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JIC reliability for street driving...

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Old 02-22-04 | 02:05 AM
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JIC reliability for street driving...

I know most coil-overs are generally not recommended for street use. However, I do not mind a harsh ride and I plan on getting them adjusted correctly for corner weights.

I want coil-overs because I want the tire clearance, height adjustability, camber adjustment, and I would rather have a shock and spring that are built for each other as apposed to a set that I piece together.

My car will be a weekend racer. I will drive it a lot during the week and then autocross it or take it to a road course on the weekends (I will probably have a daily driver, but I doubt I will be able to keep myself from driving the RX7).

Which leads me to my question (Finally!):
How reliable are JIC on the street? That is, how many miles will they go before a rebuild is necessary?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
-Jason
Old 02-22-04 | 12:04 PM
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ttt

Has anyone ever had to rebuild a JIC dampener? What about a Tein, or a Koni Yellow?

-Jason
Old 03-02-04 | 09:17 AM
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I'm also interested in this setup, anyone?
Old 03-02-04 | 11:40 AM
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Do a search on Tein HE versus JIC FLTa-2 or something like that, their is a big wirte up on it somewhere...

I would not go with either, Teins have very small pistons, and I have heard nothing but bad news about JIC latly.. I got SilkRoads, since you will racing and street driving alot myabe try Zeals or the Silkroads...

The silkroads cost me about $1350 shipped from Japan, and I could have got the Zeal B6, V6,or S6 for $1600-1800 shipped from Japan..
Old 03-02-04 | 01:02 PM
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Do you have a link to info on the silkroads? Wow Zeal B6's for 1600! That'd be sick.
Old 03-02-04 | 01:47 PM
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Don't put real coilovers on your street driven car. They won't last. Go with the K2RD setup, or don't drive your car on the street, or stick with shocks/springs.

Steve
Old 03-02-04 | 02:09 PM
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Originally posted by eyecandy
Do a search on Tein HE versus JIC FLTa-2 or something like that, their is a big wirte up on it somewhere...
I have read all that already.

But I still have not found the information I am looking for. I am aware of the type of things I am going to have to do with a coil-over setup, and I don’t mind having the corner weights checked and adjusted once a season, or having my dampeners rebuilt every-other season.

Many say “Don't put real coilovers on your street driven car. They won't last.” However, there are probably some people who are willing to keep up with the upkeep. If I knew roughly how long the dampeners would last on the street, I would be able to make an educated decision as to whether JIC’s or Tein are right for me.

If I went with a K2RD setup, I would get Koni Yellows; how long would those last on the street?
Old 03-02-04 | 03:25 PM
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Originally posted by eyeoutthere
I have read all that already.

But I still have not found the information I am looking for. I am aware of the type of things I am going to have to do with a coil-over setup, and I don’t mind having the corner weights checked and adjusted once a season, or having my dampeners rebuilt every-other season.

Many say “Don't put real coilovers on your street driven car. They won't last.” However, there are probably some people who are willing to keep up with the upkeep. If I knew roughly how long the dampeners would last on the street, I would be able to make an educated decision as to whether JIC’s or Tein are right for me.

If I went with a K2RD setup, I would get Koni Yellows; how long would those last on the street?
I've read the other stuff too. I'm looking for the same setup as eyeoutthere.

Hopefully he'll order it first so I can ride in it

My fathers FC has the GC/Tokico/Camber plates setup, which is nice, but I think I want something a little softer on the street.
Old 03-02-04 | 07:58 PM
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Originally posted by eyeoutthere
If I went with a K2RD setup, I would get Koni Yellows; how long would those last on the street?
About 5x longer than TEINs or JICs.

Steve
Old 03-02-04 | 08:40 PM
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I have the K2RD set up on my street driven/autocross car, on the track the are very nice but on the street if you don't get an adjustable shock then the ride will be hell and you will find yourself quickly realizing just how deep the pot holes are on you streets! I also find them to be noisy somewhat! But over all I am very pleased with them! They are of great quality and have held up well, The setup is about 3 years old now

Last edited by 7'sfalife; 03-02-04 at 08:46 PM.
Old 03-02-04 | 08:49 PM
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you can get kei office coilovers for $1800, or $2050

now THAT would be cool.

oh, and how about just swaping to the coilovers on the weekends when you go to race? it'd take like an hour at most to do all 4 since you don't have to take any springs apart
Old 03-02-04 | 09:54 PM
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Originally posted by Bigretardhead
you can get kei office coilovers for $1800, or $2050

now THAT would be cool.

oh, and how about just swaping to the coilovers on the weekends when you go to race? it'd take like an hour at most to do all 4 since you don't have to take any springs apart
Wouldn't that screw up the alignment?

