The Upgrade Guide for Lancer Evo X Coilovers. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X is a fantastic car that is simple to tune and modify. With a few basic bolt-on mods, an Evo X can exceed 350whp, and there’s even more potential left. While power mods are exciting, there is also a lot of fun to be had with some handling upgrades. A set of Evo X coilovers is one of the best upgrades. This guide covers Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X coilovers, lowering, benefits, pricing, and much more.
The Fundamentals of Evo X Coilovers
If you’re already familiar with coilovers vs struts, spring rates, and other Lancer Evo suspension upgrade details, you can skip ahead. Otherwise, keep reading and we’ll go over some of the fundamentals. What exactly are coilovers, distinguishes them from shocks and struts? What role do Evo X springs play in all of this? These are all reasonable concerns, and suspension components and modifications can be perplexing.
There are numerous parts and names, and they are sometimes used interchangeably. In the following sections, we’ll go over some of the fundamentals before moving on to more in-depth topics. This should give you a good starting point for understanding what you’re looking for in Lancer Evo X coilovers.
Shocks, Struts, and Coilovers for the Lancer
It’s not always easy to put into words the difference between shocks, struts, and coilovers. We’ve mentioned the video below several times in our articles, and it’s a good place to start.
Let’s include a brief summary and some additional notes. One thing unites all of these components. They are all based on shock absorbers, or shocks for short. These are hydraulic pumps that use fluid to dampen impacts and rebounding.
You can mount the springs on the shock absorber after attaching a coil spring collar to it. This is referred to as a strut, which some people also refer to as a coilover. It makes sense: the spring is wrapping around the shock.
Coilovers, on the other hand, add height adjustability to the mix. The coil spring collar on the shock can be moved up and down. The ride height and lowering of your Evo X can then be easily adjusted. Coilovers are similar to struts in design, but they allow for simple ride height adjustments.
Higher-end Evo X coilovers typically include shock adjustability. There are various levels of adjustment, but the majority will allow you to change the compression and rebound behavior of the shocks.
Coil Springs for Mitsubishi Evo X
To be more specific, when discussing struts or coilovers, the coil springs wrap around the shock absorber. The Evo X coil spring is arguably the most important component of the suspension. Contrary to popular belief, the coil springs, not the shocks, support the entire weight of the vehicle.
Springs play a significant role in handling. For one thing, they keep the car from tipping over. Furthermore, Lancer Evo coil springs control body roll during cornering, braking, and acceleration. There is a lot that goes into coil springs and selecting the correct springs for your vehicle. As a result, we’ll return to this subject in a moment.
The Advantages of Lancer Evo X Coilovers
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X coilovers can provide a great deal of versatility. Coilovers can be used for a variety of applications. But how do you know which coilovers are right for you? Before purchasing coilovers, you should decide what features you want. Some of the advantages of Evo X coilovers include:
- Ride height can be adjusted (lowering)
- Improved handling, braking, and so on.
- Improved ride quality
- Upgrade old, worn suspension
This is not an exhaustive list, and there may be additional benefits depending on your preferences. Anyway, one important feature of coilovers is the adjustable height. Many will allow lowering for about 1-2.5″. Some coilovers with a more aggressive stance can lower the vehicle by 3-4 inches or more.
Another big reason to upgrade Evo X coilovers is for better handling, cornering, and braking. Damping and spring rates become critical factors at this point. You must have the proper setup for your driving; more on this later.
Then there’s the matter of ride quality. To be clear – if you’re going for stance or ultimate handling performance you’ll likely be sacrificing some comfort. However, the right set of Lancer Evo coilovers can improve comfort.
Lastly, there’s wear and tear. Shocks typically wear out after 8-10 years and 100,000 miles, especially in high-performance vehicles. If you find yourself in this situation, why not take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade? A good set of coilovers can often be found for the same or less than the price of OEM replacements.
Evo X Coil Spring Rates
Again, when it comes to Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X coilovers, this is one of the most important topics. The spring rate is the amount of weight required to compress the spring 1 inch. This will normally be quoted as something like 500 lbs/in. In this example, it would require 500 pounds to compress the spring 1 inch. You might also come across the metric system, which employs kg/mm rather than lbs/in.
Without extensive testing, there is no perfect answer to the perfect spring rate. It all depends on the road surface, the vehicle, the driving style, and so on. However, there are some general guidelines to follow when it comes to spring rates.
Higher numbers indicate stiffer springs, which require more force to compress. For the Evo X, stiffer does not always imply better handling. This is especially true for rougher road surfaces. A spring that is too stiff can cause the chassis to sway over bumps and imperfections. You’ll also be saddled with an unpleasant ride quality.
