Ultimate Nissan S14 Coilover Guide

In this guide, we’re going to review the most popular Nissan S14 coilover kits on the market to find the perfect suspension setup to suit your requirements. This is the ultimate S14 coilover guide.

• KW Variant 3 coilovers
• Megan Racing EZII coilovers
• Fortune Auto Dreadnought coilovers
• Stance XR1 coilovers
• BC Racing RM coilovers
• Fortune Auto 510 coilovers
• ISR Performance Pro Series coilovers
• Ksport Kontrol Pro coilovers
• APEXi N1 Evolution coilovers
• TEIN Super Drift coilovers
• Jump to winners

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In a hurry? Here is our S14 Coilover summary

About the Nissan Silvia S14

Nissan’s S-chassis line-up is undoubtedly one of the highest regarded in the world of drifting. For those on the Japanese and European markets, in 1993, Nissan launched the 200SX S14 which featured a turbocharged SR20DET engine under the hood.

Meanwhile, US enthusiasts were forced to settle for the somewhat lethargic, naturally-aspirated 140hp KA24DE engine. Despite still featuring the same epic looks, it certainly lacked in the fun factor which its European relatives had in abundance, and led to many carrying out the KA24DE-T turbo upgrade.

With the very latest model of the Silvia family, the S15, being a hit across the world, it would once again be a depressing outcome for the US market. Not only did it never get released, but it would also face a 25-year ban alongside the other epic Japanese machinery which suffered the same fate due to strict importation laws.

This means that for the time being, in the US at least, the S14 reigns supreme in the S-chassis world. With SR20DET swaps available on the used market, if you’re willing to pay the price, owners have been handed the perfect opportunity to turn their S14 into the beast it SHOULD have been when it initially hit the market.

For those of you in Europe or Asia, it’s time to count your blessings as you admire your awesome turbocharged 220hp SR20DET engine from stock with heaps of tuning potential to cause some serious upsets to higher-powered rivals.

Interested to know more about Nissan’s S-chassis history? We have no doubt you’ll love this video from Donut Media:

When the S14 was launched, it was wider, lower and had a longer wheelbase than the much-loved S13. This made drifting even easier than before, despite the S13 already winning various competitions across the world.

With the Zenki S14 being produced from 1994 to 96, Nissan clearly noted the popularity of this epic affordable chassis and opted to upgrade the design to the Kouki (S14A) for the facelift version which rolled out of the showroom until they ceased production to make way for the S15 in 1999.

Even until the present day, very few cars on the market can offer the same package that the S14 does, and even with its added ‘drift tax’, there’s no doubt that this legend is worth every penny and will be a great investment.

What’s in this guide?

Whether you’re looking for the perfect drift setup, a daily cruiser, to scrape your chassis on the street or shave off seconds on your time attack lap, our coilover guide is going to be perfect for your needs.

For each coilover option, we also add our own comments. In addition, we have given a Drifted rating (1-5) based on features and price. We are considering budget, mid-range and high-end coilovers in this comparison.

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Let’s take a look at our S14 coilover selection

To read more about any of these products just click on the product name or photo.

KW Variant 3 (V3) Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: KW
• Levels of damping adjustment: 14
• Construction type: Twin-tube
• Spring rate front: 343lbs/in | 6kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 224lbs/in | 4kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase link: KW Variant 3 (V3) Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: We kick off our list with what is undoubtedly one of the best setups that you can get your hands on for your S14.

German suspension experts KW offer this fantastic coilover kit which features a rust-proof stainless steel construction and alongside being one of the most popular kits on the market, owners continually sing the praises of this 3-way adjustable setup.

Whether you’re looking for ideal suspension for drifting, auto-x or a daily driver, the V3’s will undoubtedly be one of the best choices you can get your hands on.

Manufacturer description: “State-of-the-art technology from motor sports for more performance on the road. The separate and independently adjustable rebound- and compression damping allows for an individual suspension setup for different uses and preferences.“

“The unique patented system with its two-stage valves allows a rebound damping adjustment (comfort) and a compression adjustment (driving dynamics) in the low-speed range while the high-speed range which controls the driving safety is fixed.“

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Megan Racing EZII Series Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: Megan Racing
• Levels of damping adjustment: 15
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥
• Purchase links: Megan Racing EZII Series Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: The Megan Racing EZII kit is the most reasonably priced setup in our guide, it offers an impressive level of damping with a solid monotube construction for a very low price point. If you want a cheap kit to lower your car and replace the tired stock suspension this is a solid choice.

We have known Megan Racing to be one of the love/hate brands on the market among owners, so if you can stump up a little extra change, there are better options out there for slightly more money.

