A big update to the car! - BC Racing Coilovers
Well, here goes! Over the year and a half or so I had the SPM Springs on my OEM shocks, they took a bit of a beating. I knew stock shocks wouldn't hold up long on lowering springs, but add the rough roads locally and the winter I spent in Calgary with them and they where done. Springs where rusty, one shock was leaking, and the whole car felt bouncy and sloppy.
I decided to make the jump! After a ton of research on different coilover, or shock and spring combos. I settled on a BC racing BR series coilover kit!
I love the Idea of being able to set my ride height wherever I want, and although the dampening, height, preload, and camber plate adjustment are far more than I will ever know what to do with, this kit seemed decent quality, a good price, and a great design. It came with shortened sway bar end links for the front, which is great as I was destroying stock ones quickly at my height, and needed shortened or adjustable units. It also replaces the rubber tophats in the front, which is great as everyone knows those bearings and mounts are a common failure point, and the biggest difference I wasn't expecting was the way it makes my steering and turn in feel, just amazing, so much more engaging than blown old sloppy oem suspension was.
The front design is pretty standard, dampening is adjusted by pulling back the windshield cowl trim slightly and spinning a knob on the top of shock tower, really easy to get to. Height is adjusted by shortening or lengthening the entire shock, so you dont have to mess up the preload and make your car ride like garbage to go higher or lower!
Rear is a bit different, not what I was used to seeing in coilovers, but now that I have installed and read the instructions 12 times over, it makes sense. Damping is adjusted by a knob on top of shock, but due to the mounts in these cars it is NOT adjusted from somewhere in the trunk area, but from under the car. It is easy to get to with wheels still on, but car must be jacked up at least in the rear. No worries for me as I work at a dealership with hoists so I can pop it up quickly on my lunch break or after work if I ever want to make tweaks. Rear height is also easily adjusted but once getting your desired height you must then adjust preload properly. I had no idea how to do this and was a bit worried, but BC has a great short video that walks you through the process and its not bad at all.
Install went great! Everything fit well, lots of new hardware included where necessary, and clear enough instructions!
I tried to set the ride height exactly as my lowering springs where. I really liked that height as it looked great, but didn't rub or compromise any drivability even around town, speedbumps, and cracked potholed roads. I have the rear at full high but without the optional 1" spacer. Fronts are about mid way through their adjustment. If I had to guess, the adjustment range would let me go at least 1.5" higher or lower. But I am pretty happy with how she sits!
Now for the driving review! Ride is stiffer, for sure, but not harsh by any means. On a smooth road, you would never notice... On rough potholed city street, it's a bit stiff, not for a non car enthusiast for sure, but what kinda non car person is getting coilovers! For me, it's perfect, it's still comfortable, not bouncy, no rub at all at my height even with passengers in the car driving hard down rough roads. I do however have my front fenders rolled, due to the more aggressive fitment that my Audi Winter wheels have.
The biggest improvement like I said earlier is the turn in and steering feel! And thats on my winter tires! I can't wait to feel this car when my summers are back on in the spring. Luckily now that I am living in Victoria B.C. that should come a lot sooner than it did in Calgary.
Thanks for reading the update! Please feel free to ask any questions if you are considering a coilover kit! And stay tuned, as with this car addiction I have, you all know this won't be the last mod!