Coilover for Toyota Camry!?

EddieVVTI · Jun 5, 2012

I went over the suspension sticky thread, and I also used the search function but I haven't found the answer to a question: Which is the most street friendly coilovers available for the 6th gen camry? What I mean by street friendly is a coilover which wont knock your teeth fillings out with every bump you hit, and will let you drive up a semi steep driveway without scraping the bottom of your car. Yes, I know coilovers are adjustable for height and firmness but I also know that there are some coilovers, even adjusted to its tallest and softest settings would still be considered too aggressive for me. This is my daily driver and no I dont track the car. I just feel like it has a bit too much ugly wheel gap, and a bit too soft on the spring and shocks.

Ideally, I would like to have a 1.25" drop all around, and on the softest settings feel only moderately tighter than the stock SE suspension. Is there a set that comes closest to this description??? I want to increase handling characteristics but still handle the rough roads of NY and NJ while dealing with all sorts of foul weather we get. I know swapping to shorter springs is an option, but I have read multiple threads with drivers bashing a swap to shorter springs on stock struts. I want to stay faaaar away from the "floating boat" and "deep bouncing" feeling that you get when the shocks cant handle the increased pressure from short springs.

I heard the TEIN BASIC/BASIS are excellent coilovers for daily driving but these are not available for our car unfortunately.

PhatRoyale · Jun 5, 2012

Any set of coilovers would meet your needs. Just get the appropriate custom spring rates to suit the type of ride you want.

Cking · Jun 5, 2012

Yes, it does depend mostly on the spring rate. I think stock is something like 1-1.5k (kg/mm) and lowering springs are in the 2k ballpark.

The softest springs come coilovers usually come with is 6k/4k, front and rear respectively.
Ksport offers the stiffest default set up at 9/6. Tein and Buddyclub is 6/3.

But the good thing is you can change out the spring rates, and shorter springs means less travel = more harsh ride, maybe less, but more frequent bumps too. I did not like my short springs when I had them.
if you look on the 1st page of my thread i list the set ups i went through.

You want to stay far from the boating but not so that your teeth fall out going over sh1tty roads..
I'd recommend BC or the BuddyClub/Tein, as they come with pretty soft yet firm spring rates and BuddyClub/Tein's valve system is top notch. Heard good things about BC as well, bunch of members have them with no problems. Best bang for $. Ksport and Megans are a little too stiff (Jerseystrong wanted to switch back to stock on his ksports).

All in all, I would recommend Tein/BuddyClubs and if the price is a little high, get BC coils, and don't settle for anything less! I think they offer custom spring rates you can specify/request when you order, but you can only go +/- 2(or less)kg/mm if you change out the springs.

this thread might help you decide:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/104-5th-6th-generation-2002-2006-2007-2011/399507-coilover-review-thread.html
but obviously everyone's biased towards their set of coilovers haha

BlackCam09 · Jun 5, 2012

I love my BC coils and they are 6/3k. I have my damper set at 15 clicks and it allows 30 clicks, so I'm in the middle. The ride is nice and doesn't even feel like I'm on coils at all, so I would recommend them to you.

EddieVVTI · Jun 5, 2012

Thanks for all the info guys. What about ride height? I dont want a slammed ride at all, far from that. On the "tallest" settings for these coilovers what will the ride height be vs stock? I am hoping to get a coilover that will let me ride at a conservative -1 to -1.25 drop from stock height. Any chance at all I can get this with BC or Buddyclub? Ksport and Megan seem to be too stiff for me and out of the question

Cking · Jun 5, 2012

Never heard of anyone getting a set of coilovers and only lowering 1 inch ~ but you can get pretty close to stock height, for sure you can get the height currently while on lowering springs.

ImJustMe55 · Jun 5, 2012

Don't forget that if you order straight from BC or a company that works well with them that you can request whatever spring rate that you want and they'll valve them for you requested spring rate before sending them to you. I know because I know quite a few people that are running between 10k and14k springs on their cars, of course they race though.

As far as height, Cking is right. You should have no problem doing just a 1in drop. Don't forget that they will settle after being installed so you might have to re-adjust them a week or 2 after the install to get the height that you want.

eyecon7 · Sep 16, 2012

What is this buddyclub/tein? and where can I purchase these?

Coilover for Toyota Camry!?

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