Umbrella VRH Cup kit review..

Liquid_G · 11-27-2012, 10:31 PM

Sup guys.. wanted to do a small write up about these..

I just installed the Umbrella VRH cup kit on my Z. Basically what I was looking for was being able to keep the functionality and feel of my coilovers, but be able to raise the car when coming up to a nasty bump or curb.
I'm currently running KWV3 coils with OEM type rears. I had looked at the KW HLS kit but for the money and the fact that it lowers automatically after 15-20 seconds, it kinda turned me off..

That being said, I contacted Ravi at Umbrella Auto Design. Since my coils are OEM type rears (separate spring and shock) he could only do the front kit.. Although I've heard from Umbrella that they are working on a solution for the rear.

Also since the KWv3's re-use the OEM top mounts, I had to buy a pillowball mount for this kit to work.. Probably wouldn't have been an issue with other coilovers that supply their own top-mounts.. My existing springs were swapped out with a shorter set on my coils.

But basically the kit is pretty simple.. First is a compressor and small air tank.

Looks like this:

Umbrella also supplies air lines and connectors, as well as relays and a switch for all of the electrical connections.. Only thing I supplied myself was an 8gauge wire from the battery.

I wasn't sure at the time where the hell I was going to put this. The compressor/tank combo is like 8-9 inches square.. tank is about the size of a football. But after I got the kit, I found a perfect spot here...

Had to cut away some of the styofoam that holds the stupid tow hook, but its a perfect spot in my opinion.

I ran the switch up into the center console into one of the 3 dead switches for the heated seats in the touring package.

And ran the air line up along the passenger side rail under the trim thru the firewall and out behind the battery. Same path as the power wires for my amp and the new one for the compressor. The air line is pretty solid, didn't have to worry about crimping or crushing it.. just make sure there's no hard bends in it.

Next is the coilovers. I sent mine to Ravi@Umbrella so he could assemble them. He actually puts the cups through some sustained high pressure tests so I knew I wouldn't have an issue once I got them back. Here is what they look like assembled.

Notice the little silver fitting on the bottom coilover on the cup.. that's the air line connection.. Basically took a tee off the main air line from the tank (supplied in the kit) and sent one line to each coil.. there's a couple existing holes there under the brake and battery compartment covers to snake the air lines through.. I've been since told you should try to keep an equal distance between the 2 air line runs to each side, so that the cups inflate evenly, however I didn't and honestly haven't had any issue with uneven lift.

Only issue I did have was a lot of squeaking when I would raise the car.. turned out to be my stupid sway bar bushings that the I forgot to grease up when I put my new sway bar in earlier in the year.. After I greased those up, no more squeaks..

As for the ride.. its perfect, just like it used to be. Just now I can hit a switch and the car raises up a good 2 inches for mega clearance..

Here is a little vid I put together to show the kit in action.. check the mad video editing skillz..

Umbrella VRH Cup Kit for 370Z - YouTube

All in all its exactly what I wanted. To have the ability to keep the car stupid low, still have the feel and functionality of my coilovers, be able to raise the car in a second to clear any obstacles, and leave it up until I say to lower it again.. (something the KW HLS kit can't do)

Any questions guys hit me up here or hit up Ravi directly at umbrellaautodesign.com. Ravi was super cool to work with and was always available to answer any questions I had.

MyKindaGuise · 11-27-2012, 11:12 PM

That is pure sweetness bro. Many badass points for you!

shaun66 · 11-27-2012, 11:39 PM

That is so awesome...

Ni55anPat · 11-27-2012, 11:41 PM

Ricer

shaun66 · 11-27-2012, 11:51 PM

Where'd you get pillowball mounts for your KW's?

tu_clean · 11-27-2012, 11:57 PM

Nice. How much did this run you if you don't mind?

fuct · 11-28-2012, 10:45 AM

love it!!! and points to the sick rim/tire setup.

TonySlimfast · 11-28-2012, 02:37 PM

sooo sweet, cost please =)

leighspped · 11-28-2012, 02:48 PM

That's sick

I hate curbs

RN SHARK · 11-28-2012, 03:03 PM

It looks like your car is breathing

ZeN · 12-03-2012, 06:43 AM

What is the total price of the kit ?

Liquid_G · 12-04-2012, 08:47 AM

Sorry guys.. the kit retails at $2495.. not cheap but its honestly less than half the cost of the KW system... And while for maybe 1k more you can be on air bags, this system lets you keep the feel and function of your existing coilovers.

leighspped · 12-04-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Sorry guys.. the kit retails at $2495.. not cheap but its honestly less than half the cost of the KW system... And while for maybe 1k more you can be on air bags, this system lets you keep the feel and function of your existing coilovers.

the cost of no comprise

Fly1 Motorsports · 12-05-2012, 02:20 PM

This is awesome! I need this pronto...

Thx for posting the review and video...repped

Out of curiosity, did you consider any other options like the Phantom Cup Kit by Platinum VIP?

Unique_Z · 12-05-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly1 Motorsports

This is awesome! I need this pronto...

Thx for posting the review and video...repped

Out of curiosity, did you consider any other options like the Phantom Cup Kit by Platinum VIP?

