BC Racing Coilovers for early V8 Vantages
Discussion
Hi
I know that the fairly poor suspension on the early Vantages has been relatively well documented on here, so I'm wondering if anyone on here has any experience of the BC Racing coilovers available?
https://www.bc-racing.co.uk/applications/aston-mar...
They look relatively inexpensive (compared to others) at around £1,000 for the set, so I can imagine there must be a few people on here have taken the plunge.
Can anyone offer any first hand experience?
Thanks
rancid
I know that the fairly poor suspension on the early Vantages has been relatively well documented on here, so I'm wondering if anyone on here has any experience of the BC Racing coilovers available?
https://www.bc-racing.co.uk/applications/aston-mar...
They look relatively inexpensive (compared to others) at around £1,000 for the set, so I can imagine there must be a few people on here have taken the plunge.
Can anyone offer any first hand experience?
Thanks
rancid
Fitted BC coilovers to a Mitsubishi Evo TME.
Rode well, handled well,only issue was at low speed, over bumps, ABS would trigger easily, even under fairly light braking. Suggested low speed damping a little off.
This was a while ago and different car, but maybe something to bear in mind
Rode well, handled well,only issue was at low speed, over bumps, ABS would trigger easily, even under fairly light braking. Suggested low speed damping a little off.
This was a while ago and different car, but maybe something to bear in mind
I'm not going to slag them off because PH T&Cs
Ask yourself what each damper will have cost to design, test, manufacture, import, distribute, to retail for only 250 each with profit for the seller.
Fitting coil overs is only worth it it's going to be better than new OE.
You'd balk at ditch finder tyres. Spring/Dampers are even more important. Too much of either and you'll have less grip because the tyre will skip ftom crest to crest on road bumps or the damper could pack down.
I'd be looking at Exe-Tc, Ohlins, KW, etc. Ideally, a manu who have run / supported a grp N car of the one you own.
There's nowt quicker down a UK road than a tarmac rally car.
Ask yourself what each damper will have cost to design, test, manufacture, import, distribute, to retail for only 250 each with profit for the seller.
Fitting coil overs is only worth it it's going to be better than new OE.
You'd balk at ditch finder tyres. Spring/Dampers are even more important. Too much of either and you'll have less grip because the tyre will skip ftom crest to crest on road bumps or the damper could pack down.
I'd be looking at Exe-Tc, Ohlins, KW, etc. Ideally, a manu who have run / supported a grp N car of the one you own.
There's nowt quicker down a UK road than a tarmac rally car.
I have used BC Coilovers on numerous cars (10+) and found them both reliable and adjustable. Never ever had a failure yet. When ordering, you can specify any spring rate you want, assuming you know what you are after, and the dampers have sufficient range to accommodate most springs you are likely to select.
If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
They come with pillow-ball top mounts, although this is not needed on a double wishbone suspension , only McPherson struts, so the camber can be adjusted, ride height is adjustable too, and for those who are unfamiliar, the 7/9kg/mm refers to the front and rear spring rates. (390lb front springs, 500 lb rear springs).
If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
They come with pillow-ball top mounts, although this is not needed on a double wishbone suspension , only McPherson struts, so the camber can be adjusted, ride height is adjustable too, and for those who are unfamiliar, the 7/9kg/mm refers to the front and rear spring rates. (390lb front springs, 500 lb rear springs).
Edited by 8Tech on Friday 20th November 18:36
8Tech said:
I have used BC Coilovers on numerous cars (10+) and found them both reliable and adjustable. Never ever had a failure yet. When ordering, you can specify any spring rate you want, assuming you know what you are after, and the dampers have sufficient range to accommodate most springs you are likely to select.
If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
Further to the above, if necessary then the valving, damper stroke and damper length are automatically adjusted by BC Racing when spring rates are changed from the recommended default.If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
A softer spring rate requires softer valving, a longer damper unit to retain the same ride height (softer spring = more static sag) and greater damper travel due to the increased travel necessary with a softer spring.
And the opposite for a stiffer spring.
Edited by foxsasha on Friday 20th November 18:20
I have them. Fitted myself this year.
