New entry level coilover
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I did the BC coilovers (Helix DNAs) for a few years. At the pricepoint they served me well, I tracked and Autoxed them for 5 years (with no failures or leaks) and won a few events. They are fully height adjustable and have built in camber plates... however, as soon as you get onto San Francisco roads it all turns to crapola. Very harsh ride, lots of banging etc.
In short, if you want to do some track, autox, hellaflush, spirited road driving etc.. they are way better than stock or just springs, and they seem to last pretty well too, but if you want to race seriously you might want to wait and save up for better
In short, if you want to do some track, autox, hellaflush, spirited road driving etc.. they are way better than stock or just springs, and they seem to last pretty well too, but if you want to race seriously you might want to wait and save up for better
Otherwise I love how planted and stable coilovers make a car feel - zero body roll I guess is what I like
Btw I also have sti lca, street alk and a bigger rear sway bar so YMMV
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From: SF Bay Area - Peninsula
Car Info: 04 psm wrx sedan
Oh and my girlfriend hates the ride in my car cuz she can't do her makeup haha but I have no problems with the ride and I've got a pretty bad back
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From: 2006 Zero/sports Widebody
Car Info: 500+ whp Club
+1 on this...I've had my BC's for almost 3 years, 60k+ miles and there are only a few corners where I miss having my spec-c struts/springs (I know someones gonna call me crazy) because the BC's don't have much suspension travel so on a few tight corners my inside rear wheel may skip, whereas the spec-cs would get me some fun oversteer
Otherwise I love how planted and stable coilovers make a car feel - zero body roll I guess is what I like
Btw I also have sti lca, street alk and a bigger rear sway bar so YMMV
Otherwise I love how planted and stable coilovers make a car feel - zero body roll I guess is what I like
Btw I also have sti lca, street alk and a bigger rear sway bar so YMMV
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 129
From: Silicon Valley, CA
Car Info: 09 STi hatch
I did the BC coilovers (Helix DNAs) for a few years. At the pricepoint they served me well, I tracked and Autoxed them for 5 years (with no failures or leaks) and won a few events. They are fully height adjustable and have built in camber plates... however, as soon as you get onto San Francisco roads it all turns to crapola. Very harsh ride, lots of banging etc.
In short, if you want to do some track, autox, hellaflush, spirited road driving etc.. they are way better than stock or just springs, and they seem to last pretty well too, but if you want to race seriously you might want to wait and save up for better
In short, if you want to do some track, autox, hellaflush, spirited road driving etc.. they are way better than stock or just springs, and they seem to last pretty well too, but if you want to race seriously you might want to wait and save up for better
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Posts: 7,225
From: SF Bay Area - Peninsula
Car Info: 04 psm wrx sedan
I have about a finger or two gap on 225/40/18s ha I'm not that much lower than I was when I had the spec-cs on a 225/45/17
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From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
+1 on this...I've had my BC's for almost 3 years, 60k+ miles and there are only a few corners where I miss having my spec-c struts/springs (I know someones gonna call me crazy) because the BC's don't have much suspension travel so on a few tight corners my inside rear wheel may skip, whereas the spec-cs would get me some fun oversteer
Otherwise I love how planted and stable coilovers make a car feel - zero body roll I guess is what I like
Btw I also have sti lca, street alk and a bigger rear sway bar so YMMV
Otherwise I love how planted and stable coilovers make a car feel - zero body roll I guess is what I like
Btw I also have sti lca, street alk and a bigger rear sway bar so YMMV
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,225
From: SF Bay Area - Peninsula
Car Info: 04 psm wrx sedan
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
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From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
I just know with the spec C stuff I LOVED my car in the high speed stuff. Struts just eat it up. But yeah I can see how you'd have issue with the tight stuff. I can fix that... haaa.
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
Thread Starter
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From: San Jose, Ca
Car Info: '06 WRB STi
Well Fortune Auto provides dyno plots of their coilovers
Fortune Auto coilovers? - NASIOC
I have no clue how to read them though
Fortune Auto coilovers? - NASIOC
I have no clue how to read them though
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 129
From: Silicon Valley, CA
Car Info: 09 STi hatch
no... they are crap because their adjuster doesn't do ****, their shocks aren't valved properly to the springs which aren't within even 10% of their value, and they don't give you shock dyno figures to show you what the shock actually does. Not even an average one...
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
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From: 2006 Zero/sports Widebody
Car Info: 500+ whp Club
no... they are crap because their adjuster doesn't do ****, their shocks aren't valved properly to the springs which aren't within even 10% of their value, and they don't give you shock dyno figures to show you what the shock actually does. Not even an average one...
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
As far as coilovers, street vs track there is totally different vehical dynamics at work. Track you have much more speed and downforce among other things working on the car. Street, Rolling stop light to stop light not so much. Hell even the road surface in California would scare me away from coilovers.
But yes, These are cheap and made for one reason, Profit And most the public is out for cost not shock dyno charts. As crappy as that is. Its funny that the reviews for cheap coilovers are not as bad as they should be. I think people are pre warned that the ride is going to suck and they accept that for their give style or look they want. Not knowing it could be a lot better if they spent a little bit more money.
Last edited by old.guy; Feb 7, 2012 at 11:49 AM.
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
no... they are crap because their adjuster doesn't do ****, their shocks aren't valved properly to the springs which aren't within even 10% of their value, and they don't give you shock dyno figures to show you what the shock actually does. Not even an average one...
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.
It has nothing with them being made is Taiwan... it has everything to do with them being made as cheap, yet flashy as possible as to extract the maximum profit from their sale.
I've raced an Audi on Ohlins with something like 12k springs, a EF civic with 10k springs on Koni 2800 shocks, S2000 on custom valved bilsteins, and a Datsun 1200 on Penskes... They all ride like butter. Shocks matter so much. Those BC and BC like coilovers are utter garbage.