Well, I think the time has come to upgrade the suspension in the evo. So, I can do one of two things: replace the oe bilstein's (which will cost around $1,100 for all 4 shocks) or I can get coilovers. The choice is obvious = get coilovers. Does anyone know of any brand they'd recommend more so than another, and any good places to buy where we can get discounts? (mike maybe you know this) I'm looking at bilstein, greddy, jic, ksport, and tein. Any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate!

I've heard good things about these KW's http://www.forgedperformance.com/store/product.php?productid=16561&cat=385&page=1

i just put ksports on my car and i love them!! my car handles pretty damn good now

for evo's i have heard alot of good things about JIC's so thats where my recomendation goes i love my tien's but there pretty stiff and ksport are deffinatly stiff

hmm now I'm leaning toward ksport or jic. lol. ksports are cheaper from what I've seen. Thanks for advice guys. shane ill have to ride in the balt and see how the ksports are since theyre all the rave!

shane has the base kontrol pros so the higher end ones may be a little softer but i hear its a pretty stiff ride but the only time i rode in the cobalt they were on the hardest setting so there probably better then i think they are either way there sick coilovers and handle amazing. i hear the jic's are perfect mix between comfort and track ability but i have not personally ridden in an evo with them so im not sure

I know JIC coilovers for the Mini are the best you can buy. They have a design that 1) inverts the monotube and puts the majority of the weight low and 2) the hieght adjustment is independent of the spring perch so when you raise or lower you do not affect the travel of the spring or strut. A VERY nice design hence why they are the best. I'm not sure if these designs were carried over to the set for the EVO though.

What to look for in a coilover;

Comfortable spring rates or the best would be custom rates (be sure to get linear rates and avoid progressive rates...progressive rate springs tend to loose thier softer rates with time but are more D/D friendly with comfort, the down side is they are VERY unpredictable when at the driving limits of the car in turns! (one day ask me how I know this)

Inverted monotube design, helps with weight distribution and cooling capacity.

Large shaft this is well a no brainer bigger is better.

Rebuildable, get ones that can be re valved or that can be ordered with custom valving.

height adjustment, make sure when you adjust height that the design does not interfere with the spring compression or strut travel.


Springs IMHO are the most important part of the suspension. Coilovers are tricky to set up properly (meaning getting the desired feel you want)
and out of the box may need more help to get right than what adjustments they offer allow. Do not hesitate to change the springs or valving of coilovers if what they offer isn't doing the job.

DON'T SELL YOUR STOCK PARTS!!!! keep them incase you need work done on your C/O's.

If you get the right coilovers you will never need to replace them EVER!! so choose wisely and don't compromise, I'm not and that's why I don't have mine yet they cost $2,500.00 a set for the Mini!

i have k-sport gt pro's and i love them but you have to worry about the crap they put on the roads when it snows. thats why i'm trying to sell them and get a adj strut/spring set up.

wow thanks for all that info clinton! that helped out a lot in knowing what to look for. i've been hearing good things about the jic's also in evolutionm.net, socalevo.net, and other forums. the k-sports sound good too though, so its a tough call. both coilovers sound amazing

M stands 4 Messerschmitt wrote:

QUOTE:
i have k-sport gt pro's and i love them but you have to worry about the crap they put on the roads when it snows. thats why i'm trying to sell them and get a adj strut/spring set up.

^^^^^ This is sooooooooo true I totaly forgot to mention that thanks.

Jacy is right the snow and cinder contamination makes adjusting the height of them really hard.

UNDERSTAND THIS Coilovers are not designed for inclimate weather!!! However some manufacturers use special coatings and teflon coated threads to deal with this but it is only short term and soon you will be in the same boat as everyone else except that you can't rebuild teflon coated threads!

Just to add, I as well have an adjustable strut/spring set up and the Mini is very competitive with it, so really consider it.

get the jic's man, they are nice