Too good to be true? Custom-built coil-overs at off-the-shelf prices

jeffbob said:

Arguably, the reason the car becomes so unmanageable over bumps is amplified by any cross-weight imbalances...

While balancing the cross-weights may typically get 'close enough' to be in the noise for most cars and/or drivers, it only truly balances the handling for cars with a 50/50 L/R weight distribution. The further the car strays from that, the less effective looking at cross-weights becomes for cars turning both directions. The most equalized balance will actually be when LF/LR = RF/RR.

Driven5 said:

jeffbob said:

Arguably, the reason the car becomes so unmanageable over bumps is amplified by any cross-weight imbalances...

While balancing the cross-weights may typically get 'close enough' to be in the noise for most cars and/or drivers, it only truly balances the handling for cars with a 50/50 L/R weight distribution. The further the car strays from that, the less effective looking at cross-weights becomes for cars turning both directions. The most equalized balance will actually be when LF/LR = RF/RR.

Yep.  I have a handy little spreadsheet I use to do those calcs for me.

Cross weights are a circle track concept.

Harris Hill will definitely test your balance between stiffness and compliance.  I loved it after the repave, but it may be worse now than before.  Last time there, I had to really take the car right after exiting T3 (clockwise), otherwise the car would go airborne.  The car was setup very stiff, probably too stiff for the shocks.  I think something like 1000lbs up front, and 700 rear, but it wasn't my car, so thats how I had to drive it.  It would get a bad oscillation in Mustang if I caught the bump there.  I could go through Dam turn flat out though!

racerfink said:

Harris Hill will definitely test your balance between stiffness and compliance.  I loved it after the repave, but it may be worse now than before.  Last time there, I had to really take the car right after exiting T3 (clockwise), otherwise the car would go airborne. 

Clockwise is now a mess.  While the number of bumps is smaller than before the repave, the amplitide is larger...especially the ridgeline exiting T2/T3 complex.  Going CCW allows you to diamond that turn and avoid the ridge to the inside.  The bump entering T7 CW are also nasty on the line making it hard to be consistent.  Going CCW, that becomes an accel zone so it's not so bad.  That's actually the key area I was working to improve with the dampers.

I rarely go CW anymore, especially when doing testing.  Hard to be consistent.  If I do, I drive the T2/T3 bit much tighter.  It's slower, but not so hard on the car.  Accelerating hard while cresting a sharp ridge is a recipe for breakage.

Here's a clip of a CW lap.  I only track out to mid-track at T3 exit to avoid the worst of the ridge.  The back straight is dicey through the kink and T7 is a hot mess of bumps.  T9 is also now hard to keep your foot in it w/o the car stepping out.

Sounds like a commercial for small companies who work tirelessly to support our hobby while providing excellent customer service and great products. Crass commercialism! 

In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :

I totally back the great customer service part. 1 year in on my very custom arrangement and I have absolutely 0 regrets. It's been a great season and I just took them off this weekend for the winter season. The team there does a great job! 

Note that the coilovers in this article are no longer available - only higher priced variants. The value proposition has changed since Andy got his. 

Keith Tanner said:

Note that the coilovers in this article are no longer available - only higher priced variants. The value proposition has changed since Andy got his. 

Here's the scoop...

Redshift originally built their products off of BC Racing cores, with internals spec'd to their requirements and then reworked/revalved at Redshift. But, the business relationship wasn't the best so they pursued a joint venture which gave more control and better pricing.  That was Standard ( a name which seemed odd for a high-performance part, right?). So...back to square 1...and BC Racing.

In the interim COVID happened and supply chain challenges forced prices up on lots of things...including their supply of cores.  So it ended up being a double-whammy.  Still a tremendous value, but not quite what it once was.

When comparing via the web site, make sure and look at what options are being included in the version you view.  Depending on whether you want spherical/coaxial mounts and fancy brand springs or not, can alter the price substantially.

I have the BC based parts on both of my SCCA TT Nats winning CRXs, including the One Lap car.

In reply to Andy Hollis :

I called them to talk about what was on your car because I was interested in them, I wasn't just comparing what's on the website. They're basically only offering revalved BC at this point, the Standard range is gone. That took them out of the price range we were interested in, and they are no longer at "off the shelf prices" as compared in this article. Just an FYI for anyone who might be interested in cross-shopping. The question posed in the headline (Too good to be true?) may now be answered.

In the meantime, Konis have a lifetime warranty :)

Keith Tanner said:

In reply to Andy Hollis :

I called them to talk about what was on your car because I was interested in them, I wasn't just comparing what's on the website. They're basically only offering revalved BC at this point, the Standard range is gone. That took them out of the price range we were interested in, and they are no longer at "off the shelf prices" as compared in this article. Just an FYI for anyone who might be interested in cross-shopping. The question posed in the headline (Too good to be true?) may now be answered.

In the meantime, Konis have a lifetime warranty :)

Basically puts them on par (price wise) with Fortune Auto 500s like I have on my '23 BRZ (custom rate and valving with Swift springs). Which I'm very happy with considering the price. My only regret is not going a bit softer on the rates since it's a street car.