Coilovers for GT86

[ChrisD]

I've just bought a GT86, which I'm going to be using on the road but also for track days and drift events. So the first thing I want to do is get some decent coilovers on it.

I'm in the UK and I've found that Fensport sell the BC ER coilovers: http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Mode...ategory_2/4195

Now I don't know much about coilovers so all I can go on at the moment is other people's reviews, and I did find a couple of negative reviews about BC coilovers on the GT86. Seems like they are regarded as not quite being up to the same standards as KW and H&R etc. So I started looking at KW Variant 3 coilovers, as I think quite a few people on here run those (correct me if I'm wrong), but it looks like they don't come with top mounts for some reason: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/perfor...m-rear-20-50mm

Anyone in the UK actually bought KW V3s and if so where did you buy them from and what do you think of them?

Also anyone got any comments about the BC coilovers - am I right that they are not held in particularly high regard? One person (can't remember if it was on here or somewhere else) said that they made the steering feel quite vague but to be fair that was the lower spec BR series rather than ER series that I'm considering.

Thanks
Chris

[Captain Snooze]

It would help if you gave a budget.
If you want quality you are going to have to pay for it.

[Cvxne]

ST and some rear lower control arms and call it a day.

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

This

contradicts this

You can find positive and negative reviews for just about anything. The more you pay for dampers the fewer bad reviews you read.
Remember that people who review coilovers may not have the experience to give a wide perspective. Just because a person likes their new and shiny coilovers doesn't necessarily mean they are a quality product.

It would help if you gave a budget.
If you want quality you are going to have to pay for it.

I feel like you didn't actually read the post... as I was saying pretty much exactly what you said. I said it looks like the BC coilovers are not that great and also mentioned that I had seen bad reviews of the BC ones. At no point did I mention anyone leaving a glowing review on them.

I said I think a lot of people run KW V3s and asked if anyone here had bought them in the UK. Are you saying the KW V3s are also not decent quality?

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by Cvxne

ST and some rear lower control arms and call it a day.

Forgive my ignorance but what is ST ?

[Mad1723]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

Forgive my ignorance but what is ST ?

ST Suspensions, a subsidiary of KW. Their 1K$ coilovers are the reference for cheap and good coilovers

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I feel like you didn't actually read the post... as I was saying pretty much exactly what you said. I said it looks like the BC coilovers are not that great and also mentioned that I had seen bad reviews of the BC ones. At no point did I mention anyone leaving a glowing review on them.

I said I think a lot of people run KW V3s and asked if anyone here had bought them in the UK. Are you saying the KW V3s are also not decent quality?

I read your post. As you can see I removed a lot of what I originally said.

When I said "If you want quality you are going to have to pay for it." I was referring to the fact that you mention BC and KWv3 in the same post.
From what I have read of KWv3 by people whose opinion I respect is that KWv3 are good value/performance for the money.

Seriously, I have read good things about BC dampers. Given that very few people actually get to test more than one set of aftermarket dampers for their car it makes objective reviews difficult to find. It took me about 30 seconds to find 3 positive reviews for BC coilovers. I am suggesting that the people making those reviews don't have the experience to make objective analysis of their new dampers.

[Mad1723]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I read your post. As you can see I removed a lot of what I originally said.

When I said "If you want quality you are going to have to pay for it." I was referring to the fact that you mention BC and KWv3 in the same post.
From what I have read of KWv3 by people whose opinion I respect is that KWv3 are good value/performance for the money.

Seriously, I have read good things about BC dampers. Given that very few people actually get to test more than one set of aftermarket dampers for their car it makes objective reviews difficult to find. It took me about 30 seconds to find 3 positive reviews for BC coilovers. I am suggesting that the people making those reviews don't have the experience to make objective analysis of their new dampers.

Also, buyer's bias is going to show. No one wants to bash the stuff they bought. That would be admitting they made the wrong choice.

Most people are going to stick to what they bought until it fails, has major problems or the company screws them over.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I've just bought a GT86, which I'm going to be using on the road but also for track days and drift events. So the first thing I want to do is get some decent coilovers on it.

