Mando ECS10 Electronic Suspension Tuning Module - speed bump video

[D.J.]

Just a speed bump video I cobbled together.

Glean from it what you will.

The advanced profiles have speed dependent damping, so there is MUCH more to the damping profile - but this is what I got for now.


Enjoy!

 

[chxei]

I get that firmer settings will give you better stability and track times but I'm also interested in how this affects suspension longevity and also is it worse for wheels on road with lots of potholes I guess?

 

[D.J.]

I get that firmer settings will give you better stability and track times but I'm also interested in how this affects suspension longevity and also is it worse for wheels on road with lots of potholes I guess?

Firmer settings would probably make the dampers last longer, due to less motion.

Ultra soft settings are great for rough roads and long highway stints where handling isn't a priority.

Ball joints and bushings are likely not significantly impacted.

I've had my ECS10 installed for ~5 years now. Suspension dampers feel like new.

 

[k8blackout]

i'm supposed to get my ECS unit in today! have you messed with any custom settings/etc.. or do you have any pointers on the best way to set this thing up? i am still on stock springs and sways (plan to change that eventually)
just trying to get this thing to handle better and to fill in the issues that the stock setup has

 

[D.J.]

i'm supposed to get my ECS unit in today! have you messed with any custom settings/etc.. or do you have any pointers on the best way to set this thing up? i am still on stock springs and sways (plan to change that eventually)
just trying to get this thing to handle better and to fill in the issues that the stock setup has

Play with it.
Try various settings settings in both basic and advanced modes..

Different settings for different moods/driving styles.

The 2 default ECS10 profiles are only slightly different than the OEM default Comfort and Sport.

 

[k8blackout]

thanks! i will be messing with them a lot in the coming weeks no doubt. have you found any specific adjustments that made bigger differences/things you found worked well with the advanced/custom mode?

 

[D.J.]

A speed dependent profile like this one works well for me, for spirited driving.

This one is not particularly comfortable if you crave comfort.

It basically ramps up the damping level with speed, for both the ride, and the handling modes.

 

[k8blackout]

oh shit that's awesome, I didn't know it had speed-dependent options. are there options for specifically adjusting compression/rebound or further high/low speed compression and rebound?

 

[D.J.]

oh shit that's awesome, I didn't know it had speed-dependent options. are there options for specifically adjusting compression/rebound or further high/low speed compression and rebound?

Low speed compression adjustability only.
The high speed compression valve and rebound valve are fixed rate.

But you can control the damping rate based on vehicle speed.

 

[k8blackout]

ah that's lame, but i'll take what i can get. thank you for your help!

 

[D.J.]

ah that's lame, but i'll take what i can get. thank you for your help!

It's still good, (for a Kia).
** I edited post #9 with more words for clarity.

 

[k8blackout]

It's still good, (for a Kia).

less about the kia and more the fact that it's a $400 unit that lets you keep your stock shocks; that's the reason i got it. seems way easier than having to deal with putting in new shocks and then tricking the car into thinking all is well

and thanks for the edit; helps me understand a bit. i was honestly hoping to adjust the rebound to help with how unpredictable the rear end gets in curves sometimes. not in a fun oversteer way, but in a wtf is this car thinking rn kind of way

 

[D.J.]

less about the kia and more the fact that it's a $400 unit that lets you keep your stock shocks; that's the reason i got it. seems way easier than having to deal with putting in new shocks and then tricking the car into thinking all is well

and thanks for the edit; helps me understand a bit. i was honestly hoping to adjust the rebound to help with how unpredictable the rear end gets in curves sometimes. not in a fun oversteer way, but in a wtf is this car thinking rn kind of way

Yeah, I would certainly appreciate having rebound damping adjustability also..


But I think you will be pleasantly surprised with how much you can accomplish with only variable compression, vehicle speed dependent damping.

Kia calls it Sky Hook control.

A good read here about how it works. The ECS10 lets you tune how much, and when it works...

 

[k8blackout]

Kia calls it Sky Hook control.

A good read here about how it works. The ECS10 lets you tune how much, and when it works...

thanks! that's a funny name for the system but i read the link you sent and it actually seems pretty comprehensive. can't wait to mess with the settings and see what i can do with it; i've only heard good things from other people with the mando unit so i expect the same

i think after this it's either getting DPs or getting eibach springs, haven't decided which but either of those would be pretty good for something or another

 

[Thomby]

Does the Mando show the values for the stock settings? I vaguely remember seeing a post about how little of the adjustment range is used even in Sport, but I'm curious if it's been quantified (ie Comfort is 15% and Sport is 25% or something).

 

[D.J.]

Does the Mando show the values for the stock settings? I vaguely remember seeing a post about how little of the adjustment range is used even in Sport, but I'm curious if it's been quantified (ie Comfort is 15% and Sport is 25% or something).

I don't think so, partially because it's extremely dynamic, and constantly changing based on a myriad of inputs.

If you were to read the values at the shock. While parked, and you switched between sport and comfort, likely very little would happen since you aren't moving, and not triggering an adaptive response.

Years ago I made this boring video showing the settings being applied through the app, and the corresponding current readings of the dampers, using an AUTEL OBDII scantool

 

[Thomby]

I don't think so, partially because it's extremely dynamic, and constantly changing based on a myriad of inputs.

Interesting, any sense of where stock settings fall on Mando's 0-100% scale? Or is it too difficult to compare across speeds? (Not clear to me whether stock would be the equivalent of a fixed percentage across speed range, or a curve like the ones you showed above)

 

[k8blackout]

Interesting, any sense of where stock settings fall on Mando's 0-100% scale? Or is it too difficult to compare across speeds? (Not clear to me whether stock would be the equivalent of a fixed percentage across speed range, or a curve like the ones you showed above)

i think on the k8 store page for the ECS10 it states that the sport mode is about 60% of what the max is, so theoretically having the shocks on 100% would be about a 60%-70% increase in stiffness from what the stock sport mode gives.

 

[D.J.]

Interesting, any sense of where stock settings fall on Mando's 0-100% scale? Or is it too difficult to compare across speeds? (Not clear to me whether stock would be the equivalent of a fixed percentage across speed range, or a curve like the ones you showed above)

There isn't a direct comparison, but if I had to attempt a general comparison, I would estimate stock OEM is in the range of:
Comfort: between 20% to 35%
Sport: between 25% to 40%
(There is a noticeable, but subtle difference between OEM comfort and sport)

The Mando ECS10 comes with 2 included profiles with the same names:
Comfort (ECS10): 15% to 30% softer than OEM
Sport (ECS10): 30% to 45% firmer than OEM

These are LOOSE approximations in my opinion, the electronic dampers, do vary their damping force quickly and often when using either comfort or sport.

With the ECS10, you can make a basic profile that is not speed sensitive.


I find the ECS10 app animations comical...

 

[D.J.]

i think on the k8 store page for the ECS10 it states that the sport mode is about 60% of what the max is, so theoretically having the shocks on 100% would be about a 60%-70% increase in stiffness from what the stock sport mode gives.

Once you get the ECS10 installed. Create a basic 100% profile, and go for a drive. It will feel like your dampers are damn near locked up solid, extremely firm!