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11-08-2013, 09:07 AM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19776
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vehicle:2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green |
Hey guys,
Just thought I would chimp in a little on these coilovers. I recently installed the following parts altogether: 1) RCE T Zero (~6K springs) 2) RCE F+R swaybars (25.4mm hollow iirc) 3) Whiteline Front Com C Top hats 4) Whiteline Front adjustable endlinks 5) Whiteline steering rack bushings Ride Height: ~1 finger gap between top of front tire and fender and ~1 finger gap at the back Camber: -2 all around Toe: 0 Caster: Within factory spec Swaybars: hard setting front, soft setting rear Purchased from Dale's Alignment Installed by HK Mechanic Background: I was a little worried about the RCE T-zero because it offers very limited tuning ability. You can only play around with the ride height and that's it. I'm personally not THAT lazy, but given the lack of access to a workable garage space in HK, I thought it would be nice to get something that I could just set it and leave it. The car is primarily street driven with perhaps 1-2 track days max per year. So I needed a set of coilovers that rides as smooth as stock when cruising around town but offers firm cornering ability when driven hard. There are plenty of choices in Hong Kong, namely the Japanese brands. However, I was very nervous about their aggressive spring rates since the roads here are far from perfect. After more research on NASIOC and speaking to some pros, I went with RCE. As of this moment I think i can safely say that this is the only set in HK. LOL.. Pros: Right off the bat, I noticed there was no increase harshness. There are many reviews on how these coilovers handle bumps better and I wasn't a believer. I mean the usual impression is coilovers = harsh + noise. Nope, not the case here. Everything feels just like stock cruising around. You would not notice that the car is on coilovers if I don't tell you. When taken spiritedly, bodyroll is hugely reduced as a result of both swaybars and coilovers doing their job. The car feels very neutral and the back does not hop. I have my camber set to about -2 all around and the steering still feels stock like. I'm still testing the parts out gradually to get a feel of the car's characteristics, so I will have more updates once I push it a little more every time. The top hats are quiet at the expense of fine tuning ability that can be found on other pillow ball camber plates. For a street driven car, I can sacrifice that. I'm happy with the amount of camber I got so these top hats serve my purpose. The steering rack bushings did not contribute much this time. I did the same mod on my 2002 wrx and that was a night and day difference. On the STi, I didn't really feel any increase in weight when steering the car. Cons: Again, the lack of tuning ability on the RCE T-Zero is the only downside. If you hit the track often and want the most out of your coilovers, you need to look into something else, perhaps the RCE T2. Before getting the alignment done, there was a clunk/pop sound coming from the left front swaybar. It happened a few times at very slow speed and it sounded like the swaybar was hitting something. I brought that to the mechanic's attention and he loosen and re-tighten the endlink bolt. Now it still makes a single clunk sound once a while when I'm driving in and out of my parkade. Since I'm actually lowered quite a bit from factory height (4 finger gap to 1.5 finger gap at the front), I think it would be a good idea to get the roll center kit next. This should bring all components back to factory movement range I suppose and therefore cure the clunking sound. Longevity This is an important factor to me. Obviously it's too early to comment at this stage but I will pay close attention to how these coilovers will change (more noise, more harshness, etc) over time. I don't expect them to last forever, but I do expect them to last a good period of time before I need to re-service them. Quick shot with my phone. Before I get new wheels, I'm tempted to get some 15mm Perrin spacers to flush it out.. lol.. any opinion? Pics and more review to come. Cheers! Last edited by KIMUTAKU; 11-12-2013 at 02:52 AM. |
11-08-2013, 01:41 PM | #2 |
Former Vendor
Member#: 173316
Join Date: Mar 2008
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: [email protected]
Vehicle:'18 STi Type RA White |
Great review!!
This is what we need from everyone's experience when modding their cars. Mods should sticky this so everyone can give feedback on their parts purchases. |
11-08-2013, 02:34 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4326
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Great review!
I'll have to provide my review on the RCE Sways for the GR shortly. Track tested too! |
11-09-2013, 06:05 PM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 336393
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Richmond
Vehicle:2010 WRX White |
good read, spacers desperately needed!
