**Coilover Review Thread**

[BlackG5]

I figured something like this might help potential buyers..

Post the brand, spring rates, miles driven, any issues, comfort level, and anything else you care to say about them.. also what gen your car is...

Gen 5
BC Racing BR series
10k front/8k rear
approx. 20k miles driven
*no issues beyond improper initial installation. once I read the install instructions, we were golden


Up until last week I had only driven on stretched tires so they never were VERY comfortable, but they weren't bouncy, just felt every bump in the road. I put steelies on with 215-50-16's and WOW, 99% of the time now you can't even tell it's riding on coilovers. It's amazing the difference a thicker and squishier set of tires will do. It's almost like riding on the stock suspension when the dampers are turned to soft.

For those who think a coilover can't be comfortable, you'd be surprised.

[sixsix]

How about some pics or a vid of how to adjust them? That's the only thing really stopping me from getting some. I thought the height adjustment was done by turning the nut deal under the spring but it looks like the ones for the Camry that I've seen have to adjustments?

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by sixsix

How about some pics or a vid of how to adjust them? That's the only thing really stopping me from getting some. I thought the height adjustment was done by turning the nut deal under the spring but it looks like the ones for the Camry that I've seen have to adjustments?

I adjusted them wrong the first time I tried, thought all you did was loosen the top two collars and spin them down... WRONG. Its the bottom collar that does the height adjustment. Loosen it and whatever gap you have in between the collar and the base will be the amount it will lower-- meaning, you have the gap and then spin the entire strut assembly clockwise to close the gap..

basically the top two adjust the preload of the spring--BC recommends 5mm preload, so you loosen the top two collars until they are just snug on the spring, then spin a few more times to "load" the spring.. Once you set the preload correctly, then it's all height adjustments done by the bottom collar.


hope this helps.. it was trial and error for me cuz it was the first set of coilovers I had installed, but after figuring it out its not so bad.. i did a set of BC's on my buddy's GC8 subaru in less than 3 hours.

[LE05]

Gen 5.5
BC Racing BR Series
7k/4.5k Front/Rear
27k miles driven

My first set, the shock inserts are seized to the lower mounts really good. Not even going to try to get them apart, not worth the effort. The rear springs are all rusted to hell. Their collar and adjusting wrench design is just terrible... whoever designed them should be shot. When they are seized and you need to put some force on it, the adjustment wrenches just slip and destroy the collars.

I would definitely NOT recommend running these coilovers in the winter without some serious winterizing and rust proofing measures. I have swapped my second set of coilovers for my stock suspension for the winter. It's just not worth investing all that money to have them eaten away by the salt.

That being said, they do ride nice. Like BlackG5 said, turn them to full soft and with the right wheel and tire combination it feels like it's almost riding on stock suspension. Turn them up and it's like the car is on rails. With the combination of the rear sway bar, front strut bar, and the coilovers... on ramps, turns, and twisty roads are so much more fun Adjustability is nice when you can get it to work (not seized).

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by LE05

When they are seized and you need to put some force on it, the adjustment wrenches just slip and destroy the collars.

I would definitely NOT recommend running these coilovers in the winter without some serious winterizing and rust proofing measures. I have swapped my second set of coilovers for my stock suspension for the winter. It's just not worth investing all that money to have them eaten away by the salt.

As much as I've stripped those damn collars I totally forgot how shatty they are

[MJZ]

Originally Posted by LE05

Gen 5.5
BC Racing BR Series
7k/4.5k Front/Rear
27k miles driven

My first set, the shock inserts are seized to the lower mounts really good. Not even going to try to get them apart, not worth the effort. The rear springs are all rusted to hell. Their collar and adjusting wrench design is just terrible... whoever designed them should be shot. When they are seized and you need to put some force on it, the adjustment wrenches just slip and destroy the collars.

I would definitely NOT recommend running these coilovers in the winter without some serious winterizing and rust proofing measures. I have swapped my second set of coilovers for my stock suspension for the winter. It's just not worth investing all that money to have them eaten away by the salt.

That being said, they do ride nice. Like BlackG5 said, turn them to full soft and with the right wheel and tire combination it feels like it's almost riding on stock suspension. Turn them up and it's like the car is on rails. With the combination of the rear sway bar, front strut bar, and the coilovers... on ramps, turns, and twisty roads are so much more fun Adjustability is nice when you can get it to work (not seized).

Maybe actually get some quality coil overs?

Many stock cars (that are not Camrys) come with coil overs from the factory.

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by MJZ

Maybe actually get some quality coil overs?

We're not talking about buying JRZ for a camry, big guy.

For the money, no other brand compares-- D2, KSport-- I've installed and driven both, I'll keep the BC.

**edit-- "many stock cars come with coilovers from the factory" -- please, please, enlighten me on which can be adjusted like the above mentioned. I'll wait.

[MJZ]

Originally Posted by BlackG5

We're not talking about buying JRZ for a camry, big guy.

