Coilover Options
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 538
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From: Portland, Oregon
I just took owner ship of my megan track today. Arrived after 1 weeks shipment. I got a great deal from a local store here in Oregon. Paid only $790. They look great although I have not installed them yet. 2 more days I'll be off and they will be on. They do not come with adjustable pillow mounts unfortunately but most other cars they do (subaru and nissan).
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 538
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From: Portland, Oregon
Just got them on (megan track). Didn't take too long. Word of advise, take your time on the rear left mounting bolts next to the fuel lines. Its not the fuel line that you should be worried about, it the lack of space. Of course I have an amp custom fit in there too, but that was removed and install was then a breeze. Try not to lose the bolt on that corner strut also. Drives great and adjusts easily. Money well spent IMO.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,318
Likes: 3
From: West Midlands
Originally Posted by Mister Jew,May 2 2007, 08:29 PM
looks like a good set with the external reservoirs never heard of them though
I have the race spec Nitrons:
This picture shows the OEM shock against the Sport and Race spec Nitrons. Loads of info in my sig, including the substantial weight saving
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,318
Likes: 3
From: West Midlands
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 408
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From: Columbus, OH
I have PSS9's and I've seen and installed Tein FLEX on other cars. I like the flex but the bilstein's for the s2000 I think are better. the design is beefier and look to have higher workmanship. I'm an industrial engineer by profession and work as an operations engineer for Lincoln Electric so I'll also state that the welds look better on the bilsteins.
The shocks on the bilstein's are also inverted monotube as opposed to the standard twin tube design of the flex. The flex uses the standard JDM 500 lbs springs while the bilsteins are softer then that. They are approx 30% stiffer then stock ap2 springs. This allows for better everyday driving characteristics. This also means that the tein's might have a slight edge on certain track configurations.
I also like the bilstein's because of their specific s2000 application. If you look at bilsteins pss9's for e36 and even e46 applications they use a cheaper yellow shock for the rears that people have complained about wearing down or blowing out. The bilsteins use the same silver steel bodies for the front and the back. the rears also come with external resevoirs like the stock units. This is big indicator to me that bilstein did the proper R&D work realizing that the s2k chassis design is so short that they needed more fluid to match and exceed the stock design.
I also like the adjusment knob better on the bilsteins. It has a high quality cnc machined knob clearly labels with the stiffness setting. The tein's merely have a non-descript adjustment shaft where you twist is and have to count the clicks yourself. This isn't really that important but someone that has never seen these units might not know.
I think the tein's new mono flex units are a better comparison and have been released in japan and should be here in the us soon.
Also FYI these units are pretty much the same weight and pretty much the same as stock. 50% of the shocks weight is considered in unsprung weight. These aftermarket units will not change that characteristic. this is a little surprising to me because if you compare the stock and pss9 shock bodies the pss9's look noticiably beefier. The PSS9's do NOT use stainless steel or a fancy aluminum shock body like you might see on a KW3 or JIC unit. Though it would be nice I personally like the beefy german design philosophy. pure opinion on that one.
This is all moot if you're going to slam your car though. It will handle worse then stock so you should just the cheapest one possible. If you think in the future you will track this car or want better performance I'd consider the PSS9 or Tein Flex with a slight advantage the the PSS9. The PSS9 when it first came out were much more expensive then you can find now. With the price advantage the bilstein's become a no brainer.
The shocks on the bilstein's are also inverted monotube as opposed to the standard twin tube design of the flex. The flex uses the standard JDM 500 lbs springs while the bilsteins are softer then that. They are approx 30% stiffer then stock ap2 springs. This allows for better everyday driving characteristics. This also means that the tein's might have a slight edge on certain track configurations.
I also like the bilstein's because of their specific s2000 application. If you look at bilsteins pss9's for e36 and even e46 applications they use a cheaper yellow shock for the rears that people have complained about wearing down or blowing out. The bilsteins use the same silver steel bodies for the front and the back. the rears also come with external resevoirs like the stock units. This is big indicator to me that bilstein did the proper R&D work realizing that the s2k chassis design is so short that they needed more fluid to match and exceed the stock design.
I also like the adjusment knob better on the bilsteins. It has a high quality cnc machined knob clearly labels with the stiffness setting. The tein's merely have a non-descript adjustment shaft where you twist is and have to count the clicks yourself. This isn't really that important but someone that has never seen these units might not know.
I think the tein's new mono flex units are a better comparison and have been released in japan and should be here in the us soon.
Also FYI these units are pretty much the same weight and pretty much the same as stock. 50% of the shocks weight is considered in unsprung weight. These aftermarket units will not change that characteristic. this is a little surprising to me because if you compare the stock and pss9 shock bodies the pss9's look noticiably beefier. The PSS9's do NOT use stainless steel or a fancy aluminum shock body like you might see on a KW3 or JIC unit. Though it would be nice I personally like the beefy german design philosophy. pure opinion on that one.
This is all moot if you're going to slam your car though. It will handle worse then stock so you should just the cheapest one possible. If you think in the future you will track this car or want better performance I'd consider the PSS9 or Tein Flex with a slight advantage the the PSS9. The PSS9 when it first came out were much more expensive then you can find now. With the price advantage the bilstein's become a no brainer.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 168
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From: Beaver Falls, PA
the megans are very stiff ride and for the money you cant beat them. on the track they perform very well. the t1r bmax are softer than the megans. they are a great company but i would look at other companies coilovers. tein flex's are great as well, on our shops s2k we have the src's from tein. my vote would either be the pss9's or the megans
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