...anyone using them?
...too rough for the street?
...comparisons to B6s?

My last mod if I decide to 'finish the car.' I have been debating suspension mods for a while.
Thanks.


[Modified by Jon7, 8:15 PM 12/11/2001]


[Modified by Jon7, 8:15 PM 12/11/2001]

 

get the zeal b2's those are the best for street and track use!
email ben or alan at aj-racing.com

 

A&J says 70% track, 30% street. so if you like a very firm ride then go for it.

 

Just wanted to add that A&J also stated the B6's were 50% track, 50% street so you have a comparison of how stiff the BC RS's are compared to the Zeal B6's. HTH

 

Anybody know the buddy club rates.. in lbs/ft?

 

Robert,

According to Ben @ AJR's previous post, the stock rates are 12k/8k, which is roughly 672/448ft/lbs (same as Zeal stock rates).

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=95334

Dunno the deal with the Buddy Clubs, but my personal experience with Zeal Function S (same 12k/8k spring rates) is that they are fine for the street.


[Modified by kengs, 9:44 PM 12/11/2001]

 

Thanks Kengs!

 

Buddyclub offers 2 types of damper kit i.e. Racing Spec Damper and P.1 Damper.

P.1 Damper is mainly made for RACE USE ONLY and Racing Spec were developed for street.

IMO, ZEAL's B6/S6 are more to the softer side so compare for hard driving Buddyclub will be better. The ride of the Buddyclub is not TOO much stiffer over the B6/S6 since it has a 46mm piston which offers better absorbing compare to Zeals 42mm piston. Please check out http://www.aj-racing.com to find out more details about these dampers.

Buddyclubs are pretty new to North America but it was well known to street racers in Vancouver B.C. which the earlier model were not streetable at all. I will highly suggest at this point.

If you have any questions please IM or send me email and I will have all the answers for you

 

i ordered them.,.when my car comes back from the machine shop in late january i'll let u guys know how it rides

 

always got the good info...

 

http://www.aj-racing.com/buddy/buddy_temp.html

 

I'm starting to love Buddy Club
really nice stuff

check out: http://www.first-inc.co.jp/

 

Ok.. maybe a stupid question, but why does Zeal/Buddy Club sell racing kits with the lower spring rate in te rear, when most of the racers use a higher spring rate in the rear? One way should be prefered over the other.. I mean I would think this difference would be enough to change the whole handling of the car.. so which is better for track?? Higher rear? or Higher Front? Just a little confused about this.

 

Jon, stay Stock for your first few trips to the track, a mod'd car is not necessarily a faster car. I wish I had taken my car out with the stock susp'n for a few sessions.

I have a question for everyone using these JDM set ups. I will prob get bashed but here goes.

What do you guys do after a year of hard driving, and the shocks need to be rebuilt?

I mean with koni, bilstein, they can be sent out and revlaved for less than $65 a corner. Is there a place that will do these for the JDM susp'n? Or do you pretty much have to buy all new stuff? I am not bashng JDM products, I have had them, and still have a few on my car now. Thanks

Bryan

 

Robert I have had both on the track, I started out wth Tein HA's. While this might not be a TRUE track susp'n it was one of the better set ups avail for the $( so I was told) when I bought it. I now use Bilsteins, with Eibach springs, GC sleeves 400lbs (f) 500lbs (r) I love it! Te best thing is, it is only about $850, and can be revlaved when I want to go with higher rates in the rear. The car is much more predictable on the track now. Hope this helps. By the way, I drove Georges car this weekend, and the stock Susp'n is awesome on these cars. You might want to try Truechoice as well, I know Warren loves his set up, but it is a little pricey. Nice seing you again this weekend.

