What is the best aftermarket spring out in the market?

res0zsfa · 01-06-2011, 03:13 AM

loving it

brakedrift12 · 01-06-2011, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian370z

Just a shameless plug to post pictures of my car, here is how the drop looks:

hows the sports package Z will look like? you know, you are running with 18 inch wheel so Im assuming they will show a bit difference

and how does it ride compare to the stock spring?

And THANKS to all those people sharing your great knowledge!!

VaGntlmn · 01-06-2011, 09:18 AM

Christian - that does look good.

Okay, you all are doing a good job selling me on the swifts.
So this may be my last set of questions (you wish)
1) Did you have to have anything else done when the springs were installed? camber kits, 2 and/or 4 wheel alignments, anything like that (and approx cost)? I'm just looking for other gotcha's before I commit.
2) Any problems with the height? speed bumps and (most normal) driveways especially?

And I agree with brakedrift, THANK YOU ALL for the information; it is greatly appreciated.

370Z JT · 01-06-2011, 09:58 AM

There is less wheel gap with the sport rays. There's a pic a few pages back.

Osiris · 01-06-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Z JT

There is less wheel gap with the sport rays. There's a pic a few pages back.

You must be thinking of a different thread. But i would like to see the 19" sport rays with the Swifts.

And Christian, what did the Z parked next to you use for a drop?

tjlazer · 01-06-2011, 11:31 AM

Here is mine with Nismo wheels. My drop was a little less than andvertised, maybe cuz of my wheel/tire combo, dunno. I also did not need any camber kits or anything else.

You can also see lots more pics of the drop here:
http://www.the370z.com/members/tjlaz...ft-spec-r.html

christian370z · 01-06-2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brakedrift12

hows the sports package Z will look like? you know, you are running with 18 inch wheel so Im assuming they will show a bit difference

and how does it ride compare to the stock spring?

And THANKS to all those people sharing your great knowledge!!

I was actually somewhat hesitant when I read reviews about how these springs had better performance while offering a more comfortable ride. I thought there is no way a spring car have higher spring rates while somehow remaining more comfortable than stock but that is exactly what the Swifts delivered.

Basically, it is what I would call OEM+. It rides just as well even though it is slightly firmer, however it is more comfortable because the spring rates feel much more in tune with what I would expect a sports car to perform at. The car feels much lighter on its feet through turns and there is no wallowing if the car hits any bumps or undulations in the road which lends to a much more secure, planted ride. Paired with my Stillen sway bars, it doesn't get much better in terms of balance and is overall many steps above the exact same car with the same sway bar settings. The Swifts made all the difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDRead

Christian - that does look good.

Okay, you all are doing a good job selling me on the swifts.
So this may be my last set of questions (you wish)
1) Did you have to have anything else done when the springs were installed? camber kits, 2 and/or 4 wheel alignments, anything like that (and approx cost)? I'm just looking for other gotcha's before I commit.
2) Any problems with the height? speed bumps and (most normal) driveways especially?

1) I had an alignment done and I had a more aggressive alignment to improve turn in and steering feel. You will NEED an alignment done, but no camber arms are necessary as all my numbers came back within factory spec. My alignment cost $90 and it was custom since I wanted slightly more aggressive adjustments.

2) Firstly, the only part of the car that "scrapes" are the two small plastic flaps in front of both front wheels. These are replaceable and no other part of the bumper has come close to kissing the pavement. Secondly, I scrape on many things I did not previously haha. Speed bumps are not a big issue as going slowly and approaching them at a slight angle will negate any clearance issues. The worst situations will be going in and out of driveways such as turning off streets into shopping centers and such, by far and away the worst areas! But again, the only part of the car that scrapes are the flexible and disposable front flaps which in all honesty scraped on 75% of those speed bumps and driveways even at stock ride height.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osiris

You must be thinking of a different thread. But i would like to see the 19" sport rays with the Swifts.

