Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hi All,

I recently got a full set of MCA X-R series coilovers supplied and installed on my R32 GTR by a reputable suspension place in Sydney. 

Left rear coilover is knocking on almost every single bump. The mechanics knew there was a knock and checked over every nut and bolt related to the suspension. All seemed fine.

They are currently ordering a new replacement set for the rears as there is possibly something loose within the coilover assembly.

Just wondering has anyone experienced a similar issue with MCA coilovers?

Also any advice to somehow soften the ride slightly. Sydney roads are horrible and the standard setup is a bit too bumpy for my liking.

Cheers

Kase

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/465766-mca-coilovers-knocking/
Share on other sites

I recently bought a set of Reds off MCA direct about 1-2 weeks ago (beginning of July), Josh at MCA he advised me they had a batch of shocks which had developed a slow leak over time;

also just a heads up.. we've had a couple of small gas leaks from some shocks made around the time yours were.. It was pretty rare, and I think yours will be ok.. but just letting you know incase you do hear some loud-ish knocks over large bumps/potholes, just let me know and I'll send a replacement for which ever it is straight away.

 

Also as the Reds are dyno tested and individually checked, I asked if that process would catch these leaking shocks.

slow gas leaks not really

i'm talking a drop of a few PSI per day type of thing, and they get gassed with 270ps

 

Regarding the harsh ride, MCA are happy to exchange a set of springs with your set up free of charge within the first few weeks of install, ask their  advice direct as to what would be a step down to increase comfort?  You could also opt to buy a second set and keep your originals for the track and swap between them as you need.

What i did was buy 2 sets of springs, the ones on the coilovers are set-up for street/tarmac driving, and a second set of stiffer springs to suit circuit events should i choose to do them.

Edited by squareznboxez

Incase you didn't get to see my edit,

Regarding the harsh ride, MCA are happy to exchange a set of springs with your set up free of charge within the first few weeks of install, ask their  advice direct as to what would be a step down to increase comfort?  You could also opt to buy a second set and keep your originals for the track and swap between them as you need.

What i did was buy 2 sets of springs, the ones on the coilovers are set-up for street/tarmac driving, and a second set of stiffer springs to suit circuit events should i choose to do them.

  • Like 1
3 hours ago, djr81 said:

You realise that changing out springs is quite an exercise and quite honestly too much of a pain in the arse to do for a track day?

What Spring rates do you have anyway? Hoping they are around the 6 &5kg/mm mark front/rear but I fear otherwise.

Fair call, i did figure for the extra $50/spring it was worth to have as an option.  Below is Josh @ MCAs feedback for my set.

2. Yes I think the extra springs is a very good idea because these springs would be a bit lacking on a circuit when pushing hard.  What tyres would you run on a circuit?  My normal circuit setup would be 15kg front and 11kg rear.

So we'd be going with with a Red Series setup, valving wise I'm thinking a near circuit setup on the front to help with the support of the car, but a bit softer in the rear to help with the ride quality and bump handling.

Spring rates of 12kg front and 5kg rear, along with another pair of 14kg front and 10kg rear assuming you wont be on a tyre like Hankook Z221 or Advan A050 for the track.. if you are, we could go 15/11.


These haven't been installed on the car yet, so i don't have any real feedback to offer, that being said MCA did model specific testing with a R34 GTR (running stock sway bars/bushes) to develop their valving codes and spring rates for that chassis.  That being said for reading i believe there are 2 trains of thought when it comes to spring rates/valving; one being the valving controls the body roll, and other using the springs to control body roll.

MCA BNR34 2.jpg

MCA BNR34.jpg

Edited by squareznboxez
7 hours ago, djr81 said:

You realise that changing out springs is quite an exercise and quite honestly too much of a pain in the arse to do for a track day?

What Spring rates do you have anyway? Hoping they are around the 6 &5kg/mm mark front/rear but I fear otherwise.

This.

Depending on how many track days your doing, how serious you are and whether you do the work yourself it would mean booking the car in to your suspension shop before the track day to get springs swapped and a wheel alignment and then you would need to do it again after said track day.

How many times a year do you want to do this and how much money do you want to spend at the shop?

Of course it also comes down to whether you daily your car, how many kms you do on what sort of roads and how "hardcore" you are.

Now bare in mind I work at a suspension workshop, our owner has 2 MX-5s and 3 sets of coilovers between them, yes we have played with spring rates but does he plan on constantly changing them before/after everytime he goes to the track? Hell no he doesn't.

I'm currently going to keep the MCA X-R series coilovers. Main thing is to address the knocking as this also may affect the overall suspension feel on the car.

The car is booked in for tomorrow to change over the rear coliovers. I'll let you all know how it all goes and if any adjustments were done to the dampers to slightly soften the ride. Might not be required.

On a side note, the car is sitting relatively low but the tyres don't scrub, so I don't plan to change the springs. Scrubbing may occur if I put softer springs in...

 

On 7/13/2016 at 0:49 PM, pureplaya said:

Also any advice to somehow soften the ride slightly. Sydney roads are horrible and the standard setup is a bit too bumpy for my liking.

Adjust the dampers? not rocket science

1 hour ago, Hadouken said:

If I'm not mistaken they allow 2kg either way adjustment on springs.