Stiff springs, on the other hand, are ideal for smoother surfaces. It will aid in limiting body roll and weight transfer in the Lancer. If you intend to significantly lower your Lancer Evo X, you will also require stiff springs. The stiffer spring will help prevent the bump stops from bottoming out.
In summary, for smooth road surfaces, use a higher spring rate for tracking and aggressive street driving. It’s also useful if you plan to lower the car by more than 1.5-2 inches. Softer springs are better for bumpier roads and a smoother ride, but they allow for more body roll and weight transfer.
Upgrades for Evo X Coilovers
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s look at some of the best coilover upgrades for the Evo X. Note – this is far from an exhaustive list. There are numerous excellent coilover options, and we cannot possibly cover them all.
Instead, we’re concentrating on a few of our favorite options at various price points and objectives. We believe that these Evo X coilover kits provide an excellent value in terms of price, quality, and performance. Let’s get started.
1) Lancer Evo X BC Racing Coils 1
Entry-to-mid-level street
Price: $1,030
The BC Racing BR Series coilovers are up first. They’re not the cheapest coilovers on the market, but they’re close. BC Racing’s Evo X coilovers feature 30 damping adjustment levels. You can adjust the compression and rebound of the shocks.
The standard kit includes BC Racing springs. Swift springs are available for an additional $340. If you want stance and maximum lowering, you can also find Extreme Low options.
Overall, this is an excellent entry-level mid-level street coilover kit. You’re not going to get the same handling as some high-end kits, but they also cost a lot more. BC Racing Evo X coilovers are a great choice if you want a nice budget option that still delivers.
2) Fortune Auto 500 Series Evo X Coilovers
Tier: Mid-level aggressive street
Price: $1,499
Fortune Auto is another well-known option for Evo X suspension upgrades. Their single adjustable kit starts at $1,499, so it’s getting a little pricey. As single adjustable they only allow for rebound changes. These coilovers, on the other hand, are entirely handcrafted.
They also use “Flow Digressive” technology. At lower speeds, this allows for stiffer compression and rebound. The suspension loosens up as the shock piston speed increases, allowing for maximum grip over bumps and imperfections in the road.
Overall, for the price, this is an excellent set of Evo X coilovers. Although $1,500 may appear to be a high price, it is still a small price to pay when compared to some top-of-the-line options. If you want to upgrade to swift springs, you’ll have to pay an additional $350. Nonetheless, this is one of our favorite mid-tier price options with excellent handling and performance.
3) Mitsubishi Ohlin’s Road & Track Coilover Kit
Aggressive street and entry track
Price: $2,495
Ohlin’s is a household name when it comes to high-end, high-priced coilover kits. It’s no different for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. At nearly $2,500, you’re paying a premium for the brand and high-quality coilovers.
Ohlin’s Evo X coilovers, like the others on the list, are rebuildable. As an aggressive kit, they will most likely necessitate more frequent rebuilds. There’s not much more to say about Ohlin’s. Their Evo X coilovers are genuine, but you must pay to play.
Related : The Guide to Mazda Miata NB Coilovers
4) KW V3 & Clubsport Evo X Coilovers
Aggressive street and track
Price: $3,019 (V3), $5,789 (Clubsport)
When it comes to top-of-the-line kits, KW is yet another well-known brand in the coilovers industry. For many cars, they have some nice mid-tier options at a better price point. However, only the KW V3 and Clubsport coilover kits are available for the Evo X. Most people, understandably, will be turned off by the price.
A set of KW V3 coilovers will set you back slightly more than $3,000. Their top-tier street setup is also an excellent choice for track duty. Then there are there Clubsport 3-way adjustable Evo X coilovers. They’re built for the Nürburgring, one of the most difficult race tracks in the world, if not the most difficult.
Both of these options will undoubtedly impress Evo X owners with demanding handling requirements. Most people will never require the full capability of these KW coilovers, so they are overkill. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for the best of the best, KW has you covered.
Summary of Mitsubishi Lancer Coilovers
The Evo X is a fantastic car for a variety of reasons. The Lancer Evo platform is not only unique, but it is also extremely simple to modify. Simple modifications can boost the 2.0L turbo engine’s power to 350-400whp. That’s already going to be a lot of fun. With coilovers, the Evo X can become a completely different animal.
There is a lot to consider when selecting the best suspension kit for your needs and budget. Spring rate is one of the most important considerations. For tracking and a low stance, stiffer springs are recommended. Softer springs are ideal for street driving and comfort. Track and street enthusiasts should look for rebound/compression adjustable coilovers for their Evo X.
Evo X coilover kits are available from BC Racing, Fortune Auto, Ohlins, and KW. Depending on your goals and budget, one of these companies is likely to have a great kit for you. Regardless of which you choose, a set of coilovers can add a lot of versatility and fun to the Evo X platform.
