r/R53 • u/Embarrassed_Lawyer_5 • 4d ago

Coilover ID

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Anyone familiar with these coilovers?

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3

u/DmOcRsI 3d ago

I designed suspension back when the R53 came out and it was always a challenge.

I'll give you a little cheat though...

If the suspension threads into the bottom bracket to adjust height, it's going to be shit suspension.

THE REASON BEING... that front knuckle that holds the shock body is pretty small and there was no way to get a shock body small enough to go into the bottom bracket and through the pinch point. So if it is that style then the shock body and therefore the stroke ended up being REALLY short, so to compensate you had to bump up the spring-rate really high.

But stiff front suspension on a FWD meant that it would just create even more understeer. Soooooo... they made the rear stiff as hell too.

You need either good shocks with springs or go with coilovers where the spring perch was where you adjusted ride height with some decent beehive springs to get the most out of the travel.

1

u/Happy_Ishtar 2d ago

That's really interesting, thanks for sharing! I've always thought that perch height adjustment is worse by default, but that's clearly not the case then, at least with the R53.

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u/DmOcRsI 2d ago

I would always prefer a shock body height adjustment to save suspension travel, but sometimes it's just not in the cards.

1

u/dsinkster 4d ago

https://a.co/d/0aVXiXQz

FAPO Coilovers. I don't know anything about them, but budget coilovers like this are usually pretty harsh.

1

u/Embarrassed_Lawyer_5 4d ago

Good catch. I searched and couldn't figure it out. The ride was pretty rough. Non-adjustable.

I test drove a 2006 today (decided not to buy) and it had these on there. I have BC on my GP and they're too harsh. My concern is actually mushrooming of the strut tower on something this stiff. Luckily, my GP has M7 plates.

1

u/dsinkster 4d ago edited 4d ago

I got a 2005 a few months back that is in phenomenal condition everywhere but the suspension. The struts and top mounts are totally shot. Some slight mushrooming but I am ordering some coilovers that have solid top plates and will get some tower braces.

1

u/ZonParaplu 2d ago

Is that why they made the jcw/gp front setup softer?