Raceland Mazda 3 coilover kit opinions

[Chris RJG]

looking to lower my 08 3 sedan and would prefer to go coilover rather than just replacing springs. I had this link posted to me, just wondering if anyone has any experience or knowledge on this brand. the price seems to good to be true.

http://www.racelandus.com/coilovers/mazda-coilover-kits/mazda-3-coilover-kit.html

[Shinglez]

Haha, I was going to bring this up to the forum because I will be buying these at the end of the month :D I was in constant contact with these guys asking if they would come out with a set for our cars, and they've been updating me since November.

My friend has them on his MK4 GTI and he says he loves them. The only downfall is the stiffness of the ride, which cannot be adjusted because Raceland Coilovers don't have adjustable dampers. I don't think I'll mind the stiffness, because I find my ride to be very stiff on stock suspension anyway... but that might be because it's about 7 years old :chuckle

Anyways, just my two cents, but I can put up a review once I have them installed in the spring :thumbsup

They're really great guys and sell great products that are very affordable!

[-RJ3-]

Prepare to have your stereo skip and have a sore back... having no dampening on coil overs feels so rough your going to have a massage therapist on call every 2 weeks lol...

JK its not that bad.. HAd Tein basics, and youll get used to it, not your passengers lol

[Shinglez]

Hahah that's fine, my passengers can simply
http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q604/DBeets77/5b921af5-c93a-4fb2-8bd6-e005605562d1.jpg

[-RJ3-]

LMAO hope its a girl

[Default User]

It's a good product, but be prepared to have your kidneys pop out of your sides everytime you hit a bump when lowered.

Without the dampening adjustability - your whole suspension components will be stressed.

Think about when your crawling on your hands and feet - Palms out vs Fisted. Now race across the room and notice how your wrists and elbows feel different compared in each position.

[Chris RJG]

so long as theres no real safety concern im okay with a stiffer ride, i mean these and lower springs are within the same price range and even if i rode these for a year until i can afford a higher grade set then i could make due.

and @Shinglez, a review would be great to see.

thanks all

[-RJ3-]

It's a good product, but be prepared to have your kidneys pop out of your sides everytime you hit a bump when lowered.

Without the dampening adjustability - your whole suspension components will be stressed.

Think about when your crawling on your hands and feet - Palms out vs Fisted. Now race across the room and notice how your wrists and elbows feel different compared in each position.Great comparison.. Im starting to feel the discomfort again lol

[zakman]

how much worse could this be compared to say prokits and stock shocks?

[Default User]

ProKits drop is so subtle and the spring rates are matched close to OEM.

Personally, I think the PKs aren't stiff enough.

[zakman]

ya i run the prokits and stock shocks and i find it more then fine but being up here in barrie with the crappy snow winters(even this one sucks) i sometimes find the prokits a pain in the a$$ and if this wasnt to bad it could be a cheap alternative and help out in the winters.

[Shinglez]

I just think the Racelands are a sweet alternative for people on a budget :D

[Default User]

I can't speak first hand of the RACELANDS.

But without the adjustable damperin, they're basically an adaptation of the old coil-over sleeves. AKA kidney poppers AKA CD skippers. AKA suspension suicide

[zakman]

so really even the cheapest coils with a damper set up is best for ride quality... ic looks like more research is needed lol

but as for the raceland coilover kit i do agree it probably is a good choice for someone who is on a budget and needs the adjustability. good find

[Chris RJG]

Shinglez, a review would be great. Im okay with a stiff ride like some others it depends just how bad the stiffness really makes it.

[Chris RJG]

Thanks all for the feedback, im okay with stiffness and would probably only makes these fairly temporary as an alternative to lowering springs. definitely would not want a stiff ride long-term but these would get me by until some higher quality i suppose

[The Wolf]

i'd imagine the racelands would be fine for a weekend car, or something like that. but on a DD it would probably get old quick.

[Chris RJG]

They'd be for a full time car. just dont have the budget for a proper set, starving student and all

[Default User]

You'd be better off with Sportlines then buying Koni yellows afterwards

[Shinglez]

i'd imagine the racelands would be fine for a weekend car, or something like that. but on a DD it would probably get old quick.

I hear what you're saying, but if women can do it with their heels and walk, I can sit, drive, and enjoy the stance ;)

I mean, it really helps that my close friend bought these, so I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I've sat in his car and it's really not that bad.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=202433.0
http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/f12/raceland-coilovers-96230/

[Aitch]

Alright, let me preface this by stating I don't have experience with Raceland coilovers. There seem to be some misconceptions here, although it could be my misinterpretation of what's written but here goes anyways.

All shocks/coilovers come with damping. The Raceland coilovers don't come with adjustable damping, just like many entry-level coilvoers (Tein basic, Yonaka, etc). That means you can adjust the ride height but not the ride comfort (to the extent it can be adjusted by damping, as it also depends on the spring rates).

A non-adjustable coilover is not inherently going to have a horrible ride quality just because it doesn't have adjustable damping, it really depends on how the spring rates and damping are set up from the factory. For example, my Yonakas had one of the softest spring rates of coilovers for our cars, and the ride was not horrible because the damping was set to match (at the same time, I got tired of the stiff ride).

Having said all that, anecdotal evidence from other applications indicates that the Racelands are a) stiff as f*ck, and b) not of the highest quality (not surprising given the price). I would expect you can infer the ride quality will not be the greatest. Shinglez, if you find your stock suspension to be stiff, you may be surprised by how stiff these coilover spring rates are (likely 3x stiffer than stock, with the damping to match). Old stock suspensions tend to get more mushy with time as the shocks wear out, not stiffer. It helps that you've ridden with a friend on a similar setup so you know what to expect.

