Coilover questions

mazdachris

mazdachris

♥
Morning

I think the time has come for me to replace my knackered old Tein suspension

I'm really tempted by the Driftworks Control System coilovers as they have everything I need, as far as I can tell:

Good quality
full adjustability
pillowball uppermounts

Thing is, the price puts them right against the Tein Super Streets. Now I know there's probably no point in asking which is better because I'm pretty confident the answer will be that the Driftworks ones are much better. But I'm interested in what it is that makes the Driftworks ones better. Is it just overall better quality, or is there a big difference in the design?

Also, do the Driftworks shocks come with all boots and bump stops etc?

Cheers

Chris
 
Hi Chris,
the keyword to look for when you're comparing our coilovers to other products is Monotube.
Pricewise, yeah I guess we're comparible to the Super Streets, but they're kind of a budget offering, whereas our coilovers are more comparible in quality and specification to the higher end products like the Mono Flex.

They come with all the bits you'll need and we're so confident of the quality that we offer a refund if you're not happy with them :)
 
Fair enough. I had a feeling that was the case. To be honest the thing I'm concerned about is the ride quality. I've seen the reviews for people with other cars, heavier neesans and such, saying the ride on the DW coilovers is great, so that gives me some confidence. I've heard some pretty negative stuff about the Teins on the Roadster anyway, about the rears being so over-damped that people remove ARBs and stuff.

At the moment my car is low and the feeling very firm, which is great over smooth surfaces, but over anything remotely bumpy it feels awfully crashy and unsettled. So really this is the important bit, that the ride is supple, and soaks up bumps, while offering the kind of response and control required for fast road and track use.

It sounds like these are spot on though so I will place the order. If they're as good as they sound, then I'll definitely pass on the recommendation to the people on the MX5 Owners' Club :thumbs:
 
With the monotube design, the quality of the damping is much improved over a conventional twin tube setup, feeling supple and compliant over irregular surfaces, but still sporty and tight when pushed hard.

Good stuff, you won't be dissapointed :thumbs:
 
Arrived this morning. Thanks guys. Quality looks awesome, never realised just how chunky the shock bodies would be. Look like thye should be able to withstand massive abuse!

:thumbs:
 
Will do. You're welcome to come to MK and I'll take you out for a spin (not literally) when it's all sorted. I'm having poly bushes fitted as well.

Then all it'll need is a couple of braces, and the FM butterfly brace and then it'll be perfect.

Until the next upgrade anyway ;)
 
Well I've just driven the car home from GarageMac with the DW kit fitted. Obviously it's far too soon to give a proper appraisal, as the car needs to settle and have the setup tweaked in a couple of weeks. Then I'll do a proper write up.

But some initial observations:

The ride quality is really good. The shitty roads near Pod usually give you blurred vision in my car, and enough scuttle shake that you think the dash is going to bend. That's completely gone. It's still hugely communicative, you can feel the road texture and the undulations, but the feedback has had the volume turned down from 11 to 10. No chance to open it up and feel what the handling's like when it's loaded up as it's wet and greasy out and I've got trackday tyres on, but the rear end does feel more planted than on my old Teins.

So far, very pleased with my purchase. And of course Jamie@garagemac deserves huge huge props for doing such a sterling job of getting it all fitted and sorted. I supect he'll think twice the next time someone asks for the bushes changing on a crusty old Roadster.

I'll write up a full review and put up some pictures and stuff when it's got its final setup and I've had a chance to really explore the limit.
 
It worked for me :)

I'd offer a ride but currently my car's sat outside my house pissing its coolant out of the water pump so it might be a little while before I can drive it properly again.
 
Mine did that last month - I fixed it in about a day of solid work. I'd recommend using instant gasket with your new water pump instead of the OE card ones as the first time I did it the gasket folded in half during rebuilding (weird up and under motion required for reassembly) and dumped all the coolant on the floor. That was a fun moment.
Other than that it wasn't too bad...

Back on topic - I can afford to enter BDC or sort my car out, not both. Next year, when I've given up trying to qualify, I'll buy shiny things. A real diff first, then some man sized DW coilovers.
 
Ive ordered a genuine mazda pump and according to 5parts, you should only need a proper gasket if you've got a pattern pump.

To be honest, I think I'll just take the thing to a garage and have them fit it all. Lame I know, but the weather's not so great right now and because I don't have a garage, I'd be committing myself to getting it all done in 1 day.
 
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