bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

No one was ever supposed to get full rubber top mounts, I think you are getting confused between the variatiosn between the original rubber top mounts, BC rubber top mounts and BC rose jointed top mounts.

If you are interested in the new rear spring set up that ultilises the original top mount then just give us a ring, we have stock arriving in the next few weeks

The new rear spring design is brand new, it has just been released. It was therefore not possible to have offered it at an earlier time.

We have been working through all the possible causes of noises on the back of the Imprezas for months. Its a bit of a minefield as we get the occasional degassed damper which can knock, we get no end of install errors causing noises, we get no end of completely unrelated issues causing noises (drop link, knocking exhausts et) and then we get no end of completely left ball sources of noises like screwdrivers rattling about in the wheel well.

As a result its taken some time to provide a resolution but we are now at this point

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

After 10 months of noises Ive given up, You know ive been in touch since day one with this problem, in the original group buy people were getting both top mounts, you ran out and had to make my kit out of the bits you had left as your staff had cocked the order up and made promises you couldnt keep,
Ive always had a issue and its been to ETS/Notts alignment/JD performance to be checked so I take offence at ur "Installation issue" quote you keep throwing up,
I had to laugh when you mentioned Droplinks as they were supplied by urself at the same time,
You keep saying ring up and speak to someone, I have 3 times and got no where, there is sooooooooo many people with the same issues that I am now classing the goods as not fit for purpose as it has done it since day 1,
Its ok keep spending money getting them checked but as you know these place charge up to 100 a pop to get checked/adjusted (they have to do something to warrant a charge) id have been better off buying a quality product that doesnt give these problems instead of this cheap rubbish.

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

I dont know youve been in touch since day one, we have tens of thousands of customers, I cant keep track of the ins and outs of each order for each individual customer I'm afraid. I dont recall the original problems youre reffering to and I dont deal with running through the diagnostic procedure with each individual customer.

Im not targeting anyone specific customer, Im just pointing out that a lot of issues originate from installation issues. Just because you replaced the drop links doesnt mean that everyone else has so the possibility of this component causing noise is perfectly valid. I see no reason why you would be offended by any of this.

We are not asking anyone to repeatedly check the same things, we only ask that the simple diagnosis process is followed to eliminate the possibility of an install issue or an unrelated problem causing the noise.

We now have a quieter solutution to offer but if you want to send the kit back then by all means, do so. If you pm me your email address then Ill send you a returns form to send back with the goods.

Its not a problem

SteveJT

My sti rear shocks on MY04. What it best solution for replacement? Standards from Subaru or for what seems to be a similar price some BC's? Are they really that problematic when fitted?

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

All newage kits can now be supplied with the new rear spring option from the start

SteveJT

What is the new spring option please? I take it then that BC's are mostly prefered by most to the stock units that arent worth much?

Do the BC's fitted lower the vehicle or is this an optional adjustment as I have a steep drive.

Cheers for your reply bren its appreciated. Could you drop us a pm with a price supplied and fitted with what options are available on adjustments?

Thanks in advance

Steve

davedipster

Sounds like you need more droop!
The wheel should drop a few inches.

dipster

Bjw_Sti

Bren

My Br series kit has been on my car (53 plate STi) for 8 months now and have been noisy since day one.
I have already spoke to you and your other colleagues via email and phone and checked all the various 'solutions' with no joy. You say you now offer different springs that will fit onto my orginal OEM rear top mounts. Since my kit is still under warranty...
1. Will you exchange my rear mounts/springs for these new improved ones ?? infact I would suggest sending back both rear complete struts along with my OEM mounts so that you can assemble them and CHECK them before sending them back to me. I don't think this is an unreasonable request.
2. These things are heavy, will you also absorb any shipping costs to and from yourselves.
Also I use my car every day and can't really do without it, this would have to be a very quick turnaround, say within a week.

cheers
brian

vince-sti02

iTrader: (2)

I am having a set of the RM inverted collected tomorrow, and being delivered to the south of France. These are being bought by a friend as I cant get back to the uk. as I don't trust telephone shopping.

Will I receive the "Scoobynet" option OE top mount springs? as this is the only place you get to find out about them........

If not why?

the way I see it - read it you should be including these springs as part of the kit.
Reducing Risk to your business and the customer.

If I end up with the dreaded knocking noise " which I don't presently have "
I wont be very happy!

davedipster

Maybe my exhaust/music is too loud, but my 03sti has the pillow-ball top mounts all round and the rear is not noisy. Only potholes that I can't avoid can induce a rear clunk.

dipster

B4D HK

iTrader: (15)

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm im not sure now, i might pay the extra and go for teins............???

kokekan

Bren,

I would have to empathise with JDM Stig and most of the guys on this thread that have had and still have issues with their BC's. You invest quite a lot of money up front in a coilover set (hoping you've made the right decision) then have to pay for install and alignment which practically doubles the price, only to then be disappointed with the result - wishing you had stuck with your original set up.

