YCW Engineering Reference Series Coilovers

[Takumi788]

YCW/MFactory Suspension is in the development process of a new coilover system for the twins and has given me the opportunity to review them for the community. I will be documenting initial mock-up, design revisions, production schedule, and track testing in both autocross and time trial disciplines. If you have any questions or comments on the development of these coilovers, please feel free to post them in this thread. FT86Club has a rare opportunity to have input on the design of a coilover setup! Let me know what you think and what you want to see! The test mock-up system is due in 2-3 weeks so subscribe to this thread to keep updated.

A full system spec list can be found here: http://www.ycwsuspension.com/catalog/ycw/reference

Why choose YCW Suspension? http://www.ycwsuspension.com/why

[swarb]

Are you sponsored?
What is the other suspension that you will be comparing it to?
What other suspension parts will you have that are not stock?

[Takumi788]

Originally Posted by swarb

Are you sponsored?
What is the other suspension that you will be comparing it to?
What other suspension parts will you have that are not stock?

Yes, I am sponsored by YCW/MFactory Suspension. In exchange for the coilovers I will be reviewing and testing them.

I currently have Hotchkis springs with stock struts on FRS. I have been racing/tracking cars for over 15 years and I have driven on everything from Racelands to Ohlins.

My current suspension parts are:
- Hotchkis Springs - soon to be replaced with the YCW Engineering coilovers
- Velox Front Camber Plates - soon to be replaced with the YCW Engineering top plates.
- Megan Racing toe links - soon to be replaced with the velox toe links.
- Cusco Lower Arm Brace

Check out my build thread for more information and let me know if you have any other questions.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70247

[YCW]

Welcome to the team

[jamal]

Are those rear tops up-side down in the picture, or were they specifically designed to remove as much bump travel as possible?

[YCW]

Originally Posted by jamal

Are those rear tops up-side down in the picture, or were they specifically designed to remove as much bump travel as possible?

The image is of our Focus ST fitment, not the GT86 (which we will be developing with Takumi788)

[Takumi788]

YCW just confirmed that they will be shipping the prototypes next week! As soon as they arrive I will install them to check for any fitment issues. I will post my findings here for the community to comment on.

FT86club has a great opportunity to help develop a competitive coilover system specific to our chassis. So please comment and relay your thoughts in this thread to allow YCW Engineering to make the best system possible.

[Takumi788]

The YCW Engineering prototypes are here and they look amazing! The top hat is a prototype version and will be updated after fitment is confirmed. I will install them asap and report back with pictures and fitment results asap.

What do you think? What would you like to see? What spring rates would you like these to be available with? Let me know and I will see if the team at Mfactory/YCW Engineering can make it happen!

[wootwoot]

What is their end goal? Track focused? Autox? Daily driver?

[YCW]

Our current development (YCW Reference Series) are our street-level coilovers, but can be used occasionally on track.

Once these are finished development and have some long-term testing behind them, we will start developing our track-level coilovers which will be 2-way adjustable.

[wootwoot]

Originally Posted by YCW

Our current development (YCW Reference Series) are our street-level coilovers, but can be used occasionally on track.

Once these are finished development and have some long-term testing behind them, we will start developing our track-level coilovers which will be 2-way adjustable.

Then I would request spring rates around 300, max 350. Use stock front and rear mounts. Slot the holes in the front to gain camber there. Use a rear shock that allows as much stroke as possible.

[Shankenstein]

While I like the business concept of up-market "commodity" suspension components (and gratuitous engineering jargon)... the discerning customer might notice that the "Western-educated engineers" learned much from their travels.

Penske make excellent suspension components, and they're also a supporter of our community (with R&D and forum discussion). That a resized version of their piston design. They also use Silkolene RSF. Plenty of materials are similar between your designs, too.

The differences are interesting too. I like the durability choices of Viton (FKM) o-rings and ceramic piston rings. As long as your machining tolerances are tight, these can both work well. Even with that Kashifuji 6-axis CNC, it's not easy to get it right. If your engineers haven't read the Parker Seals Handbook, it's got excellent design guidelines for o-rings.

I also like the spring rate strategy, which is just stiffer than the TRD springs. Travel may limited, if the shock bodies are similar to BC Racing's. We shall see.

As a side note, 250 hours of ASTM B 117 is a nice marketing strategy... but that's overkill. It's a good QC check for pinholes, but sacrificial coatings (like ZnCrO4) are best evaluated with a cyclic salt fog tests. Either way, congrats on passing it!

[Clipdat]

I have no idea what you just said, but I have a strong desire to buy you a beer!

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

Engineering speak that makes me feel like a mouth breathing simpleton

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

I have no idea what you just said, but I have a strong desire to buy you a beer!

Beer accepted!

That's an engineer dancing around the sadness that Penske might lose a few sales... yet happy that their technology may reach the mainstream user in "street form."

Obviously, the devil is in the details (and it's hard to get those right). Things like choosing quality shims, surface finishes, coatings, etc. Also, it's tough to develop a manufacturing process that is robust enough to guarantee quality. It seems like this is a new company with some prior industry experience... so it will be interesting to watch them grow and react.