Same product. The difference is only 18 shock valve damper settings in "pirates" versus maybe 24 for the Topspeed or other suppliers MDU. That's it same thing!

 

Also more importantly, Topspeed warranties their products for life.. I've had a shock burst on me before (bad seal) and they replaced it no questions asked.. They've also since changed the company that does their seals.

That's worth the increased cost to me... Try getting someone to cover the coils if something happens by getting them from another vendor or ebay or China directly.

 

I'm a gambler in this deal.
Correct on the importance of local source of supply should the shocks fail.

"pirates" are warranted by MDU. But not here in USA.

I'm not certain how Ebay RacingFirst would handle any claim but what most likely involves a hassle since they are in China.

 

Ah i finally got everything dialed in and figured out the reason why i was having trouble adjusting the ride height. The reason is as i was having trouble is as i was making the shock shorter (lower) more pressure was being put on spring and made it impossible to turn the shock body. I solved the issue loosening up top to collars enough that the spring was free floating and was able to max out the rear. Now for the ride i got it 9/9 F&R for dampening and it rides smooth as butter with no noise, rattling, or bottoming out. I would deff recommend these to anyone on a budget. Now i maxed out the rear and could go about another 1 1/2 or so in the front but i have a lip and a sort of steep driveway and i dont like scrapeage.

 

SWEET!!!! Great job man.. Looks great. Nice and even.

 

yeah, from what i've seen in person the topspeed mdu go lower than that. Not sure why these wouldn't .. they're the same coilovers.

 

you have to remember, when you're in true coil over config, you don't want to compress the strut so much that you're riding on the spring.. There's a compromise when going to true coilover setup..

You'll get a stiffer suspension and less settle time, but at the expense of COMPLETELY slamming your car.. The Swang and Bang guys aren't in True coil setup...

If you look at other True Coils they don't go as low as coils in an OEM configuration just because they're limited by the amount you can compress the strut before you're "riding" on the spring..

If you truly wanna ride Dumpt (not a good idea because of bottoming out, or you having to drive at a snails pace) then you need to stay in OEM config..

If you want to have good function (still riding low, but not be *** bouncing like a cheap stripper) and stiffness, then true coil config is for you..

These coils are accommodating to either setup VERY well..

 

Eh oneday i will do a comparison between OEM and True style configurations to see what results i come up with. I could slam the front on the ground but then driving wouldnt be a option lol. But so far im very pleased

Well not sure if we have seen anyone maxed out on OEM yet and who knows if there seals are the same/different

 

You can put OEM on the GROUND w/ 18s and 19s.. I can BARELY skate by w/ 20s.. I dropped mine so low when I first put them on, that I was pulling my fenders when I turned the wheel in the front and was bottoming out each bump in the rear in OEM config.. These things go STUPID low.. Like completely nonfunctional low..


Smart man..


But even if they didn't change seals, they have a lifetime warranty if they come from Topspeed, so you would have that peace of mind if something did happen to go wrong. Couldn't say that about the other vendors. I know it wouldn't be as painless and the wait would be a lot longer I'd suspect, especially w/ ordering direct from China

 

i am maxed out in the rear on true style too but to those who are thinking these dont get you slammed if thats what your looking for are WRONG..lol trust me..these will have you looking like your just plowing the street..like it was said above in true form your limited because of shock travel before your riding on springs but in OEM form i can tell you because i had mine in OEM until a week ago..in OEM form you can get your ride slammed..i was tucking tire on OEM form and i had PLENTY of space to lower more on these..if i went lower on OEM style im sure id be less than an inch to the ground..but from my experience the quality of ride in OEM form is nowhere near as good in True form which is why i took others advice and switched to True style..ride is night and daydifference in true form...i get around town just fine with minor fram scrapage on steeper exits..not bumper scrapes..takes bumps and dips great and im still really low so its the best of both worlds!! trust me...but be not afraid..for the price you are getting the quality and SLAMMAGE of other coilovers..these here pirates shall not disappoint ye..

and Illuminati the ride looks great! thats all im missing is a lip..is that the ebay N1? im a fellow New Yorker btw..i was raised in The Bronx..

mine is lower in the front and my rears seem a little lower than yours and my tires are thinner on 19s but its probably just the angle of your pic..but i was able to keep it that way since im not having any issues scraping but seems like its not the same for you.. good job tho! and the issue you were having sounds like you were trying to turn the shock body from the threaded part since you loosened the spring..if you loosened the bottom collar where the bottom shock connects that spins freely no matter how tight the spring is in there..

 

i'd like to buy these man but the warranty situation is probably going to keep me away from doing so especially sense you can cop the ones from topspeed for only 100 more