Then being asked to get various bits checked out which all costs more and more and more and each time you get the suspension taken off to be checked out you have to pay for another alignment or fitting as well as the fuel costs in getting to there (usually £60 a trip).

I also understand that there have been a lot of false reports of knocking from various customers which end up being other bits of the car.

However, for the ones that have taken all the steps recommended and still have the knocking, there should be some way to compensate them through the fitting of these new springs you have developed with the OEM top mounts as they now seem to have fixed the knocking issue.

You remember my entry on having TSL look at the set up, and as I said the knocking is dramatically reduced, however still there - can only liken it to 'clucking' like a chicken! No joke, and only at low speeds. Although bearable, not perfect and not what you would expect from a reputable coil over company. It probably affects me more as I live in London and we have a lot of slow driving and bumpy roads on which you can hear this rattle - I did notice that when I was in Keyworth, their roads were a lot smoother so could not hear it as much.

I personally would appreciate you supplying and covering the costs for the new replacement rear springs (for use with the OEM top mounts) as well as the fitting and alignment for TSL to correct the issue (as I cannot afford having to shell out for another fitting and alignment session). I will have to stump up the fuel costs and take another day off work again in going up there to get this sorted out but hopefully it will be for the last time.

Let me know if you believe this to be reasonable as I think it's only fair given how much time and money I have spent on this to date.

Cheers

bren@apex

iTrader: (20)

We can offer two rear spring rates in the new spring option, 4kg.mm and 5kg.mm.

The BC coilovers are ride height adjustable so you can set ride height to meet your needs. The kits will run from 30mm drop and lower from there.

The kits also offer damping adjustment and camber adjustment on the front.

We dont have workshop faciltiies here but the kits are £649 including vat. The inverted kits are £849 and the ER Series £1175 but Id stick with the BR Series for a road car.

More details on the kits can be found here:

BC Racing UK - Suspension Systems

Im speaking to the factory now about requests for the new rear springs to be installed to existing kits, I expect an answer in the next day or two.

The springs are an easy install. We can only test the various components within the kit itself, we dont have a vehicle to install the struts to to see what theyre like once fitted to a vehicle. As such there is little to be gained in spending the time and expense in shipping the units to us and then back out to you.

The new rear spring option is just that, new. Thats why theres no mention of it anywhere but on here. If you require the new type rear springs then just contact us with the request and we will arrange to swap them over, its not a problem.

We have sold thousands of these kits, its only a small percentage of customers that have any issues with them. That small percentage seems like a huge number when you sell the products in any real volume.

Ive reported the various comments to the factory and am waiting for their input, we should have one in the next day or two

davedipster

Even running an sti with std shocks various noises from running gear will be transmitted into the cabin, the act of fitting solid top mounts is only going to make these noises more apparent and most of these noises will not be the coilovers.

Of course fitting these new rubber top mounts will hide these drivetrain noises, but I thought the whole idea of coilovers was to get the best handling possible, far from a plush silent ride?

When I phoned apex to order I was given the option of pillow-ball mounts or rubber, and was told that solid topmounts would transmit more noise, I'm surprised that some people posting on here did not ask these important questions and expect solid mounts to be almost silent?
I suspect that the reason that my suspension is so quite is due to the very low mileage of my car, nothing to do with the coilovers.

dipster

Sadhu

iTrader: (1)

David, indeed you are correct, solid top mounts will be noisier. That is to be expected. However the top mounts that I had with my BC's were the more 'refined' rubber option. And the noise was so bad that I wanted to get rid of my car, unfortunately I knew that no sane person would purchase my car with the suspension making that amount of noise.

Bren, as that is the case, there should not be any issues in providing some form of compensation to the small percentage of newage customers that have had the issues. I look forward to hearing what BC will be able to offer the few inconvenienced customers.

chris_jdmsti

Hi m8 I just got my BC's fitted just b4 xmas and the both of my rear's are knocking I have took them back to the garage that fitted them they took them back off and gave them a check over and they couldnt find any problem with them so refitted them and still the same ****in knocking noise its ball busting as i took the standard sti units off because of it and the BC's are worse.

kokekan

Dipster - I have to agree with Sadhu - I also have rubber top mounts fitted which are supposed to be quieter than pillow *****, and believe it or not the fronts which have pillow ***** are a LOT quieter than the rears with the rubber top mounts. Incidentally, do you live in rural area or a city type area? I find in a rural area, the road speeds are a lot faster on which is not when the problem occurs.


Bren, looking forward to receiving a favourable response

mr_D

iTrader: (12)

im sorry guys but its a bit harsh to be having a go just because bc's are knocking. i have ohlin and have the same issue so i think we are all in the same boat. although you have guys who will help with fault finding i actually have no one that gives a **** about helping me out.


cue violins!

Bjw_Sti

Mine are also the rubber mount type on rear / pillow ball front, the front don't make any noises at all.

ade_sti

iTrader: (2)

Am going to ring Steve tomorrow to ask in detail what he did to sort my BC's out as they now make no noise at all and are ace - before he fixed them they were awfull to be honest. Will post on here tomorrow what he says. Hope it may help you all.