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11-12-2013, 02:48 AM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19776
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vehicle:2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green |
slowguy: did you also get the 25.4mm ones F&R? actually i think there is only one size? haha.. got endlinks too?
i wish i can track test the parts here.. but i'm still prepping the car slowly (need oil cooler, oil temp gauge, ss lines, brake pads, etc).. hopefully can hit the track late next year.. Windy Roads (Wet): I was no where close to any limits in the rain around the mountains here. Nonetheless, I was able to get a feel of wet performance on the setup. I know tires are the more important factor between dry/wet condition, but I think it's still relevant to comment on the suspension setup. 2 words: more confidence. You just get more of it around corners when the car is this planted and willing to point to where you want it to go. I can compare to cayman S and FD2 Type-R since they are the most recent cars I have driven. My STi is still not as sharp as the 2 cars mentioned above, but it's getting there, strictly steering percision speaking. I'm sure if i have a quick rack from the JDM model, it will turn like a dream. Next I will try to go a little faster in the wet to see how the car would behave. Right now it feels very neutral within limits but I have a feeling that the car is now more tail happy (from the equal sizes F&R sway bars), which has to be carefully managed on public roads). DSLR pics to come soon.. peace |
11-12-2013, 11:40 AM | #6 | |
Former Vendor
Member#: 173316
Join Date: Mar 2008
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: [email protected]
Vehicle:'18 STi Type RA White |
Quote:
Slowguy has a quikrack, it transformed the steering. Mitsu Evo has excellent steering feel, Daryll's STI has now surpassed it. |
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11-12-2013, 12:39 PM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4326
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Yup, what J/J said! The new whatever STI spec Whatever has the same ratio rack (11.5:1)! It is ridiculously awesome. Wonder how much it'd be to try to score that!
and yup, got 'em F&R. stock endlinks still I believe. Quiet ride, noticeable difference even on the street! I'll have to write my review once I have a moment here at work.. |
01-14-2014, 01:27 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2536
Join Date: Oct 2000
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Vehicle:2012 STi Hatch SWP |
greetings!
just thought i'd bump this thread up to see if the OP has any updates... or anyone for that matter, who might have these coilovers. |
04-30-2015, 04:45 AM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19776
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vehicle:2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green |
Bumping this thread!
Updates (April 2015): -Added Whiteline roll center kit -BBS wheels, nitto invo (street) -OEM wheels + Toyo R888 (track) So I have had these coilovers for quite some time now and have gone through a variety of usage. Let me begin by saying that they STILL impress me and anybody who has sat in my ride. There is absolutely no increase in noise, harness or vibration. The only issue I have is the ride height. I sit quite low with less than an iphone 5 at the front lip and almost no finger gap between the tire and fender (front and back). As a result, I'm scraping at most parking lot entrances, which are ridiculously steep here in town. Other than that, I have no complaints from daily usage. As some of you might have seen from my recent thread, I took my STi to the track twice in the last 4 months. Let me tell you again, these coilovers are SICK! They offer plenty of balance on the track. No nose diving when braking, no bounce running over the apex curb, no body-roll, no nothing! For an recreational driver like myself, the RCE T-Zero just ticks all the right boxes. I didn't have to worry about adjusting this and that on the track, so I could focus on having fun. Perhaps one day I will want the extra features when I need squeeze that 1/100th of a second off my lap time. But until then, I'm good with the T-Zero. I have had a chance to ride in my buddies 2013 STi sedan with Ohlins DFV. Now those are definitely something special. He took me thru a few corners on some mountain roads and boy it's like better RCE ride quality + extra firmness. Just my initial impression though. If I get a chance to drive it later I can have better comparison. I highly recommend these to anyone who is on the fence about the RCE T-Zero and is lazy like me. Cheers! |
05-14-2016, 04:02 AM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 382147
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: San Jose, CA
Vehicle:2014 WRX DGM |
hey! question for you, debating on getting this for my 2014 wrx , would you say the Sway bars removed more body roll or the Coilovers did? im on the border of which one to get first! (i know ill get both but it will be a significantly large gap with college right now ) haha!
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05-19-2016, 12:44 AM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19776
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vehicle:2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green |
I installed both sway bars and coilovers at the same time, so i can't really tell you which one reduces body roll more.
IMO sway bars are a cost effective option and a good starting point. |
10-03-2020, 02:19 AM | #12 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 519088
Join Date: Oct 2020
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Quote:
Sti 2011 Hands down, best coilovers for the price, my car is slammed at least 2.5 or more dropped and feels like stock, i smile when people dodging small bumps and I go through it like nothing Best bang for the buck! If your debating stop now and just get it, promise you won't be disappointed |
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09-25-2021, 03:04 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 433253
Join Date: Oct 2015
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: 661| California
Vehicle:2016 Subaru STi Crystal White Pearl |
I feel bad for reviving a 6 year old thread, lol
I’m not even sure if you still have this setup, but if you do how are you liking it? Is there anything you would’ve done different? |
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