Ultimate 240sx Coilover Guide

We’re going to be reviewing the most popular 240SX coilover kits on the market to find the ultimate suspension setup to suit your requirements. This is the ultimate 240SX coilover guide.

240sx coilovers

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
TEIN Street Basis Z coilovers
Jump to winners

In a hurry? Here is our 240SX coilover summary

Budget Choice	Drifted Choice	Runner Up

ISR Performance Pro Series 240SX Coilover Kit	KW Variant 3 (V3) 240SX Coilovers	TEIN Super Drift 240SX Coilovers
🔥🔥🔥	🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥	🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

About the Nissan 240SX

The 240SX is the USDM (US) answer to the JDM (Japanese) 180SX S13 and 200SX S14. Featuring a front-engine rear-wheel drive short wheelbase, incredibly well-balanced chassis with a bargain retail price and an ample powerplant thrown in the bay, there was no surprise that it immediately took the market by storm.

In the present day, the 240SX fastback coupe is undoubtedly one of the most popular chassis for drifting in the US, and the 180SX/200SX are equally as popular in the rest of the world.

S14 owner looking to be swayed into an S13? Then check out our S13 guide.

Without a doubt, the 240SX is undisputably one of the chassis’ ever when it comes to drifting, and prices are definitely on the rise. What could have been had for several hundred bucks a few years ago is now fetching multiple thousands.

This is known in the drifting community as ‘scene tax’, where certain car model names like used 240SX’s and the cost of their parts are on a serious uptrend. Drifting is a risky sport, especially on the streets, which has strongly contributed to a steady decline in roadworthy numbers, with rarity, comes increased value.

For those of you that are lucky enough to own one, you’ve come to the right place to make your car handle better than ever. Whether you’re looking to replace your tired OEM suspension or upgrade the budget setup that the previous owner installed, this guide will help you find the perfect replacement.

Coilovers are the ultimate suspension component to ensure your car handles to its full potential, often allowing full adjustability to provide the ultimate set up for your needs, whether you’re throwing it down sideways, competing in auto-x, wanting to slam it or just looking for a daily driving setup with adjustability.

Thankfully, prices for brand new coilovers haven’t seen the same level of growth as almost all other parts on the used car market, meaning you can get your brand-new setup at fantastic value.

How to install 240sx coilovers

Check out this coilover install on a 240sx S13 by Tyler Tea.

What’s in this guide?

We’ve created this to help you find the perfect coilover suspension setup to complement your S-Chassis, whether you own the first generation (S13) or second generation (S14).

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.

Let’s take a look at our 240SX coilover selection

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

KW Variant 3 (V3) Coilovers

Manufacturer: KW
Levels of damping adjustment: 14
Construction type: Twin-tube
Spring rate front: 343lbs/in
Spring rate rear: 400lbs/in
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Purchase link: KW Variant 3 (V3) Nissan 240SX coilovers

Our comment: We kick off our list with what is undoubtedly the best kits you can get your hands on for the 240SX.

German suspension experts offer this fantastic setup which offers rust-proof stainless steel construction and aswell as 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 a drift setup, auto-x or a daily driver, the V3’s will undoubtedly be one of the best choices for you.

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.”

Megan Racing EZII Series 240SX Coilovers

Manufacturer: Megan Racing
Levels of damping adjustment: 15
Construction type: Monotube
Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥

Purchase links: Megan Racing EZII Series 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
Megan Racing EZII Series 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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 limited warranty from the date of purchase, All Hardware is Included.”

Fortune Auto Dreadnought PRO 2-Way 240SX 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 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: Fortune Auto Dreadnought 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
Fortune Auto Dreadnought 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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 240SX 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 for you 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.”

Stance XR1 240SX 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 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: Stance XR1 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
Stance XR1 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX coilovers

Our comment: Stance brings you their flagship coilover offering, which is great for owners who are looking for minimum 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, street 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 and individual parts 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.”

BC Racing RM Series Coilovers

Manufacturers: BC Racing
Levels of damping adjustment: 30
Construction type: Monotubeli>
Spring rate front: 8 kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 6 kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: BC Racing RM 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
BC Racing RM 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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.”

Fortune Auto 510 240SX 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 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: Fortune Auto 510 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
Fortune Auto 510 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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 S13 500 series and 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.”

