RRH

Guys- for your peace of mind.

I was asked by John Felstead (who some of you may know from SN- one of scoobynets most respected chassis and handling gurus) to get involved with Bren to test some prototype coilovers he was looking at.

I had spent about twelve months messing about with 'another' coilover setup, and had several units replaced either due to bursting on track or rusting in the thread adjustments.

John didn't have an Impreza at the time, so they were fitted to my STi and run hard at Oulton, pitting every couple of laps while john made minute adjustments to ride height and geometry.

I have to say that the Mk1 units (this units predecessor) was outstanding, especially for the proposed price. They have been on the car for about two years now- no leaking, no rusting, just solid performance. The car is predominantly track based but does have some road use- mainly to and from circuits, but its perfectly well mannered on the road. Just turn up the clicks and its ready for slicks on a dry track, or soften them a touch at the front for wet track.

And these new units are even better!

Couple that with one of the most knowledgable and helpful chaps in the business and I'm sure you'll be very happy.

Hope this helps.
Simon

johnfelstead

Hi Simon,

The Mk1 units were adequate performance for a trackday car, and good value for money. They did respond to setting changes so you could alter the handling charicteristics nicely. They werent as good as Leda or KW Varient 3 in the way they worked overall, but for the money you couldnt really complain.

The problem with using another car fitted with other dampers as a reference, as is being done to a certain extent in this thread, is that you dont know how well the damper settings have been set to match the environment. The KW Varient 3 is adjustable independantly in both bump and rebound, and because of this it's very easy to get the setup wrong. I can pretty much guarantee if i was given that Impreza at the 'ring with KW's i would make it a lot quicker and easier to drive by altering the setup.

You often do get what you pay for with dampers (but not always ), the internals are what matters in terms of ride quality and performance and this is where the extra costs are really incured, which is why a set of Ohlins or Exe-tc cost an arm and a leg by comparison. If you have the money, spend it on the best dampers you can afford, but most of us dont have the money so we are looking for a product that is going to perform adequately, last long enough to be a practical proporsition and have good support from the suplier.

I couldnt comment on this new products performance, because i havnt seen it or tried it, but i can comment on Bren at Apex having used him for all my 200SX parts. You wont find a better suplier to deal with, he is a super guy who puts the customer first, so you wont have any issues with product suport.

SetoN

Would they be suited for a classic Impreza sport 2.0 Year:2000. ?

Thanks.

SetoN

Monkey200

We didnt get in at Cadwell on the 10th

They will fit a STi-6 (we'll be fitting them to ours ) and to your too SetoN.

JSF - Hello - You know me as Kev, or SM on the SXOC, thanks for the review and support, see you around.

Thanks Simon.

GazTheHat

Is the group buy full now and the order going in?

I need to get these before 20th November. Is that likely to happen??

Monkey200

The group buy is still available to join, several of the people who have said they want in havent yet phoned up with payment information. I believe bren is working from home today, he may post a due date, I'm not sure.

GB List to date

1,KIP GC8 CLASSIC MY 93
2,Midas GC8 Classic 94 import, interesed but can't confirm just yet
3,Chrispurvis100 1997 sti 3.
4, Weakboy2 (Legacy Turbo, Same as early wrx)
5,steveorangewrx 1994 wrx saloon, very interested.
6,cupradave GC8 MY98 WRX
7,Exvaux stiV typeR plus some whiteline stuff via pm
8,GazTheHat (MY04 STi), Still to decide styles & springs
9,PJ748r (MY05 WRX),normal style,6/5 springs(maybe)
10, Andy916 STi4, dependent on a look/ride at Cadwell 10th November

SetoN

Whats the price down to now? im confused

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

We havent had many phone through but Ill just order a batch in now and will sort the details in the mean time

We order the kits in with springs but do have spare springs here if people want to change them at a later date.

Yep, we have just bought an STi 6 Type RA and will be fitting them to that.

It was mentioned to me that you had a drop out but the full info wasnt passed over, I didnt realise it was guys wanting to specifically see our car there. we are now trying again to get a slot and are pushing through a set of coilovers and brakes for our car so its ready for the 10th in case we get a place

Yep

Im trying, cant see the 20th being a problem.

Andy916

iTrader: (8)

Ach, that's a damn shame. I sent the full info to sales@apex (the email listed in your profile) and also to Kev. Anyway, I hope you do come along as there's myself (STi4) and Logan (RA 5 Limited, similar to your new car) very interested to see these units on the car. We're both into sprints - Jap Intermarque Sprint Championship (JISC) - and I'll happily spread the word of how good they turn out to be.

cheers
Andy

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

Ive not been at work for a couple of days, one of the guys mentioned it to me in passing. I said no partly because we had tried and failed to get a place so Ive booked a few days at Centre Parcs that weekend for Ann, Natasha (our 6 month old daughter) and myself. It is a real trek from Centre Parcs to Cadwell but now I understand whos going Im prepared to make the effort

Ive just emailed the mnaufacturers of the coilovers and asked them to express a set over to me for next week. Theyll be relatively soft mind, 6/5kg.mm so wont be optimised for road work.

Im also trying to get a set of 330mm KSport brakes through in time although we might be running on 356mm as we have a set in stock.

This is assuming we get offered another place.

Andy916

iTrader: (8)

Tis very much appreciated, thanks Bren.
Here's hoping that another place becomes available.

