YellowSpeed or BC Racing Coilovers?

[Vekt]

Hey guys

So in the next couple weeks I can finally replace the boat like suspension in my na6 and I'm trying to decide between YellowSpeed Dynamic Pro Sport or BC Racing BR Type RA.

I can't really see too many differences on paper except the price, with the BC's being a little more.

As for what I'd like to do with them, I'm not really going for that hellaflush fitment, but I would like to go a little lower that what it currently is, which from what I can see is pretty much stock height at the moment.

The primary use of the car is mostly back roads and hopefully, once I get a few more things sorted on it, a lot of track days, I've already got a DD so comfort isn't too much of a concern.

So if anyone's had any experience with either of these brands before any info on them would be appreciated, i.e what you like about it, what you didn't, and any troubles with the installation. And if anyone has any other recommendations I might have not considered I'd be more than eager to hear em, looking to spend up to around the $1400-1500 mark at most.

Cheers guys, looking forwards to any advice you can give.

[Magpie]

Have you considered MCA's? I have not yet dríven a car with either Yellow Speed or MCA's.

Spring rates is what will open a can of worms... For track, this depends on tyres, bushes, alignment, sway bars etc but a 10/8 or a 9/6 maybe a good place to start. Don't go for bigger sway bars until such time as you want to fine tune the car. Most have found that OEM sway bars with adjustable end links is more than adequate.

I would recommend BC's, as the service I have gotten from Just Jap has been exceptional. However I have also had exceptional service from MCA when Murray repaired/modified my BC ER's. Since the BC ER's have been setup by Murray I have not changed the settings very much, helped that he dyno tested them.

[hks_kansei]

Every car I've been in fitted Sith yellowspeeds has felt like sh*t.

They just hopped and pogo around, it really felt like the damping was way too soft for the spring (damping was set fairly high too....)

I've got Tein FlexZ on mine, and I think they're far nicer than the yellowcraps.
I've got 7 and 6 kg springs and feel that they're still a bit stiff for my liking on mid corner bumps.

[kazama]

I have experience with both. I currently have BC BR with 7/5kg springs. I used to have yellowspeeds on my old Daihatsu Charade.
I really dislike both of them. The longer I have my nb8a (2.5 years) the more I hate the BCs and wish I'd spent a bit more and got MCA X-C or similar.

With your budget being relatively close I would wait until I could stretch it to MCA purples.

This forum seems to be happy with stock bars but the "big forum" typically has a much beefier front bar. I personally use the whiteline front bar set on the firmer setting

[zossy1]

If it is really a choice between these two, choose the BC.

I have dríven both, in an MX5. Do a search - this topic has been done before and I gave more detail in my post last time.

[KevGoat]

Suspension ride/handling is such an individual thing. What one likes another will hate. Only real way to tell is if you can find someone with the same car with the coilovers you are looking at fitted and with the rest of the suspension similar to your setup.

I had BC BR's in my NB8A and hated them. I sold (and fitted) them to another forum member's NA6 and he loved them.

I've dríven another member's NB SE for a day with some old Tein Flex fitted, and those were in a whole other league (including price). Made the BC's feel like steel rods.

I don't know how these compare, or anything about the website selling them (maybe anyone who's purchsed through them could pipe in on their experience), but might be worth consideration: http://www.rhdjapan.com/tein-flex-z-coilover-suspension-na6ce-na8c-nb6c-nb8c.html

[ricky-pinky]

I fitted BC Racing BR type RS coilovers about 8 years ago. I think they are pretty good bang for the buck, but I haven't dríven on any others besides the worn out standard shocks I pulled out.

The BCs came with 8kg/mm front springs and 6kg/mm rear springs. I run the springs without any preload. They are pretty firm for the road but, as I want the car set up for the occasional track day I like them, but some of my passengers don't. I also fitted a larger Whiteline front sway bar which I run on the 'soft' setting. I run the dampers on their softest setting on the road and screw them down 20 clicks for the track.

However, I did have issues with the rear coilovers. I decided the rear damper travel was too short, so I fitted dampers as specified for an RX7 from the BC catalogue, which were 30mm longer with 30mm longer travel. I had to fit taller custom made high hats in order to accommodate the longer piston rod, and I found this setup satisfactory. Also, I eventually fitted 7kg rear springs as I believe these are a better match for the 8kg front springs. This increased the rear roll resistance, so I disconnected the rear sway bar to compensate. I'm happy with the handling, but I have never dríven any other car as a comparison, and nobody else has dríven mine in order to comment.

While the BC front coilovers can be made long enough to raise the car to the standard height, the rears with the original dampers aren't long enough to raise the car to standard height without either fitting a spacer between the coilover mounting plate and the chassis, or using an extra 5 turns (10mm) of spring preload, or combination thereof.

I don't see the point in going for BR type RA coilovers. I don't think the added expense of a pillowball upper front mount is necessary in a car that doesn't have a McPherson strut suspension. Maybe others might like to comment on this.

[greenMachine]

I am a known PSS9 addict, and having just returned from a 600km run to Bathurst via Goulburn, Taralga and Oberon, and return via Taralga, Crookwell, Gunning and Gundaroo, I can say my addiction has gotten worse. Set on full soft, they have great absorbance and control with minimal harshness. I have used the car for the first four rounds of the NSW Supersprint C'ships this year, and while I would not use the standard PSS valving by choice on the track (the racecar has revalved PSS9s) they do an adequate job with plenty of adjustment to finetune handling (the original GM used stock PSS9s in winning the 2006 2B Class Champoinship).

