Suspension Review: Race Comp Yellow Springs

[ultra]

The only reason I haven't gotten my RCE Yellows on yet is because I jumped in on the RS*R group buy. Also a bit unsure about whether I want to bother with the Com-Cs in case I experience the clunking issues others have had although mine look to be perfect 'out of the box'.

To be honest I'm not completely convinced that I've gone the right route with the RS*Rs since the reviews of the Yellows are so good and the price is dead on.

Also appreciate RCE throwing in OEM camber bolts with my order. Top notch vendor. I love stuff like that..

Half tempted to put them on and compare the benefits of the Yellows versus the RS*Rs. If I had my own garage I'd have put them on myself by now but as a layman I need to pay for the labour so yeah...

Anyhow this looks like it's proving to be a great bang for the buck setup for folks, as expected. I'm already recommending them to other 86 owners in Dubai.

Nice job RCE!

[RYU]

^^^ Great bang for the buck indeed with the RCE yellows. HOWEVER, even though they did a great job matching springs to the OEM damper... you're still limited to the capabilities of the OEM damper. It's a good damper compared to the other OEM dampers out there but it's no comparison to what a good set of coilovers can do like JRZs, DG-5s (if they ever come out with a set), and perhaps your RS*Rs (though no experience with them). I'm very happy with my RCE Yellows but i'm also realistic and have experienced owning a proper set of coilovers. Bilstein and Koni should come up with interesting strut replacements for someone not looking into expensive coilovers.

I just hope my OEM dampers hold up for a while with the Yellows so I can save up for JRZs!

[gmookher]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Yeah you have a point about offset hard rubber mounts etc. Thats a tall order to fill for sure.

In a week I am installing Racecomp Lowering Camber plates on stock shocks with RCE Yellows for street testing. No one hates NVH from camber plates more than me so this is to determine their streetability.

Just a related yet off topic update.

Myles
Chief RCE slacker.

Its been a week
hows your test?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by gmookher

Its been a week
hows your test?

Dont knowYet . Installed GD chassis STI group-n front mounts to our prototype T2's and a range of spring rates for compliance testing with AVO front control arm bushing/caster bushings. WOW WOW WOW, but thats another post for another thread.

Give me some time to the feedback of the RCE plates to you guys. Our plan is to make a lowering version and have good stock.

Myles

[Smudgeous]

For anyone who experienced problems with spring popping noises while turning the wheel more than 30-40 degrees in either direction after installing the Whiteline Com-C strut tops, I can confirm that it was due to a bad batch of Com-Cs. It's very easy to quickly determine if your Com-Cs are part of the bad batch; continue reading to find out how:

Jan from Whiteline sent me replacements a couple weeks ago, and I was finally able to install them last night. The install was pushed back due to needing to wait to get my Subaru wheel locks key in the mail after losing my original key plus packaging (I had to email the manufacturer a picture of my specific lock pattern, as the lost packaging was the only way for me to know which key I needed).

The issue with the original Com-Cs was notchy bearings, as ATL BRZ mentioned in his post here.

For those who have the Com-Cs but have not yet installed them, do this quick check first before installing them: Looking at the underside of the Com-Cs (reference the image below that I stole from ultra's post, the bottom view is on the right), insert your fingertip right into the middle hole of the bearing, and twist your finger as far as you can to the left and then back to the right. It should move smoothly with absolutely no noticeable notchiness or catches. If it moves easily but you feel any notches (mine were not audible, but you can definitely feel them), hold off on the install and contact Whiteline. The link from ATL BRZ that I mentioned above has comparison videos of his defective notchy Com-Cs versus the OEM strut tops; the Com-Cs bearings should feel identically "buttery smooth" as the OEMs.

For those in the US, my contact was Jan.

[gmookher]

where can I buy a set of the good ones?

[Smudgeous]

Originally Posted by gmookher

where can I buy a set of the good ones?

I wouldn't assume they're bad at any one vendor. My guess is that there was a bad batch that was produced that trickled down to multiple vendors. I personally didn't order through RCE and still got defective ones.

However, if you check before you install, you're either good to go, or need to contact Whiteline. When I did, I had replacement parts in roughly a week and a half after first calling and mentioning the problem. Annoying, yes, but I definitely feel they're worth the extra wait.

[tonystewart]

That's a great question, I've begun the suspension building myself.

[cnk]

Originally Posted by Smudgeous

I wouldn't assume they're bad at any one vendor. My guess is that there was a bad batch that was produced that trickled down to multiple vendors. I personally didn't order through RCE and still got defective ones.

However, if you check before you install, you're either good to go, or need to contact Whiteline. When I did, I had replacement parts in roughly a week and a half after first calling and mentioning the problem. Annoying, yes, but I definitely feel they're worth the extra wait.

Or, you could call up the vendor and have them verify for you by doing the test before shipping it out to you. Although, if the vendor hasn't read this thread, you're going to have to try real hard to explain that you're not some kind of sicko.

Just imagine the phone call:

you: Hey. . .do you have the Whiteline Com-C strut tops?
vendor: Yes, we do.
you: Can you stick your finger in the bottom and twist it and tell me if it's smooth or notchy?
vendor: *phone click*

[ATL BRZ]

Those with Whiteline Com-C's and OEM Struts with RCE Yellows and no noise, bearing, or deflecting rubber issues:

Did you use a conical washer (like this) inbetween the top mount and the upper spring perch?

If so, was one included in the packaging or where did you get one?

I'm tempted to get a couple of these and test fit them with OEM dampers on top of welded washer on the upper spring perch and see if this new set of Com-C's will play nice and stay quiet and not bind up. Is that a bad idea? Will I run short on threads with the upper mounting nut?



The welded washer on the OEM upper spring perches are NOT conical

[Smudgeous]

Bad news on the Com-C front.

My new and smoothly-rotating Com-Cs have now also begun to make noises. If I get some free time this weekend, I'm going to just put the stock strut tops back on and see if the notchiness was caused by the car due to them not fitting properly. I'm obviously far from pleased about this latest development -.-

[ATL BRZ]

Bump

[OrbitalEllipses]

Those of you using Com-C strut tops: if you want a harder durometer strup top (though without geometry changes) you can use the GD Impreza "Group-N" strut tops.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Those of you using Com-C strut tops: if you want a harder durometer strup top (though without geometry changes) you can use the GD Impreza "Group-N" strut tops.

yep and they work well up to at least 500 lb springs,esp on this 26_ _ lb car. I am using them now with coilovers and they keep compliance and NVH to a minimum without much flex at all.

Myles