The BEST Coilovers for AE86 - WHY are these THE BEST - Unboxing and Overview ANNEX Coilovers!

[@nunuland69]

Awesome vid Devin! Once I get my car running and get the feel of her again, I was definitely going to upgrade my gen1 T3 true coilovers, to Annex suspension. Everyone that has these only talk about how good they are.

[@spooky8662]

I can't wait to hear the drive results. I love that build quality though!

[@AE86Matt]

Amazing informative video as always! After a few other big things I'll be revisiting my suspension, however I'm on 240sx stuff so I've got some different options to explore.

[@battlegaragers]

Annex is able to custom valve S13 suspensino for AE86 motion ratios and corner weights. We've provided this for a few customers before.

[@AE86Matt]

@@battlegaragers Rad! i'll keep this in mind down the road, i've currently got some custom valved konis up front with modified Ground Control bodies. Would love to get a pair for my AE71, same s chassis set up. I'll be in touch when the time comes!

[@Rally_Armaments]

Love your videos and all that you do for the ae86 community by spreading knowledge. What spring rates did you run in your Megan Spec-RS coilovers? Was it just the factory springs that come with it? Thanks.

[@DoctoredGarage]

Thanks! I ran the springs that came with them for awhile. 8k front 6k rear. About a year and a half ago I swapped out the rears for the bgrs x Swift 5.5k progressive springs

[@mrj0hnster]

Curious, is this a sponsored video? Megan, Greddy, and Annex dampers are made in Taiwan. Have you tried KW, Reiger, Proflex, or Bilstein Japan yet?

[@DoctoredGarage]

This is not a sponsored video - I had to buy coilovers just like everybody else ha. Annex coilovers are hand assembled in the USA, using components sourced from multiple suppliers. Some of the components may come from the Taiwan manufacturer you're referring to (BC). Megan, Greddy, k sport, and some tein coilovers are all built by BC to each brand's specs. I've had my hands on pretty much every coilover that gets shipped out of BC's factory, and I can honestly say I noticed a few difference between Annex and the others. I've had my hands on KW and Bilstein coilovers. I would consider them as well as Reiger and Proflex in a completely different category for assessment. If they make AE86 coilovers, they may be a better performance coilover but wouldn't be something I would want to drive on regularly. So, best for some people, but I think for the majority of AE86 drivers and builders - Annex are the best option.

[@jasonbaltazar8774]

What specifically was different?

[@DoctoredGarage]

From an external perspective - damper adjust knobs, spring perches, lock collars, dust boots, spring isolators, etc. Internally they'll be completely different - which is what really makes a difference when it comes to shocks. Annex is 24 way adjustable with valving tuned for the AE86, whereas most of the other coilovers that come out of Taiwan are 30-32 way adjustable and have pretty generic valving, although they usually have their own flavor of it. The parts that look the same are the lower mounts for front and rear, although Annex has a different bushing style.

[@battlegaragers]

@@DoctoredGarage You can also mention the internals use many of Annex's own designed parts or European components, Amsoil, and with the CSPs - pistons designed, QC'd, and anodized in California! The shims are european too =)

[@jasonbaltazar8774]

@@battlegaragers what material was the spindle made with? I've seen a couple cases of them bending or shearing.

[@DreamHachi]

Man I’ve been struggling with the rears on my annex kit for my 86. Set the perch adapter to the middle but the shocks bottom out before the spring is captured when adjusting them. Not sure why but it’s frustrating

[@DoctoredGarage]

A lot of rear AE86 coilovers are that way unfortunately. Set the perch adapter for a higher ride height to capture the spring and start there - then adjust to achieve the ride height you desire.

[@excessivewear6527]

but how low do they go? i should email them i guess and ask about shock body length total length. I ran into this issue with the X83 and needing to get shorter front tubes to get the height i wanted.

[@DoctoredGarage]

Yeah that's what I would do! I've talked to Grant about it a few times, and he's said they'll build shock bodies to spec for however low you wanna go

[@mikemikeyee]

Do an in car video. Annex is the truth.

[@DoctoredGarage]

Will do as soon as the car drives haha

[@bobbin_rice]

what spring rates do you run on your track 86?

[@DoctoredGarage]

8k front, 5.5k rear

[@bobbin_rice]

@@DoctoredGarageawesome thanks man! Ordering some soon. Appreciate it

[@DoctoredGarage]

You're welcome! I'd also talk to Annex about what engine, sway bars, etc you're driving and they can help figure out ideal spring rates

[@bobbin_rice]

@@DoctoredGaragesounds good, I’ll give them a call tomorrow. 👏

[@hectorlozada2503]

Do they come for 1980 corolla?

[@DoctoredGarage]

I'm pretty sure they do! Reach out to Annex!

[@coldvaper]

I’m currently running fortune auto 500s with 6kg spring on front. For the rears I did not like the fortune shocks and the swift spring setup. The shocks in the rear has way too short of a stroke and the spring with adjustable perch was pretty loud too. The springs also were grinding on the green mount pretty badly. So I went with Koni long strokes and TRD 4kg lowering springs with rubber isolators on both ends and it was a much better setup for street driving. I wonder how the rear shocks would compare to what I am running now. I didn’t see any rubber bushings on these springs but i guess they could be added later.

[@DoctoredGarage]

Interesting. I've really liked the sets of fortune auto coilovers I've installed over the years, but I've also not used them on my cars - just customer cars. I need to locate the stock lower rubber bushings for when I install these. I have them in a box somewhere just not sure exactly where lol

[@coldvaper]

@@DoctoredGarage the rears were so short that my inner tire would lift on a flat surface driving city street speeds just turning a corner, so much rear bump steer. I don’t suppose you have a rear fortune auto rear shock laying around you could compare length and droop.

[@DoctoredGarage]

I don't, but I'm very curious to do that now ha

[@coldvaper]

@@DoctoredGarage well if you can that would be sweet might as well do the fronts as well.

[@battlegaragers]

@@coldvaper lot's of good discussions here. We have spec'd the shocks to have rebound cuves similar to koni yellows, however we have a more compliant low speed compression. Annex shocks also don't pack up at high velocities since they are a larger piston diameter with high flow ports!