by "AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
Published 06/26/2017 at 11:45
by "AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
Published 06/26/2017 at 11:45
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A friend and I installed some lowering springs this weekend onto the BRZ. Overall I’m quite happy with it. The ride comfort is still there and the car’s wheel gap is smaller now. I went with RCE Yellow springs which are pretty well regarded by the forums with a decent amount of users reporting success in auto-x and track using them with the stock shocks. They’re also meant to be daily driver friendly.
The ride comfort is slightly different. I wouldn’t say it’s worse or better than stock. It just feels different. You can feel more bumps but due to the fact that the shocks are already preloaded when you’re not moving. I’m not an expert but my understanding is that means the suspension is already partially damped as you’re driving along. This decreases the expected life of the shocks but it does make slower speeds more tolerable. Overall not bad in terms of comfort. Handling-wise the car feels more planted under braking and in corners. There is a slight bit of leaning in banked corners but it’s not that bad. Again, I’m not an expert and this is on the street so I’m not the best judge of this.
I’d say I’m really impressed with these considering you always hear people on forum repeating, “coilovers are better and more adjustable.”
Now here’s where I’ll contradict myself. I do still wish I had gone with coilovers. And I don’t mean the cheap BC racing/Tein/Megan racing stuff. I mean I wish I had waited a little while longer and gotten the KW V3 or RCE Tarmac 2s. You’re probably now wondering why even though I sound happy with the springs. Well here’s why.
I would like the adjustability. Yes, most people who get those two just for looks will set it and forget it. I just enjoy learning about settings and how rebound and compression settings can change handling. I realize there’s a learning curve but I would like to learn and be able to adjust as I get better. Secondly I do like height adjustability. I wish the wheel gap was even less than it is with the springs.
So basically if you’ve made it this far or you just skipped to this paragraph, the springs are great and work amazingly as they’re intended. The only issues with them are not their fault. They are a result of me not buying what I originally wanted to be more budget conscious. Anyone who asks me my opinion about them would certainly get a, “they’re excellent and you should get them if you want what I described about them”
A picture of the beautiful KW V3s for your time.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/26/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1
There is of course also the option of upgraded shocks along with springs.
There are many pieces of the suspension puzzle. Shocks, springs, sway bars, bushings, and alignment.
For a street car, many coilovers are not the best option because in addition to the ride height (and sometimes also damping) adjustment, you get very stiff linear-rate springs. Good for racing, not so good for shitty road conditions.
Most lowering springs are still progressive-rate like stock springs, but some degree stiffer than stock. Some coilovers come with progressive-rate springs but that’s generally not the norm.
On my car I have Koni FSD shocks, B&G springs, Ground Control camber plates, assorted hardened bushings and a stiffer rear sway bar. My ride height is static but the car is fully align-able. The shocks are sorta kinda self-adjusting .
There were a few coilover options available, but my car is a street car. I was able to achieve the ride height I wanted from springs, and the damping characteristics I wanted from the FSD shocks. The bushings removed unwanted play from certain parts of the stock suspension that are too soft, and the rear sway bar shifted the roll stiffness balance to be stiffer in the rear, to help the car rotate more.
Like I said, it’s a whole puzzle.
"Not a Sunburst Miata" (moezsayani)
06/26/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 0
I’m considering getting the same springs with Vorshlag camber plates for my BRZ. the only difference is that I have the performance package with the SACHS dampers so i don’t know how we’ll they’ll match the new springs.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
06/26/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 0
Did you reuse the factory shocks? My biggest reason to prefer coilovers to springs is that you get a shock matched for the new springs. Or at least get some KONI oranges to go with the new springs, or something.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
06/26/2017 at 14:04, STARS: 0
Agreed that they’re a whole puzzle. My conclusion was based purely on my wanting to play with the settings. They’re reversible with a few clicks on coilovers. If I were to want to be a serious track/auto-x competitor I would most likely be more interested in doing sway bars and specific dampers. This car is mostly for fun and dailying so that’s why I came to the conclusion that if I were to redo it I would have gone with adjustable coilovers. They’re a good compromise for what I am looking to do. 90% daily and 10% track/spirited driving.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
06/26/2017 at 14:06, STARS: 0
I hear from forums that they’re quite a good match with the new SACHS dampers. For the price they’re not a bad option. A few things to note though, the rears really are a pain in the ass to do if you’re planning on DIY-ing the install. And the bumpstop has been revised from the instructions. They’re now symmetrical as opposed to directional as shown in the instructions. Also, having a friend and an impact will cut down your install time dramatically. And of course beers are helpful if applicable.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
06/26/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 0
Yep, factory shocks. These springs were designed with the factory shocks in mind. That’s why they have a minimal 20mm drop. RCE have another spring designed for Konis or Bilsteins that provide more aggressive spring rates and lowering but I wasn’t looking for that so I decided on these. Agreed on the coilovers being matched to their spring though.
"Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
06/26/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 0
FSDs are great shocks. We VW guys love ‘em as well.
"Not a Sunburst Miata" (moezsayani)
06/26/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 1
I was planning on having Vorshlag do the install since they manufacture arguably the best camber plate available for the platform and I’m getting those as well, and they’re 10 minutes from my house.