Bryan

 

A rough translation of the Buddy Club Race Specs~

-complete kit with upper pillowmount and various spring rates as well as specific wrench for adjustments
-adjustable bracket (stroke)
-even without help from the helper springs with the adjsutable bracket, desirable low position can be obtain.
-shell case is surfaced-treated with a black powder coating
-"ram strut type"
-since the response from the tire and the body will be transferred to the strut, strut needed to be very strong
-racing spec dampers ultilizes "RAM" type in their struts to accomplish the require strength
-chromoly steel made dampers are coated with chrome coating @ 20-30 micron , -20 degree cold-treated to ensure the best quality
-15way dampering adjustment
-click adjustment type
-adjust from the top of the damper
-the damper can be adjusted to the "stiffest setting" equilalent +4kg/mm up to the springs or the "softest setting" -4kg/mm down from the origainal spring rate intotal 8kg/mm range.
-single shell case
-2 types-double wishbone -46mm piston
-Mcpherson type -36mm piston
-because of the single case, heat resistance and cooling is best
-material-good wear resistance and precise chromoly steel
-friction is minium
-coating colour black
-increasing handling response
-for Mcpherson strut type camber adjusted from the front struts
-pillowball-long lasting
-a brand in japan is well known
-best quality
-spring seat, perches and pillowmounts are made by aluminum in anodized red
-each turn on the perch = 2mm drop in ride height

I just have them translated but I think you have to work on these POOR JAPANESE ENGLISH.

 

ttt

 

No flames here. I have had my Zeals for almost a whole year, no track events, just a lot of street driving (26K on my Zeals), thru some of the worst streets in Atlanta (west side). They have held up fine.

When they need to be rebuilt, you can have Endless USA send them back to Japan, or in my case, I will just carry them there myself. With TEIN u can send them to TEIN USA in SoCal to be rebuilt, so I have heard...

On the flip side, how streetable would a sleeved coilover running spring rates over 500 ft/lbs be? And what about ride quality?

 

Robert,

All of the JDM coilovers to my knowledge run stiffer rates in the front. For roadracing I think they use different compounds and sizes for F/R tires, and different alignment settings. I'm sure Ben @ AJR could explain this in more detail as he actually roadraces.

With the stiffer rates in the rear, and the forward weight bias on FF cars, I would think the ride on the street would be terrible.

 

I drive daily on the 500lbs in the rear. Sometimes it does get a little harsh, but on long trips I hardly notice it. I had the TEINs, and felt the same harshness every now and then. I wasn’t aware TEIN had the facilities in the US to rebuild shocks.

I would hate to have to send my shocks to Japan and have to wait "X" amount of months to get them back. I know how long it takes to get parts when they are ordered, if not in stock, so I can only imagine. THanks for the reply.

If I had it to do all over again, I would get a nice set of 16inch light weight wheels( to fill the fender gap if that is what people want more than performance), and good set of tires, and keep the stock susp'n.

Bryan

 

IMO, the Koni's piston is way too small and absorbing power is not as good compare to any 42mm & up pistons.

 

I've been wondering about this for a while too.

 

Shane, you have the Function S? I can't remember... From driving your car, I thought I could deal with it being 1 1/2 to 2x stiffer... Thanks again!

Yeah, I like as stiff or stiffer rear to get the car to rotate... Personal preference to run same pressures all around...

 

This may be true, but I know what I have had on the track, and how it has felt to me. What I was getting at is, people are under the impression that the JDM susp'n are far superior to the Konis or Bilsteins. I used to be on the same bandwagon, and spent ALOT of money on parts that were in no way better. Maybe it is just me, but I wanted everyone to know that yes these companies such as ZEAL, TEIN, etc offer quality products without a doubt, but the same "performance" can be had for far less. Most of the JDM susp'n are the off the shelf rates , and have the "street" car enthusiast in mind. With this in mind, by speaking to the right people, you can have a great set up with a sleeved coil over, and custom rates for far less. I know custom valve Koni’s with a shortened shock, and custom spring rates by TrueChoice can be had for about $1200-1300 for the money you are getting much more than these $2000-$3000 suspn's. thanks for the feed back.

Bryan

 

rolling on function b2 and i love um