Hey guys, My friend asked me to lookinto the buddy club Racing Spec dampers for his 7 does anyone have these or know someone who does, what are they like, i did some research and it seems very good, 15 adj, monoshock design, separate height, pillow ball(altho 2 much vibration on regular crapy streets), spring rate of like 10kg/560lbs on all 4's, the name is good, does anyone know much about this...

Thanks in advance...

 

I would not buy anything from buddy club. In my opinion they are basically a ebay quaility comapany that uses other companies stuff and sticks a buddy club sticker on it and sells it for twice the price.

 

Wow interesting...

 

Plus they're kind of pricey, aren't they? For that price i'd probably go with Tein Flex or D2s. If you're interested i can get you a good deal on the D2s (just under $1000 shipped). A friend of mine has an overstock of them and is clearing them out. That's what i have on my FD and i love em. spring rates are 11kg front and 9kg rear. PM me if you're interested. Thanks!

 

haha ebay quality putting their sticker on it..thats a good one...I have them on my car and I love them spring rate may seem high but the ride is very comfortable and when you have on stiff setting car handles really good...I love mine...no problems here....

 

D2's arent they also an Ebay brand...i've never heard of them and i dont trust the off brand stuff, i would recommend the Zeal B6 for my fiend, but with a 1900 price tag...thats not gonna happen, that is unless someone here has a used set they want or think of selling...or if anyone knows of someone...let me know...

As far as preferences go, monotube and not the twin chamber Tein Flex system is what i would be looking for which is less noisy and allows for better cooling and a bigger shaft...pillowball is really not a preference considering the streets here are not for pillowballs anyways...10-8ks split or close enought spring rate and separate spring and height adjustment...

 

http://store1.yimg.com/I/jspec_1783_100743432

This is what I mean. Buddy club is not a actual company they just buy a generic product made by someone else and pass it off as there own. These look exactly like a company's out of Canada that were producing these and selling them for 400 a set.

I am not trying to bad mouth your stuff kaifd3s because I agree its quaility stuff, I just don't like shell companies that paint a picture of being a product producing entity but really just make boat loads of money passing themselves off to have a equivalent or better product than other big name companies that spend millions on R&D.

 

Actually D2 is a worldwide company that has been selling stuff in Japan before they came here. They're quite popular over there, but i understand why you would think that. I hadn't really heard of them either. The North America branch just opened up about a year ago, but they're just not doing a very good job of marketing, IMO. You can check out their website at www.d2racingsport.com for more info. They also have Australian sites and others. I should try to find out more about their parent company and history...but it's a very common brand name in Asia that's just recently starting to branch out. I've heard mixed reviews from some people, but have yet to find anyone who's had first hand experience. There have also been some warranty complaints (they'll replace or repair it, but since it's been sent to Asia for all that it's taken quite a few weeks), but i suspect that will change with the new North America branch. I've started hearing good things about them lately and found out that they're starting to ship replacements instead of repairing warranty claims, bringing the down time to right around a week.

I'll try and find out more. Apparently there are some misconceptions to be debunked. I'll see what i can find out, one way or the other. But so far, i can tell you from first hand experience that i love mine. (And no, they dont come with pillowballs or camber plates for the FDs. I was kind of bummed at first as it makes changing ride height a pain, but after poking around i came to the conclusion that i didn't really want em...and the FD doesn't need camber plates like most other cars do, as the stock setup is capable of quite a bit of camber by itself.)

 

Oh, and i found the quality of the components to be excellent. All the aluminum parts are billet, if i'm not mistaken, and feel very substantial. And all the hardware that comes with it is of the highest fit and finish. No rough edges or anything. I was very impressed.

(Bear in mind that i'm not selling these things, so i get nothing whatsoever out of "advertising" them. I just think they're awesome and overlooked.)

 

Hey...thanks alot for clarifiying this...can u able to get some pics of the D2 coilovers for the FD specifically, cuz the generic pics really are not helping...thanks...

PS

The website does specify no pillowball and it also says 11/6 split is that an mistype...

 

I know you are not bad mouthing my parts but the only thing similar to those that you posted is the color....design is completely different...please check again....

 

Sure. I can post some pics that i took of mine before i put em on last week. They're terrible pics, but at least it'll give you an idea of the exact part you'd be getting.