Andy

blacky555uk

Yup, Me too, very interested to have a look at these coilovers.

raj_kemp

GB List to date

1,KIP GC8 CLASSIC MY 93
2,Midas GC8 Classic 94 import, interesed but can't confirm just yet
3,Chrispurvis100 1997 sti 3.
4, Weakboy2 (Legacy Turbo, Same as early wrx)
5,steveorangewrx 1994 wrx saloon, very interested.
6,cupradave GC8 MY98 WRX
7,Exvaux stiV typeR plus some whiteline stuff via pm
8,GazTheHat (MY04 STi), Still to decide styles & springs
9,PJ748r (MY05 WRX),normal style,6/5 springs(maybe)
10, Andy916 STi4, dependent on a look/ride at Cadwell 10th November
11, raj_kemp (MY05 WRX) inverted style and Whiteline ALK kit


Do I need to replace the OE rubber top mounts?

pj748r

Bren,
YHPM

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

Unlike lots of coilover kits (AST, Eibach, KW etc) they come with new top mounts

Ive got a set of normal 6/5 and inverted 6/5 leaving the factory on Monday with TNT. Fingers crossed theyll be here before next weekend. Ive gone a little stiffer than Id normally recommend for road use but my car needs to perform on track so it will have to be a compromise. 6/5 should still be nice and supple to a large degree.

Our V6 STi car has Eiback coilovers on it at the moment. Theyre not the best, poorly damped although to be fair Ive spent zero time setting them up. The car does react badly to bumps at the moment and moves a lot on anything but smooth road conditions. Maybe theyll be better once Ive played with them.

Theyre for sale btw

raj_kemp

Bren,
YHPM

alexf2003

me too!

Price please - I'm intrested for my Type RA

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

£519.12 for the normal

Sclarke

GB List to date

1,KIP GC8 CLASSIC MY 93
2,Midas GC8 Classic 94 import, interesed but can't confirm just yet
3,Chrispurvis100 1997 sti 3.
4, Weakboy2 (Legacy Turbo, Same as early wrx)
5,steveorangewrx 1994 wrx saloon, very interested.
6,cupradave GC8 MY98 WRX
7,Exvaux stiV typeR plus some whiteline stuff via pm
8,GazTheHat (MY04 STi), Still to decide styles & springs
9,PJ748r (MY05 WRX),normal style,6/5 springs(maybe)
10, Andy916 STi4, dependent on a look/ride at Cadwell 10th November
11, raj_kemp (MY05 WRX) inverted style and Whiteline ALK kit
12, Sclarke (1997 Type R) have spoken to sales team.

alexf2003

And about another 150 for the inverted type?

What spring rates would suit the Nurburgring?

Alex

raj_kemp

GB List to date

1,KIP GC8 CLASSIC MY 93
2,Midas GC8 Classic 94 import, interesed but can't confirm just yet
3,Chrispurvis100 1997 sti 3.
4, Weakboy2 (Legacy Turbo, Same as early wrx)
5,steveorangewrx 1994 wrx saloon, very interested.
6,cupradave GC8 MY98 WRX
7,Exvaux stiV typeR plus some whiteline stuff via pm
8,GazTheHat (MY04 STi), Still to decide styles & springs
9,PJ748r (MY05 WRX),normal style,6/5 springs(maybe)
10, Andy916 STi4, dependent on a look/ride at Cadwell 10th November
11, raj_kemp (MY05 WRX) inverted style and Whiteline ALK kit and Camber bolts, ordered today!
12, Sclarke (1997 Type R) have spoken to sales team.

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

£633.75 for inverted, Id probably go for 5/4 for the Ring and general road use.

Ive sorted a place for the 10th at Cadwell. Ive got coilovers on order along with KSport 330mm brakes. Fingers crossed they arrive in time!

Andy916

iTrader: (8)

Good to hear that, will look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

5/4 worked out well for me on D2's that I ran on my '95 up until a few months ago, and that'd definitely be my starting point for the '98 car I'm now running ... for track and road use.

Andy

pj748r

Ordered,just waiting!!

Will be like Xmas has come early!!

finalzero

This offer still on, I may be interested

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

Final question before ordering. I've not had coilovers before, but am interested given the price is not much more than getting the shocks replaced on my car anyway and that they come with top mounts (as need to replace the ones on my car). I'm assuming the ride will be a bit firmer, but was after some assurance that the ride won't be compromised on the road. I doubt it'll ever see a track. Just how much firmer can I expect do you think?

pj748r

Give them a call.They're very helpful.

Pete

b34ver

do you do any to fit 54 reg forester?

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

They will definately be firmer than the original set up. We took our Type RA to its first track day on Friday with our 6/5 inverted coilovers. The ride is firm but not back breaking, pretty much on a par with the Eibachs that we took off, slightly firmer maybe. The Eibach coilovers have a KW sticker on them so I believe they are made by KW.

For a road car Id still recommend 5/4, for a road car that sees a fair bit of track action then 6/5 and for a more track orientated car running sticky track tyres then Id go for 8/6. Ill be trying 5/4 and 8/6 in the near future.

The coilovers worked well on track, I didnt feel the need to adjust them all day as they werent the weakest link, my getting to grips with the knack of driving a Scooby needed more attention than the suspension set up. Next time out Ill start tuning the car more witht he damping rates to get the car handling more as I like it.

I had the car set to maximum rear drive initially but found the car was lifting and spinning the inside rear wheel on tight corners. Knocking the drive forward one step stopped that but introduced a little under steer, especially through the higher speed corners. Id want to start getting the car adjusted through anti roll bar settings and tyre spressures before moving onto damping settings.

Damping control alters the speed at which the car reaches its ultimate angle of lean but its roll bars and spring rates that will determine the angle itself. Tyre pressures can also be used to help fine tune the high speed balance of the car.

Basically yeah, coilovers were great, no problems and they worked well enough out of the box to place themselves well down towards the bottom of priorities in making progress with the handling of the car

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

What car were you in a Cadwell Bren? I was there too and probably got some pictures and even video!

F