[Pereira11]

i have heard only bad things about these coilovers, i highly doubt they are stainless steel which would mean trouble in the winter unless you are very diligent about maintaining them.

you dont want to cheap out on suspension at all. if you are on a budget then continue to save for higher quality products or go with springs.

i had bilstein coilovers without dampening adjustability and they rode amazing. anyone who has had bilstein products can attest to their quality. i would not discount coilovers simply because of their lack of adjustability but rather look into the materials used and the research and development put into their product. Coilover systems that cost the same as a set of springs should set off alarms that they may not be the best decision

[Chris RJG]

Alright, let me preface this by stating I don't have experience with Raceland coilovers. There seem to be some misconceptions here, although it could be my misinterpretation of what's written but here goes anyways.

All shocks/coilovers come with damping. The Raceland coilovers don't come with adjustable damping, just like many entry-level coilvoers (Tein basic, Yonaka, etc). That means you can adjust the ride height but not the ride comfort (to the extent it can be adjusted by damping, as it also depends on the spring rates).

A non-adjustable coilover is not inherently going to have a horrible ride quality just because it doesn't have adjustable damping, it really depends on how the spring rates and damping are set up from the factory. For example, my Yonakas had one of the softest spring rates of coilovers for our cars, and the ride was not horrible because the damping was set to match (at the same time, I got tired of the stiff ride).

Having said all that, anecdotal evidence from other applications indicates that the Racelands are a) stiff as f*ck, and b) not of the highest quality (not surprising given the price). I would expect you can infer the ride quality will not be the greatest. Shinglez, if you find your stock suspension to be stiff, you may be surprised by how stiff these coilover spring rates are (likely 3x stiffer than stock, with the damping to match). Old stock suspensions tend to get more mushy with time as the shocks wear out, not stiffer. It helps that you've ridden with a friend on a similar setup so you know what to expect.


thanks for the clarification. im pretty new to this so ive been having to try and keep up by googling terms as we go.

[midnitehour]

if you really want something soft and cushy get a toyota. I plow speedbumps with my corolla and don't feel a thing.

I have a set of Racelands on my miata, and can definetly tell you that their quality is not bad. not the greatest, but not bad.
And for the hundreds of miata and vw people that run racelands to the very limits can't all be wrong.


It also doesn't matter if you have SS, Aluminum, or adamantium shock bodies. They will all seize without proper care. I've seen AWR, BC, Tein all seize due to poor maintanence.


As far as a coilover being "stiff" that's kind of the idea, Stiffer spring rates = more road feedback.
I've had suspension coilovers that might as well have been solid on my protege, and while yes chicks complain that thier tits hurt after a bumpy drive, nothing compares to railing corners with 100% confidence. So shove a sports bra in your glove box and deal with it.

My only gripe, with this is the way the shock is dampened, to much bump dampening, not enough rebound dampening.

http://www.miataturbo.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19089&d=1291445412

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Honestly I have heard more good and bad about Racelands in BMW, Miata, and VW circles.

That being said people swear up and down BC's are terrible and will seize after one winter and I have had no issues (other than my pillow ball mounts) with them.

So...

[-RJ3-]

Now I'm no genius with brands but when a product is derived from a company called "race land". Would it be targeted for a car like auto crossing? Eg, the miata. He doesn't seem to have an issue with the suspension could it be his car auto crosses? BMW and miata are driven for autocross. And I'm sure. A racer would say the suspension is not bad because they Are used to it.

Just a thought

[joedemarco]

Do we have any definitive conclusion on the quality of product raceland coilovers are?

My shocks are clunking and its driving me nuts, aiming for a 'cost efficient' set. I would rather buy a better quality but I just cant afford it on a students salary. I have read the M3F and parts of the MSF forum, but the MSF forum is full of those guys that have money coming out of their ass and can afford w.e they want (why they drive a MS3 i dont know) but I cant read a thread where people bash them because they are affordable.

Any comments?

[Mazdy]

I thought about this....but decided to go Sportsline+Konis combo..

Low enough for me and ride is comfortable

[The Wolf]

Just go for it. They'll probably last you a couple years and then hopefully you can upgrade

[zzz3]

Do we have any definitive conclusion on the quality of product raceland coilovers are?

My shocks are clunking and its driving me nuts, aiming for a 'cost efficient' set. I would rather buy a better quality but I just cant afford it on a students salary. I have read the M3F and parts of the MSF forum, but the MSF forum is full of those guys that have money coming out of their ass and can afford w.e they want (why they drive a MS3 i dont know) but I cant read a thread where people bash them because they are affordable.

Any comments?

why not get dampers and springs? why does everyone think they need coilovers...

and one of the reasons they probably bought a speed for is the same reason kids get civics; for the price of x car, they can buy y car and have money left over for mods.

[midnitehour]

why not get dampers and springs? why does everyone think they need coilovers...



Why not get coilovers, especially for the price.

when the same amount of money gets you low end shocks and springs, you could get the bonus of ride height adjustabilty.

which would be applied for nothing more than getting the wheel-fender spacing that you want.

[midnitehour]

Do we have any definitive conclusion on the quality of product raceland coilovers are?


I have racelands on my miata, build quality is not the greatest, but not shitty in any sense.

The locking rings are solid, and aren't prone to rounding unlike my BC's due to a deeper notch.

Keep in mind spring rates are 330# front and 122-205# progressive rear.

Thats almost double that of a ms3 in the front, and 50% more in the rear. making it stiffer alot stiffer.

when lowering keep an eye on the rear. if you lower it to the point where the shocks are 100% compressed, then you might as well pull it all out and bolt a sold metal rod to where the shocks would've been. The 3's have short suspension travel as it is.

[mazidane]

Do we have any definitive conclusion on the quality of product raceland coilovers are?

My shocks are clunking and its driving me nuts, aiming for a 'cost efficient' set. I would rather buy a better quality but I just cant afford it on a students salary. I have read the M3F and parts of the MSF forum, but the MSF forum is full of those guys that have money coming out of their ass and can afford w.e they want (why they drive a MS3 i dont know) but I cant read a thread where people bash them because they are affordable.

