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Good Coilovers for Better Ride & Handling?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ZBrink, Mar 19, 2017.

  1. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    I have a 2010 with a 130k and it's time to replace the shocks/struts. Since new, it's been my opinion that this is the worst handling and riding car I've ever owned. Time to change that!

    What coilover setup would give me a better handling and riding car? I'm not trying to lower it, change the appearance or anything of the sort. I just want it to ride and handle better than stock. Suggestions?

    Megan Racing? Godspeed Mono SS? Tein? Or maybe the Koni shock/strut kit?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    After researching this for most of the day, I have decided to go with the Koni FSD setup. I wish I had received at least some replies but I understand that it's only been about 12 hours since my post. I should have posted this a week ago when I first started looking into all of this. I wish Prius people were as on top of this sort of stuff as my guys over at the CorvetteForum, lol. I would have had 20 "expert" replies by now, ha!

    FYI, the Koni FSD setup is currently on sale for $580.68 with free shipping here: Koni 2100-4145 FSD Shock Kit 10-15 Toyota Prius
     
  3. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    Missed your thread :( If you still have any questions, send me a DM!
     
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  4. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    I'd rather have you provide info here so everyone can see. My basic questions are has follows:

    Is there a set of coilovers which would improve the handling and ride of my Prius over that of the Koni FSDs but will NOT lower the car? I am not looking to lower the car as I hit enough curbs and driveways as it is. This car is not tracked or taken to shows. I simply drive all day and need to improve several characteristics.
     
  5. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    The Koni FSDs is a good choice for keeping the stock height without compromising comfort.

    There are many choices out there for Coilovers, but the main key is the spring rate which varies between different Brands. Some high and some low which would adversely affect ride comfort.
     
  6. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    Are there any which allow you to maintain factory ride height or at least close to it?
     
  7. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    Look into Tein Flex A or Tein Flex Z's. The spring rate for both are 4kg for front and back which give you a better ride than Megan Racing and BC Coilovers (y)
     
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  8. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    Thanks. Do you know anything about the Godspeed Mono SS coilovers?
     
  9. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    The spring rates for the Godspeed Mono SS are:
    Front 6kg / Rear 8kg

    Also the Godspeed has camber adjustment and Independent ride height and spring preload adjustments which is a good thing!

    My only concern would be if the shocks are rebuild-able just in case they go out from spirited driving ;)
     
  10. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    For a much improved ride, I suggest you look on e-bay for a guy whose handle is XikeY00. Now substitute an M for the X and a "5" for the Y" and you will get it right. Another way to spell it is "M-i-k-e-5-0-0" without the dashes.

    There's a reason I typed it this way... the guy used to be a PriusChatter and is a very inventive tinkerer, but years ago he POd the owner of PriusChat. Now, were I to type his handle, it would appear on PriusChat as "rude person".

    However, he designed some really cool stuff -- well worth it. Check it out on E-Bay. Look for his underbody box brace and his mid-brace. Both of them are bolt-on mods in 5 minutes and they'll change how the car handles instantly.

    Next, I suggest a Cusco strut tower brace. It also really helps, at a tune of $250+.

    Finally, add a TRD rear anti-sway bar.

    Altogether, you'll have a different car... then you'll need to invest in some quality tires because they'll become the car's weakest link.

    I notice you're in Fairfax, VA. You likely know the recently rebuilt kiss-yer-nice person curve on I-295 in SE Washington DC. Well, I put all of the above over time on my Prius, and I was able to go, several times ;-) through that 35 MPH curve, northbound, in the outside lane, at about 68 MPH.

    Enjoy!
     
  11. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    Eventually, I also put on the Cusco coilovers. At about 2 grand, they ain't cheap. They really worked well, BUT I scraped that Prius on every speed bump there ever was, and on several driveway lips as well. Great handling, slightly painful to live with long-term because of the 3/4 inch or so loss of height. Not easy to go through an automatic car wash either to wash off Winter salt etc... got stuck on their rails several times. So, my advice now = skip the coilovers.
     
  12. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    All this stuff is written up in old posts here. Look for my handle and "strut tower bar" or "coilovers".
     
  13. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    I agree with you on everything except for the M-i-k-e-5-0-0" Junk. One of our Techs took his finger and flexed his so called "chassis" brace with his finger.
     
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  14. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    OK, the guy must have gorilla fingers ;-) It would have taken me a hammer for the mid-body brace "the box brace" and there is no way I could have bent the forward bar brace. Matter of fact, I ran diagonally over a high corner curb one night when out with a friend (don't ask) and it barely nicked the bar brace even though it hung the car up for a minute.

    Maybe we're talking about different things... the new Gen IV pretty much copied the original M-i-k-e 500 box beam brace except that Toyota added a center rib inside the box brace.
     
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  15. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    Here is a video of his mid under chassis stiffening 'brace':



    As for his 'box beam brace' you might as well go to Home Depot / Lowe's and pick up a Box Beam and drill 4 Holes $$ then call it a Day Ask any Engineer (Cough) and they will tell you that the box beam brace still flexes under load.

    Sorry to break the bad news - But I don't want other potential buyers to waste their money on stuff that does not work.

    Stick with companies that did real R&D to help improve their braces for performance and everyday driving.




    iPhone ?
     
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  16. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Body braces are intended to help stiffen the chassis. If a brace flexs......what's it stiffening???




    iPhone ?
     
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  17. Burna J

    Burna J Knot Right Performance....

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    Damn... Drop the mike. :ROFLMAO::D

    No pun intended. :)
     
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  18. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    Thanks for the helpful info.

    I have decided to go with the Koni FSD shocks to keep it simple. I got a set on sale this week shipped for $580 which was less than the cheapest pair of coilovers. I also purchased a Cusco rear sway bar direct from Japan shipped for $260. I already have a strut bar from Ultra Racing but it had to be modified to fit my US left hand drive car (I don't recommend this).

    I already have Michelin Premier A/S tires on my factory 15" wheels but MPGs are at 39.5 which blows comparatively. Gonna try Continental next time. When I do the shocks I'm going to replace the inner and outer tie rods, front sway bar links plus bushings and possibly the balls joints "just cause". They are cheap enough so I figure get it all done then get an alignment.

    I actually heard about that banned former member and I did find him on eBay. He is getting a set together for me due in April! Thanks for promoting him!
     
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  19. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    Thanks for all of the research and help. I really appreciate the effort.
     
  20. ZBrink

    ZBrink Member

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    Oooh, that is not good. I haven't paid him yet as he hasn't them for me to date. I may back out unfortunately.
     
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