KSport vs Buddy Club Coilovers.

Sinub

Sinub

Well-Known Member
304
83
Southern California
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
I need help on deciding on a proper suspension setup. I'm debating between the Kontrol Pro System (part# CHD360-KP) and the Buddy Club N+ Coils(part# BC02-NP12FB2). I do like the fact that the Ksport's come with the camber adjustability while the Buddy Club's don't. I really dislike the 36 way adjustability on the Ksport's though, realistically don't need that much.

Both are monotube if I'm correct.
Ksport spring rates are 7.5kg in the front and 7kg in the rear.
Buddy Club has 8k in the front and 6k in the rear.(Why such a huge difference?)

I also believe that they both have the same dampening variation settings.

I'm basically looking for something that I can take to the track and will be decent without my car skidding and hopping around in the corners as I have seen with some of the cheaper coilovers such as Godspeed and Megans.

What would be a proper setup for our cars? I feel like 8k is too stiff in the front with a huge difference compared to the rare probably creating more unwanted understeer. I'm don't care much about comfort ability either.

Thanks for any input guys.
 
ask @RedShiftChris he's an expert with suspension stuff. He can also build his own Redshift coilovers for you. Anyway if you want coilovers for track then I would suggest getting Buddy Club and Progress 22mm sway bar
 
if you really are looking for track stuff, I'd consider koni. People tend to regard them as one of the best. @Nix and others can comment on them
 
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Michal006 said:
ask @RedShiftChris he's an expert with suspension stuff. He can also build his own Redshift coilovers for you. Anyway if you want coilovers for track then I would suggest getting Buddy Club and Progress 22mm sway bar
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Why do you say Buddy club over the Ksport? Just want to know your reasoning behind it.

I currently have a 19mm rear Eibach sway bar I got 2 years ago so for now I'm fine on that but I do wish I had gotten a thicker rear sway bar.
 
I love Koni's. They are the best of the best, but this isn't something I'm going to build for an all out race car. I just want something noticeably better than stock without breaking the bank. @webby
 
Sikid said:
Why do you say Buddy club over the Ksport? Just want to know your reasoning behind it.

I currently have a 19mm rear Eibach sway bar I got 2 years ago so for now I'm fine on that but I do wish I had gotten a thicker rear sway bar.
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I never really heard anything about Ksport stuff untill I bought my Civic. After doing some homework I found out that Ksport, D2 and BC are all pretty much the same. Also :1: for Koni shocks.
 
Michal006 said:
I never really heard anything about Ksport stuff untill I bought my Civic. After doing some homework I found out that Ksport, D2 and BC are all pretty much the same. Also :1: for Koni shocks.
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D2 isn't the greatest. BC is ok but I still don't like many of their products. I can only assume Ksport is OK but not great. I do like the fact that it comes with the camber adjustability on the front and cheaper than the Buddy Clubs. You get what you pay for though. Also if anyone has any other recommendations around that price range let me know.
 
the koni setups that redshiftmotorsports did were in line with many coilover prices. They let you pick the spring setup you wanted, and they'd do koni shocks with them. He had pretty much any lowering spring on the market.

@redsfan had them
http://9thcivic.com/forum/threads/redshift-koni-swift-8thgen-combo.4225/

@brown_bear was the first on them
http://9thcivic.com/forum/threads/first-2012-civic-si-with-coilovers-inside.3799/

I believe @Nix has a setup from redshift as well?

looks like he just redid his store though, and it's not showing the option to pick coils for the 2012. Maybe worth a call if it something that interests you
 
Yup, redshift did my suspension setup as well. I had them do the fab work too cause I didn't have a workspace at the time. I went with a koni yellow setup with neuspeed springs. I like my setup a lot although sometimes it's a bit overkill. Price wise it was the same as all the other coil over options but with a better damper.

I actually just shot chris an email a couple days ago inquiring about the 9th gen section and he said he's working on getting some new packages put together.

In the slightly over $1000 range:
If you're looking for a decent coil over I think the Tein Street Flex is a pretty nice upper level option without going too crazy. That particular "trim level" has the option of adding the EDFC later if you wanted to.

