FEEDBACK WANTED - What do you look for in a coilover?

[churchx]

Originally Posted by Pat

..2. Camber plates? Absolutely necessary for this platform for any kind of performance driving. The more options the better.

It's camber that's necessary, not specific means to get it in way of camplates, which were "necessary" only due limited range of camber dialable by other (cheaper) means on these cars. But if all it takes is to ask RCE by their specs for actual manufacturer to drill in lower mount bolt hole at other position and be able to get wished camber with $50 cambolt vs $350 camberplates, it will add choice for less NVH impact, result in cheaper set costs (=more competitive product or of better quality in other areas at same budget), and if one wishes so, one can always add optional camber plate later or reuse already bought one, be it RCE/Velox/Raceseng/Vorshlag/HVT/whatever. As side gain, one will be able also to use stronger stock bolts too.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by churchx

It's camber that's necessary, not specific means to get it in way of camplates, which were "necessary" only due limited range of camber dialable by other (cheaper) means on these cars. But if all it takes is to ask RCE by their specs for actual manufacturer to drill in lower mount bolt hole at other position and be able to get wished camber with $50 cambolt vs $350 camberplates, it will add choice for less NVH impact, result in cheaper set costs (=more competitive product or of better quality in other areas at same budget), and if one wishes so, one can always add optional camber plate later or reuse already bought one, be it RCE/Velox/Raceseng/Vorshlag/HVT/whatever. As side gain, one will be able also to use stronger stock bolts too.

Good point. I should have said, "Easily and precisely adjustable camber is a big priority for me." I want to know what my camber is at all times and be able to adjust it between road and track settings.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Pat

Good point. I should have said, "Easily and precisely adjustable camber is a big priority for me." I want to know what my camber is at all times and be able to adjust it between road and track settings.

Add to this... Stable and unlikely to slip. I do like the extra caster...

[Icecreamtruk]

All that is good, but how to do you adjust camber then? If its just a different mounting bottom hole, it will be more camber, but fixed. If you use an excentric bolt, well, you are back into the "might slip" territory, altho I have camplates and excentric bolts in my car, and none of them has ever slip, so that might have to do with cheap parts or installation error.

Anyways, back to the topic I guess?

[Racecomp Engineering]

I don't worry about properly installed/designed camber bolts slipping but there are definitely other ways to add negative camber at the lower mount. Not the easiest to adjust between events though.

- Andrew

[churchx]

Icecreamtruk: for now i have to use camberbolts in both holes + changed lca bushings to get what i want (but with stock topmount). And i had already once broken off head of one camberbolt. With fixed extra camber designed in i wouldn't need that bushing (100eur+50eur work less), and just one camberbolt set (another 50eur less). And at least one stock bolt set left - still more reliable then cambolts at both holes.
Also i recall that camberplates alone back then when i had them installed also weren't able to get -3 camber, as tire started rubbing at around -2.3, so even with those used extra fixed camber at lower mount won't hurt - but this time without camberbolts in addition to camplates.
Ease of DIY adjustment at events, yes .. but i'm more anal about toe aswell being how i want it, and it's easier to adjust both camber & toe from below car, if precise alignment is wished, as changing one changes other.

[wootwoot]

My two cents:

Make something for the typical owner: Something with plenty of rear travel to help keep the back end settled over bumps. A very moderate spring rate (250-300lb) for daily driver comfort. Single adjustable so they can be fine tuned to taste. Make a top hat that can flip 90 degrees to give you an extra -1.5 degrees of camber up front.

Aggressive driven street car that may see the track... I feel like that fits the bill for over 80% of people that own these cars.

[solidONE]

My ideal set for double duty dampers.

1. Monotube

2. Camber plates, yes.

3. Single adjust upgradeable to 2-way or 3 way.

4. Upgradable with internal components compatible with any of the major brands (Ohlins, Penske, Bilstein) and universally serviceabe.

5. Ride height adjustable.

6. Good beefy materials aluminum and/or stainless shock bodies and components

7. If they're high quality you should have no problem offering warranty. So, definitely yes.

8. Priced south of $3K (ready to run w/springs included) for 1-way and a "firm DD friendly" damping profile at the softest end, with enough range to be good with sticky street or R-compound tires (NT01, RC1 etc) on track. Is that too much to ask for?

PS Oh.. and big knobs for adjusters. Beefy not flimsy with some 'bling' value.

[Icecreamtruk]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

My two cents:

Make something for the typical owner: Something with plenty of rear travel to help keep the back end settled over bumps. A very moderate spring rate (250-300lb) for daily driver comfort. Single adjustable so they can be fine tuned to taste. Make a top hat that can flip 90 degrees to give you an extra -1.5 degrees of camber up front.

Aggressive driven street car that may see the track... I feel like that fits the bill for over 80% of people that own these cars.

So, stock suspension?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

Aggressive driven street car that may see the track... I feel like that fits the bill for over 80% of people that own these cars.

You'd be surprised, it's probably less than 20% of owners who ever actually slide their car around, fewer actually take it to an autox or track day.

The spring rates you describe would basically be lowering springs + dampers, Eibach, Swift, RCE, etc. toss on Koni yellows for your knob and voila. There's also the Showa setup that came out a few months back, a little softer than you want but yeah.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120639

Originally Posted by Icecreamtruk

So, stock suspension?

I'm not sure rear travel is fantastic on OE either... I should check at some point.

[ichitaka05]

Before posting my feedback, wanted wait and check other member's feedback. Pretty interesting and good. FYI I'm a DD w summer time, autox in blazing hot and winter time, drive thru 3"~8" of snow in my BRZ.

Anyways this is my 2 yens. Hopefully helps

1. Monotube or Twintube – TBH it doesn't matter. Like you said, some brands makes great twintube vs other brands make monotube. Whatever work the best for the setup, that's all it matter.

2. Camber plates – Optional

3. Damper adjustment – Prefer to have damper adjustment. Doesn't have to have 2 way, but it's always good to have an option.

4. Upgradeablity – Optional upgrade is always welcome. I thing I hate about coils is a lot of brands don't have that upgrade options.

5. Ride height adjustability – height adjustable is nice to have.

6. Materials/construction – This is key part for me. Winter time, road gets salted and sanded here... so I want a coils that can tolerate much rust as it can.

7. Warranty – Not a major concern, but it's good to have/know when buying.

8. Any other features that are very important to you? - tools. If you gonna make it adjustable & so forth, make it decently good tools to use. Had few brand's tools that was pain in the A to use & had a swearing Opera in my garage for several hrs before lol

[jmark]

Rebuildable is a big plus to me.

[Scir16v]

It really depends on the use. For heavy side load when tracking, I would want a monotube constructed shock.

Double height adjustable is a must. allowing ride to be independent of preload keeps the travel.

[smg1138]

This thread in a nutshell. lol

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGsHq-mZI8U"]The Simpsons - Itchy & Scratchy focus group - YouTube[/ame]