Coilovers, advice please

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nick
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Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

My '96 Rev3 NA has done 80k but is generally in good condition. I do a bit of sprinting and have gone to slightly larger wheels and tyres.

I am thinking of going to coilers. Whilst the suspension generally feels OK I would like to set it up a bit lower and firmer, although still as a road car.

I would welcome advice as to the best course of action. I have noted BC systems RA and RM, what is the difference? I think 4 and 6 rated springs will be enough. The Teins look nice, but spring rate not noted?

I have seen the thread on fitting, what else should be changed? Presumably I will need to get track and camber properly re-set afterwards.
Thanks

Nick


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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by peteV6R5 »

Nick,
I had BC BRs on my V6 5 and 8 sping rates as the V6 3VZfe was heavy.
dropped the height by c30mm and on click 5 from softeset Fr and rear was comfortable, near stock ride.
Spirited driving firmed up to damping to 15fr and 17 clicks rear from softest. excellent had tried a few.
on track went 24fr 26 rear. was ok but would have played around a tad with damping to get it best.

yes you will need wheels alignment done inc camber
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

Thanks Pete. Is the rear camber adjustable? Any thoughts on this? Ride height about where I thought.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by peteV6R5 »

nick wrote: 11/01/20 13:48 Thanks Pete. Is the rear camber adjustable? Any thoughts on this? Ride height about where I thought.
no real camber adjustment on rear AFAIK unless you use offset camber bolts.
ride height as standard from BC is about 30-40mm lower than stock.

this was mine with 17" sparcos wheels
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

Mostly stripped down now, lots of patience and penetrating oil! Managed to get all drop links undone.

Decision time, which coilovers? Pete's advice looks good, any experience of the Teins, which look good. Will probably order from MR2 Ben as I need some other bits and I find hime helpful.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by SonicSW20 »

I had BC's which failed after ~90k miles 3-4 years including some track days, now have MeisterR's. Both are decent.

MeisterR do a club discount on their website, IIRC the code is MR2OC or IMOC.

You will have some rear camber adjustment because the hub knuckle to coilover mounting holes are not a perfectly tight fit, same as OEM. This means you can loosen those two bolts and push the top in / pull the bottom out or vice versa to change camber at the rear. This is obviously quite a crude method and it can be quite tricky to get a precise change doing this. The adjustment available varies, but typically you have +-1-2 degrees.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

Sounds like BC's then, thanks for rear camber advice.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by ayresyboy »

I'm a fan of Meister R's. Run them on my Mk3 after previously having BC's.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by Howlin_Mad »

I did 15K on my BC BR's and both rears failed. Then bought some HSD's and the pillowball topmounts failed after about a year. Changed to stock shocks and Apex springs and a world of difference.

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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

BC,s received, look pretty good.

I am advised the pre load should be about right.

I note as delivered the coil overs are 5 Cm shorter than the old struts. By my reckoning, with the stiffer springs the car Will sit about 5 Cm lower. This is probably a bit more than I want so I plan to extend struts by about 1 Cm each. Any experience of this here ?
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by peteV6R5 »

put then on as set by factory , run for a week at least and see how they are after that.
Did exactly that with mine and loved the ride and look.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

Now done some running ,as well as a suspension geometry set up. Very pleased with it, on soft setting the rides is good, will be on track in a couple of weeks so will try it with a firmer set up. Ride height out of the box is about 30 mm lower and looks and feels about right.
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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by BALDYMONSTER »

That’s a beautiful looking car bud.

Nice wheel choice as well, really suits it.

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Re: Coilovers, advice please

Post by nick »

Baldy, I appreciate the kind comments. Also quicker, over a second a lap (about 1.5%) at Castle Combe yesterday than last season. As my first try left the shocks on about 5, might be better a bit stiffer but felt pretty good.
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Last edited by nick on 04/09/20 10:21, edited 1 time in total.

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