MCA Coilovers - knocking

[pureplaya]

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

[Hadouken]

Should have gotten the x-c if you wanted more comfort.

Anywho, shouldn't be knocking over every bump

[JGTC]

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 July 13, 2016 by squareznboxez

[pureplaya]

Thanks guys for the feedback...

I'll see if V-sport can replace all four with either Blue series or X-C series for more comfort.

 

[JGTC]

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.

[djr81]

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.

[JGTC]

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.

Edited July 13, 2016 by squareznboxez

[Hadouken]

Take it all with a grain of salt

[Hank Scorpio]

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.

[pureplaya]

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...

 

[75coupe]

Why would you change the springs? I thought mca would valve the dampers to match the springs and weight of the car

[niZmO_Man]

Unless the two sets of springs are damper matched on the same damper with different settings (e.g. soft springs = set dampers to X, hard springs = set dmapers to Y), doesn't make sense to have two sets of springs for the same damper set.

[Hadouken]

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

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

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

[Hank Scorpio]

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.

[pureplaya]

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

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

you should adjust the dampers as needed.. there's no need for a workshop to adjust them

[pureplaya]

Main reason for the workshop was to sort out the faulty coilover that was knocking...

[sneakey pete]

Had the exact same setup in mine for a while before engine went pop, was quite happy with it also!

[djr81]

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

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 July 19, 2016 by djr81