My review of Riceland coilovers
03-03-2010, 09:52 PM
#1
Want fries with that?
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My review of Riceland coilovers
So, wading through much controversy and disapproval, I decided to try out Raceland coilovers... If they blow up or suck ***, I'm out 220 bucks. Big whoop.
First thing I'd like to say is that installation was a breeze. Given their cheapness, I was expecting some mis-fitting and hammer time, but they slid right in. The only problems I had were getting the old suspension out (******' rust
). Took me probably a total of 6 hours to get done properly due to rust, but after that, they sat in my garage for a couple of months.
Today, I took the car out for the first time, and I was shocked. Honestly. Not at how bad they are, but at how good they are. I'm not going to pretend like they compare to anything else from a performance perspective, but they are better than stock (Which I wasn't expecting). They ride nice and smooth (better than stock, actually) but when you really get on it, they're not any worse either. They actually feel like they hold the car slightly more level than stock (Of course, I'm not riding in a 4x4 anymore). Yet, despite this, they're not bouncy, they're not hard, they don't break your back, and they don't make the handling any worse. BTW, just for circumstance purposes, my car is by no means "slammed", or anywhere near it. In fact, it only sits about 1.5" lower than stock.
I'd be interested in some tests to see how they compare in skidpad numbers to the stock, but then again skidpad numbers don't tell the whole story, do they? These are great, and they allowed me to do what I wanted: Lower the car a bit, and retain DDability. Yet, they shocked me because they did this, made the car more comfortable, and retained the great handling.
Short and concise review, and I figure some people would appreciate it. I look forward to seeing how they hold up.
First thing I'd like to say is that installation was a breeze. Given their cheapness, I was expecting some mis-fitting and hammer time, but they slid right in. The only problems I had were getting the old suspension out (******' rust
). Took me probably a total of 6 hours to get done properly due to rust, but after that, they sat in my garage for a couple of months. Today, I took the car out for the first time, and I was shocked. Honestly. Not at how bad they are, but at how good they are. I'm not going to pretend like they compare to anything else from a performance perspective, but they are better than stock (Which I wasn't expecting). They ride nice and smooth (better than stock, actually) but when you really get on it, they're not any worse either. They actually feel like they hold the car slightly more level than stock (Of course, I'm not riding in a 4x4 anymore). Yet, despite this, they're not bouncy, they're not hard, they don't break your back, and they don't make the handling any worse. BTW, just for circumstance purposes, my car is by no means "slammed", or anywhere near it. In fact, it only sits about 1.5" lower than stock.
I'd be interested in some tests to see how they compare in skidpad numbers to the stock, but then again skidpad numbers don't tell the whole story, do they? These are great, and they allowed me to do what I wanted: Lower the car a bit, and retain DDability. Yet, they shocked me because they did this, made the car more comfortable, and retained the great handling.
Short and concise review, and I figure some people would appreciate it. I look forward to seeing how they hold up.
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03-03-2010, 10:43 PM
#7
Cpt. Slow
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These things sound like the next chinacharger. No body likes them at first, but the cost ends up winning a lot of people over. I'm having a hard time believing they're worse than OEM replacements at NAPA and reusing the stock springs. If I see one thread asking about them in my section though, I'm moving it to the NSFW section.
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03-04-2010, 09:02 AM
#8
Boost Czar
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someone buy them and they get them dynoed. about 90% of the CR.net members run them now.
I only bought Raceland because I don't care about the suspension performance and all i want is to cruise in a dropped convertible miata.
and most important of all....$258 is cheap for coilovers.
so far the handling is not so good and it's very poor on absorbing the bumps and whatever the streets are made out of. But i guess that is what I get for buying cheaper brand of coilovers. But I knew what to expect and I am fully happy with the looks....but not so happy with the hella bouncy ride and it gives me a headache at times.
but on smooth freeways and my side of town....it rides like a charm.....very smooth. very enjoyable but as i get on the ghetto side of town, all the dips and cracks gives me a headache.
So there you have it....Raceland Coilovers are not made comfortable for areas that has lots of dips, cracks, and uneven streets.
But don't all coilovers bounce a bit more than regular springs?....
and most important of all....$258 is cheap for coilovers.
so far the handling is not so good and it's very poor on absorbing the bumps and whatever the streets are made out of. But i guess that is what I get for buying cheaper brand of coilovers. But I knew what to expect and I am fully happy with the looks....but not so happy with the hella bouncy ride and it gives me a headache at times.
but on smooth freeways and my side of town....it rides like a charm.....very smooth. very enjoyable but as i get on the ghetto side of town, all the dips and cracks gives me a headache.
So there you have it....Raceland Coilovers are not made comfortable for areas that has lots of dips, cracks, and uneven streets.
But don't all coilovers bounce a bit more than regular springs?....
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03-04-2010, 09:24 AM
#9
Cereal, I kinda regret not at least giving them a shot. I probably wouldn't pay to get them dynoed (if I'm doing that I'll look for proven circle track shocks that have the characteristics I want), but for a street setup good enough is great.
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03-04-2010, 12:53 PM
#16
And I didn't have blown old stock suspension, I had really low mile barely used one
I don't know who the heck said that bullshit cause it is false.
They DO NOT bounce whatsoever.
My only gripe with them so far is taht for the 1st few weaks they squeeked a little (teh springs). That went away though, and they're still as good as they were day 1.
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03-04-2010, 01:11 PM
#17
Boost Czar
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It's hard to trust the CR.net guys when it comes to review since all they do is slam their rides, im sure the bounciness is them riding on the bumps...
i almost want to try them just for the hell of it...however id put 250lb springs on the rear.
i almost want to try them just for the hell of it...however id put 250lb springs on the rear.
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03-04-2010, 01:42 PM
#18
I'm contemplating trying them out with a 500lb spring in the front. It will probably suck large testees but oh well. If it does i'll swap the 250 in the rear and 400 back to the front and call it good (hopefully). The best part is that I can sell my FM springs and lower adjustable mounts for the price of ricelands.
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