Any comments?

Same situation as you are in, considered the Racelands but decided to go with H&R Springs and Bilsteins instead.

Not sure how these would stand through winter was one concern.

With that said everyone on MSF who has them so far seems to like them.

For the price point they may be worth a try. Perhaps you can find a set of used shocks/struts for winter, in case you decide not to run them in the winter.

[zzz3]

Why not get coilovers, especially for the price.

when the same amount of money gets you low end shocks and springs, you could get the bonus of ride height adjustabilty.

which would be applied for nothing more than getting the wheel-fender spacing that you want.

i don't know how much racelands cost, but i take it they are cheap if they cost less than koni/swift etc...how long do you expect them to last on your miata (and do you track it)?

[Booostin]

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/f12/raceland-coilovers-96230/index7.html

Alot of guys with racelands on MSF. Read up on the link.

[FoXy]

I have them on my car. They are quite low, and fairly stiff, but I dont find them TOO stiff. I had them as low as they could go but they were too low and I was rubbing so I raised them up a bit. Like someone said earlier. not enough damping on the way back up so they are kind of noisy but they do the job. I'm not unhappy with them at all and for the money, can't argue.

[joedemarco]

okay, I think I read on MSF that these are going to be so stiff that I am going to need Physio every 2 weeks lol.

@FoXy: how long have you had them on? What is your opinion thus far? How noisy are they, like the clunking of the MS3 shocks (if you've experienced that)

@zzz3: G16 had them for sale for $499, but a friend and I found them for $350 in Buffalo.

I dont plan of tracking my car, I am on a tight budget and Im the last person to cheap out on something like suspension, but it needs to be replaced. I do A LOT of driving (20,500km in my first 8 months) and when I start school in September I'm looking at about 500-800km/wk. I need something that will last me 3 years until I graduate and get my career underway.

I like the racelands because they offer the 5 year manufacturer warranty. And I havent heard a single bad review from those who own them....

Your guidance is appreciated.

@mazidane: what was the cost of your set up? and do you get height adjustability and dampening?

[FoXy]

okay, I think I read on MSF that these are going to be so stiff that I am going to need Physio every 2 weeks lol.

@FoXy: how long have you had them on? What is your opinion thus far? How noisy are they, like the clunking of the MS3 shocks (if you've experienced that)

@zzz3: G16 had them for sale for $499, but a friend and I found them for $350 in Buffalo.

I dont plan of tracking my car, I am on a tight budget and Im the last person to cheap out on something like suspension, but it needs to be replaced. I do A LOT of driving (20,500km in my first 8 months) and when I start school in September I'm looking at about 500-800km/wk. I need something that will last me 3 years until I graduate and get my career underway.


@mazidane: what was the cost of your set up? and do you get height adjustability and dampening?


I have had them on now for about 3 or 4 weeks I think? They are pretty decent. The noise is hard to describe, like almost like an empty shock sound I guess? I dont know, but you get used to it.

I bought mine from raceland directly and had them shipped here, might as well support the manufacturer instead of people just trying to make a buck off them.

My car is my DD btw, I put on about 25ish kms a year.

[Default User]

why not get dampers and springs? why does everyone think they need coilovers...



Why not get coilovers, especially for the price.

when the same amount of money gets you low end shocks and springs, you could get the bonus of ride height adjustabilty.



I prefer "Ride quality" over "stance" and "low" any day.
Don’t get me wrong – I love the look of a slammed car – but feeling my kidneys blast through my back is another thing

IME - if you can only adjust height and not dampening, you sacrifice ride quality.

That being said - for the price of these Racelands – you can’t really go wrong IF you need to replace your shocks & struts anyway.

[JBale]

I'd say go with the racelands. For the price you can't beat it. I had them on my golf and they did the job. A little rough but expected.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/vee_dub_G60/IMG_0236_7_8_9_tonemapped2.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/vee_dub_G60/Sept2732.jpg

[canada man]

Lol, Just keep in mind, you get what you pay for

[joedemarco]

Lol, Just keep in mind, you get what you pay for

your sarcasm is completely useless and disregarded in this thread. I have already stated that I am on a budget and I cant afford more than that, with that I have said that i hate to buy things that are cheap, but anything else is not an option.

Unless you can suggest a substitution in replacement of the Racelands, if you dont have an opinion on the Raceland Coilovers, whether it be positive or negative, beat it...

@JBale: I understand that they are 'rough' but are they quiet? I dont want to be annoyed with them after a few months of driving. How long did you have them on your VW? did you notice that they because louder or rougher as time went on?
@Defaultuser: thats my problem brother, they are slowly dying on my and its a matter of time
@FoXy: If your okay with it, the next time I am able to make it to a meet (if you are there) if you could take me for a ride, I'd appreciate it. But we'll talk at a later date.

[midnitehour]

i don't know how much racelands cost, but i take it they are cheap if they cost less than koni/swift etc...how long do you expect them to last on your miata (and do you track it)?

The coilovers are listed on raceland's website at 369 usd.

I expect them to last as long as my BC's or AWR coilovers.

And I don't track my miata yet, that's what the race car is for.

[Default User]

@FoXy: If your okay with it, the next time I am able to make it to a meet (if you are there) if you could take me for a ride, I'd appreciate it. But we'll talk at a later date.

That's borderline sexual harassment LOL.

[joedemarco]

That's borderline sexual harassment LOL.

it wouldnt be if you didnt bring it up LOL!! She knows exactly what I mean!! (i hope)

[midnitehour]

I prefer "Ride quality" over "stance" and "low" any day.
Don’t get me wrong – I love the look of a slammed car – but feeling my kidneys blast through my back is another thing

IME - if you can only adjust height and not dampening, you sacrifice ride quality.

That being said - for the price of these Racelands – you can’t really go wrong IF you need to replace your shocks & struts anyway.