I have dríven on Konis, BCs and stock shocks, and this is my second set of the PSS9s, the first having gone into the racecar - the Konis (with King springs) were 'the' budget kit back then, and the BCs were a total mistake. I might try MCAs if I needed to replace these, and the only other place that I would look might be Ohlins.

Try before you buy is good advice, but don't drive anything you can't afford. You will either blow your budget, or regret not blowing your budget!

[zossy1]

I have dríven on Konis, BCs and stock shocks, and this is my second set of the PSS9s, the first having gone into the racecar - the Konis (with King springs) were 'the' budget kit back then, and the BCs were a total mistake. I might try MCAs if I needed to replace these, and the only other place that I would look might be Ohlins.

It's definitely a taste and feel thing. There is obviously so much more to the recipe than just the coilovers - sways, bushings, Spring rates, alignment, driving style, etc..

I still believe that the second best handling MX5 I have ever dríven was David Wilken's old NA with stock VVT running gear, and standard BC BRs with 8/6kg springs, Torsen, poly bushes, and Whiteline sways. Clearly, YMMV.

The Blue Rocket runs Gen 1 AST Xidas. I have to humbly confess that it is the best handling car I have ever had the pleasure of strapping in to. The only place I'd ever consider going from here would be Gen 2 Xidas. Add Xidas to your bucket list, Ed... Again though, the shocks are only a part of the package. It has taken lots of time and testing to get her to stick like she does.

[greenMachine]

Dead right Chris, the package decides the outcome, and handling/ride is very subjective.

I didn't know you used the Xidas, you are the first I have known to use them, the yanks on mtnet rave on them, including for dual duty. I hope I don't have to look at replacing my current set of PSS9s for many a year yet, but you might just have got me to put another one on my 'maybe' list for then. I suspect though, the MCAs would be high on that list if only for the extent that they can be set up from the factory.

[Magpie]

zossy1 Coilovers are just part of the package.

greenMachine there is another forum member (ManiacLachy) who has just installed Xidas! http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=885445#p885445

Hopefully after Friday a few people will give their comments on how my car handles, whilst it will not be dríven at race speeds it will be at Lakeside. I'll make it conditional on Steampunk that those who drive it fill out feedback forms

[ManiacLachy]

A few others should get a chance to try my Xidas out on Friday too, and I'm hoping to get some seat time in their cars. Should provide a good source for a variety of opinions and comparisons.

So far my ranking looks like this. Xidas > HSD.

[Magpie]

Good plan! I'll have to make sure I free myself up. Passenger seat is back in the car, just need to give it a wash before Friday and fill the tank (E85).

[pepejesus]

Hey guys

So in the next couple weeks I can finally replace the boat like suspension in my na6 and I'm trying to decide between YellowSpeed Dynamic Pro Sport or BC Racing BR Type RA.

I can't really see too many differences on paper except the price, with the BC's being a little more.

As for what I'd like to do with them, I'm not really going for that hellaflush fitment, but I would like to go a little lower that what it currently is, which from what I can see is pretty much stock height at the moment.

The primary use of the car is mostly back roads and hopefully, once I get a few more things sorted on it, a lot of track days, I've already got a DD so comfort isn't too much of a concern.

So if anyone's had any experience with either of these brands before any info on them would be appreciated, i.e what you like about it, what you didn't, and any troubles with the installation. And if anyone has any other recommendations I might have not considered I'd be more than eager to hear em, looking to spend up to around the $1400-1500 mark at most.

Cheers guys, looking forwards to any advice you can give.

If it's just between BC and Yellowspeed, get the BCs.

I've got BCs on my car and they're fine. I'm running 10/6 springs (8/6 is the stock set up) and a big (1.125" x 0.188" tubular) front sway bar. I'd definitely recommend putting in a bigger front sway bar when you do the coilovers - something like this: http://www.racingbeat.com/Miata-1990-2005/Sway-Bars/54104.html?id=KAIJoQwQ Leave the rear bar alone or maybe go up to the 14mm off the SE, but no bigger.

Lots of good info on wheel alignment and general suspension set-up here: http://949racing.com/miata-race-alignment-info.aspx

I've not had any experience with Yellowspeeds but have heard enough lukewarm to negative stuff about them that I'd steer clear.

I've had AFCOs on a previous MX5 and they were fantastic, but a significant step up in quality and price to the BCs. For an entry level coilover I think the BCs are pretty damn good.

However at $1500 I think you should seriously consider MCA Reds. Lots of good feedback on the forum about them and you have the added bonus of local support.

Installation of coilovers on an MX5 using the 'long bolt method' is so easy even I can do it, see here: http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/22-suspension/77650-how-swap-your-na-nb-suspension-long-bolt-method.html

[RS2000]

However at $1500 I think you should seriously consider MCA Reds. Lots of good feedback on the forum about them and you have the added bonus of local support.

Reds start at $2600. Only get Blues for $1500.

Vekt - try the coilovers first before buying sway bars. You may not need them - depends on spring rate, f to r spring rate ratio, etc, etc