Dynamic Pro Gravel Rally Coilovers by Yellow Speed Racing

[M-Sport fan]

I like this idea a lot. It reminds of back in the day when we all had lowered two door 510’s and my friend took a 4 door he got cheap and raised put swaybars front and rear on it with pillowball end links and suspension arms. . We called the car beater and took it off road constantly . Of course yes back in those days 510’s were raced and competitive in Pro Rally as well as being Championship winning track cars.
Damn I should have bought one of those Octane Academy cars when they notified me.
Maybe I will pick up a Salvage title vehicle for this.

Those old 510s were the Nippon equivalent to the RWD Mk1 & Mk2 Escorts (Cossie-headed or not), which were quite successful back in the very early Group 4 and before that, WRC days.

 

[shouldbeasy]

As I rip around on gravel..... these are mighty tempting. When the MeisterR's need a rebuild, I may end up going to these for a change. If I'm honest with myself, it's a rally car first and a tarmac car second.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Welp, gonna have some used MeisterR's for sale soon.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Coilovers shipped from Taiwan today! Delivery on the 12th - looks like I have a weekend project!

 

[VirtualRonin]

Coilovers shipped from Taiwan today! Delivery on the 12th - looks like I have a weekend project!

I would recommend getting the neoprene covers they sell for some extra dust/dirt protection

You'll want the 350mm length. I believe they come as a pair.

https://yellowspeedracingusa.com/co...racing-coilover-suspension-shock-covers-350mm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shouldbeasy]

I would recommend getting the neoprene covers they sell for some extra dust/dirt protection

You'll want the 350mm length. I believe they come as a pair.

https://yellowspeedracingusa.com/co...racing-coilover-suspension-shock-covers-350mm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Definitely purchased those along with the coilovers - sent an inquiry as per their delivery.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Well, in an effort to disclose my progress, I hate to update this thread with 'bad news' but for now, that's all I've got.

1.) Rear shock from Yellowspeed Racing seems to be defective from factory - 12 settings of adjustment compared to the 34 on the other rear shock.

2.) Ride is HORRIBLE. Like cement truck bad. Full hard is undriveable - full soft is not much better. To me, it seems like the issue stems around the rear coil / shock combo - HOPEFULLY the issue is because of the first point (aka one shock is defective).

3.) Ride height is great! Got some wheel clearance back and am happy about that.

4.) Difference between MeisterR's and the Yellowspeed offering is night and day. I REALLY hope that something is wrong with the product I received because I have a hard time believing anyone would spec a suspension to behave like this.


Keep in mind, this is suspension set 4 that I've had (Stock, Koni Orange, MeisterR's and now Yellowspeed) and with my 4x4 background, I'm familiar with what a tuned suspension SHOULD feel like.

As of now, I can't recommend this suspension - I hope to have that opinion changed with some replacement parts.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Installed the Koni Orange shocks I had for the rear as they're about 1" longer than stock and 1" shorter than the Yellowspeed shocks.

Ride is tolerable - I didn't do the same ride as I did to the alignment shop where it acted like a jack hammer over road seal marks, I'll be doing that drive soon just for comparison.

Currently dealing with Donald @ Yellowspeed and he's quick to reply at least - I'm hoping to get two new rear shocks, confirm they're as soft as the Koni's at soft setting and close to stock stiffness at hard setting.

Kept the rear springs in, dropped the spring perch height and still added a tad of preload - at least I can get the back end to move while sitting on the open hatch. With the Yellowspeed offering, it wouldn't budge.

 

[shouldbeasy]

I should note, the current difference in full stiff to full soft on the rear shocks is barely distinguishable. Ideally they would be as soft as the Koni's and as stiff as stock.... In any case, not running this current sent of rear shocks again, that's for sure.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Before (as tall as the MeisterR's will go)

After (as tall as the Yellowspeed Racing / any suspension can go as there limitations on sway bar end link and body interference with adding more droop):

Shock height comparison:

 

[shouldbeasy]

Oddly enough, the shock shaft length of the YSR gravel/ rally suspension is shorter than the shock shaft of the MeisterR's... so that's odd. Adding the YSR rear shocks actually reduced the overall rear wheel travel.

It's also come to my attention that the YSR specs the same spring rate for the Focus RS as the Fiesta ST. 4k.

• What are the spring rates for a 2017 Focus RS? Thanks.
  
  5k F / 4k R

Perhaps it needs to be said, the Fiesta ST rear end is considerably lighter than the Focus RS rear end... so... having the higher spring rate will only make the ride harsher or bouncier.

So far, things aren't looking good for this kit - you lose wheel travel in the rear (compared to cheaper, known quality, aftermarket kits) along with having a higher rear spring rate (resulting in poor rear end dynamics) and so, ride height is essentially all that's gained as a benefit.

I'd really like to remove the fronts and disassemble them to compare shock travel against the MeisterR's - not entirely sure I'd be impressed. Forking out more coin for an alignment isn't at the top of my to-do list though.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Focus RS weight = 3434 lbs
Fiesta ST weight = 2742 lbs

Yet, they run the same springs. WTF.

