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-   -   Ohlins Type HAL (https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/ohlins-type-hal-1167462/)

skem Aug 28, 2024 07:58 PM

Ohlins Type HAL
 
Anyone have any experience with these Ohlins DFV Type HAL coilovers from rhdjapan.com?
I reached out to Ohlins USA and was told the difference from Road and Track coilovers from US retailers is that they're essentially pieced together from the vendor and NOT backed by Ohlins warranty.
Any opinions on these? Is it worth saving the $600 to lose the warranty?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cd8a1658d0.jpg

Oppai Aug 28, 2024 11:30 PM

Look at it this way, if they tried to upsell you for a $600 'protection plan' on the regular dfv's would you bite?
Id definitely take the $600 off deal LOL
(im running ohlins dfv's, they are amazing)

skem Aug 29, 2024 05:12 AM

True, I suppose the $600 saved would cover rebuilding a set if it ever came down to it.


Originally Posted by Oppai (Post 12611843)
Look at it this way, if they tried to upsell you for a $600 'protection plan' on the regular dfv's would you bite?
Id definitely take the $600 off deal LOL
(im running ohlins dfv's, they are amazing)


gracer7-rx7 Aug 29, 2024 11:25 AM

Consider the spring rates being used and what other differences there might be. Beyond that, I got nothing.

TomD_Cincy Sep 1, 2024 04:11 PM

Looks very similar to the kit offered by Sake Bomb Garage, minus the Swift springs...

https://www.sakebombgarage.com/fpspo...er-kit-fd-rx7/

SaiyanJin93 Oct 23, 2024 02:57 PM

Did you ever end up getting these from RHDJapan?

skem Oct 24, 2024 10:17 AM


Originally Posted by SaiyanJin93 (Post 12615686)
Did you ever end up getting these from RHDJapan?

Yes, they're beautiful and got em at a great price. I can answer any questions regarding part numbers and what's included.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e4acb3832d.jpg

SaiyanJin93 Oct 28, 2024 09:08 AM

Would love to see these on your car when installed, I live just south of Boston and work in Quincy. The USD to YEN is favorable so the price has dropped about $100 good time to buy. Is that the Ohlins springs or Swift springs?

skem Nov 4, 2024 03:34 PM

Probably won't be installing until early next spring. If you're willing to wait I'd be happy to meet up once they're installed. I'd honestly jump on them while the markets good though, they occasionally have sales and promo codes you can add for a greater discount too.

I just got the ohlins springs, i believe theyre 11kg f/r



Originally Posted by SaiyanJin93 (Post 12615929)
Would love to see these on your car when installed, I live just south of Boston and work in Quincy. The USD to YEN is favorable so the price has dropped about $100 good time to buy. Is that the Ohlins springs or Swift springs?


LeviWalker Nov 19, 2024 01:49 AM


Originally Posted by skem (Post 12615734)
Yes, they're beautiful and got em at a great price. I can answer any questions regarding part numbers and what's included.
Spoiler
 
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e4acb3832d.jpg

Thanks for sharing it.

Mercyheld Nov 9, 2025 07:10 PM

Thanks for sharing. Wondering have you gotten it installed and how did you feel about the 11/11 spring rate. Thanks.

Howard Coleman CPR Nov 9, 2025 08:16 PM

there is a reason Mazda delivered the FD with 26% less spring rate in the rear and another 12% motion ratio which further softens the rear in relation to the front. equal (F&R) rates turn the world beating road racing chassis into a drift configuration. according to Sakebomb, Ohlins needed the additional rate to keep the rear shock piston from bottoming... rear lack of travel. Sakebomb, on their own and to their credit, engineered a fix (longer rear stroke) and now offers a properly biased spring package. only avail thru SB. as long as you are not out to break track records you have a nice set of coil overs..

Billj747 Nov 10, 2025 11:16 AM


Originally Posted by Howard Coleman CPR (Post 12643046)
there is a reason Mazda delivered the FD with 26% less spring rate in the rear and another 12% motion ratio which further softens the rear in relation to the front. equal (F&R) rates turn the world beating road racing chassis into a drift configuration. according to Sakebomb, Ohlins needed the additional rate to keep the rear shock piston from bottoming... rear lack of travel. Sakebomb, on their own and to their credit, engineered a fix (longer rear stroke) and now offers a properly biased spring package. only avail thru SB. as long as you are not out to break track records you have a nice set of coil overs..