ISR Performance Pro 240SX Coilovers

Manufacturer: ISR
Levels of damping adjustment: 32
Construction type: Monotube
Spring rate front: 8kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 6kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: ISR Performance Pro 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
ISR Performance Pro 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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.”

KSport Kontrol Pro 240SX 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 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: KSport Kontrol Pro 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
KSport Kontrol Pro 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX coilovers

Our comment: K-Sport has been in the coilover game for a long time now and 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.

We’re not entirely sure why the price of the S13 variant is so much higher than the S14, which are $900.00. For $900.00 these are undoubtedly going to be a great consideration for the budget buyers, but we feel there’s better options out there at $1,305.00.

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.”

APEXi N1 Evolution 240SX Coilovers

Manufacturer: APEXi
Levels of damping adjustment: 25
Construction type: Monotube
Spring rate front: 9kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 8kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: APEXi N1 Evolution 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
APEXi N1 Evolution 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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.”

TEIN Super Drift 240SX Coilovers

Manufacturer: TEIN
Levels of damping adjustment: 16
Construction type: Monotube
Spring rate front: 10kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 8kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: TEIN Super Drift 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
TEIN Super Drift 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX 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 with minimum driving inputs.”

“Full length and 16 level damping force adjustment allow suspension tuning for drivers at all skill levels. Pillow ball top mount 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.”

Tein Street Basis Z 240SX Coilovers

Manufacturer: TEIN
Levels of damping adjustment: N/A (Fixed)
Construction type: Twin Tube
Spring rate front: 6kg/mm
Spring rate rear: 4kg/mm
Fitment: Nissan 240SX (S13, S14)
Value for money: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Purchase links: TEIN Street Basis Z 1989-1994 (S13) 240SX coilovers |
TEIN Street Basis Z 1995-1998 (S14) 240SX coilovers

Our comment: If drifting isn’t your goal, but you’re keen to stay true to the JDM route with your 240SX build, then this bargain offering from JDM legends TEIN could provide the perfect solution for those looking for an excellent setup on a budget.

On initial inspection, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there must be a typo with the price, but we can assure you these are incredible value for money.

Although this is an entry-level kit, which doesn’t allow for adjustable damping, TEIN has used its decades of knowledge at the forefront of the suspension game to provide this out-of-the-box setup.

While you’re able to get a great setup for a bargain, the downside here is that they’re a sealed unit, which means you won’t be able to get them rebuilt further down the line.

However, since they’re a fraction of the price of most alternatives, it means you can treat yourself to a new coilover day once again in a few years if necessary!

Although this kit isn’t likely to be the best choice for the ultimate refinement from your suspension setup, it presents a perfect opportunity for those looking to dramatically improve their handling and adjust their ride height on a budget.

Manufacturer description: “STREET BASIS Z is strictly a ride height adjustable kit. This makes it a perfect setup for the daily driver looking for an increase in handling performance without compromising comfort for everyday use.”

“TEIN coilovers are built from TEIN’s direct knowledge of suspension products due to their extensive racing history. TEIN Street Basis Z Coilovers are TEIN’s entry level coilover that gives you all of the benefits of a high quality dual height adjustable coilover at an entry level price.”

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) 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 240, their Super Drift Coilover Kit combined with the EDFC damping is definitely going to be an excellent choice.

TEIN Super Drift 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 240SX coilover guide!

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Additional 240SX articles

Unsure if the 240SX S13 is the perfect drift car for your needs? Check out our 7 Reasons The Nissan S13 Is The Best Drift Car article to see if we can persuade you!

Still unsure? Why not take a look at our 11 Best Budget Project Cars to see if any of these tickle your fancy?

If you’ve already got your heart set on a 240, and didn’t need any convincing, you’ll definitely want to check out our 6 Sensational 240sx S13 Drift Builds on Drifted article!

Photography credits

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

Written by Joe Terrell

Joe is an avid writer and car enthusiast. When he's not cruising the streets alongside his friends in his Nissan Silvia S15, he's drifting on his VR racing simulator.

Joe's passion for cars is always on display. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the automotive industry, he hopes his writing conveys his excitement and knowledge of cars and games.

Joe's work has been featured on many platforms including drivetribe.com, 180sx.club, carthrottle.com, smartdrivinggames.com, databox.com and ceoblognation.com.

When he's not behind the wheel or at his keyboard, he's likely daydreaming of his ultimate ride - the legendary Lexus LFA.