MCA Blue coilovers - Now with first impressions and install pics!!!!!!!!

[Khorne]

Originally Posted by s2d4

Do you have rear LCA?

Not just yet still unsure which brand i should go with.

[IMOA]

Originally Posted by fatoni

im aware of that. i just wonder how much you can get inside for $1600. they are definitely a company i know nothing about. just voicing some thoughts is all.

To give some explanation it's a small operation run by Murray Coote who even 12 years ago when I was racing was considered the damper guru in australia. Back then he was the distributor for proflex and spent most of his time setting up race and rally cars, when you had a problem he was the guy you flew down to spend a couple of days testing and sort your suspension out. Over time he started designing changes to the proflex dampers till it got to the point a few years back that there really wasn't much proflex left so he launched his own line under the MCA name.

In terms of company results so to speak arguably the three quickest time attack cars in the world; Nemo, Tilton EVO and the MCA 'hammerhead' S13 all run his suspension (yes, higher end stuff than the blues and reds being talked about here). For perspective they all beat the Scorch S15 (some by a very long way) at the last WTAC in Sydney, the Scorch S15 had a trouble free run, it was the third time it had attended the event and a couple of months later it smashed the Tsukuba record. While this isn't a reason to buy their coil overs as the application (and $$$$) is very different it does go some way to demonstrating that they know what they are doing and gives people who haven't worked with Murray some frame of reference for what he can do.

The suspension for the 86 was developed using two cars. The first in queensland where they measured everything up, came up with their initial best guess for spring rates and valving and then spent a number days on track and road fine-tuning spring rates, valuing and heights to get where they wanted to be for a road and track setup. This was backed up with testing done by Rick Bates on another 86 in NSW. This wasn't silvia suspension with some different brackets (which I believe is what a hell of a lot of what the cheap stuff is), it was properly designed, tested and developed on an 86.

Based on my experience with Murray back when I was involved in racing production cars I bought the Reds, I'm mainly based in Japan these days but got them installed when I was away and finally had a chance to test them properly a few weeks ago. My first issue with the standard suspension were that the weight transfer across the front wheels was way to slow for me, on change of direction or when there was some mid corner bumps I found myself waiting a long time for the weight to swap sides or the front to settle before I could make a driver input, that issue is now solved and the car has caught up to my brain so to speak.

My next big issue was the amount of weight transfer to the front wheels during the turn-in and entry phase of a corner. I felt that there was excessive weight transfer in the standard suspension setup which was destabilising the rear far too much for my driving style, this has also been resolved and the car now inspires a lot more confidence in this phase of a corner.

The last issue was the damping itself, the 86 is good for a production car, and very good for a production car at that price point, but it is a fair way off what I'd call sophisticated damping. While the increase in spring rates is noticeable it's certainly fine for daily driving or what in the US you'd call canyon carving and most importantly the harshness or crashiness of the standard suspension is gone. Because of this it's now lightyears better at dealing with bumps and potholes on roads, even things like speedhumps when you're driving around public roads can be taken at a higher speed while being more comfortable in the car.

This is the area of the biggest improvement, it's just miles better at dealing with road imperfections and not becoming unsettled than not just the standard car but any street car, either standard or modified, I've ever driven. To be fair on street cars the sort of stuff I'm talking about would be mid level suspension; KW V3's, Tein mono flex, DMS custom etc, I've only driven top end suspension on a racetrack and haven't driven things like Ohlins R&T on the road.

It really is excellent suspension at a price point below where it should be, to my mind for Australians it's an absolute no brainer as there's nothing that comes close for the money and for people outside aus it's worthy of some careful consideration (and has been with companies like Nameless running MCA Golds on their rally car)

[Bigmaxy]

Great background info there @IMOA
@Khorne You say these have better comfort than the OEM? Have you played with the damping adjustment at all or left them as suggested by MCA?

I'm tempted to sell my BC BR's and get a set of these.

[Captain Snooze]

I have MCA Reds fitted with 6kg/6kg springs and in my opinion are less comfortable that oem. This doesn't concern me because I like a firm ride.

[Khorne]

Originally Posted by Bigmaxy

Great background info there @IMOA
@Khorne You say these have better comfort than the OEM? Have you played with the damping adjustment at all or left them as suggested by MCA?

I'm tempted to sell my BC BR's and get a set of these.

The suspension is definitely way more firm, i can feel every bump in the road, however i am finding it more comfortable than OEM. You can feel the bumps but they are never harsh the damping is excellent.

This is most noticeable on the freeway to work, there are big bumps in the road due to how they join our overpasses together, in the stock suspension it was always a very hard jolt in the cabin to go over these, now nowhere near as much.

[Nikkojoe]

I liked installing the MCAs much better than installing the other set on the BRZ (quality of the MCAs felt better too).

Keen to go for a ride sometime to see the difference in these and my RSR

[Khorne]

Originally Posted by Nikkojoe

I liked installing the MCAs much better than installing the other set on the BRZ (quality of the MCAs felt better too).

Keen to go for a ride sometime to see the difference in these and my RSR

Lets do it soon, gotta get that final 10mm drop on the rear then go for another alignment

So far these have been awesome, have yet to find a fault with them.

[Turdinator]

I read on facebook that MCA are doing more development on the blue series and will be releasing a re-jigged version that is more bump compliant for the street with new valving in the rear and a redesign up front.

I will share the link when I get home from work for those interested.

https://www.facebook.com/mcasuspensi...416025126025:0

[diss7]

Must have gotten up the Chinese factory that's making them.

Yes I'm serious.

[Captain Snooze]

I wish MCA had a distributor in the U.S. so I/we could get a comparison to other dampers.

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by diss7

Must have gotten up the Chinese factory that's making them.

Yes I'm serious.

At their price point I don't think anyone would disagree with you. I believe the red series is assembled in Aus from Chinese parts but with non chinese internals (valves/shims etc). The gold series is the real quality however.

[86viper]

Originally Posted by diss7

Must have gotten up the Chinese factory that's making them.

Yes I'm serious.

I don't think anyone is claiming them to be the best thing since sliced bread, but they are right up there in the best value for money stacks. I doubt you will find better for the same price.

While i don't have them myself, i have been in cars on them. Very nice and a large step from something like BC racing which isn't any cheaper.

[IMOA]

Originally Posted by Turdinator

At their price point I don't think anyone would disagree with you. I believe the red series is assembled in Aus from Chinese parts. The gold series is the real quality however.

The internals of the reds (shims/valving, oil etc) are not Chinese. Posting incorrect information like this is really unfair to the companies who actually do go out and do proper R&D and make a quality product at a reasonable price point for our car.

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by IMOA

The internals of the reds (shims/valving, oil etc) are not Chinese. Posting incorrect information like this is really unfair to the companies who actually do go out and do proper R&D and make a quality product at a reasonable price point for our car.

I apologise. I should have at least put a disclaimer of to the best of my knowledge. MCA making coilovers for the twins is a great asset. I will edit my post.