Yep, would have thought the valving adjustments on the shocks would easily allow for this. There's generally a big difference between full soft and full hard.

Got the car back from V-sport and they did a fantastic job. Both rear coilovers were replaced and dampers adjusted. The car feels great!!!!

Current setup is:

MCA X-R series coilovers

Front damper - 4 clicks,   Rear damper - 6 clicks

Front Springs - 180mm 10kg,   Rear Springs - 220mm 4.5kg

Ride height (centre of wheel to guard) - 345mm both front and rear

20160715_133707.jpg

On Friday, 15 July 2016 at 0:49 PM, pureplaya said:

Got the car back from V-sport and they did a fantastic job. Both rear coilovers were replaced and dampers adjusted. The car feels great!!!!

Current setup is:

MCA X-R series coilovers

Front damper - 4 clicks,   Rear damper - 6 clicks

Front Springs - 180mm 10kg,   Rear Springs - 220mm 4.5kg

Ride height (centre of wheel to guard) - 345mm both front and rear

20160715_133707.jpg

Wow, they put a 7" spring in the front?  I couldn't work out why they used such a hard spring but I guess if you only have a 180mm to play with you are going to need a big number.

Hmm, on looking up an Eibach cattle dog the 7" 10kg 2.5" od spring has a travel of 100mm which leaves about 50mm once the car is on it.  So better than I thought and probably not much different to a lot of setups.

Still 10kg/mm & 4.5kg/mm is a big gap when you have a car that understeers and has four wheel drive.

Edited by djr81

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • I will rebutt this and the preceding point from Dose....but without doing any calcs to demonstrate anything and without knowing that I am right or wrong. But... The flow capacity of a fluid transfer system is not limited by the smallest orifice or section of conduit in that system, unless it is drastically smaller than the rest of the system. OK, I use the word drastically perhaps with too much emphasis, but let's drill down on what I really mean. The flow capacity of the system is the result of the sum of the restrictions of the entire system. So, to make an extreme example, if you have a network with 3" pipe everywhere (and let's say a total length of only a few metres) and that 12mm ID restriction of the oil filter connection being the obvious restriction, then for any given amount of pressure available, the vast majority of all the pressure drop in the system is going to occur in the 12mm restriction. But.... increase the length of the 3" pipeline to, say 1000m, and suddenly the pipe pressure loss will likely add up to either be in the same order of magnitude, possibly even exceeding that of the 12mm restriction. Now the 12mm restriction starts to matter less. Translate this to the actual engine, actual oil cooler hose sizing, etc etc, and perhaps: The pressure loss caused by flowing through the narrow section (being the 12mm oil filter port, and perhaps any internal engine oil flow pathways associated with it) is a certain number. The pressure loss through, say, -12 hoses out to the cooler and back is negligible, but The pressure loss through -10 hoses out to the cooler, at the exact same length as the above, starts to become a decent fraction of the loss through the 12mm stuff at the filter port. Maybe even it starts to exceed it. I could actually do these calcs if I knew 1) how much oil was actually flowing in the line, 2) gave enough of a f**k to do things that I hate doing for work, voluntarily for a hypothetical discussion. Anyway - I reiterate. It's not the narrowest port that necessarily determines how much it can all flow. It is the sum. A long enough length of seemingly fat enough pipe can still cause more loss than a semmingly dominant small bore restriction.
    • To pick up what Dose is putting down. Not a lot of point running a huge hose if the motor is still restricted to the smaller size... It's only capable of flowing so much at that point...   *Waits for GTSBoy to come in and bring in the technicalities of length of pipe, and additional restriction from wall friction etc etc*
    • Hooley Dooley these things have some history! If i sell them they will need a certificate of providence to prove they have been in the hands of verified RB20 royalty! They have been stored in a plastic tub, away from sunlight and moisture. They are in mint condition. And they will stay that way, as i have sprung the money for a set of shockworks coilovers. I'm just working on getting them in at the moment, after rebushing the rear of the car, and while the subframe was out i welded in the GKtech reinforcement bracing as well.  They will get a workout at Ararat King of The Hill in November. I ran 48s on the short course there a few months ago, and i am hoping with new bushes and shocks in the rear i can launch a bit harder. There was a fair bit of axle tramp when i tried too hard off the line. a few of the corners had dips mid way which also made the car feel a bit unsettled, hopefully this will help there too.   
    • Food for thought, the stock oil filter thread is a 3/4-16 UNF, which has an ID of about 10 to 12mm (according to ChatGPT lol). Now compare than to an 10AN, which has an ID of about 14mm (Raceworks is 14.2mm, Speed flow is 14.27mm).  
    • Yep, totally get that. However hooking in for Generator back up is only a few hundred bucks for the wiring. You could put a couple of those in (for different circuits explicitly) and run a couple of baby generators. Bonus, you can balance them across different circuits, and now have backups in your backup. I'm looking at buying places that won't even have water etc, and I don't mind the idea of getting off the electric grid either, even with everything you've said. This country already has enough power outages that even the mains grid isn't that reliable anymore. I do agree though on spending a bit more to get better gear, and to add some extra redundancy in to the system too.
×
×
  • Create New...