Ford Falcon BA-FG Coilovers

[Shockworks]

Originally Posted by raband

Brett

Mate

Any chance of a discount on a second set of coilovers?

I want the one set on the car and another set to cuddle at night.
I swear - if these things could brew hot coffee in the morning I'd marry them.

As good as they were on my first impression - tonight I was blown away again.

Had to take the kids up to Yea from Frankston - up through Toolangi etc (not the best/smoothest road at the best of times) - and the conditions were totally horrendous. We're talking wipers on max constantly, large puddles of standing water, rivers flowing across the road, maybe 10-20m visibility at times and rain covering the road so the surface was a mystery - that sort of stuff.

Hit my first "water hazard" just after Yarra Glen - one of those puddles that cover about half the road - only the left hand tyre track ones. Mate - the car reacted about as much as a Sherman Tank would have. Seriously - I was expecting the usual "grab" and steering response from the LH front but there was ABSOLUTELY nothing. I'm not talking "ooh - that was heaps better than before". I'm saying ZERO effect on the car, the steering or the handling.

This continued the whole way there and back.

Next one that opened my eyes was a part where 2 roads and a side road meet. Imagine a 10m stretch where 3 different layers of asphalt (1 from each road) meet, never smoothed down, potholes, divots, lines scored in the road etc. This part has always unsettled the car - even at 80km/h in the dry. Tonght, at 100km/h and in the wet (same standing water as mentioned above) it may as well have been freshly paved. I felt the surface changes - my passengers felt the surface changes, but the car just laughed at them and shrugged them off.

With those mentioned I thought I was done with being impressed for the night.

Nup - not at all.

On the way back (after dropping the kids off) there's a nice, 2 lane roundabout where I often use the outside lane to sneak past some slower moving vehicles when turning right (both lanes can turn right - the last roundabout on the Yarra Glenn bypass for those who know the area). You sort of hook left then sweep right to get through this roundabout - ideally with a bit more speed than the cars in the inside lane, so you can exit the roundabout ahead of them where the lanes merge.
Here I was, waiting for the body roll and awkwardness on the change of direction from the left hook and into the right sweep as it's always given me..... Nup. Not tonight. There was no body roll, no shifting of weight and absolutely no awkwardness - this was like going through the "S"'s in a go-kart instead of a rollercoaster in a boat compared to how it was before. I almost turned around and did it again it was such a different experience.

Shortly after this roundabout you get the sharp left over train tracks - even at 20km/h the rear would jump around, chatter and argue over them. Tonight it was as if there wasn't even 2 rear wheels on the car. Not only did the car not react at all to the tracks - I didn't even feel the slightest bump.

The confidence these coilover give me and the car is unbelievable. I'm not talking "Awesome, I can take this corner 20km/h faster than I could before" gusto type confidence. I'm talking one hand on the wheel, relaxed, enjoying the drive rather than two hand gripping, white knuckles, bloodshot eyes peering into the pelting rain trying to see what the roads like ahead type confidence. 2 hours up, 2 hours back in some really terrible driving conditions and stepping out of the car feeling rested type confidence.

AAA+++ would buy again type confidence ;)

All that said - I will disclose that I'm coming from a stock suspension setup with no experience of any other solutions that are out there, but I can honestly say I'd be very surprised if any other combination of shocks, swaybars, springs, bushes etc could possibly have been a better setup for me. I am blown away by how stiff and flat my car now handles, yet how compliant and comfortable the suspension is. On absolutely everything that's been thrown at it so far.

And I've only done 300km's on them between picking the car up, my 1st impression cruise and getting home tonight - could not have imagined a better, short test if I'd been asked to.

Am still hoping to see how they go on a couple of dirt roads with different surfaces and also after I've had a play with the dampening and found a few places to attack with a bit of anger, but they have already paid for themselves with the differences I've noticed in even this short time. Hopefully I can get to the other environments while the stock setup is still fresh in my mind so the comparisons will be apparent.

Again Brett - can I have another set. Preferably in a nice sheer teddy? :P

Hey Raband,
You should be writing for Motor!! You crack me up with all the funny stuff but very much appreciate the detailed feedback. I will try to arrange a Shockworks teddy for you haha.
During the development of the dampers, we tested on so many different surfaces and conditions, including badly rutted dirt roads so hope you like them as well. We stuck to many of the normal testing procedures I had learned working (couldn't really call it work haha) at the Ford PG. One guy in particular, (Robert Hall) I was so lucky to work with, as he is the master of feeling what is going on with all four wheels and took me quite some time before I was even close to feeling what he did. I love the Ford product and also going back now and sell the R34 and get back into a FG XR6 as I get too sad when I test drive a customers car.
Thanks again for all the great feedback.

Cheers
Brett

[raband]

Nah - am usually pretty blunt and answer with yes/no or "it's pretty good" type responses.

It's just the differences in this case being so apparent and easy to describe while the stock setup is still fresh in my memory that causes me to be a bit more verbose. It's easy to write stuff down when it's pretty much the exact thoughts that are occurring in your head.

The fact that the changes it brought to the vehicle are relatable/describable (even poorly) by a plonker like me says a lot more for it than any words I could use.

[gtxxr6]

another great review from me, i agree completely with raband
putting around on normal roads you easily forget the car isnt using stock suspension
hit rough roads with speed where you normally would cringe or grimace coming into a bumpy section, you are met with relief, it honestly feels like you are driving down the freeway.
100% transforms the car completely for the better, i have done around 500km now and 350km of that is in the hills and i cannot complain about 1 single thing. the kit was easy to install, came preset to the perfect height and for the first time in ages wasnt left thinking, "gee i wish i got more product for my $2k ive just handed over" and was left completley satisfied. so much so that after the first drive with the shocks i bought the brake kit aswell (installing it tomorrow morning will report back)

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Shockworks

During the development of the dampers, we tested on so many different surfaces and conditions, including badly rutted dirt roads

You talking about your driveway Brett ...
Still have that memory the day I had them fitted in your workshop and then getting out of your driveway for a test drive. Was scared I'd leave the front bar of the GT behind.

That 1st drive was magic hey. Even with the bald sport maxx in the wet , the car behaved and changed direction beautifully.

[Shockworks]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

You talking about your driveway Brett ...
Still have that memory the day I had them fitted in your workshop and then getting out of your driveway for a test drive. Was scared I'd leave the front bar of the GT behind.

That 1st drive was magic hey. Even with the bald sport maxx in the wet , the car behaved and changed direction beautifully.

Hey Bluey,
The drive way just got worse with all the rain and very slippery so great for front end throws to turn around for a while haha!
Can't wait to now get me an FG XR6T. It's too much driving customers cars and not have one. It will also help us with much quicker development of new parts and improvements for the Ford's
Cheers mate!!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Shockworks

During the development of the dampers, we tested on so many different surfaces and conditions, including badly rutted dirt roads so hope you like them as well. We stuck to many of the normal testing procedures I had learned working (couldn't really call it work haha) at the Ford PG. One guy in particular, (Robert Hall) I was so lucky to work with, as he is the master of feeling what is going on with all four wheels and took me quite some time before I was even close to feeling what he did.

Cheers
Brett

Brett...was browsing through the thread and saw this name...I too had the pleasure of working with/around Rob and it was always a pleasure to talk to him.

From all the talk here it seems you guys are doing some good stuff!