Correct, no pillowball. I don't mind not having a pillowball because it becomes a weak point in the suspension that takes all the force and applies it directly to the chasis. It gives a more direct feel, but you give up some smoothness and ride quality. They also tend to be the first part to break or malfunction on coilovers. The biggest reason for wanting a pillowball is that, in conjunction with camber plates, it can help make up for bad suspension geometry by changing the mounting point and arc of the suspension travel. For other cars this is a huge advantage, but the FD doesn't have this problem. Anyone who knows will tell you how much work Mazda put into the stock FD suspension design and that, apart from some soft bushings and such, it's pretty darn good. Having had my car on the track i believe every word of it.

As for the 11/6, i think that's a typo, but i could be wrong. You woudn't want to have such difference in the spring rates, front to rear. If you wanted a bit softer ride, one thing you could do is swap the rear 9kg spring to the front and get 7kg springs for the rear. This will give you a more compliant ride while still providing good performance. I wouldn't go any softer than that for two reasons: 1) you'd be giving up a lot of performance for ride quality, in which case just save your money and stick with the stock suspension, and 2) the shocks aren't designed for use with softer springs. Any softer and your springs might be over-damped, resulting in a worse ride than with the properly damped 11kg/9kg combo because the shock won't let the spring extend the way it's designed to.

Ok, on to the pics...

Dang it, they're too big. If you want to PM me your email i'd be happy to send them to you.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I've been through the same thing you have. Believe me, trying to decide on spring rates without a known reference point isn't easy. I'll be happy to help any way i can, tho.

 

PM'd ya...thanks...

 

Buddy Clubs are a far better damper than most of the other jap coilovers and here is proof...

here are some costly JIC FLA2 dyno graphs

settings 1-5


settings 1 4 8 12 & 16


comparing left front and right front on hardest and softest


Comparing left rear and right rear


they vary even side to side D2 coils do too...

now here are some buddyclub coilovers





The stiffest setting on the JIC's has about 1550 Newtons damping force @ 10cm/second shaft speed and the JIC softest setting is around 1200 N @ 10cm/sec

The BuddyClub have 4200 N @ 10cm/sec on their highest setting and just under 1000 N @10cm/sec on their softest

So JIC damping range is about 350Newtons vs BuddyClub's 2200Newton range@10cm/sec @33cm/sec the BC coilovers have about 6000Newtons range vs JIC's adjustment range of about 100Newtons @33cm/sec



D2 is cheap tiwaniees crap. my friend has gone through 4 sets of thier coilovers... another friend of mine has been to thier factory in tiwan, they were never a company in japan, and everythign D2 does is to cut cost. for the most part you get what you pay for with coilovers. the only other reasonably valved coilover that doesnt cost 2k+ is the KTS dampers.

please Efini_7 please stop spready misconceptions about the D2 coils, you have only had them for a short while, where as i have had 2 years and 2 different cars i maintain with them.

and Bukwild you are just wrong

 

Sounds familiar. There was a set in the shop recently that had the #$@* bent out of it. The guy had them on an STI and decided to go rallying with em. Brought em back and said they were defective. They're being replaced under warranty, but it's obvious it's the driver and not the coilover to blame. If someone's gone through 4 sets of em i'd have a couple of questions for him. If he's convinced they're that bad why does he keep putting them on? How many other coilovers has he blown? Sounds to me like they're taking the excuse for the abuse. And why have you had them for two years on two cars when you hate them so much? I understand i haven't (yet) had them for as long as you claim to have had them, but i'm just doing the same thing you are: providing my opinion based on first hand experience. Get back to me in a year and we'll see what happens...but so far, for the money, i think they're a great alternative to just buying springs and adjustable shocks (which would have cost me more than the coilovers did). You have every right to your opinion, but don't state it as fact just because you have some graphs of another product that may or may not be similar. Unless i have proof of something i don't state it as fact, but as opinion...and i think you should do the same.

 

LOL

Well this is interesting...altho its a defence on the Buddy Club dampers and JIC's arent they slightly different in the damper design, BC is mono, JIC is twin/double tube design...so they should behave slightly different...IMO

Thanks for the pics...John...I would love to see them on the car and in the strut brace area...now also how many dials do they come with...i soa none in the pics...is it just one...and cant you just leave it in one of the front coilovers...just for hassle of finding a place to put it and not loose it...and yeah more pics is always good...thanks...

I do understand all of your defences...that is what i want...a different responce based on experience...so as far as you can back that experience with personal and related data...it good info...opinion or otherwise...as long as u own or know someone who does...than share your story and experience...

