Official Raceland MKV coilover review... Short Version

[Nevaeh_Speed]

OK so here is the official short short version of a Raceland coilover review.

Let start off by comparing the two setups in the front...

As you can see the the body of the Raceland vs the stock strut is shorter... Didn't see much else.

Until I tried to assemble it, and it wasn't pretty. Seems Raceland tried to save box space by putting the rear springs on the front sturts... Took me a fews seconds to see this. So don't freak out when you get a set it's all good. Just grab the other springs, and throw them bad boys on the sturts...

Left is the rear spring on the front strut, and right is the correct spring on the strut.

Next is a spring solo shot, Left front spring and right rear spring.

Now I've installed a lot of coilovers and I've never seen this thing before, so I ditched it... Seems like it fits nicely where the stock bumps goes, but I'd rather have more travel.

Look how long this baby is...

After this I assembled it, just like you would any other coil and through it together... Simple as that.

Now to the rear

Simple stock vs Raceland rear comparison. But if you look at the photo, looks like there is two bump stops... There is.WTF I don't know... So I ditched it... I like travel like I said before...

Length shot of extra bump stop.

Picture of rear installed on car.. (forgot to get a front (sorry)

So now the pictures of the car with them fully installed... The car when up
1/2" from my hacked Tein spring job. But thats OK they'll settle in a few days...

So I went of for a drive with the ol' lady

Car seem to hand a tad bit better on corners, and took bumps like a car should. No more bottoming out. And if you have to ask, yes the are all the way down, rear perches are still in....

The car got lower on a 30 minute drive.. Down 1/4', so I'm sure it will be down a bit more over time...

Modified by Nevaeh_Speed at 9:44 PM 6-6-2009


Modified by Nevaeh_Speed at 9:44 PM 6-6-2009

[Djsupahfly]

The test is time.

And holy huge pictures.

[Nevaeh_Speed]

Yeah sorry I didn't resize them, fixed for you though.

[BluMagic]

Quote, originally posted by Djsupahfly »

The test is time. And holy huge pictures.

they will prob hold up in cali weather the real test is the east coast

[itskv]

Those wheels look like 20s

[moba6]

20's? Specs on the wheels/tires? Looks like your rear fender is sitting on your tire.

[Nevaeh_Speed]

nope 19's...

[Djsupahfly]

Yea thats true, upper east coast is a good test, even some heavy raining maybe.... over time

[Outie5000]

"i like travel, so i threw it away"

famous last words? Two days from now I feel a "loud clunkin when turning, new suspension" thread popping up.

[Nevaeh_Speed]

I don't think so.. It's would have just made the front bump stop longer, and easier to bottom out... And this setup is not for a race car, it's just for my wife daily driver. And I have all the parts in the box they came in with the factory stuff... Just incase I might need to warrenty this puppies.

[Xyphyr]

I ordered a set, im going to go as low as I can on these.

[Blinddub]

nice review, gonna wait a while to see the results of a month or two's wear.

Thanks

[Xyphyr]

im excited, mine come in about 1-3 days

[Xyphyr]

I got them on, they are stiff but dont go too low, its more meant for autoX

[Blinddub]

Quote, originally posted by Xyphyr »

I got them on, they are stiff but dont go too low, its more meant for autoX

pics?

[Xyphyr]

Quote, originally posted by Blinddub »

pics?

I gotta put the rear perches back in then ill put some pix up.

[Mikes72sb]

Quote, originally posted by Nevaeh_Speed »

...but I'd rather have more travel.

Quote, originally posted by Nevaeh_Speed »

... looks like there is two bump stops... There is.WTF I don't know... So I ditched it... I like travel like I said before...

Quote, originally posted by Nevaeh_Speed »

...yes the are all the way down,...

]

wut?

all the way down ≠ suspension travel

[SJD666]

isnt the rear adjuster installed wrong shouldnt it be on the bottom???

[Xyphyr]

Quote, originally posted by SJD666 »

isnt the rear adjuster installed wrong shouldnt it be on the bottom???

Its supposed to be.

[Motohip]

How's the ride quality?

[CRUIZ2007]

Sorry, e-brake was all the way up in the picture, lifting the rear a bit, believe me it sits lower than this.

had them for a few weeks, love them so far

[Xyphyr]

Quote, originally posted by Motohip »

How's the ride quality?

Not bad. I gotta get new front strut bearings cuz mine are broken, so my fronts clunk alot.

[darkk]

Quote, originally posted by Nevaeh_Speed »

Next is a spring solo shot, Left front spring and right rear spring. So now the pictures of the car with them fully installed... The car when up 1/2" from my hacked Tein spring job. But thats OK they'll settle in a few days... rear perches are still in....

the front spring has an extra two dead loops on the bottom.wonder if you could remove them to get lower...


Modified by darkk at 9:45 AM 6-17-2009

[Xyphyr]

Quote, originally posted by darkk »

the front spring has an extra two dead loops on the bottom.wonder if you could remove them to get lower...

Yes, but the spring rates would be different.

[darkk]

if you really are looking for that last bit of drop,I think you could trim the last 1 to 1 1/2 coil with no rate affect. they are just dead wound no space between them.

[Nevaeh_Speed]

Nope they go that way. Tried em both ways and the fit is perfect at the top, plus you would never be able to get a wrench in there if yu wanted to adjust them if they are on the bottom.

[Nevaeh_Speed]

True but now you've just blown the warrenty. I'm having no problems, and If they last another month then I might try and cut them. And since the car is on 19's, I would on need 1/4-1/2 at best. But for other with smaller wheels this would help tons.

[crazysccrmd]

so how do they ride at the height you have them set? do you get any 'pogo stick' going over bumps? smooth ride still or are you feeling every change in the road surface? im thinking about these but the vmaxx i had in my corrado were bouncy and very stiff when wound down low so im not sure i want to go the cheap route again

[Xyphyr]

They arnt bad, my fronts are crappy and clunk alot cuz i need new bearings for the top. the spring sits kinda weird at the top in the front, but they lower the car enough to get some nice 18-19 with low pros, or if ur auto X its perfect. Ill have a better review once my fronts are fixed. them bishes are tough to do.

[daniel_san]

Quote, originally posted by Xyphyr »

Yes, but the spring rates would be different.

Actually removing dead coils does not change the spring rate. After all they arent doing anything but taking up space. Removing the other coils will effectively change the spring rate.

[marcell6492002]

I'm torn between buying a VAG-COM or coilovers for the Mk5.

[Motohip]

Quote, originally posted by Xyphyr »

They arnt bad, my fronts are crappy and clunk alot cuz i need new bearings for the top. the spring sits kinda weird at the top in the front, but they lower the car enough to get some nice 18-19 with low pros, or if ur auto X its perfect. Ill have a better review once my fronts are fixed. them bishes are tough to do.

When you do, you should gimme a ride so I can see if I like them!

[greyvdub]

20 grand on a car, 200 bucks on its suspension...awesome.

[xZANEx]

put em on today..

pshh these ride great! after have owning bilsteins, ksports, and b&gs.. im pretty happy with them for what they cost.. ride better than my bilsteins.. but i have em all the way down, only 1/2" bumpstops.. and they arent that low (not to my mk3 low standards i guess haha) will

i bought these with no intention of staying on em for too long, but figured i could at least get em on the car quick.. and i'm happy with them. ride quality is a little stiffer than stock with a solid ride.

[fife78]

Is the ride bouncy? (think riced out 1992 Integra)