BC coilovers

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:42 am

When discussing coilover damping settings, could people please ads the "soft" or "hard" prefix?

eg.

"9/7 soft" (ie. Front = 9 clicks from full-soft, Rear = 7 clicks from full-soft)

or

"7/9 hard" (ie. Front = 7 clicks from full-hard, Rear = 9 clicks from full-hard)

In most cases you can figure out what was meant from the post's context but this just makes it immediately obvious.

For those who don't know: It's usually best to have the rear a bit softer than the front to get more traction which is why many guys run the rears a couple of clicks softer than the front.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:28 pm

If you own a set of BC and have read the instruction/installation booklet, you will read that you should run your coilover shocks at 8 clicks from soft. There is a reason for this. They just dont paste paper for the fun of it.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:09 pm

The "instructions" were a classic example of simply running an auto-translator and not even bothering to get an English speaker to proof-read the result before publishing.

The BC coilover hardware is a quality product - the documentation is worse than half-arsed so I doubt too many people take note of the recommended settings.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:11 pm

Doesn't mean you dont attempt to read it. :wink:

BC funny enough are the only company that I have actually come across that do actually tell you about not using the softest setting in their instructions.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:14 pm

Good point Lokiel. We should all get use to properly describing figures so that there is less chance of incorrect translation.

As far as instructions go, I never had any as mine were bought used. I did go to the BC website, but didn't read anywhere about the "8" setting. Must have missed that. However, my wife would have something to say to them on that point :twisted:

Warning by BC not to run on softest settings ... rather an unnecessary statement on their part. I'd challenge anyone to be able to put up with it (in an MX5 anyway)!

Edit: btw my settings were from soft :wink:

jackmack · Postby **jackmack** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:10 am

Well I have now completed around 400klms on the new coilovers. It has been an interested and testing experience but I am becoming to enjoy them a great deal.

I was told when I left the garage that they where set on 10 all round. I found that on the first day that bounce was an issue although cornering was superb in comparison to standard. After reading the thread here I knocked my settings down 3 clicks in the rear and 1 on the front to try and achieve what I thought was 9 from soft in the front and 7 from soft in the rear (as this seemed to be a good setting based on Kev's experience).

Well after driving under heavy acceleration through a rather rippled intersection uphill, I thought I was going to take off as the car bounced ridiculously. Something was wrong but I carried on for approx 150klms for the day trying to get my head around it all. But at the end of the day I was not happy with the settings and decided to check everything from square one.

Read the instructions (something I recommend) and found the settings where factory set at 8 all round. I then down a full turn and count back on each to full Hard. Found that my settings were actually 6 from Soft in the front and 3 from Soft in the rear. So now I could understand the bounce issue.

So yesterday I adjusted them to 9/7 from Soft front/rear and wow what a difference. Think I will adjust one more click to Hard on each. There seems to be a very fine balance between Bounce and Stiff. Trying to find an acceptable balance. But in all one would have to expect a harsher ride when lowering the car to 105mm off the tarmac and placing a set of this type of suspension setup on an MX5. Yes, the ride is not like standard and wouldn't expect it to be, but I feel there is a good balance of comfort for street driving.

Looking forward to my first track day and getting the setting right there too.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:32 am

I make sure that I wind mine all the way to soft then count the clicks going to hard. At the last track day I had mine set (clicks from soft) at front damper/rebound was 14/10, rear was 26/20 however this was very harsh on the road but almost no understeer on the track (with no rear sway). I wound the damping down by 10 clicks one club run and no adjustment to the rebound and it was a little more comfortable on the road.

However as I have now put the rear sway back on I will need to do some more adjustments to the settings, mainly reducing the rebound on the rear and increasing on the front plus making sure the damper is more than the rebound.

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:23 am

Lokiel dont forget that the damping must match spring rate hence stiffer front settings.

Kevgoat many have coilovers set full soft and live with it assuming thats as comfy as it gts. Then complain about coilovers on the forums.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:06 pm

jackmack wrote:Well I have now completed around 400klms on the new coilovers. It has been an interested and testing experience but I am becoming to enjoy them a great deal.

I was told when I left the garage that they where set on 10 all round. I found that on the first day that bounce was an issue although cornering was superb in comparison to standard. After reading the thread here I knocked my settings down 3 clicks in the rear and 1 on the front to try and achieve what I thought was 9 from soft in the front and 7 from soft in the rear (as this seemed to be a good setting based on Kev's experience).

Well after driving under heavy acceleration through a rather rippled intersection uphill, I thought I was going to take off as the car bounced ridiculously. Something was wrong but I carried on for approx 150klms for the day trying to get my head around it all. But at the end of the day I was not happy with the settings and decided to check everything from square one.

Read the instructions (something I recommend) and found the settings where factory set at 8 all round. I then down a full turn and count back on each to full Hard. Found that my settings were actually 6 from Soft in the front and 3 from Soft in the rear. So now I could understand the bounce issue.

So yesterday I adjusted them to 9/7 from Soft front/rear and wow what a difference. Think I will adjust one more click to Hard on each. There seems to be a very fine balance between Bounce and Stiff. Trying to find an acceptable balance. But in all one would have to expect a harsher ride when lowering the car to 105mm off the tarmac and placing a set of this type of suspension setup on an MX5. Yes, the ride is not like standard and wouldn't expect it to be, but I feel there is a good balance of comfort for street driving.