Quality is good as far as I can tell.
No complaints from me. I have them set 5 clicks from full soft. 20 clicks total.
The ride is fine and was a requirement for me when choosing hence not running too hard. The solid top mounts can tap a bit at very low speeds over poor surfaces,but that’s not unique to BC.
Being able to adjust the ride height infinitely is nice too. Im currently around 15mm below standard at the moment.
Incidentally I’m running 20” wheels with Pirelli tyres which don’t ride as good as Michelin.
Quality is good as far as I can tell.
No complaints from me. I have them set 5 clicks from full soft. 20 clicks total.
The ride is fine and was a requirement for me when choosing hence not running too hard. The solid top mounts can tap a bit at very low speeds over poor surfaces,but that’s not unique to BC.
Being able to adjust the ride height infinitely is nice too. Im currently around 15mm below standard at the moment.
Incidentally I’m running 20” wheels with Pirelli tyres which don’t ride as good as Michelin.
foxsasha said:
8Tech said:
I have used BC Coilovers on numerous cars (10+) and found them both reliable and adjustable. Never ever had a failure yet. When ordering, you can specify any spring rate you want, assuming you know what you are after, and the dampers have sufficient range to accommodate most springs you are likely to select.
If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
Further to the above, if necessary then the valving, damper stroke and damper length are automatically adjusted by BC Racing when spring rates are changed from the recommended default.If I were not using new Bilsteins and Eibach springs on my DB9, I would not hesitate to get them.
They were not available when I was in the market for a kit.
Price can be explained not by reduced quality, but by using very common spring diameters and rates, changing damper valving only, not build dimensions , across the range spring platforms and just making lower tubes vehicle specific.
A softer spring rate requires softer valving, a longer damper unit to retain the same ride height (softer spring = more static sag) and greater damper travel due to the increased travel necessary with a softer spring.
And the opposite for a stiffer spring.
Edited by foxsasha on Friday 20th November 18:20
Damping is adjustable, so a buyer who selects an alternative spring rate can then adjust the damping setting to suit. There is ample travel on the damper to accommodate a softer spring because travel is not altered when the strut body length is adjusted.
There would not be the soft spring static sag if the spring is preloaded either. Going to extremes in soft springing would ruin any handling characteristics anyway so any reasonable spring rate can be accommodated, and aftermarket springs are also available in the same diameters at different lengths, and there is no reason a dual spring set-up could not be used if the owner was competant enough, giving a soft setting for around town, stiffening-up on more aggressive driving.
I looked into doing a dual stacked spring set-up on my Bilstein/Eibach suspension, but doubling the spring cost fitting 8 altogether, 2 per strut, plus the connecting sleeves, and the need for a lot more experience than I have, or extensive testing, discarding unwanted springs as you go, decided me to keep it simple.
Edited by 8Tech on Friday 20th November 19:00
milu said:
I have them. Fitted myself this year.
Quality is good as far as I can tell.
No complaints from me. I have them set 5 clicks from full soft. 20 clicks total.
The ride is fine and was a requirement for me when choosing hence not running too hard. The solid top mounts can tap a bit at very low speeds over poor surfaces,but that’s not unique to BC.
Being able to adjust the ride height infinitely is nice too. Im currently around 15mm below standard at the moment.
Incidentally I’m running 20” wheels with Pirelli tyres which don’t ride as good as Michelin.
Thanks very much for this first hand perspective. I'm also running 20" wheels, and the ride on my 06 car is dreadful. It's crashy at low speed and when you load it up into a bend it's not entirely predictable, which makes pressing-on somewhat scary. I'll see if anyone else has any first hand experience before taking the plunge.Quality is good as far as I can tell.
No complaints from me. I have them set 5 clicks from full soft. 20 clicks total.
The ride is fine and was a requirement for me when choosing hence not running too hard. The solid top mounts can tap a bit at very low speeds over poor surfaces,but that’s not unique to BC.
Being able to adjust the ride height infinitely is nice too. Im currently around 15mm below standard at the moment.
Incidentally I’m running 20” wheels with Pirelli tyres which don’t ride as good as Michelin.
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