For the money, no other brand compares-- D2, KSport-- I've installed and driven both, I'll keep the BC.

**edit-- "many stock cars come with coilovers from the factory" -- please, please, enlighten me on which can be adjusted like the above mentioned. I'll wait.

Well you're paying what $800 for coil overs and complaining about quality? Places I go to will laugh me out... they say $500 per corner or go home.

Like you said, it's a Camry, so toss em after a while and buy new sets. Or when coil overs start costing more than the worth of your car, maybe get a newer car?

[LE05]

Originally Posted by MJZ

Well you're paying what $800 for coil overs and complaining about quality? Places I go to will laugh me out... they say $500 per corner or go home.

Like you said, it's a Camry, so toss em after a while and buy new sets. Or when coil overs start costing more than the worth of your car, maybe get a newer car?

Well clearly the places you frequent are high end and your salary bracket are much higher than mine. I don't have disposable income to spend thousands of dollars on modifications or just "get a newer car".

This is all beside the point anyway, this thread is a review thread. I didn't ask for advice or comments on my review, so thank you very much and get off your high horse.

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by MJZ

Places I go to will laugh me out... they say $500 per corner or go home.

The same way I laugh at you for saying we should spend $2k on a camry.

Originally Posted by MJZ

Like you said, it's a Camry, so toss em after a while and buy new sets. Or when coil overs start costing more than the worth of your car, maybe get a newer car?

You're an idiot. People spend $50k+ on honda civics and 240's that are worth $200.

[GT-R]

Originally Posted by BlackG5

You're an idiot. People spend $50k+ on honda civics and 240's that are worth $200.

You got that right, you can use the money to buy a better sports car and can still outperform those cars anytime.

[Cking]

Originally Posted by GT-R

You got that right, you can use the money to buy a better sports car and can still outperform those cars anytime.

People have to stop being narrow minded, I used think differently at people that spend 10k on 5k cars or 20k on 10k cars, but in the end what does it matter to me, as long as it makes them happy, why not?

Anyway, this is my review for 2 sets of coilovers.

Megan Street Coilovers (6K front /3K rear)
Driven: 10k miles
Pretty stiff even at medium stiffness settings on the dampeners.
Their dampening system isn't bad, but isn't good either.
Full stiffness = feel every imperfection in the road.

BuddyClub Racing Spec Coilovers (8k and 6k)
Driven 10k miles (Medium dampening)
Best damn ride I had since stock. It feels as damp as soft but firm. When
I first got it from the shop I was so shocked and surprised, it was pretty amazing to say the least, I was taking corners a little spirited but I couldn't tell that it was on coils...their dampening system is one of a kind.

BuddyClub Racing Spec Coilovers (10k Swift Springs and 8k)
Driven 7k miles and going.
Pretty soft but still bouncy, but not so that it is rocky unless the roads absolutely sucked. Full soft. Spring traveling distance is 1.5 inch~ max,
but it's probably a lot better than any other coilovers minus Tein.

[xx03Camryxx]

BC BR coilovers
3k miles on it


I already had a problem with the collar seizing on one of the corners, however it hasn't been much of a problem with me. I just used something flat and a hammer to unseize it lol The ride isn't exactly comfortable but that's what is to be expected if you go lower. I only paid $900 for them, and they do me well.

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by xx03Camryxx

BC BR coilovers
3k miles on it


I already had a problem with the collar seizing on one of the corners, however it hasn't been much of a problem with me. I just used something flat and a hammer to unseize it lol The ride isn't exactly comfortable but that's what is to be expected if you go lower. I only paid $900 for them, and they do me well.

which collar was it? one of the lower, height adjusting ones?

try not to tighten them so much because they're so frail.. I had a hell of a time loosening them after being really tight, but haven't had any issues with them being "not so tight"-- if that makes sense..

I cleaned mine up last weekend and raised them up, one of the three was a bit stubborn to turn, but with a bit of encouragement it worked fine.. I'm not looking forward to the spring time after all the salt and shyt-- trying to lower will be a PITA I'm sure..

[alexorozco92]

KSport coilovers
Specs: 9kg/6kg spring rates, 36 level of dampening

Bought these for $942 free shipping direct from KSport.
Took exactly one month from time received an email that my order was put in to get to my house.
These are made by order which is why it took a while.
They are located in Arizona so, they only took 2 days from the moment they shipped 'em to get to my door.
These coilovers are extremely comfortable. They start off really stiff but then they wear in in about 500 miles.
They are really soft. I don't think they're stiff enough even though their spring rates are a little high for stock.
From medium stiffness all the way to max stiffness it's slightly noticeable. There isn't much of a difference.
To me, this is a negative because i don't want a bouncy ride.
The really good thing is that these coilovers drop to the floor!
My frame is about 1'' off the ground and these coils can still go lower.(18s)

If you're looking for a comfortable ride buy these.
These coilovers are really sturdy and fairly priced for what you get.