7'sfalife: What kind of dampeners did you go with?
Old 03-02-04 | 10:13 PM
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hmm... yeah. didn't think about that. well, it might not be too bad. just adjusting the ride hight would do the same.
Old 03-02-04 | 10:27 PM
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Any GOOD quality coilover will last just as long or longer as stock or aftermarket springs and struts... Notice the key word GOOD! You get what you pay for, thats why I did not go with JIC or Tein. Teins begine to leak after a year and I have been hearing the same with JIC, plus I heard JIC's customer service is in the pits now... I know people that has had Silkroads for a few years and they live in NYC, where the roads are ****! And they have not had any problems...

Here is the link for the Silkroads clicky . I had a freind in Japan get them for me. I will have to find the emails with the prices of alot of coilovers I had him get me, but basically you will not getting the same kind cheaper here in the states... I think he can get the Kei offices for around $1500 or so shipped, cannot remebr off hand... BTW the Kei office is the same as the GP-Sports, just renamed and a diff color...

Swapping the coilovers for the weekend would not screw up alinment, as long as you did not tocuh anything else, do you need to get the car realigned when you change the height?? NO! Its bascially the same, the only thing you would maybe have to adjust is the camber(that is if you have an adjustable camber link)...
Old 03-02-04 | 11:33 PM
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Originally posted by eyeoutthere
Wouldn't that screw up the alignment?

7'sfalife: What kind of dampeners did you go with?
I went with the KYB AGX 4 way adjustable in front and 8 way adjustable in back! Its what came with the kit when they first produced it. They are cheap,but I like them!
Old 03-03-04 | 03:46 AM
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I have the kei office set up , it is not suitable for street.
Old 03-03-04 | 03:54 AM
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ive put 5k miles on my JICs so far and they only seem to be working better, ive heard of people putting 25k without any problems, dont listen to what others say, they work on the street...
Old 03-03-04 | 04:20 AM
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the other thing i've heard about JIC's are that the japanese spec ones are a LOT stiffer and harsher than the us-spec ones... just something to keep in mind if you guys pick them up
Old 03-03-04 | 08:28 AM
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Silkroad has a US office (www.silkroad-usa.com). Just thought I would point that out.
Old 03-03-04 | 09:17 AM
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silkroads rock!
Old 03-03-04 | 09:18 AM
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ah ****! Oh well I still got a better deal getting them from Japan, they must have just put that up recently...
Old 03-03-04 | 09:20 AM
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M515: That is exactly the kind of information I am looking for! Thanks!

Anyone have more than 5k on their JICs?

DomFD3S: That website is only 2 days old! Way to stay on the ball! Unfortunately, most of the text is still in Japanese or missing, and the prices are still in yen. I’ll have to keep an eye on it as they update the site.

Hopefully they convert the prices directly from yen to $US because that would make the coilover set less than $1300 WITH adjustable upper pillow ball mounts. ..not too shaby.

Old 03-03-04 | 09:25 AM
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Originally posted by Turbo23
silkroads rock!
Right on dude! I still have yet to put mine on, I still need to get my Reman and install it! Plus I want to make covers for them.

BTW when I got them I was comparing them to my friends HKS HiperMax D's and they dwarf those suckers, the Silkroads are extremely beefy! Very well built!

Here is a pic of mine, I can get more pics if you would like clicky At the time I got them, they had a special where you got an extra set of springs free!!!
Old 03-03-04 | 09:30 AM
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eyeoutthere, it converts to roughly $1357 USD, but I am not sure were that is shipped from, if it is Japan it will be about $200 EMS or $80 and it will take a month...
Old 03-03-04 | 09:31 AM
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check out BIOT in Japan as well. they have a nice setup as well. not sure how they are for street since the guy i know that runs them just uses them for the track.


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