With introduction of our new EDFC Active, a system which automatically changes dampening according to speed and G-forces is a leap in technical innovation in which we are known for.  It’s in our name, TEIN (short for TEchnical INnovation).  However I always get asked numerous questions on the track and at car gatherings about what “advantages the new system provides?” and “is it worth it?”  Well having the system installed in my Miata for the past 2 months has allowed me to fully and completely understand the system and help shed a little bit of light on the matter.

My Miata with it’s short wheelbase is very nimble and quick on its feet.  At low speeds, I enjoy the car’s slight oversteer characteristic to allow me to rotate through tight hairpins and/or chicanes without having to shave off too much speed.  The dilemma of suspension tuning is that unless you find yourself in a Auto-X or Gymkhana circuit, tracks generally also include high speed corners which must also be considered.  Its a delicate compromise of low speed response and high speed stability is necessary or you’re going to have a bad time.

The EDFC Active’s automatic adjustment based on vehicle speed now allows me to completely change the behavior of the car on both areas.  A sharp and swift setting below 40 mph before the system adjusts the dampers to give the car an understeer feel which is stable and safe.  And noticing how the car would hop on bumpy straights above 80 mph like on the Chicanes at Streets of Willow, that was tuned out to automatically soften the dampers and absorb the huge dips and bumps.

With the G-force sensing turned on.  This enables me to control how much forward and backward weight shift I desire to get the most use of grip possible.  My Miata dips quite a lot during hard braking and causes the rear end to slide out.  Not like that is a complaint but automatically stiffening the front to prevent too much weight shift provides a better feel and leads to feeling more confident through corners.

Is it worth it? I used to think it was not worth the extra cash to pull over, walk around the car and change the damper settings.  But now that I do not need do any of that or even stop at that matter makes the EDFC Active system worth it on its own.  Programming and understanding the system takes time and patience to set-up but once everything is figured out and set correctly, it will unlock a level of motoring unlike any other.  Why adjust or change driving preference when the system allows a car to handle, behave and drive just as you wish.