Competitive Coilover Setup

[MSPM1cheLe]

I'm going to buy the BC BR Coilovers, but before I do I wanted to get some insight on what is usually ran for the setup on these.

I need people who actually race competitively to give me some direction. No offense but it seems that most of you with coilovers are just looking to slam the shit out of your ride (cool, but not helpful for me).

If anyone has some advice/feedback I'd really appreciate it!

[Outlawstar98]

From being on here to much (lol) I heard if u set the damperning forse to 8 it's good for a tight flat corse, but like u said, most people slam theirs (fail!!!) and not actually set it up for track use.

But BC's are great choice cause how much u can adjust them!!! :D

[rally2003]

I have two friends that have different set ups. The one uses Tein and the other uses AWR. I rode in both cars, not that there is a whole lot of difference, I like the AWR setup. A good midlevel setup usually works the best. Slammed just doesn't work. If slammed worked everyone would be using air bags for suspension. I'm going to go a different route when I get mine though. Going to go with KC. I've heard alot ov good things about them.

[03.5MSP]

I'm going to buy the BC BR Coilovers, but before I do I wanted to get some insight on what is usually ran for the setup on these.

I need people who actually race competitively to give me some direction. No offense but it seems that most of you with coilovers are just looking to slam the shit out of your ride (cool, but not helpful for me).

If anyone has some advice/feedback I'd really appreciate it!

Im in the same situation as you... Talking a little to JDMSam he personally doesn't really like the BC, because of how they are built,and there were a few people breaking their endlink tabs off of the strut tube, I dont know if that has been resolved. I personally was comparing AWR and KW and he recommended for me to go with a set of KW V2, because you can get compareable performance for a cheaper price.

I personally have really been looking into AWR, but they are more expensive, but most serious autoxers seem to really prefer/use them.. Further looking into AWR they are not adjustable with the Bilstein insterts, but the Bilsteins can be sent out to a 3rd party company that can make them adjustable...

Furthermore you can get the AWR's with the Koni inserts to make them adjustable out the box, but that makes them that much more expenseive.


Let us know what you go with.

[khaosman]

Being able to adjust is nice, but not completely necessary. For different levels of grip/course design, simple tire pressure changes can work wonders. Combine that with an adjustable sway bar and playing with alignment.

Britt is selling his AWR Blistein setup for a good price, definitely worth looking in to. I run the same setup but with stiffer springs (450/600) and am quite pleased with it. Much better than the JICs I had before.

[TWISFM]

hahah... o well... i still can take turns very well

[MSPM1cheLe]

Being able to adjust is nice, but not completely necessary. For different levels of grip/course design, simple tire pressure changes can work wonders. Combine that with an adjustable sway bar and playing with alignment.

Britt is selling his AWR Blistein setup for a good price, definitely worth looking in to. I run the same setup but with stiffer springs (450/600) and am quite pleased with it. Much better than the JICs I had before.

he never answers my PMs :[

installed the BC's today.

[03.5MSP]

he never answers my PMs :[

installed the BC's today.

Did you go with a custom spring rate setup or the BC rates??

[ND4MSP]

he never answers my PMs :[

installed the BC's today.

now slam that sh!t and take some pics.. ha

[MSPM1cheLe]

Did you go with a custom spring rate setup or the BC rates??

custom. and the shock cartridges are 8k in the front and 7k in the rear. :] feels like it will be a beast on the track. :]

Excited for Sept 26/27 (Redline Time Attack event)

[low_psi]

Honestly, if you wanted a good coilover setup, BC was not the way to go. Have fun at the Redline event though.

[MakeMeGoFast]

so whats the not so good word on BC's?

[low_psi]

They are low quality in everyway. If a set of AWRs cost $2,000 and don't come with upper mounts and a set of BCs cost $900 and come with upper mounts...

I haven't got a set of BCs on the shock dyno yet, but every cheap, Asian made shock I've tested so far has been terrible. Some have a million adjustments, but the adjustments amount to a very small range in the low speed. All the high speed curves are the same, depsite the adjustment. Also the springs are lower quality and vary in rate. I have a set of eBay coilover springs being tested right now.

Not to mention the material and machine work of the bodies is sub-par.

[MSPM1cheLe]

They are low quality in everyway. If a set of AWRs cost $2,000 and don't come with upper mounts and a set of BCs cost $900 and come with upper mounts...

I haven't got a set of BCs on the shock dyno yet, but every cheap, Asian made shock I've tested so far has been terrible. Some have a million adjustments, but the adjustments amount to a very small range in the low speed. All the high speed curves are the same, depsite the adjustment. Also the springs are lower quality and vary in rate. I have a set of eBay coilover springs being tested right now.

Not to mention the material and machine work of the bodies is sub-par.

I understand where you've come to your conclusion, but, I don't think its creditable to classify all asian companies in the same boat, especially if you haven't even tried the product yourself.

I'm all for hearing the opposing opinion on the brand, but IMO it's not worth reading unless you've actually tried the product.

you may be right for all i know, i've only had them for a few days, let alone tested them, but its just like anything else on the forums, everyone's got their opinion.

Usually I go with the rule of thumb: It all does the same shit, no matter what brand you get.

[orng1]

Everybody on MOCC must have goten in on the GB because they all seem to have them. I'm jealous they do look nice and seem to have enough adjustment but Michele is doing something completely different than most of the people on MOCC do. Good luck Michele.

[funkalicious21]

I have Bc coilover. And honestly i believe they're the best buy for the price. The dampening for the coilovers are definitely noticeable. I haven't riden in many cars with different coilover brands and nothing has compared to the BCs. I might be slammed but i definitely can handle the turns also. There are many post about bc. Take a look at Rogue's thread. Read up on his reviews on bs with autoX. I have nothing but good responses from my BC.

