particular coilover preference is the best. Basshead's a Cusco fan, and Subie Gal dug the ride when she rode in them. They don't have the vast range of adjustability of the Golds, and AFAIK, they aren't rebuildable. Teins are nice too. But you did ask about the best Kevin

03-27-2001, 09:28 AM	#14
TR Scooby Newbie Member#: 28 Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: now w/100% less turbo Vehicle: 1997 M3 Sedan Blue	how often do you need to rebuild Coil-Over's? when you do, how involved is it? can just any mechanic do it?

03-27-2001, 09:30 AM	#15
over_rev Scooby Newbie Member#: 1957 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: LA, CA USA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Blue	so pillow balls are bad for street use? (in terms of ride comfort.)

03-27-2001, 09:40 AM	#16
Scottie Scooby Specialist Member#: 2080 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: CT Vehicle: 06 Impreza Wagon Red	Dave mentioned that some '02 WRX owners have already purchased DMS Golds. If anyone has them installed on a WRX already, I would greatly appreciate to hear what you have to say. Especially if they have been installed on a WRX wagon. Dave, It would be really nice if you had a DMS-USA website. You list all the info that is asked for over and over again. Jamie, So, you had no problem swapping your DMS 50mm Gaint struts over from the Legacy to your RS? Did you have to replace any of the struts? From the pictures of your crash, I would have thought at least one of the front struts would have been damaged.

03-27-2001, 09:56 AM	#17
adamsrs Scooby Specialist Member#: 3768 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Seattle, WA	I paid $2000 for my G\|A\|B Rev coilovers and they are ok. adamsrs www.unnatural.org

03-27-2001, 10:15 AM	#18
gtguy Scooby Guru Member#: 2184 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT wagon Platinum Silver Metallic	Hey Scottie, go over to the WRX forum. There are a couple of guys there who have put Golds on their new Rexes. My friend has his Golds, but not the car yet. over_rev, pillow balls are fine in terms of comfort, but they'll be noisy on bumpy roads. I think that it was a combo of the high spring rates and pillow ball noise that became the pea under the mattress to my princess. TR, rebuild intervals for a street-driven coilover are usually a long-ass time, if you'll pardon the untechnical lingo. There isn't even a rebuild interval specified for the Golds, according to Dave Clark, but he guessed something like 4-5 years. I won't speculate as to what's involved in a rebuild process, however. Kevin

03-27-2001, 10:49 AM	#19
over_rev Scooby Newbie Member#: 1957 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: LA, CA USA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Blue	what's the benefit of pillow ball?

03-27-2001, 11:11 AM	#20
ColinL Scooby Guru Member#: 114 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Wichita, KS and Whoring, OT Vehicle: '03 Evo, Rice White '01 Erion CBR 929	twofold-- dynamic camber control... under high cornering loads, the stock soft rubber mounts will allow camber changes. suspension oscillation... with higher rate springs, the mount itself moves instead than the suspension, leading to undesirable bounce / chop.

03-27-2001, 11:36 AM	#21
RS2001 Scooby Newbie Member#: 3210 Join Date: Dec 2000 Vehicle: 05 WRX Wagon	So how much are the Golds? I thought they were around $3000. I'm saving for these my self, but haven't really got a solid price on them.

03-27-2001, 01:17 PM	#22
peepshow Scooby Specialist Member#: 1777 Join Date: Jun 2000 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Charlotte, NC USofA Vehicle: 2005 LGT #92 FZippy	IIRC, the DMS Gold setup is ~$1800 plus shipping from Australia. If that is incorrect, I am certain that someone will enlighten me!

03-27-2001, 03:25 PM	#23
DLC Scooby Specialist Member#: 1964 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: 84XXX Vehicle: 2012 Fit Sport 5MT Orange Burst	I've come across a nearly impossible deal on some DMS Golds, so hopefully i'll be the first one i know of on Golds and a BF Legacy. Needless to say, i can't wait, even though i must.

03-27-2001, 05:24 PM	#24
Basshead Scooby Specialist Member#: 112 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Snohomish, WA Vehicle: 2011 Jetta TDI Black	i feel sorry for those that have pillowballs that make noise...mine don't..CUSCO!

03-27-2001, 07:13 PM	#25
GDA Scooby Specialist Member#: 4324 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: (925) CA Vehicle: 02 GDA Platinum	Hmmm. Well I think that that the DMS offers more adjustiblity than the CUSCO's of comparable price. Now as far as the teins are concerned. The HA's with pillows are $1585 shipped. I am not worried about the noisy pillows, but about that traction deal on bumpy corners, and how the DMS will stick as opposed to the Tein not sticking to the road. Any other information that will convince me to spend a extra $300 for the DMS Gold? thanks guys, i might change my mind and want to get DMS golds, as im saving up for anything right now. EJ20WRX