And Christian, what did the Z parked next to you use for a drop?

That is Triple's Z and he is riding on Eibach springs with 20mm spacers I believe. His car is definitely slightly lower than mine but it is hard to tell until I get some comparative 19" wheels.

christian370z · 01-06-2011, 12:48 PM

My review right after the installation, all the those points still stand today.

Quote:

Today I drove over to my good friend Seb at SpecialtyZ (Canoga, CA) to have my Swift Spec R springs installed. I got there bright and early and work started right away, going smoothly and taking only a couple hours front and rear with no real surprises for once! These springs are supposedly the best performance springs available and yet have been reported to ride more comfortably than the stock springs while being called "junior coil overs." I had a hard time believing this initially, but they were worth every penny.

Quality of the Springs: I was honestly a bit disappointed that the springs came powder coated black rather than the beautiful metallic blue color that is advertised on their website but the coat is even and looks very durable. Compared to the stock springs, these look very beefy and much more substantial which I thought was a plus.

Lowering Observations: The kit is supposed to lower the car 1" in the rear and 1.2" in the front to give the car a nice, slightly more aggressive pose. Once the car was settled off the lift and received an alignment, the ride height was already at the marketed drop so I expect it to go a little lower as the springs settle. The drop is very even front and rear and is the perfect look in my opinion: not too low but not too conservative.

Driving Impressions: this was what interested me the most, I had a hard time understanding how this spring can perform so much better (increased spring rate) but be more comfortable than stock. It depends on your definition of comfortable, but it did improve ride quality in a few areas: large freeway bumps, undulations and overpass rises felt much better as the car just felt more planted and settled during and after the undulations. It also had less of a bounding motion. That said, the ride is firmer and was immediately noticeable as soon as I hit the road. It is not a harsh firmness, but it feels much more positive and controlled which is exactly what I was looking for.

I took it through Malibu canyon roads such as Mulholland on my way back from the shop and the car felt PERFECT. There was no noticeable body roll, and steering response as well as turn in felt much more precise and direct. The car was balanced perfectly between the Stillen sway bar set to the firmest setting in the rear and the spring rates, there was no hint of understeer and I felt like I could finally effectively control the car using throttle. Mid corner bumps did not unsettle the car or give a lurching sensation like the stock springs did and it felt suitably firm at higher speeds which kept the car feeling planted.

All in all, I am very very happy with these springs and can not ask any more from them.

VaGntlmn · 01-06-2011, 02:01 PM

The original pic with the sport rays is in the review thread: Swift springs reviewed

jeffreyfranz · 01-06-2011, 08:33 PM

Christian: What shocks did you pair with your new Swift springs? Thanks.

christian370z · 01-06-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffreyfranz

Christian: What shocks did you pair with your new Swift springs? Thanks.

I am running stock shocks, these springs feel like a better match with the valving of the factory shocks. Until Koni releases their sport shocks for these cars, I will be very happy running on OEM dampers.

TheGreatOne · 02-14-2011, 02:25 PM

I've probably been doing research for the last few weeks, trying to dig up all posts from 2009 on...

Still hard to really pin point what I can get. I mean, Swift sounds like the hands down favorite as it offers the best performance along with a great drop...but for where I live, I'm wondering if that drop might be a little to low...along with my F.I. CBE thats coming soon

I guess a lot comes down to opinion, but the other two spring choices that say their drop is less than 1" is Eibach or Tein but both are apparently really soft....so it might actually hurt performance.