Looking forward to my first track day and getting the setting right there too.

Good to see you have pretty much found the set up for you for the road.

If Lakeside is your first track day ever, I would suggest increasing stiffness by about 5 clicks to hard at most and learn the track. You will have all day to see how you are going. With that as your base, at the next track day you can have a play a bit more. Don't fall into the trap of making a change, doing 5 laps and then deciding you need to make more changes. If you haven't tracked before, keep the adjustment a little stiffer than the road setting and learn the car and track for the day, and then the next track day go a little stiffer, and keep those settings for the day, and so on. You won't get much value from making changes every time you head out for 5 laps to see what you have done as you will be very inconsistent until you know both your car and the track.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:06 pm

jackmack wrote:Well I have now completed around 400klms on the new coilovers. It has been an interested and testing experience but I am becoming to enjoy them a great deal.

I was told when I left the garage that they where set on 10 all round. I found that on the first day that bounce was an issue although cornering was superb in comparison to standard. After reading the thread here I knocked my settings down 3 clicks in the rear and 1 on the front to try and achieve what I thought was 9 from soft in the front and 7 from soft in the rear (as this seemed to be a good setting based on Kev's experience).

Well after driving under heavy acceleration through a rather rippled intersection uphill, I thought I was going to take off as the car bounced ridiculously. Something was wrong but I carried on for approx 150klms for the day trying to get my head around it all. But at the end of the day I was not happy with the settings and decided to check everything from square one.

Read the instructions (something I recommend) and found the settings where factory set at 8 all round. I then down a full turn and count back on each to full Hard. Found that my settings were actually 6 from Soft in the front and 3 from Soft in the rear. So now I could understand the bounce issue.

So yesterday I adjusted them to 9/7 from Soft front/rear and wow what a difference. Think I will adjust one more click to Hard on each. There seems to be a very fine balance between Bounce and Stiff. Trying to find an acceptable balance. But in all one would have to expect a harsher ride when lowering the car to 105mm off the tarmac and placing a set of this type of suspension setup on an MX5. Yes, the ride is not like standard and wouldn't expect it to be, but I feel there is a good balance of comfort for street driving.

Looking forward to my first track day and getting the setting right there too.

Good to see you have pretty much found the set up for you for the road.

If Lakeside is your first track day ever, I would suggest increasing stiffness by about 5 clicks to hard at most and learn the track. You will have all day to see how you are going. With that as your base, at the next track day you can have a play a bit more. Don't fall into the trap of making a change, doing 5 laps and then deciding you need to make more changes. If you haven't tracked before, keep the adjustment a little stiffer than the road setting and learn the car and track for the day, and then the next track day go a little stiffer, and keep those settings for the day, and so on. You won't get much value from making changes every time you head out for 5 laps to see what you have done as you will be very inconsistent until you know both your car and the track.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:51 pm

Good to see someone reading the instructions.

jackmack · Postby **jackmack** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 6:21 pm

Thanks Matt, good suggestions regarding my first track day. I will do just that. I am still getting used to the new feel and it will take a few trips to sort myself out. Thought it was good as standard, but now its a totally a new car...simply speaking...awesome!

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:08 pm

Wife & I went for a very enjoyable top down drive down the coast today. I'd upped the settings by one click harder from soft about a week ago - now 10fr/8r from soft - but hadn't told her. I'd been driving all week on those settings and felt good. Wife didn't complain ...

... Winner!!

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:22 pm

Front Bump Increase= Understeer.
Front Bump Decrease= Oversteer.
Rear Bump Increase= Oversteer.
Rear Bump Decrease= Understeer.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:22 pm

MattR wrote::
If Lakeside is your first track day ever, I would suggest increasing stiffness by about 5 clicks to hard at most and learn the track. You will have all day to see how you are going. With that as your base, at the next track day you can have a play a bit more. Don't fall into the trap of making a change, doing 5 laps and then deciding you need to make more changes. If you haven't tracked before, keep the adjustment a little stiffer than the road setting and learn the car and track for the day, and then the next track day go a little stiffer, and keep those settings for the day, and so on. You won't get much value from making changes every time you head out for 5 laps to see what you have done as you will be very inconsistent until you know both your car and the track.

That's good advice but I think you can refine this for Lakeside based on how your car handles "The Kink" even if you're a newbie.

The Kink is a mild bend at the end of the straight and you can take it flat-out (in the dry at least) since there's plenty of braking distance before you reach The Karasel; it doesn't take a lot of skill to navigate so will give you some guidance as to how your car handles.

If your car stays nailed to the track through The Kink and you don't need to brake, no worries.

If your car floats too much,you feel like your car is getting thrown off to the right hand side of the track, or you need to brake, stiffen it up by 5 clicks.

I used 4/6 Hard as a newbie to Lakeside and left the settings there all day - the car stayed absolutely planted through The Kink and I couldn't understand why people were braking there (I was in the newbie group). I was incredibly wary of the track and just wanted to learn it but The Kink was no problems flat out so I'll probably use the same settings next time and only tweak them there when I learn how to drive the track properly.