71/200

iTrader: (2)

Ive had 2 sets of BC,s from Bren with no knocking whatsoever on the Pillowball mounts.

My classic did a fair bit of track work and my newage is a road car. Seems alot of folk here bought coilovers for the sake of it without looking into the consequences and the way a car performs and handles with a stiffened chassis. Yes a few of you may have knocking issues, but some of you really need to dry your eyes!

davedipster

Anyone think that the rear suspension is generally noisy? and fitting coilovers of any make with aftermarket tops just transmits it into the cabin more?

dipster

SteveJT

come on then folks voice your opinions its decision time for me. Confirmed tuesday the shocks need changin on rear of my 04 sti impreza. Do i opt for the BCs all round or replace with the standard sti pinks from subaru?

I noted on here some people have issues wi BCs knocking but appears not to be an issue for everyone. If i go BC route any advice on fitting an best set up for road use? An whats realistically the life of BC on the road?

Many thanks in advance.

Steve

kokekan

71/200 I have to disagree with that comment - I had serious issues with the OEM dampers, have had to have them replaced given that they fail all too often. Even Subaru recommended getting coilovers over replacement Subaru dampers.

The classics did not have the same issues that the new age versions are experiencing which as already been established.

When I had a working set of OEM suspension struts/springs, the ride noise was non existent, so nope I do not think that the rear suspension is generally noisy. Also, Sadhu who has had the new springs fitted has confirmed that there is no noise at all with them on.

AND - several other friends who have had Teins or Bilstein kits fitted also do not have similar noise issues with them, so please tell me why I am expecting too much from what essentially is good kit in the form of the BC coilovers. I do believe that there was a minor engineering oversight and they have now resolved the problem with the new spring design, however, in getting there it has been tedious for the customers who have had to troubleshoot.

It is interesting that you say you've had no knocking on the pillow-ball mounts - maybe it's the combination of the rubber mounts and existing springs that are the problem? I also do not have issues with the pillow-ball mounts on the fronts, only the rubber mounts at the back.

Bjw_Sti

I think this discussion should be kept on the newage impreza, as from what i've read on several threads the classic doesn't have this problem, (although I have never been in one!).
The original rear suspension was not noisy at all that is until the rear shocks gave up, (which is a known fact on the newage), which created a knocking sound at low speeds only, also a feeling of the back of the car 'sticking' then dropping down into place when driving off.
This is also why I decided to go for coilovers instead of buying new subaru rear shocks every few thousand miles. ( I don't know why Subaru didn't take responcability for this and redesign the shocks and call all the cars back to fix ).
I'll also try to describe the noise I get from my BC's for those who are commenting on them without really experiencing them...
Its not the fact that they transmit more road noise into the cabin because they do, its the fact that they make a rattling/knocking noise mostly at low speeds on uneven roads -if you can imagine the noise you would get if you loosened the three top mounting nuts on the rear strut, thats what it sounds like. The other noise they make is if you accidentally drive over a deep pot hole there is a loud metallic clonk - actually sounds like the spring is temporarily jumping of the spring seat then landing back onto it.
Weird thing is that the front struts are silent. I have pillowball fronts and rubber rears.
Anyways I'm probably repeating comments already made, so thats my 50 cents worth !
I'm now thinking are coilovers really the answer considering the state of the roads in the UK ?

davedipster

I've been to le-mans 3 years running in a mates porker with ohlins coilovers, they are far from silent and cost LOTS, in fact the whole car is far from silent but it's fun.

Come on guys stop listening to every little noise and getting wound up, just enjoy the handling

dipster

Bjw_Sti

Ok, fair-play, I have to admit that the handling of the car (with BC's) is a 1000% improvement over stock Sti suspension.

This is my first experience with coilovers and wasn't sure if these noises were normal.

kokekan

Believe it or not I had Tein Super Street springs on standard OEM dampers before and the handliing was amazing too - probably better than the coilovers, but the OEM dampers were rubbish which is why I decided to go for the coilovers as the dampening is much better on the BCs.

If the car was a track car, then I wouldn't mind putting up with the noise, but it isn't and around town can be very wearing on the ears and nerves.

kokekan

Bren,

Are there pillow-ball top mounts available for the rear BC coilovers? Have you heard of any issues with those if they are available?

Thinking it over and discussing it with other professionals, it seems likely that there is movement in the rubber top mounts as they are very small and thin which causes the various noises to permeate into the cabin. There are no noises at all from the front pillow-ball top mounts, hence my question.

I personally would prefer a pillow-ball top mount option on the rear coilovers instead of the conical replacement springs with the OEM top mounts as at least the handling characteristics would remain the same without the noise issues.

davedipster

I have pillow-ball rear top mounts and I don't find noises to be an issue.
Had my BC's fitted for over a year now for info.

dipster