Are you saying that (due to the motion ratio) the rear wheel rates are softer than the front when using identical spring rates front and rear?

Howard Coleman CPR Nov 10, 2025 11:46 AM

"(due to the motion ratio) the rear wheel rates are softer than the front when using identical spring rates front and rear?"

yes, there is a longer lever arm in the rear in relation to the spring.

one inch wheel movement in the front moves the spring .60

one inch wheel movement in the rear moves the spring .68.


DaveW Nov 10, 2025 12:02 PM


Originally Posted by Howard Coleman CPR (Post 12643083)
"(due to the motion ratio) the rear wheel rates are softer than the front when using identical spring rates front and rear?"

yes, there is a longer lever arm in the rear in relation to the spring.

one inch wheel movement in the front moves the spring .60

one inch wheel movement in the rear moves the spring .68.

Your statements contradict themselves. A lower MR results in a lower wheel rate for the same spring rate.

Howard Coleman CPR Nov 10, 2025 12:39 PM

"your statements contradict themselves" yes. rear linkage V front works toward softening the effective rear rate spring rate.

cloud9 Nov 10, 2025 01:04 PM

Definitely some crossed wires here because Howard's characterization of the effect is correct - equal spring rates F&R results in a higher bias towards oversteer.

But the explanation for why seems mixed up. The factory F&R wheel rates are nearly the same because the rear spring rate is lower. This means that the rear motio ratio of (.68) must yield a higher wheel rate in relation to the front motion ratio (.60), given a particular spring rate. If the spring rates were the same, it would introduce more oversteer bias because you end up with a wheel rate notably higher than the front. The math backs this up:

Front: 10kg spring x (.6^2) = 3.6 wheel rate
Rear-a: 8kg spring x (.68^2) = 3.69 wheel rate
Rear-b: 10kg spring x (.68^2) = 4.62 wheel rate

ptrhahn Nov 10, 2025 01:49 PM

It's interesting, I always noticed that most of the Japanese tuner coilovers were same spring rates F/R, and generally very high. I ran a bunch of combos over the years starting with proportions similar to stock and then with a smaller and smaller gap percentage wise between F/R until I drove Fritz's car on track that had 14/14k Tein coilovers, and I just went with that (well, 800/800) ever since. It does make the car more lively.

Billj747 Nov 10, 2025 08:09 PM


Originally Posted by Howard Coleman CPR (Post 12643083)
"(due to the motion ratio) the rear wheel rates are softer than the front when using identical spring rates front and rear?" yes, there is a longer lever arm in the rear in relation to the spring. one inch wheel movement in the front moves the spring .60 one inch wheel movement in the rear moves the spring .68.

Your understanding of wheel rates and motion ratios is backwards. To find the wheel rate, you need to multiply spring rate by motion ratio^2. With equal spring rates front and rear, the rear wheel rate will be STIFFER.

I measured the motion ratio of the FD and came up with similar numbers.


Originally Posted by cloud9 (Post 12643094)
This means that the rear motio ratio of (.68) must yield a higher wheel rate in relation to the front motion ratio (.60), given a particular spring rate. If the spring rates were the same, it would introduce more oversteer bias because you end up with a wheel rate notably higher than the front. The math backs this up:

Front: 10kg spring x (.6^2) = 3.6 wheel rate
Rear-a: 8kg spring x (.68^2) = 3.69 wheel rate
Rear-b: 10kg spring x (.68^2) = 4.62 wheel rate

Correct.

cloud9 Nov 11, 2025 09:56 AM

At the risk of being pedantic..


Originally Posted by Billj747 (Post 12643107)
To find the wheel rate, you need to multiply spring rate by motion ratio^2. With equal spring rates front and rear, the rear wheel rate will be SOFTER.

Stiffer.

Billj747 Nov 11, 2025 10:38 AM


Originally Posted by cloud9 (Post 12643136)
At the risk of being pedantic..
Stiffer.

Lol. Not sure what was wrong with me there. Thank you, fixed it.


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