I've had AWR coilovers on my protege, probably some of the best coiloverss available in the sub 2K range and they didn't have any adjustability other than height.

Also By this reasoning then all non adjustable shocks will sacrifice ride quality if used with anytype of lowering spring.

For all the people bashing non adjustable coilovers, and have adjustable coilovers: Have you gotten your suspension tuned? Or have you ball parked ride quality with a butt dyno? If the later applies, what's the difference between that and a matched spring and shock coil over setup?

[mazidane]

@mazidane: what was the cost of your set up? and do you get height adjustability and dampening?

Much more than the Racelands, let's just say twice the price of Racelands. No height adjustability or dampening AFAIK.

[Default User]

I've had AWR coilovers on my protege, probably some of the best coiloverss available in the sub 2K range and they didn't have any adjustability other than height.

As mentioned - RACELANDS may be good for one car model (ie Miatas or VW's), but not necessarily good for others.



Also By this reasoning then all non adjustable shocks will sacrifice ride quality if used with anytype of lowering spring.


No - height adjustable coils will have different spring rates at different heights adjustments. Just like heating compressed OEM springs to attain the "lowered" look - the spring rate changes effecting ride quality.


Plus you can't compare a $2000 suspension set up with a $500 set up. But if you do want to compare - then you got ripped off with your AWR set up.

[FoXy]

LOL... ya, I can take you for a ride

[mazdathree3]

Joe, from your budget and information I would say you should go with springs/shocks setup instead of coils if you're getting the racelands. Reason being is if you get the shock/spring setup you basically won't have to worry about them either seizing up or properly greasing them like coils. I'm not too sure how low you want to go but if you get say a Prokit+Bilstein/Koni combo I doubt you will have any problems beyond when you get out of school.

[joedemarco]

Joe, from your budget and information I would say you should go with springs/shocks setup instead of coils if you're getting the racelands. Reason being is if you get the shock/spring setup you basically won't have to worry about them either seizing up or properly greasing them like coils. I'm not too sure how low you want to go but if you get say a Prokit+Bilstein/Koni combo I doubt you will have any problems beyond when you get out of school.

I appreciate that Justin, but the issue now is that I dont think either of those set ups are *AS cost efficient as Racelands. I would like an 1.5'' drop F+R...Im not looking for anything crazy, just so its not stock.

Please, prove me wrong if you know how I can get my hands on a better quality set up for around the same price point, because personally I have not found any, I havent had time to look at all my options but I did a fair share of searching. I am all about getting more for less LOL, so please help if possible.

[Default User]

Joe, like I said earlier, you cant go wrong for the price of RACELANDS.

I highly doubt you can find dampers AND springs USED for less than $4-500 (let alone adjustable)

[The Wolf]

The thing is, there's basically nothing else in the price range of racelands. Maybe used OEM shocks and used springs...

Edit: DU beat me to it lol

[joedemarco]

DU: I know, and I agree with you, I just dont want to hear these things clunking because then I'll just keep my OEM suspension lol.

Thanks my dilemma at this time, if they are going to make noise then I'll save myself $400 and let the OEM suspension annoy me.

But FoXy has agreed to give me a ride (in her car) so I guess that will be the determining factor.

[Impressive]

The clunking noise may be from your sway bar or your top suspension mounts...I wouldn't rule it as coming from your shocks directly.

Overall, my solution (in your shoes) would be to wait it out if possible and try and pick up a set of Koni Yellows slightly used then pair them with stock springs until you can afford new ones. Keep in mind when you drop your car on race lands you will likely need a camber kit and an alignment, so it's not just the coilover price you are looking to pay.

If you want height adjustability, go with the racelands.

[midnitehour]

As mentioned - RACELANDS may be good for one car model (ie Miatas or VW's), but not necessarily good for others.

What I don't see is where is this feedback coming from? or is this just prejudice against a a budget setup? there hasn't been any vaild feedback about these coilovers not preforming for the 3. As far as I know all the feedback has been positive, for the price point. Those that have or will blow the strut (most likely me soon) are because of improper installation or because they're riding on bumpstops (me), which over compresses the strut which leads to faster failure.



No - height adjustable coils will have different spring rates at different heights adjustments. Just like heating compressed OEM springs to attain the "lowered" look - the spring rate changes effecting ride quality.


Plus you can't compare a $2000 suspension set up with a $500 set up. But if you do want to compare - then you got ripped off with your AWR set up.

At no point did I compare a $2000 suspension setup with a $500 setup other than the fact that neither have dampening adjustability, which I continued to express ISN'T the defining line of how coilovers will preform, rather is a feature that most won't use to thier potential, but would rather have because "more expensive is always better"

you only change the spring rate when you raise them past the extension of the shock body, there by inducing "spring load" where you partially compress the spring. And this would be more so for a progressive spring rather than a linear one.

One could argue that as you compress the strut, you increase the pressure in the strutbody which then bumps up spring rate, which is fair enough, but it isn't going to majorly change your spring rate. aka 330# to 800#. and this would also hold true for any shorter spring applied to a shock that was designed for a longer spring.

Heating compressed springs is completely different and has no relevance to preload.
In heating a spring you're changing "K" in the spring, which then makes it a complete different spring at the end which throws all previous measurements out.
you also effectively harden the metal by heat working, which would further increase "K".

Heating stock springs has nothing to do with adjusting the collar down on a coilover.

[canada man]

your sarcasm is completely useless and disregarded in this thread. I have already stated that I am on a budget and I cant afford more than that, with that I have said that i hate to buy things that are cheap, but anything else is not an option.

Unless you can suggest a substitution in replacement of the Racelands, if you dont have an opinion on the Raceland Coilovers, whether it be positive or negative, beat it...