Manufacturer description: “Megan Racing EZII Series coilover system is aimed towards the more budget oriented enthusiast to offer the most basic essentials from an after-market coil-over setup, yet makes no compromises for quality and performance.“

“15 Levels of Adjustable Damper Strength, Aluminum Brackets paired with rubber inserts, Rubber Dust Covers, Adjustable Ride Height, Conservative Spring Rates, Single-Cylinder Design – monotube, All coilover damper kits come with 1 year manufacture-defect warranty, All Hardware is Included.“

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Fortune Auto Dreadnought PRO 2-Way Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: Fortune Auto
• Levels of damping adjustment: 24
• Construction type: Monotube with external reservoirs
• Spring rate front: Range of options available
• Spring rate rear: Range of options available
• Fitment: Nissan Sivia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: Fortune Auto Dreadnought Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: Fortune Auto have arrived to help you empty your pockets! The stunning Fortune Auto Dreadnought’s are undoubtedly at the high end of the price bracket, but if you have the money to spare we have no doubt you’ll be a happy owner.

If your S14 is likely to spend most of its time at the track, and not so much time on the road, these will undoubtedly be a contender if the budget allows.

Manufacturer description: “Dreadnought PRO dampers are the foundation of a race winning suspension; designed and tested in the harshest environment possible- the race track. Offering top tier race technology and durable race proven components, Dreadnought PRO damper systems are the ultimate in performance and adjustability.“

“All systems are completely built in-house by our engineering staff in Richmond, Virginia. We insist on building bespoke suspension in order to offer some of the best quality control in the industry.“

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Stance XR1 Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: Stance
• Levels of damping adjustment: 16
• Construction type: Monotube with external reservoirs
• Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: Stance XR1 Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: Stance brings you their flagship coilover offering, which is great for owners who are looking for low ride height with good adjustability while still maintaining great handling.

Despite being slightly firmer than stock, it’s not a crashy ride and if frame-laying is your thing, comfort probably isn’t at the top of your list! With the option of swift springs available, we’d highly recommend opting for these. If you’re intending to track the car there are better options out there, but for daily driving, this is a great, affordable option.

Manufacturer description: “Suspension tuning is a sort of “black art”. Properly valving dampers is difficult to master and there are many variables involved in making the perfect suspension. We have acquired our knowledge through our involvement in all forms of motorsports. Vehicles using our custom valved dampers have excelled in drifting, time attack, drag racing, land speed, and hill climb. Drivers at the highest level of competition need maximum traction control, and that is what our Bespoke dampers provide.“

“The XR1 is our new flagship line of coilovers. Oversized diameter shocks allow large pistons for ultimate performance and response. 16-way adjustable dampening allows the driver to tune the shocks for any conditions and handling characteristics. With huge range of adjustment that can be felt and seen, it offers serious performance for all levels of drivers. Stance XR1 coilovers are built with highest quality materials and tolerances to ensure durability and performance.“

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BC Racing RM Series Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: BC Racing
• Levels of damping adjustment: 30
• Construction type: Monotubeli>
• Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: BC Racing RM Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: BC Racing have continued to earn themselves a positive reputation over the years, with many satisfied owners. The RM is their mid-range offering and is great for those who use their car for daily driving and like to hit the track occasionally.

With the RM being their mid-price offering, we highly recommend checking out their budget BC Racing BR coilovers for cheap daily use and high-end BC Racing ER coilovers for a high-performance track orientated setup.

Manufacturer description: “The BC Racing RM series feature high quality damping adjustable mono-tube inverted dampers at the front or front and rear, depending on vehicle. The RM coilovers offer the majority of the features of the BR series but with the additional benefit of the inverted damper unit. Inverting the damper unit brings with it a number of advantages.“

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Fortune Auto 510 Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: Fortune Auto
• Levels of damping adjustment: 24
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: Range of options available
• Spring rate rear: Range of options available
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: Fortune Auto 510 Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: Fortune Auto return to our guide with another fantastic product, this time their equally colorful mid-range offering. As tempting as the Dreadnought’s are, we understand that they’re going to be out of most owners price ranges.

The 510 offers rivaled quality and advanced features of the higher-end setup at a fraction of the price. If your heart is set on Fortune Auto coilovers and the price is still too high, make sure you take a look at their S14 500 series coilovers, which fall into the low-end price bracket but still maintain exceptional quality.

Manufacturer description: “Fortune Auto is proud to release the all new Generation 5 510 series dampers. The advanced suspension technology found in our new shock absorbers is derived from recent successes in World Challenge, One Lap of America, and Global Time Attack.“

“All systems are completely built in-house by our engineering staff in Richmond, Virginia. We insist on building bespoke suspension in order to offer some of the best quality control in the industry.“

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ISR Performance Pro Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: ISR
• Levels of damping adjustment: 32
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: ISR Performance Pro Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: Formerly (rather awkwardly) known as ISIS, these coilovers have been a popular budget choice by owners under both brand names.

With coilovers, it’s often a case of ‘you get what you pay for’, however, for those of you that are looking for a cheap kit which will give you a good setup for the street, you’re going to struggle to find better than these for the money.

Manufacturer description: “After years of success with Basic Coilovers, ISR Performance has released a high-end line of coilovers that offer better dampening control and overall driving performance than many of their predecessors.“

“ISR coilovers are designed to deliver ultimate performance for both track racing and everyday driving, making them some of the most flexible coilovers around.“

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KSport Kontrol Pro Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: KSport
• Levels of damping adjustment: 36
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: 8.7kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 6.2kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: KSport Kontrol Pro Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: KSport has been in the coilover game for a long time now and they have built up a decent reputation amongst owners. They are known for being on the firmer side even when fully adjusted, so if you’re looking for a soft setup, these might not be for you.