I guess you can't get it all unless you go Swift? I'm just wondering which is the lesser of 2 evils with eitehr Tein or Eibach......Tanabe is rulled out at this point

01-06-2011, 09:18 AM	#18 (permalink)
VaGntlmn Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centreville, Va Age: 64 Posts: 378 Drives: '10 Tour/Sport, 6MT Rep Power: 15	Christian - that does look good. Okay, you all are doing a good job selling me on the swifts. So this may be my last set of questions (you wish) 1) Did you have to have anything else done when the springs were installed? camber kits, 2 and/or 4 wheel alignments, anything like that (and approx cost)? I'm just looking for other gotcha's before I commit. 2) Any problems with the height? speed bumps and (most normal) driveways especially? And I agree with brakedrift, THANK YOU ALL for the information; it is greatly appreciated. ubs234 likes this. __________________ Bill 2010 370z; Tour/Sport; 6mt; BlackCherry/Grey; 318 rwhp; 265 lbs rwtq. To view a list of my mods, click here; To view a photo journal of the mods, click here.

01-06-2011, 09:58 AM	#19 (permalink)
370Z JT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: United States Posts: 2,905 Drives: 370Z PW 7AT Rep Power: 378	There is less wheel gap with the sport rays. There's a pic a few pages back. __________________ Click for My Journal Top Secret \| EVO-R \| Fujimura Auto \| Shine Auto \| Seibon \| MRWorks \| Swift \| SPC \| SSR \| UpRev \| Project Kics \| NST \| Titek \| Eibach \| Nismo \| Whiteline \| Quaife \| Invidia \| Fly1 \| CF Element \| Carbon Signal

01-06-2011, 11:31 AM	#21 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	Here is mine with Nismo wheels. My drop was a little less than andvertised, maybe cuz of my wheel/tire combo, dunno. I also did not need any camber kits or anything else. You can also see lots more pics of the drop here: http://www.the370z.com/members/tjlaz...ft-spec-r.html __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV Last edited by tjlazer; 01-06-2011 at 11:36 AM.

01-06-2011, 02:01 PM	#24 (permalink)
VaGntlmn Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centreville, Va Age: 64 Posts: 378 Drives: '10 Tour/Sport, 6MT Rep Power: 15	The original pic with the sport rays is in the review thread: Swift springs reviewed __________________ Bill 2010 370z; Tour/Sport; 6mt; BlackCherry/Grey; 318 rwhp; 265 lbs rwtq. To view a list of my mods, click here; To view a photo journal of the mods, click here. Last edited by VaGntlmn; 01-06-2011 at 02:06 PM.

01-06-2011, 08:33 PM	#25 (permalink)
jeffreyfranz Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 139 Drives: '10 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	Christian: What shocks did you pair with your new Swift springs? Thanks. __________________ SLO Car Club

01-06-2011, 03:13 AM	#16 (permalink)
res0zsfa Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mukilteo/Seattle Posts: 248 Drives: 09 370z PW MT Rep Power: 15	loving it

02-14-2011, 02:25 PM	#27 (permalink)
TheGreatOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Age: 46 Posts: 1,980 Drives: E60 BMW M5 Rep Power: 21	I've probably been doing research for the last few weeks, trying to dig up all posts from 2009 on... Still hard to really pin point what I can get. I mean, Swift sounds like the hands down favorite as it offers the best performance along with a great drop...but for where I live, I'm wondering if that drop might be a little to low...along with my F.I. CBE thats coming soon I guess a lot comes down to opinion, but the other two spring choices that say their drop is less than 1" is Eibach or Tein but both are apparently really soft....so it might actually hurt performance. I guess you can't get it all unless you go Swift? I'm just wondering which is the lesser of 2 evils with eitehr Tein or Eibach......Tanabe is rulled out at this point

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How did you fit your after market Subs?	370zproject	Audio & Video	50	12-22-2010 01:06 PM
market bs or really better	RiCharlie	Detailing / Washing / Waxing / Cosmetic Maintenance and Repair	17	12-03-2010 11:06 AM
Aftermarket Sways and Aftermarket Exhaust	Endgame	Brakes & Suspension	5	10-29-2010 06:27 PM
After market parts?	sonic370	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	5	06-15-2010 10:55 AM
Selling Eibach spring and OEM spring	spia	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	8	06-13-2009 09:18 AM