Thanks...

 

I have heard good things about KTS coilovers...rode on them in my friend's S14. Nice and stiff, and a bargain price too.

 

I keep looking but only SPL seems to carry them...they make them for a limited amount of cars, cant get info on the FD, but the s14 crowd likes them...so not sure...does anyone here knows of the KTS coilovers...

 

Also found Silk Roads to be of excellent quality rating by S14 drivers as well...and they look alike with Zeal and have a 10/8 spring rate...pricey...

 

I understand what Catharsis is saying about there not being any "reasonably damped" coilovers for under $2k (other than, evidently, the KTS), but where does that leave the person who can't afford a $2k suspension system? I mean if i had that kind of money i probably would have gone for something like Endless or other. But i didn't even bother looking at anything over $1500 because that's all i could spend. Ideally we all want the best of the best, but that doesn't always happen. So which one is the best for my money? I chose D2s, got an awesome deal (under $1k), and am very happy. I like them more than my previous PFS/Tokico setup, which would have cost just as much to buy new. Perhaps the damping range isn't as large as some other ones (or maybe it is...i haven't come across any data for them and certainly haven't been able to own them all), but it's enough for me to tell a BIG difference between full soft and full firm. Now if you could get someone to dyno test the D2s...i'd be very interested to see the results and how it stacks up to a similarly priced product.

I'll get you some pics of the upper mounts on the front and rear. I meant to do it but it slipped my mind since i was getting rained on.

It comes with 4 dials, 4 dial seats, 2 adjustment spanners, and some mounting bolts for the top (you reuse the lower ones you have on the car). You can leave the dials on the coilover without any clearance issues. That way you dont have to worry about it, but just pop the hood and turn the ****. I know some people that like to take them off, but there's no real reason cause it can't change the setting by itself either way. And also you dont have to worry about losing it.

PS I've heard good things about Silk Road as well, but it all came down to the price. I didn't think they were $500-600 better.

 

Yeah most definetly...get those pics to me...lol

Thanks...

PS

I came across a thread in some forum that hates the D2's cuz he got a bad batch of which they recalled, but he had to pay 50 shipping and got them replaced under warranty, and now is complaining that the spring perches are getting loose and squeeking every time he turns the wheel...but he also paid someone to install them and probably didnt read the instructions on how to keep the perches from moving...which is actually listed on their website...they do come from a Taiwanese company, but not sure about who actually tested and designed the system prior to production(i hope it was japanese), but than again all R/D is a calculations and measurments and digits and specs...once test info is acquired, can be made in your back yard with a proper machinery...if u are happy with them and u seem to know your suspension and understang my friends budget...and can get them under 1k, than u got me convinced to let my friend know...i came with a decision for his broke ***...lol

 

I installed the D2s myself, followed the directions and haven't had any problems. You just have to make sure to snug down the spring so there's no free play before you put it on.

Yeah, that sucks...but at least D2 honors their warranty. More than you can say for some companies.

Ok, i ran out and took some more pics for ya (and yes, it's still raining . I actually remembered to size them so i can post them up here, as well. So here ya go...

(Oh, and i have some other ones that i took today as well, but forgot to set the camera to lower resolution. I'll send them to your email address. They're of the outside and ride height of my car now.)

 

Oh, and i love the way the back ones hide under the cover (i took it off for the pic). You just pop it off, adjust it and replace. Easy to get to and looks great.

 

Yeah that does look pretty nice...clean...and has that HKS lookig purple color to them...its raining here as well...LOL

Thanks...for all the info...looks...lol

BTW who makes those Brake rotors u got?

and PM me the info of your buddy that can get a hookup so that i can pass it on to my friend...

 

To a point, but the dampning should have a wider range than that. not to mention that the dampning was different from right to left side. JIC are crap 99.9927846% of the time

KTS are great. a steal when it comes to coilovers. Unlike the D2 thier dampning means something. anything that is over about 15 way ajustable is just ricer crap.

Silk Road are nice too, my budy uses them on his D1 car, thier site is...

http://www.unnaturalinc.com/

They have very fair prices on the Silkroads its worth giving them a call, and if you do tell them i sent you. They will probly give you a better deal that way.

And dislike for D2 coilovers is after 2 years of working of 2 of my friends cars and having to pull off the coils ever 6 months like clock work and ship them out to be replaced. seriously spend a bit more for its worth it.