EDIT - corrected weights, had the Focus WAY too heavy, still, surprising that they use the same spring rates

 

[shouldbeasy]

Focus RS Spring rates are :
Front spring rate. 40 N/mm (228 lb/inch) (4.07 kg/mm)
Rear spring rate. 44 N/mm (251 lb/inch) (4.48 kg/mm)



Fiesta ST Spring rates are :
Front spring rate. 30.1 N/mm (172 lb/inch) (3.07 kg/mm)
Rear spring rate. 25.0 N/mm (137 lb/inch) (2.44 kg/mm)



Yellospeedracing spring rates:
Front spring rate. 49.03 N/mm (280.0 lb/inch) (5.0 kg/mm) – percentage increase over stock = 63%
Rear spring rate. 39.23 N/mm (224.0 lb/inch) (4.0 kg/mm) – percentage increase over stock = 64%



MeisterR spring rates:
Front spring rate. 49.03 N/mm (280.0 lb/inch) (5.0 kg/mm) – percentage increase over stock = 63%
Rear spring rate. 29.42 N/mm (168.0 lb/inch) (3.0 kg/mm) – percentage increase over stock = 23%

 

[JDG]

Edit: You posted most of the answers to my questions before I hit "Post"

Stupid question: Does 5k = 5kg/mm spring rate?
Based on website, shouldn't it be 4k front / 3k rear?
https://yellowspeedracingusa.com/products/dynamic-pro-gravel-rally-coilovers-ford

I learned about these guys a few months back and while at a higher price point, seems to be pretty well known in the rally community:

https://flatoutsuspension.net/products/fiesta-gr40?variant=32665988202571

Flatout is 225 lb/in F & R: Much different approach from YSR

I am trying to understand how their spring rates compare to YSR..

https://www.redline360.com/garage/spring-rate-conversion-chart-easily-convert-kgmm-to-lbsin

 

[shouldbeasy]

Edit: You posted most of the answers to my questions before I hit "Post"

Stupid question: Does 5k = 5kg/mm spring rate?
Based on website, shouldn't it be 4k front / 3k rear?
https://yellowspeedracingusa.com/products/dynamic-pro-gravel-rally-coilovers-ford

I learned about these guys a few months back and while at a higher price point, seems to be pretty well known in the rally community:

https://flatoutsuspension.net/products/fiesta-gr40?variant=32665988202571

Flatout is 225 lb/in F & R: Much different approach from YSR

I am trying to understand how their spring rates compare to YSR..

https://www.redline360.com/garage/spring-rate-conversion-chart-easily-convert-kgmm-to-lbsin

Yes... yes their website does. I never put 2+2 together and so I may have the entirely wrong kit.

My springs, as written on them, are 065.260.005 for the front and 062.250.004 for the rear.

 

[shouldbeasy]

Looks like you have the conversion correct - it's a mass calculation (kg/mm or, as sometimes written when multiplied by 1000 is XXXXkg/m along with SAE being lbs/in)

 

[JDG]

Yes... yes their website does. I never put 2+2 together and so I may have the entirely wrong kit.

My springs, as written on them, are 065.260.005 for the front and 062.250.004 for the rear.

I bet you have the entirely wrong kit.. I hope that is the case as your experience seems so far off from OP.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Edit: You posted most of the answers to my questions before I hit "Post"

Stupid question: Does 5k = 5kg/mm spring rate?
Based on website, shouldn't it be 4k front / 3k rear?
https://yellowspeedracingusa.com/products/dynamic-pro-gravel-rally-coilovers-ford

I learned about these guys a few months back and while at a higher price point, seems to be pretty well known in the rally community:

https://flatoutsuspension.net/products/fiesta-gr40?variant=32665988202571

Flatout is 225 lb/in F & R: Much different approach from YSR

I am trying to understand how their spring rates compare to YSR..

https://www.redline360.com/garage/spring-rate-conversion-chart-easily-convert-kgmm-to-lbsin

THANKS for bringing up Flatout, I have an email into them for more info on specific setup possibilities to suit my needs.

 

[shouldbeasy]

YSR has corrected their webpage to state that the vehicle has 5k front springs and 4k rear springs.

I've asked their customer service rep to either provide me with 3kg springs and appropriately valved shocks or just give me back my money. Putting '**Photographs shown are stock photos; Actual items may vary in appearance or features. Please contact us for specific features of each kit' at the bottom of their webpage doesn't allow a company to ship their customers whatever they want regardless of what the customer thought they were buying.

It's like saying 'oh, no, you don't want this 4Runner, silly customer. I'm gonna send them a Highlander - that's what they REALLY want.'

 

[shouldbeasy]

YSR has yet to provide me with replacement shocks - the latest statement from YSR is as follows:

We have test fit the Ford Fiesta St Rally Gravel coilover kit with 4kg springs for an extended period of time, and this 4kg rear setup was quite soft and matched perfectly with our shock valving. We believe this customer has the shock stroke adjustment in the rear set incorrectly, so that’s why he believes the ride quality in the rear is too stiff. We only have a 3kg-180mm spring available, which is 20mm shorter than the existing spring. This would cause the rear of the vehicle to not be able to lift as tall as the front which would create issues for handling / control

So, even after telling them that I'm not even running the YSR shocks and am actually running Koni-Orange shocks and am experiencing an extremely bouncy ride, the conclusion is that I installed the YSR shocks wrong and that's why the ride, currently, with the different branded shock, is poor.

YSR hasn't even asked for the quality control card / packing card from the boxes which shows who signed off / released the products. Pretty hard to take quality control seriously when a customer has an issue and you don't track it down to the source.

YSR has also, CLEARLY, never driven a FiST with 4kg springs and at the same time claim it's 'quite soft'. It's insane.

So, now I'm back to using the MeisterR's while saving up for the FlatOut Suspension GR40 kit along with contacting Visa for a chargeback due to YSR not providing the product as advertised (changing the website after I pointed it out....) and not replacing the shocks which never worked.

TL: DR: DO NOT BUY YSR PRODUCTS