I'm in the UK and I've found that Fensport sell the BC ER coilovers: http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Mode...ategory_2/4195

Now I don't know much about coilovers so all I can go on at the moment is other people's reviews, and I did find a couple of negative reviews about BC coilovers on the GT86. Seems like they are regarded as not quite being up to the same standards as KW and H&R etc. So I started looking at KW Variant 3 coilovers, as I think quite a few people on here run those (correct me if I'm wrong), but it looks like they don't come with top mounts for some reason: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/perfor...m-rear-20-50mm

Anyone in the UK actually bought KW V3s and if so where did you buy them from and what do you think of them?

Also anyone got any comments about the BC coilovers - am I right that they are not held in particularly high regard? One person (can't remember if it was on here or somewhere else) said that they made the steering feel quite vague but to be fair that was the lower spec BR series rather than ER series that I'm considering.

Thanks
Chris

KW V3 re-uses your stock top mounts, as they really fall into the "comfortable high performance street" coilover category. If you want top mounts, you have to buy your own (like RaceSeng), or get the ClubSport (which includes them).

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

KW V3 re-uses your stock top mounts, as they really fall into the "comfortable high performance street" coilover category. If you want top mounts, you have to buy your own (like RaceSeng), or get the ClubSport (which includes them).

Ahhh ok thanks, in that case then I guess I'll be fine just ordering the KW V3s

[KoolBRZ]

Originally Posted by ChrisD

I've just bought a GT86, which I'm going to be using on the road but also for track days and drift events. So the first thing I want to do is get some decent coilovers on it.

I'm in the UK and I've found that Fensport sell the BC ER coilovers: http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Mode...ategory_2/4195

Now I don't know much about coilovers so all I can go on at the moment is other people's reviews, and I did find a couple of negative reviews about BC coilovers on the GT86. Seems like they are regarded as not quite being up to the same standards as KW and H&R etc. So I started looking at KW Variant 3 coilovers, as I think quite a few people on here run those (correct me if I'm wrong), but it looks like they don't come with top mounts for some reason: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/perfor...m-rear-20-50mm

Anyone in the UK actually bought KW V3s and if so where did you buy them from and what do you think of them?

Also anyone got any comments about the BC coilovers - am I right that they are not held in particularly high regard? One person (can't remember if it was on here or somewhere else) said that they made the steering feel quite vague but to be fair that was the lower spec BR series rather than ER series that I'm considering.

Thanks
Chris

Look at the spring rates as well when shopping for a coilover. For instance, when you take into account the motion ratio of the rear control arms, the rear springs actually have only 75% of their rated capacity. From the Fensport page, "8kg/mm front and 6kg/mm rear" becomes 8kg/mm front and 4.5kg/mm rear.

This would give a very uncomfortable ride on the street, since every bump rocks the car back on the softer rear springs. I've found a better ride when the rear springs are at least 27% stronger than the fronts. Also remember that your stock springs are about 2.754kg/mm front and 3.774kg/mm rear, so these are much stiffer than stock.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by KoolBRZ

Look at the spring rates as well when shopping for a coilover. For instance, when you take into account the motion ratio of the rear control arms, the rear springs actually have only 75% of their rated capacity. From the Fensport page, "8kg/mm front and 6kg/mm rear" becomes 8kg/mm front and 4.5kg/mm rear [1].

This would give a very uncomfortable ride on the street, since every bump rocks the car back on the softer rear springs. [2] I've found a better ride [3] when the rear springs are at least 27% stronger than the fronts[4]. Also remember that your stock springs are about 2.754kg/mm front and 3.774kg/mm rear, so these are much stiffer than stock[5].

[1] The motion ratio of Mac struts is not 1:1. It's usually around 0.9-0.95
More importantly the wheel spring rate is given by spring rate x motion ratio squared. So in the example of 6kg/mm spring it becomes 3.375 kg/mm not 4.5kg/mm.
[2] You are making a general statement which ignores the quality of damping. Damping plays a more important factor in "comfort" than the spring rate.
[3] You have found shit.
[4] This totally disregards a person's preference for steering style. Whether they prefer more understeery, neutral or oversteery.
[5] Huh? "Your stock springs.......these are much stiffer than stock"

[KoolBRZ]

Insults are the refuge of a feeble mind. If you think I'm wrong then prove it with some facts and cite your sources, otherwise you're just vomiting up your own opinions. Of course if all you have is a feeble mind, let the flames begin.

[ChrisD]

Well I'm going to go ahead and get the KW V3s, if you guys want to turn this in to an argument be my guest but I won't be reading it any more. Enjoy