it's about that time where im in the market for re-speed coilovers....i've heard about the kentetsu special and i want to know more...my main goal for my car is mostly street but i also want to get into autoX and track. what spring rates should i go with and should i go with welded or non welded? i'm planning to tokico illuminas, re-speed race coilover kit front and back, re-speed camber plate, and re-speed sway bay. let me know what you think.

 

When you contact Billy about you're requirements he will advise you personally, just drop him a mail through his website-really helpful bloke.

 

The Kentetsu special is the race version (weld on perches) coilovers with 275lb/in fronts springs, and 150's in the rear. I am running it as well and it's great on the street with the Illumina's set on 1. With them bumped up to 4 or 5 they are very stiff and good for smooth course surfaces. For and road track action you'll want stiffer springs, but they are easily swapped in both the front and rear.

 

I have the street coilover set up, and I'm very happy with it. The springs are 200 up front and I either 150 or 175 in the rear. The car is stiff and has virtually no body roll, but isn't absolutely jarring on small bumps. Additionally, do not skip out on the re-speed front sway bar, for a while I drove with just the coilovers and stock front sway bar installed, but when I upgraded to the re-speed bar and removed the rear bar, it was amazing what a difference it made when cornering. Turn-in was especially improved, and the sway bar provides a lot of stability, which was confidence-inspiring in the twisties.

 

Sounds like these guys have got you pretty well covered.

Most of my info is in my signature line, and you can check out some videos if you want with the link there. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. Also, you can PM Billy here if you want (usually a quick response), his username is Bwaits_

If you have any intention at all of autocrossing, then I would advise you to go with the race version of the coilovers. The extra work is minimal, and I paid a shop 20 bucks to do the welding for me (I just positioned the parts with tape, and they did the rest).

And yes, don't skimp on the swaybar. Billy's tubular bar is simply incredible.

Best of luck.




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Funny I seen this. I just ordered my setup from him tonite. I have sent him almost $2000 in goods this year and will deposit another $1000 or so by the end of the year. he is a good guy and quality products.

 

i'm running 350F/175R springs and its totally fine on the street, actually in a really light car it feels great.

on the track i still think it feels great, but i think its on the soft side

 

im running the same spring rates. GOOD STUFF!!!!!

 

The type of swaybar will also be a deciding factor on spring rates. If you run a softer bar(s), then you will need heavier springs to compensate. I prefer to run lighter springs, then control the roll with swaybars (works great!).

At autocrosses, you can really tell the difference between the cars that run both ways. The stiff sprung cars will "bounce" or "skip" across the pavement, while the soft sprung cars seem better at maintaining contact with the pavement. Both versions have barely any body roll, but softer springing means better grip and faster times.

I had the advantage of running with another guy in a 1st gen who ran with stiff springs and lighter swaybars. I was always on his heels even though he had a 13b and race rubber. This made it all very clear to me.

 

i agree with you, but really 275 and 350 are really close enough that its not going to matter much, its much more the choice of driver, and tire IMO....

we finally got to a point with the integra where the rear was too stiff, we have 1200lbs springs and we went from a 1.5" sway bar to a nascar tubular thing that's as big as your arm, and that seems to be too much, so we're going to put the 1100 springs back in it.

unlike the Rx7 though, the integra is totally unstreetable.

 

Based on my setup, with the Respeed bar in the front and a 3 position bar in the back, I would not want to drive it on roads with springs that were any stiffer. Run softer bars, and you can get away with heavier springs, but (in my opinion/experience) at the cost of overall traction.

Heavier springs can be controlled to avoid the "skipping across the pavement" effect, but then you're talking huge money for custom dampers. Not really worth it in my opinion unless it is a dedicated racer.

My goal was to have a kickass racer that I could still drive to work (or North Carolina) whenever I felt like it. I wouldn't change a thing.

 

i guess i am going with 350 in the front and 150 in the rear...let me know what you guys think so its not too late to change my mind if anything! keep in mind that although i will be going on the track and autoXing...this car is mostly going to be driven in the street...how stiff is 350 exactly? would 275 or 300 be a better choice for me? my goal is very similar to kentetsu's:

"to have a kickass racer that i could drive to school (or Los Angeles) whenever i felt like it."

 

Hello widz. I received your PM, but I'll just go ahead and respond here...

Since you plan to run a Respeed front bar, I really wouldn't recommend going any heavier than a 300 Lb. front spring. I think the optimal setup is 275/150 myself, but your opinion may differ.

Also, the rear spring rate should typically be just a bit more than half the front spring rate in order to balance over/understeer. With a 350 ft/150 rear, I think you would be fighting understeer in a losing battle.

Another factor to consider will be the shocks/struts you intend to run.

My best advice would be to watch some of my more recent videos (say, the last 2 years). Between the internal and external camera views, you should be able to get a pretty good idea as to how my car handles. If that is what you want, then the easiest thing to do would be to copy what I've done. All I did was follow Billy's advice, he knows a lot more about this stuff than I probably ever will.

The swaybar/shock/springrate combination that I run seems to be perfect for autocross, and is very fun and lively in daily driving. Seriously, I don't intend to change a thing...

Feel free to let me know if you have any further questions...

 

mine ended up that way too! its kind of funny. of course yours is setup for auto-x and mine is more roadrace

 

+ 1 Listen to him. I read quite a few of his posts and they pretty much sold me on the RE Speed coilovers. I did contact Billy though and told him what I had in mind: street driving with a few track days per year with sway bars, race coilovers and Tokico Illuminas.

What I got from Billy was 300 front and 150 rear with no rear sway bar for the street or road racing. I have to say I was skeptical about the spring rates being too stiff but I am happy with the results thus far in street driving.

I've owned FB's before with older Tokico springs and RB springs and the car was pretty stiff and had lots of body roll still. I wouldn't go higher than 300 in the front or 150 in the rear. My GSL SE is not a daily driver but if I had to I could easily do so. For the minimal investment in price and added labor the race coilovers are the way to go.

 

changed my mind again...im going with the kentetsu setup (275f 150r)...figured that springs arent too expensive to replace so i'd start out with the lower spring rate first for the streets and move on up as needed...thanks for the help everyone...can't wait for em to ship, i'll let everyone know as soon as i get em...i may still need the help during installation x)

 

I think you'll be very happy with your decision. Let us know how the install goes, and especially that first drive or race...

 

let me know when you get them. id be down to help w the install. i live closer to OC now

 

thanks brotha! i'll let everyone know as soon as i get em and all that...im going to TRY and install these myself in auto class..but im most likely going to need some help and opinion on fine tuning and what not...thanks to everyone who replied so quickly...this wait is freaken killing me x)

 

well i got my coilovers/struts/camber plates...just waiting for the sway bar and some free time now.

 

Hey,

Just curious how you liked those spring rates on your car if you have had a chance to install them yet?

Keep us posted we always like to hear how you guys make out!

 

i got the following on my car, i bought the car with this set up on it.....
Tokico Illumina shocks for all 4 corners
275 lb front springs, 150 lb rear springs
Respeed race front coilover kit
Respeed rear coilover kit
Respeed front camber plate kit
....where can i read about adjusting it to my driving needs?
thanks!