For $900.00 these are undoubtedly going to be a great consideration for the budget buyers.

Manufacturer description: “Ksport Kontrol Pro Fully Adjustable Coilover Kits provide the ultimate in suspension technology for your vehicle, both on the street or at the track. 36 levels of damping adjustment allow fine tuning of the damper to suit both handling and comfort needs. The damping adjustment alters compression and rebound simultaneously, for more effective and user-friendly setup changes.“

“The Ksport Kontrol Pro Coilover system has been designed with professional road racing in mind, offering extremely high value and performance for any application.“

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APEXi N1 Evolution Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: APEXi
• Levels of damping adjustment: 25
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: 9kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 8kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: APEXi N1 Evolution Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: Stepping into the higher end of the suspension market, APEXi bring you their upper-range N1 Evolution drift-orientated coilovers. Despite the serious price tag, these are undoubtedly a fantastic choice for those who are looking for a great coilover system which is more track-orientated than street.

Unfortunately, they have priced themselves above the KW V3’s, which we feel are the strongest contender in the mid-range price bracket. Although they’re undoubtedly a great setup, we’d definitely be putting our money into the V3’s.

Manufacturer description: “The N1 Evolution is the newest generation of our track engineered flag ship N1 suspension. All N1 dampers feature large piston, monotube design using a threaded base for height adjustments without compromising shock or spring travel.“

“Every year, we gather incredible amounts of suspension data from our direct involvement in many different racing series. This specialized data goes directly into our sports parts development to provide the customer with the same cutting edge suspension technology we use on all of our race vehicles.“

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TEIN Super Drift Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

• Manufacturer: TEIN
• Levels of damping adjustment: 16
• Construction type: Monotube
• Spring rate front: 10kg/mm
• Spring rate rear: 8kg/mm
• Fitment: Nissan Silvia S14
• Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Purchase links: TEIN Super Drift Nissan Silvia S14 coilovers

Our comment: JDM suspension experts TEIN acknowledge the demand for S-Chassis drift-specific coilover setups and release this great coilover setup to the market which provides everything you need to throw your car down sideways.

Another great thing about this setup is that is EDFC compatible. If you have a little extra money reserved, the EDFC system allows you to electronically control the damping on each coilover from inside the car without getting out your seat. This is a great idea for those that are frequently driving on the streets and heading to the track.

Manufacturer description: “TEIN’s support of competition D1 drivers and vehicles has led to the development of Super Drift dampers. Which were specifically developed for the avid drifter. Spring rates and damping force characteristics were chosen to increase car control in a drift, and to aid in initiating a slide.“

“Full length and 16 level damping force adjustment allow suspension tuning for drivers at all skill levels. Pillowball upper mounts with front camber adjustment plates are included*. EDFC compatible for quick and hassle free dampening force changes. Super Drift is the suspension of choice for all levels of drifters.“

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Our winner

Our winner is the epic KW Variant 3 (V3) coilovers.

KW simply cannot be faulted for the price point. With the perfected German build quality combined with 3-way adjustability and rust resistant coating, you really aren’t going to get a better product for your money.

KW Variant 3 (V3) Nissan Silvia S14 Coilovers

For those with a mid-range budget who are looking for a setup for both the road and track, look no further. KW are unquestionably up there with the very best in the suspension game, and although it may seem expensive, trust us when we say they’re actually incredible value for money.

Runner-up

TEIN has been around in the JDM tuning scene since the beginning of time, yet their products keep evolving to match the high standards we expect from them. For those of you that are planning on skidding your S14, their Super Drift Coilover Kit combined with the EDFC damping is definitely going to be an excellent choice.

TEIN Super Drift Nissan Silvia S14 Coilover Kit

For those of you on a budget, we’d highly recommend taking a look at the ISR Performance Pro Series coilovers. At under $800, we struggle to believe you will be able to find a better coilover out there for the money.

ISR Performance Pro Series Coilover Kit

Thank you for reading our Nissan Silvia S14 coilover guide!

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Additional S-chassis related articles

Planning to start drifting your S14? You’ll want to check out the most important modifications before you start running walls at the track in our 5 Must-Have Drifting Modifications article!

Has this guide given you the motivation to boost your KA24DE engine? If so, you’ll definitely want to check out our KA24DE turbo kit guide.

Perhaps you’re not entirely sure if the S14 is for you? We’ve given you some alternative considerations in our 11 Best Budget Project Cars, or, if you’re new to drifting, our 9 Best Drift Cars For Beginners guide.

If you’re an S14 lover, you’ll definitely want to check out the most famous S14 on the UK drift scene as we check out Alex Law’s crazy build.

Keen to know more about the SR20DET and want to know why this engine is so popular in the drift scene? Check out the 15 SR20DET Specs That Prove Why Drifters Love This Engine guide here!

Photography credits

We thank the following entities for use of their photography in this article:

• Z1 Motorsports
• TEIN
• Enjuku Racing

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