@JBale: I understand that they are 'rough' but are they quiet? I dont want to be annoyed with them after a few months of driving. How long did you have them on your VW? did you notice that they because louder or rougher as time went on?
@Defaultuser: thats my problem brother, they are slowly dying on my and its a matter of time
@FoXy: If your okay with it, the next time I am able to make it to a meet (if you are there) if you could take me for a ride, I'd appreciate it. But we'll talk at a later date.

What sarcasm? I am just warning you. Don't expect 3 yrs of trouble free. There's a reason why they are cheap. I find it sad to put such parts on a speed. I would just save a bit more. But that's just my opinion.

And fyi. That borla is not ment for your speed.

[joedemarco]

The clunking noise may be from your sway bar or your top suspension mounts...I wouldn't rule it as coming from your shocks directly.

Overall, my solution (in your shoes) would be to wait it out if possible and try and pick up a set of Koni Yellows slightly used then pair them with stock springs until you can afford new ones. Keep in mind when you drop your car on race lands you will likely need a camber kit and an alignment, so it's not just the coilover price you are looking to pay.

If you want height adjustability, go with the racelands.

A friend of mine can hook me up with the alignment, as well as install. I dont plan on going low enough for me to need a camber kit...even still its not a problem because I wont have to spend all that much for the alignment/install etc.

Right now I am sold on the racelands, I wont get them until the end of May when myself and a friend are going to order them together in hopes of a better price. I will open a thread for others who have shown interest.

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions. It is very much appreciated.

[Impressive]

A friend of mine can hook me up with the alignment, as well as install. I dont plan on going low enough for me to need a camber kit...even still its not a problem because I wont have to spend all that much for the alignment/install etc.

Right now I am sold on the racelands, I wont get them until the end of May when myself and a friend are going to order them together in hopes of a better price. I will open a thread for others who have shown interest.

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions. It is very much appreciated.

For 1.5" you'll probably need a camber kit just so you know, but if you've got a friend who can hook up the install and alignment afterwards, a camber kit will only set you back about $100 and will end up paying for itself when your tires end up wearing relatively evenly.

[midnitehour]

The clunking noise may be from your sway bar or your top suspension mounts...I wouldn't rule it as coming from your shocks directly.

Overall, my solution (in your shoes) would be to wait it out if possible and try and pick up a set of Koni Yellows slightly used then pair them with stock springs until you can afford new ones. Keep in mind when you drop your car on race lands you will likely need a camber kit and an alignment, so it's not just the coilover price you are looking to pay.

If you want height adjustability, go with the racelands.

+1 for mounts or sway bar OR endlinks. my 2010 had fubar'd endlinks at 20K.

if the drop that he's going for is the same as that of springs "1.5" then there shouldn't be the need for the camber kit. An alignment would be a good idea as tires aren't cheap.

@joedemarco, coilovers aren't for "peace of mind" they're for adjustability. With race lands, you essentially get lower end shocks with a high spring rate and the ability to lower your car to your preferance in a super affordable package.

Remember that higher spring rates= more road noise and vibration are put into the cabin which is the opposite making noises go away.

If your struts truely are blown, and finanical restrictions mean idealy spend the least, then i'd look for aftermarket oem replacement. AKA monroe/napa/CT stuff. because any dampening is safer than your tires playing hopscotch with the pavement.

[joedemarco]

What sarcasm? I am just warning you. Don't expect 3 yrs of trouble free. There's a reason why they are cheap. I find it sad to put such parts on a speed. I would just save a bit more. But that's just my opinion.

And fyi. That borla is not ment for your speed.

I agree, I would love to put koni's or Blisteins on the car...unfortunately its just not possible at this point. In all honesty, no seeing a single bad review on them thus far makes me feel confident in the purchase, of course I am not buying until June, so those who have had them installed for a while can give me feedback before I buy.

My problem is that I cannot justify spending $7-800 on a suspension set, only making on average $7000/ year...I cant spend 10% on my car. Unless you can offer me a job that pays much better ;) this is my only option.( :( )

@canadaman: despite the fact the CBE is sold...why isnt it for me?

[Impressive]

I saw a guy selling OEM shocks+struts for the MS3 for $150...maybe you should just invest in another OEM set and drop the car on springs. That would be your cheapest solution/alternative to be entirely thorough.

[joedemarco]

I confirmed with another friend that it is not the bushings, I was hoping it was because its much cheaper to fix lol

@Impressive: I thought about that, but then my concern was that if I put aftermarket springs with OEM shocks+struts with the a/f springs eventually blow the shock+struts? even still if I am looking at around $300. The racelands, when bought through the USA retail at $349.

Can anyone convince me that OEM S+S is better than raceland? Canadaman do you have any input here?

[Default User]

For a budget alternative - find out which shock or strut is pooched. Hopefully it's only 1 (but you'll need to replace in pairs)

Replace that pair (either both struts or both shocks) with some OEM Aftermarket replacements like KYB or Monroe. ($200/pair) Then grab some used ProKits ($200-250). That'll get you in the price range

[midnitehour]

I confirmed with another friend that it is not the bushings, I was hoping it was because its much cheaper to fix lol

Can anyone convince me that OEM S+S is better than raceland? Canadaman do you have any input here?

OEM will definetly be more reliable hands down. There's a reason it's OEM. they should last you in the 3-5 year range depending on houw rough you treat them. Try pricing down oem struts from Mazda and see if they fall in your budget.

[The Wolf]

OEM will be better quality. I would only consider racelands if you want to lower your vehicle significantly.

[Booostin]

these coils come to around 630 after taxes

[midnightfxgt]

I think it comes down to priorities.

Reliability and comfort - Get some replacement shocks, and your done.
Lowering on the cheap - Go for Racelands. You cant get spring/shocks cheaper

Yes, a lot of Mazda3 owners like these. However, they just came out. Owner's of other platforms have had issues with quality in the past. Does this mean you will? No. Just keep in mind that an issue could arise, and there better odds of it happening with a lower cost product. Afterall, the costs are lower for a reason. Then again, you could ride them out for 5yrs and never have an issue. It's always a gamble with low cost parts.