Please keep in mind these are my own opinion...Take it or leave it. Thank you =)

[D-TrainSP20]

I dissagree with the negative with this one. I've had my BC's installed for two months now and use my car for street and track. Yes cheap, however have been best bang for buck i've used. I would definately recommend these for anyone thinking of upgrading suspension, especiallly if doing any form of racing. M1cheleas i've got the P5 i cannot change the rear dampening however i took it back to the guys who put them in to change it to a fairly high setting. i've got my dampening in the rear on 20 but my fronts vary cos i haven't sussed out an exact setting but its between 15-25. Will be doing a practice day this weekend and i'll be conducting some testing in regaurds to this. I'll let you know what i decide as best setting. BTW i have dropped laps time by 2.68 seconds since going from Teins. I'm very impressed with this!!!!

[low_psi]

Usually I go with the rule of thumb: It all does the same shit, no matter what brand you get.

I'm sorry, but all parts are not created equal. I have a customer with BCs that is getting a new motor right now, I will see if I can get his shocks on the dyno. Then we'll have real data.

Of course when Jeff@Tripoint dyno'd KSports and showed everyone how terrible they are, no one would believe it...

[MakeMeGoFast]

yeah the dyno won't lie. I forget but how long did it take before the Ksports started blowing shocks?

[Outlawstar98]

The best Coilovers are AWR, But are pricy,
Best for their price is BC hands down.

[MSPM1cheLe]

I'm sorry, but all parts are not created equal. I have a customer with BCs that is getting a new motor right now, I will see if I can get his shocks on the dyno. Then we'll have real data.

Of course when Jeff@Tripoint dyno'd KSports and showed everyone how terrible they are, no one would believe it...

i was speaking in general about what the product DOES, not the quality of it. (i.e. when looking at brake pads, they all do the same thing. its just the difference in performance).

Anyway, can we keep the thread on topic? There's already too many threads disputing what coilover is better and why. That information is irrelevant to me.

I posted for information about the setup, not what brand is best. Thanks.


orng1 - Thanks :]

[MakeMeGoFast]

on topic threads bore me.........

So yeah.. AWR's are definitely the worth price but are BC's? I mean if they last longer then Ksports then they would definitely be wor.........

(lol2)

[low_psi]

What kind and size of tires are you going to be using? Stock swaybars and suspension bushings?

[MSPM1cheLe]

What kind and size of tires are you going to be using? Stock swaybars and suspension bushings?

running just street tires, bridgestone re01r's. 225/45/17 had the victoracer700's but, they are coving too many mistakes IMO at the moment.

Stock sways and bushings and just threw on some agency power endlinks to test. have heard both good and bad about them.

what is your set up?

[low_psi]

I'd start out running -2* camber in the front, and progress to -2.5* as needed. With your setup you're probably only going to be able to get -1* in the rear but if you can get -1.5, do it. Start with zero toe front and rear and if the car is loose under braking, dial in some rear toe in. 1/16" is all it should take unless your trailing arm bushings are really worn... which at that point I'd replace the arms before adding additional toe.

On my car I'm still running stock struts and sway bars but have the AWR endlinks, Ground Control kit, Cusco front camber plates, Hardrace front control arms and custom trailing arms I made. Camber is -3* front, -1.2* rear. I can't get anymore camber from the plates unless I slot the shock tower and relocate the endlink tab. Zero toe front and rear. Tires are 235 RA1s for one more event, then switching to Hoosier Koni's. I align and corner balance the car before events as well as monitor tire pressures closely... a lot of time and balance can be found in just the setup.

[Outlawstar98]

Hm... last time a Aligned a race car, i aligned him to -1 all around, it was a Dodge neon, but it still was usually in the top three, but with our cars I think it would be better with more camber upfront due to the turbo and the understeer we get. Would be better for powering out of the corners.

[low_psi]

The more negative camber the better on r-compounds, if I could go more than -3* I would... but without relocating the endlink tab I can't. On street tires you'll need a little less since your total roll angle will be less. You'll have no problems putting power down and braking will be unaffected.

[MSPM1cheLe]

I'd start out running -2* camber in the front, and progress to -2.5* as needed. With your setup you're probably only going to be able to get -1* in the rear but if you can get -1.5, do it. Start with zero toe front and rear and if the car is loose under braking, dial in some rear toe in. 1/16" is all it should take unless your trailing arm bushings are really worn... which at that point I'd replace the arms before adding additional toe.

On my car I'm still running stock struts and sway bars but have the AWR endlinks, Ground Control kit, Cusco front camber plates, Hardrace front control arms and custom trailing arms I made. Camber is -3* front, -1.2* rear. I can't get anymore camber from the plates unless I slot the shock tower and relocate the endlink tab. Zero toe front and rear. Tires are 235 RA1s for one more event, then switching to Hoosier Koni's. I align and corner balance the car before events as well as monitor tire pressures closely... a lot of time and balance can be found in just the setup.

I appreciate the input. I guess I forgot to mention I do have all the GTSpec chassis bracing, including the trailing arms so the car is relatively stiff and well balanced as it. It is getting aligned and cornered weighed this week :]

[MSPM1cheLe]

now slam that sh!t and take some pics.. ha

just bc you asked for it....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/xixltjxix/RJ%20Pix/DSC_0056.jpg




..... hah. jk. angled driveway. :]

[Perro del Sol]

Here is a link set of BCCoilovers that were dynoed, these are the ER series on a 2006 STI..Pretty interesting read to say the least.


http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1804991