Would like to know about this as well if you don't mind

11-27-2012, 10:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 43	Umbrella VRH Cup kit review.. Sup guys.. wanted to do a small write up about these.. I just installed the Umbrella VRH cup kit on my Z. Basically what I was looking for was being able to keep the functionality and feel of my coilovers, but be able to raise the car when coming up to a nasty bump or curb. I'm currently running KWV3 coils with OEM type rears. I had looked at the KW HLS kit but for the money and the fact that it lowers automatically after 15-20 seconds, it kinda turned me off.. That being said, I contacted Ravi at Umbrella Auto Design. Since my coils are OEM type rears (separate spring and shock) he could only do the front kit.. Although I've heard from Umbrella that they are working on a solution for the rear. Also since the KWv3's re-use the OEM top mounts, I had to buy a pillowball mount for this kit to work.. Probably wouldn't have been an issue with other coilovers that supply their own top-mounts.. My existing springs were swapped out with a shorter set on my coils. But basically the kit is pretty simple.. First is a compressor and small air tank. Looks like this: Umbrella also supplies air lines and connectors, as well as relays and a switch for all of the electrical connections.. Only thing I supplied myself was an 8gauge wire from the battery. I wasn't sure at the time where the hell I was going to put this. The compressor/tank combo is like 8-9 inches square.. tank is about the size of a football. But after I got the kit, I found a perfect spot here... Had to cut away some of the styofoam that holds the stupid tow hook, but its a perfect spot in my opinion. I ran the switch up into the center console into one of the 3 dead switches for the heated seats in the touring package. And ran the air line up along the passenger side rail under the trim thru the firewall and out behind the battery. Same path as the power wires for my amp and the new one for the compressor. The air line is pretty solid, didn't have to worry about crimping or crushing it.. just make sure there's no hard bends in it. Next is the coilovers. I sent mine to Ravi@Umbrella so he could assemble them. He actually puts the cups through some sustained high pressure tests so I knew I wouldn't have an issue once I got them back. Here is what they look like assembled. Notice the little silver fitting on the bottom coilover on the cup.. that's the air line connection.. Basically took a tee off the main air line from the tank (supplied in the kit) and sent one line to each coil.. there's a couple existing holes there under the brake and battery compartment covers to snake the air lines through.. I've been since told you should try to keep an equal distance between the 2 air line runs to each side, so that the cups inflate evenly, however I didn't and honestly haven't had any issue with uneven lift. Only issue I did have was a lot of squeaking when I would raise the car.. turned out to be my stupid sway bar bushings that the I forgot to grease up when I put my new sway bar in earlier in the year.. After I greased those up, no more squeaks.. As for the ride.. its perfect, just like it used to be. Just now I can hit a switch and the car raises up a good 2 inches for mega clearance.. Here is a little vid I put together to show the kit in action.. check the mad video editing skillz.. Umbrella VRH Cup Kit for 370Z - YouTube All in all its exactly what I wanted. To have the ability to keep the car stupid low, still have the feel and functionality of my coilovers, be able to raise the car in a second to clear any obstacles, and leave it up until I say to lower it again.. (something the KW HLS kit can't do) Any questions guys hit me up here or hit up Ravi directly at umbrellaautodesign.com. Ravi was super cool to work with and was always available to answer any questions I had. tu_clean, Boost_lee, fuct and 10 others like this. __________________

11-27-2012, 11:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
MyKindaGuise A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,029 Drives: 11' 370z Sprt M6 Rep Power: 19	That is pure sweetness bro. Many badass points for you! __________________ \|445whp398tq\| \|BW S259 Turbo\|3" Downpipe\Exhaust\|ID1000\|AeroMotive\|Tial\|EcuTek\|BC BR\|S0-4\|MaffFab\| MKGs-Single-Turbo

11-27-2012, 11:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 17	Nice. How much did this run you if you don't mind? __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

11-28-2012, 02:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
leighspped Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Morristown Posts: 444 Drives: US Rep Power: 14	That's sick I hate curbs __________________ Performance: Fast Intentions LTH + CBX + Injen CAI + UpRev + KW3 + Whiteline sway bars + short throw shifter + 34r oil cooler = 335whp + (OS Giken Clutch and Diff) Interior : Recaro seat + Alpine HU and Rockford Fosgate Amp and Speakers + Passport 9500ci + JDM shift knob + LED's Forged avant garde m310's 19x9 19x12 RE-11

11-28-2012, 03:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
RN SHARK Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Wake Forest, NC Age: 43 Posts: 618 Drives: 09 370Z, 14 SRT GC Rep Power: 34	It looks like your car is breathing __________________ ___________ '09 6sp/Z1/PowerTrix/SPL/Swift/SRP/Whiteline/F.I.LTH&CBE/UpRev by Seb/CJM/Stillen/Ings+1/RJM/TrackSpec/Sparco/Motul/Wavetrac/Coolerworx/Verus/CraftSquare '14 SRT Grand Cherokee; '08 TL Type-S

11-27-2012, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
shaun66 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: n Posts: 837 Drives: MB 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	That is so awesome...

11-27-2012, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ni55anPat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,833 Drives: Zed Rep Power: 18	Ricer

11-27-2012, 11:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
shaun66 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: n Posts: 837 Drives: MB 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	Where'd you get pillowball mounts for your KW's?

11-28-2012, 10:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	love it!!! and points to the sick rim/tire setup.

11-28-2012, 02:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
TonySlimfast Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Nawlins' Posts: 158 Drives: 10' 370z black vert Rep Power: 13	sooo sweet, cost please =)

12-03-2012, 06:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
ZeN Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Malaysia Posts: 115 Drives: 09 PW 7AT 370z Rep Power: 14	What is the total price of the kit ?

12-04-2012, 08:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 43	Sorry guys.. the kit retails at $2495.. not cheap but its honestly less than half the cost of the KW system... And while for maybe 1k more you can be on air bags, this system lets you keep the feel and function of your existing coilovers. Amuse370z likes this. __________________

12-05-2012, 02:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fly1 Motorsports Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,094 Drives: PW 370Z 7AT/Tr/Sp/Nv Rep Power: 18	This is awesome! I need this pronto... Thx for posting the review and video...repped Out of curiosity, did you consider any other options like the Phantom Cup Kit by Platinum VIP? Last edited by Fly1 Motorsports; 12-05-2012 at 02:25 PM.

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