IMHO - I would get the replacement shocks, just because it sounds like you want quiet, reliable and no issues. If Lowering the car is high on your list, then Raceland is the ONLY option for you.

-John

[mleblond]

Point is Racelands are cheap, 550 CAD to your door including shipping + Duty (cheaper if you pick it up in buffalo)
Comes with a 2 Year Warranty. Most $1000-$1500 Coils come with 1 year only.
Why are they cheap? Low overhead, no distributors (everyone buys directly from them) more here: http://www.racelandus.com/raceland-difference
They are not for racers, racers do not buy $1000-$1500 coils either but more like $2500+ coils and rebuild them every other race. Doesn't mean you can't race with them if you wanted to but let's be realistic here.

Racelands are not perfect by any means. I found the rears perfectly fine but the front's need better holders for the helper spring thus why I think they make noise. I also used por-15 on the coil body and greased the threads to help the longevity of the front coils. Rear shocks are powdercoated and the spring holder is anodized.

In our case, 2.5 years with springs destroyed the oem shocks and instead of buying 4 new oem shocks, we felt that Racelands were an option in the same price range that would allow us to adjust the actual ride height.

Hope this helps. There is no perfect coils out there, they ALL need work/maintenance but it just seems like these Racelands are perfect for DD's, cheap and makes the car look great. If you are looking for comfort, stick with OEM suspension.

[trulankan]

i just picked up some racelands from G16 and im really hoping the ride is not too stiff. My coworker said he had coilovers (not Raceland) on his old integra and it was very uncomfortable going over bumps/potholes. I find my current stock shocks to be too bouncy and soft for my liking although they dont seem to be in bad shape. hoping these racelands are the good

[trulankan]

big thanks to Matt for giving me a ride in Foxy's car which has the racelands. I was surprised how good the ride was, didn't feel stiff at all and the car was dropped real low as well. I feel alot more confident getting them installed now :)

[trulankan]

Got the racelands put in by Jimmy today. Job took about 4 hrs to complete with multiple height adjustments. will have the drive it some more and get an alignment done next weekend but the camber seems fine for now with 1.5" drop. Drove from Scarborough to Brampton without any problems. The ride is stiff but its great on the highway! I feel like I have much more control than with my stock suspension which bounced around and was unstable. The car feels much more planted, especially when turning. The ride is pretty bumpy on bad roads tho but if the road is good you will glide by. I would say the overall the ride has been good (after day 1).

[-RJ3-]

Enjoy the riding on rails feel.

Any lowered car you will experience this!

[leecheefoto]

I've been thinking of getting these due to the price, but at the same time I think I'd rather save up for a set of h&r.
I don't have a real job yet but you don't have to limit yourself completely. If racelands are what you want then go for it. I know this thread is months old lol.

Do it right the first time I guess. But a lot of vw guys have like 40pg forum on its reviews and most say it's good.
A dude named warlord on m3f had them and had some strange noise happening in the back. I haven't done a lot of research due to me being in a resort with shit wifi but you basically get what you pay for in terms of quality.

I don't have one nor have experience but if someone can let me know of their review of it surviving in winter and maintenance it would be helpful on some others might wanting to choose a set of these.

[-RJ3-]

My suggestion for winter is to swap the coils for your stock suspension. It's costly but in the end it saves your coils from getting seized and have more longevity to them

[Hyperion]

My suggestion for winter is to swap the coils for your stock suspension. It's costly but in the end it saves your coils from getting seized and have more longevity to them

I plan on making covers for them. And greasing them.

[cSPEED]

I've been thinking of getting these due to the price, but at the same time I think I'd rather save up for a set of h&r.
I don't have a real job yet but you don't have to limit yourself completely. If racelands are what you want then go for it. I know this thread is months old lol.

Do it right the first time I guess. But a lot of vw guys have like 40pg forum on its reviews and most say it's good.
A dude named warlord on m3f had them and had some strange noise happening in the back. I haven't done a lot of research due to me being in a resort with shit wifi but you basically get what you pay for in terms of quality.

I don't have one nor have experience but if someone can let me know of their review of it surviving in winter and maintenance it would be helpful on some others might wanting to choose a set of these.

The noise that warlord was talking about is generally accepted as a fixed issue. That was their "v1" that lasted a couple months until everyone returned them because they were facing that issue.

This is the best setup if you want low and minimal performance IMO.

[-RJ3-]

I plan on making covers for them. And greasing them.

Are they guaranteed to stay in the spot?

[Hyperion]

Are they guaranteed to stay in the spot?
If I do it properly, I don't see why not

[peterm15]

I plan on making covers for them. And greasing them.

I'm interested on a DIY for this one if possible. The covers, I know how to grease them.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I posted a DIY on covers awhile back I will see if I can find it.

As for swapping back and forth, I never did and one of mine is fine and one is just a little stubborn with at least three years of true daily driving.

I never adjust mine really though.

[cSPEED]

Dave, what was total material cost and labour hours to make those? I remember the DIY and my coilovers are going on as we speak

[Hyperion]

Dave, what was total material cost and labour hours to make those? I remember the DIY and my coilovers are going on as we speak

No more than 30.
Probably about 1-2 hours to make.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I never made it lol

[trulankan]

The noise that warlord was talking about is generally accepted as a fixed issue. That was their "v1" that lasted a couple months until everyone returned them because they were facing that issue.

This is the best setup if you want low and minimal performance IMO.

yeah mine are noisy as well but they are apparently the v2 ones...its a different noise than the v1 i think lol but the thing is for me there is alot of creaking when I turn the steering wheel fully...pat from altech said it was the springs getting twisted. im thinking to ask jimmy to have a look again but not sure if i should since I already got the alignment done?

