Recommended coilover spring rates?

Recommended coilover spring rates?

I'm considering purchasing a set of coilovers for my AE102, however road quality here in Toronto is sketchy at best, as there are a lot of potholes, uneven pavement and various random dips here and there. Riding on the stock suspension already produces a lot of rattles and thuds.

The TRD Japan coilovers I'm looking at currently have spring rates of 8kg/mm Front and 6kg/mm rear. Would these specs be a bit too high for someone like me who drives their car daily to school and work, and only tracks occasionally on weekends?

Just wondering what kind of spring rates you run on your setups and what type of driving you do on them?
Are you overall happy with the ride quality?

Thanks

I drive on 10/8 swift springs on Cusco Zero2 coilovers on a near daily basis, some may consider my car undrivable daily (since I also have polyurethane bushings all around, Recaro SPG bucket seat, cage, and removed sound deadening) but I have absolutely no problem with driving it every day, in fact its a lot of fun. But I have to avoid all roads that are being worked on because you could really feel potholes and uneven payement.

I origionally had 7/5 cusco standarrd springs, the setup had a little more roll and bounce to it.. it's a good compromise for comfort but even then your passengers will feel it.

Also it depends on the brand too.. I driven/riden in cars with Teins, JIC, Cusco, Tanabe, Ksport, Koni/GC with simular spring rates. JIC and Ksport felt really harsh and badly put together IMO.. The shock valving dosent feel like they match the springs. It might also have something to do with monotube vs. Twin Tube as Twin Tube are better for street use.

I'd recommend Cusco Zero 2 or Tein Flex for the corolla. The TRD actually cost more and have less features... unless you buy used, and I dont recommend buying suspension used because you have no idea how the last guy drove it and how long he had it.. suspension wear over time and rebuilds are costly.

I've ridden in a friend's Corolla equipped with Ground Controls and Tokico Blues, although not a true coilover setup, and it was still pretty harsh, felt my kidneys getting beaten up every little bump there was in the road.

How much upkeep will I have to undergo to keep coilovers in tiptop shape?

What does it typically cost to rebuild them?

The ones I'm looking at seem to be in good condition with some light usage. I'm just looking for basic height adjustments along with pre-settings for track and street driving. Pretty much just a good balance for all-around use. I didn't know coilover features existed, please enlighten me.

They're also selling TRD Front and rear sway bars as well, but they're from an AE111. However, I don't know if they will fit 7th gens or not.

If your friend brought off the shelf ground controls than the spring rates are 300lb/in all around. GC actually expects you to pick your spring rates or else they'll just default to 300lb/in. And in this case the tokico blue shocks are underdampening as they are only designed for spring rates up to 30% over stock (stock is in the lower 100lb/inch range).

The reason one would get a one piece coilover/damper setup is the shock valving is perfectly match to the spring rates when assembled.

You'll understan coilover features just by looking at the Tein lineup. 'BASIC' is a simple coilover setup with one way height adjustment. 'SS' = BASIC + Shock Dampening Adjustment. 'FLEX' = SS + 2 way shock height + spring preload adjustment and optional upper spherical ball mount/ camber plates.

I don't think TRD coilovers have any support in the US so if you need a replacement shock cartage or revalve then you're out of luck unless you send it back to Japan. Tein however have a facility in the US, I hear they do rebuilds/revalves for ~100-130 a corner. Feature-wise the TRD coilovers are comparable to TEIN SS.

hey jspexae102 wat suspension u have on your car???

Cusco Zero 2 with Swift 10/8kg/mm springs