The buddy club N+ is also a pretty well regarded setup. I don't think either of those is significantly different than the other except for the EDFC option. The buddy club racing spec is a much better coil over and is usually around $1500 but could probably be had for less if you find a good sale.


In the just under to just over $1000 range:
The Ksport/D2/BC are all very similar and I think I had read that two of those three are made in the same factory but one is marketed to taiwan and the other line to japan or something like that. I can't remember which ones at the moment. I don't think any particular one of those is really that different from the others. I do like that the Ksports had the pillow ball mount for camber adjustments in the front.


Unfortunately since Honda changed the suspension design on these cars every year there aren't a lot of high end offerings available that i have seen. Nothing from KW for example.

However, if you really want to step it up a notch I know BC, like many other makers, have several different trim levels of suspension. They did make a high end racing ER Series that fits the 2012 SI. These are around $1800 but are a much more performance oriented package.
From @CorSport :

http://www.corsportusa.com/2012-2013-honda-civic-si-bc-racing-er-series-coilovers/


Again though, you can definitely get a full Koni setup with either springs for say around $1000 or in a custom ground control coil over setup for somewhere in the $1200-1500 range. So it really just depends on your budget.


Since it sounds like you want to do some track time, spending a bit more on the suspension will definitely be something you will use and notice. Koni's are definitely the way to go but if you don't want to hassle with fab work and want a set of coils then I would steer you towards the Buddy Club Racing Spec ($1500) or the BC ER series ($1800). The Tein Flex ($1300) would probably be third. Stepping up from the $800-1000 range will make a big difference.


Spring rates are tricky but an easy way to look at it to reduce understeer you want it softer in the front and harder in the rear.


I know thats a lot to read but hopefully it helps! Let us know what your budget is and which way you're leaning.
 
I could spend $1300 on coil overs. I really do like the buddy clubs but as I said the spring rates are way too stiff in the front and I do like ksports setup although I've never heard anything good from them or bad.
 
For a couple hundred more look at their racing spec instead of the N+. I think you may find that to be a better option if you are seriously considering track time. Same with the Tein Flex. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them though. PM a couple of the site sponsors also, they may be able to work on price a little bit with you.
 
Nix said:
For a couple hundred more look at their racing spec instead of the N+. I think you may find that to be a better option if you are seriously considering track time. Same with the Tein Flex. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them though. PM a couple of the site sponsors also, they may be able to work on price a little bit with you.
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True for track purposes get the next level above the Kontrol Pro, Tein, or Buddy Club. for sure. 100% agree, the Ksport Kontrol Pro's are not meant for track use, well a lot of track use that is. They are fine for your every once in a while visit though
 
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If I remember correctly Buddy Club Racing Spec are made in Japan and N+ in Taiwan. Same with Tein, their low end/budget coilovers are made in Taiwan while high end stuff is still made in Yokohama.;)

http://teinusa-blog.com/tein-has-two-manufacturing-plants/

Earlier in 2014, we posted about the new TEIN China manufacturing plant, which construction of the plant was completed before the end of the year. This new plant will be focusing on production of our upcoming line of performance replacement dampers. YES, we will finally be working on replacement dampers designed to work with factory springs, as well as our S.TECH & HIGH TECH lowering spring kits! We’ll blog more on this product later.

However, this will not be the first manufacturing project for TEIN China. We’re going to be receiving our new STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z damper lines from the TEIN China plant.

If you had read our previous posts regarding the new “Z” line, you’ll notice that the other Z line of dampers, our FLEX Z coilovers, will be coming from TEIN Japan. Why is that?
 
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Buddyclub I'd say there is a much bigger difference in terms of suspension rigidity. Say for ksport, it's on similar terms with brands like d2, bc racing, godspeed, fnf, and etc. There mostly the same.
 
it comes down to where the coil is made. reason why godspeed ksport d2 and other brands are all pretty well the same is because most of them are made in taiwan.

brands like hsd, godspeed and redshift cost more because theyre assmbled in japan, korea, and the US

also take a good hard look at the materials used for important components thats usually the biggest difference
 
I will add to that^ ^^^ if you have ever owned Godspeed anything, you learn that the cost savings is not worth it in the long run. Very shotty attempt at a decent coilover, Camber Arm, whatever they end up making it is not great.
 
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