[trulankan]

another question: would the ride be slightly less bumpy if I were to drop it further? I dropped it about 1.5 inches and even then my cambers went out of spec (by about 0.2 so not too bad).

[leecheefoto]

Just ordered it for the lulz of testing. Trulankan did you get the black ones?

[cSPEED]

Theres no "lulz of testing". People have been running these for like 8 months lol.

[The Wolf]

another question: would the ride be slightly less bumpy if I were to drop it further? I dropped it about 1.5 inches and even then my cambers went out of spec (by about 0.2 so not too bad).

the further you drop, the stiffer Racelands (and most other coilovers) get

[FoXy]

Other than the noise (pretty sure I have the V1 ones cus I got them so long ago), I have no issues with my ride. I'm tuckin tire and find the ride perfectly comfortable. I am thinking about raising them up a bit just because it's too hard for me to get around and theres rubbing on the inner fender while turning. Camber is fine tho.

[trulankan]

Just ordered it for the lulz of testing. Trulankan did you get the black ones?

yeah, its black with red coils, the v1's were silver

[trulankan]

Other than the noise (pretty sure I have the V1 ones cus I got them so long ago), I have no issues with my ride. I'm tuckin tire and find the ride perfectly comfortable. I am thinking about raising them up a bit just because it's too hard for me to get around and theres rubbing on the inner fender while turning. Camber is fine tho.

really? maybe I should get Matt to look at mine instead of Jimmy lol

[trulankan]

heres some pics as requested. i didnt slam it down, just a simple 1.5ish drop. might considered dropping it some more after I get the rear flares and front lip

BEFORE:

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6735/img20120429175936.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/img20120429175936.jpg/)
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5876/img20120721233248.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/img20120721233248.jpg/)

AFTER:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3631/img20120731171632.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/232/img20120731171632.jpg/)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/3787/img20120731171648.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/img20120731171648.jpg/)

[cSPEED]

Mine

http://i.imgur.com/aUBdN.jpg

[trulankan]

Mine

http://i.imgur.com/aUBdN.jpg

u on raceland coils as well? how do u find the ride?

[trulankan]

so i've been noticing that the springs are actually moving with the steering wheel which is causing some squeeking when turn the wheel while the car is not moving fast. i called up jimmy and told him and he said to bring the car in next weekend. he also mentioned that he needs to re-install the rears as he did not install the correctely after asking some other people about it

[leecheefoto]

so i've been noticing that the springs are actually moving with the steering wheel which is causing some squeeking when turn the wheel while the car is not moving fast. i called up jimmy and told him and he said to bring the car in next weekend. he also mentioned that he needs to re-install the rears as he did not install the correctely after asking some other people about it

Did you ask how he installed the rears wrong?
If it was the springs for the rear the cap hat thing goes on the top.

Also double check the front struts if he installed the struts all the way down on the bottom.. When Jimmy was doing my pro kits (I'm guessing he didnt see), he installed my struts back halfway in on the bottom where it goes back into the brake assembly and caused rust. This rust made it difficult for the installer to fit the Raceland struts in so he had to shave down the rust. Sooooo I'm pretty sure my prokits would have been lower lol.

[soccerboy1491]

so i've been noticing that the springs are actually moving with the steering wheel which is causing some squeeking when turn the wheel while the car is not moving fast. i called up jimmy and told him and he said to bring the car in next weekend. he also mentioned that he needs to re-install the rears as he did not install the correctely after asking some other people about it

Yeah after he installed mine he said he installed yours upside down.

They feel fine for me cept that I rub everywhere with my 18s xD not driving but the fronts when I hit bumps and even hard turns now. Would rolling my fenders matter or getting sway bars? We set them to the same height I had with the drop I have from the springs so this is a little annoying lol

[leecheefoto]

I'm going to raise mine back up to probably sportline height or 3 cm wheel gap so I can put my lip back on. I've concluded that the road conditions I live on are the worst and wished I live in the Rich Hill.


Yeah after he installed mine he said he installed yours upside down.

They feel fine for me cept that I rub everywhere with my 18s xD not driving but the fronts when I hit bumps and even hard turns now. Would rolling my fenders matter or getting sway bars? We set them to the same height I had with the drop I have from the springs so this is a little annoying lol



Swaybar then rolling. You'd only need to roll it if your tire is touching the side of the fender, I think you're just rubbing the pinchweld like I am (I'm on 17 though)

[soccerboy1491]

I'm going to raise mine back up to probably sportline height or 3 cm wheel gap so I can put my lip back on. I've concluded that the road conditions I live on are the worst and wished I live in the Rich Hill.


Swaybar then rolling. You'd only need to roll it if your tire is touching the side of the fender, I think you're just rubbing the pinchweld like I am (I'm on 17 though)


Front or rear first? And it only rubs when I hit a big bump otherwise I am fine lol

[leecheefoto]

Front or rear first? And it only rubs when I hit a big bump otherwise I am fine lol

You said you rub with hard turns? If the front whats your tire spec and offset? You might need a roll I rechecked your pics and you're almost flush or am I blind lol

[soccerboy1491]

You said you rub with hard turns? If the front whats your tire spec and offset? You might need a roll I rechecked your pics and you're almost flush or am I blind lol


rims are 18" x 7.5 5x100/114.3mm +45mm I think xD and tire size is 225/40ZR18

[Hyperion]

so i've been noticing that the springs are actually moving with the steering wheel which is causing some squeeking when turn the wheel while the car is not moving fast. i called up jimmy and told him and he said to bring the car in next weekend. he also mentioned that he needs to re-install the rears as he did not install the correctely after asking some other people about it

Isn't the springs turning with the car a sign that the top mounts were put on too tightly?
Also, how do you screw up installing springs and shocks?

[trulankan]

Isn't the springs turning with the car a sign that the top mounts were put on too tightly?
Also, how do you screw up installing springs and shocks?

lol jimmy isnt too experienced with installing the racelands and they didnt come with instructions so he didnt know. He just put the cap on the wrong end. I will get him to check the fronts to see why the springs are being stretched while turning. he was saying that is something common with coils but i doubt that.

[ishy]

where can i get a set of racelands in the toronto area? or do i have to order them from their site?

[Hyperion]

where can i get a set of racelands in the toronto area? or do i have to order them from their site?

Garage 16 and cross your fingers

[trulankan]

where can i get a set of racelands in the toronto area? or do i have to order them from their site?

well if u dont mind getting used and want to save money, I will be selling my set soon (within 2 months) once I get them off the car for winter.

[ishy]

Garage 16 and cross your fingers

lol cross fingers?

[Shinglez]

lol cross fingers?

From what I've heard shipping and waiting time was long

[peterm15]

Never had a problem getting items through Rick. Unlike other sponsors.

Some people dislike certain sponsors as a result of past experience. Which by all means is reasonable. Unless you have had a problem, don't worry about ordering from him. As I have said. I have had problems with other sponsors, and will not order from them as a result, but Rick never had an issue. He even warrantied an item PAST it's expiry.

[soccerboy1491]

To let people know... it wasn't ricks fault for the long wait time. Raceland recalled them just as he ordered them and redid them so we had to wait till the new set were released then shipped out to rick then he let us know as soon as he got them. So it shouldn't be to long of a wait anymore.

[Chris RJG]

I feel like this thread is long dead, but for anyone who comes across it, i ended up going with Racelands due to a blown stock strut and the need for a replacement ASAP. ive had them on for about a month now and no complaints on the product and the customer service was absolutely amazing.

If anyone has any questions about them feel free

Cheers,
Chris

[Pokaroo Kris]

What's your 2 month evaluation?

[soccerboy1491]

What's your 2 month evaluation?

I have had them for a bit now and still dont mind them. Foxy has had them on the longest and I don't think she has a problem but ask her directly for a sure answer.

[leecheefoto]

Had them since august. I think mine rattles in the rear or it might be my roof rack or doors lol

[Shinglez]

Gonna revive an old thread because I ended up purchasing Racelands...and I remember Chris RJG (don't know if you're still active) wanted a review.

Ride quality?
Yeah, they're stiff as nails. But I like it. It makes the driving experience very track-ish, but as we've concluded, it's not for everyone...hence most people's decisions to get coilovers with adjustable dampers.

Also, I know I know, I need a ride thread.. :P

Install:
We did the install ourselves in a friend's garage (aspiring mechanic) and we had 0 issues. It took about 3.5 hours. What we did was leave the struts at their highest setting to allow for break-in. After about a week, we were able to lower it a bit more. Yesterday I finally rolled my rear fenders and dropped all four collars to the max. We even removed the rear part and left just the spring in the rear. We noticed that in order to drop the fronts all the way, you need to grind a piece of metal attached to a bolt that holds the front sway bar to allow for the strut to clear.

Overall, I think that for the price these coilovers are holding up great! I love them, and never had a single regret since purchasing. As I mentioned before, they're great for the budget build and also a great entry-level setup for anyone wanting a little stance in their life :P

Last...anyone that buys these should already know that Raceland gives the BEST customer service to even potential buyers. They're quick in answering email questions and ship very quickly.

If anyone has any questions let me know but I will post some pictures soon with the finished product once I get my hands on a decent camera :)

[Victimize]

I've been riding racelands for two years now. I adjust the height every winter/summer-no issues with ride stuffiness changing, though after a while you can't raise it up as much (obviously). Finally, my driver rear is leaking, time to replace these bad boys. Believe me, I drive a lot, highway, city, gravel roads during camping season, no track..this is my daily, and these things have held up nicely. Stiff yes, but that's kinda the point. Dampening adjustments are for people query car commitment issues lol

Something to note, when I first got these installed (2 yrs ago), there was a grinding noise anytime I turned the steering wheel. I've seen some folks on here complain about this. It turns out, with racelands, you cannot use your OEM upper strut mounts, you must use the ones that come with your raceland coils. It just do happened, my raceland upper strut mounts were defective. I called raceland customer service, explained the issue and after a long phone call, they agreed to send me a replacement set of their raceland upper strut mounts. Reinstalled, noise went away, happy customer.

In short, I've found my raceland coilovers to be a great purchase for a budget build. If your daily driving, don't believe the hype, save your money and get raceland. If your making serious power and need good strong suspension, don't get raceland, do your car justice and get something that is high end and reputable like KWV2/3.

Keep it real.

[Victimize]

Stiffness* people with* .... dam auto complete lol
I've been riding racelands for two years now. I adjust the height every winter/summer-no issues with ride stuffiness changing, though after a while you can't raise it up as much (obviously). Finally, my driver rear is leaking, time to replace these bad boys. Believe me, I drive a lot, highway, city, gravel roads during camping season, no track..this is my daily, and these things have held up nicely. Stiff yes, but that's kinda the point. Dampening adjustments are for people query car commitment issues lol

Something to note, when I first got these installed (2 yrs ago), there was a grinding noise anytime I turned the steering wheel. I've seen some folks on here complain about this. It turns out, with racelands, you cannot use your OEM upper strut mounts, you must use the ones that come with your raceland coils. It just do happened, my raceland upper strut mounts were defective. I called raceland customer service, explained the issue and after a long phone call, they agreed to send me a replacement set of their raceland upper strut mounts. Reinstalled, noise went away, happy customer.

In short, I've found my raceland coilovers to be a great purchase for a budget build. If your daily driving, don't believe the hype, save your money and get raceland. If your making serious power and need good strong suspension, don't get raceland, do your car justice and get something that is high end and reputable like KWV2/3.

Keep it real.

[ryan2.3]

that's probably the longest term use i've read about the racelands.. glad it worked out. I may pick a set up for all 3 cars. Maybe i can get a deal for multiples from them