STI(tS Spec) Bilstein Struts

[Hyper4mance2k]

Has anyone pony'd up the cash and purchased these?
I was looking at them and I like how much longer the front housing is. I assume this was done for increasing the much needed bump stroke. Also, does anyone have information on valving? I assume they are valved for the STI pink springs, but I wonder how it compares to the B6/8's.
I'm only asking to figure out if they would be a worthwile investment over the standard B8 front struts.

[Canehda]

+1 Would love to know how they differ from the B6/B8 series struts!


I originally purchased them as a cheap alternative to buying quality coils but after half a summer of use I absolutely love them (Bilstein B6) for both the track and road paired with swift springs!

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by Canehda

+1 Would love to know how they differ from the B6/B8 series struts!

Thanks for bringing more attention to the tS/STi options. It's great to have these available from the factory (albeit in Japan).

LINK to Parts List



From the picture, it seems like Bilstein is carrying over most of the B6/B8 design. Since the STi springs have a 15mm drop, I wouldn't be surprised if they used the B8 piston shafts/tubes. Valving will be tuned for the STi spring rates (progressive and unknown).

There is probably a slight difference in the valving, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. The STi system is $1700 and a comparable B8 + Swift/RCE combo is ~$1300. Both should be bulletproof and great for street driving and the occasional autox/hdpe.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Maybe it's just me, but I think the front shock body looks significantly longer (below the mounting tabs) than that of the B6/B8.

[Canehda]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

Maybe it's just me, but I think the front shock body looks significantly longer (below the mounting tabs) than that of the B6/B8.

It looks about the same to me, the angle of the photo above makes it look slightly longer but the dust boot may be playing a trick on our eyes. body below the spring perch looks like the same length as the length above it!

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by Canehda

It looks about the same to me, the angle of the photo above makes it look slightly longer but the dust boot may be playing a trick on our eyes. body below the spring perch looks like the same length as the length above it!

I'm talking about the length of the housing below the mounting tabs, the ears, etc... they do not appear to be the same length. The STI Bilsteins are clearly longer there.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Does anyone know someone at Bilstein USA that might be able to shed some light? In all my years I've never received a response to an inquiry from any suspension company other than Ground Control.


*cough* @CSG Mike *cough* @Racecomp Engineering *cough*

[Shankenstein]

Link to Bilstein Announcement for B6/B8

I think we've been looking at this backwards.

In the above link, the first page shows the B6 and B8 side-by-side. You can see that the length of the piston shaft/tube is the main difference.

Based on this, it still looks like STi is using the B8 as a starting point... but I can't say conclusively.

[CSG Mike]

I don't know anything about the STi strut, and Bilstein most likely is not able to release details due to obligations wtih STi.

[Racecomp Engineering]

In ** ALL ** of STi's history of collaborating with BILSTEIN and BILSTEIN working with PRODRIVE and FUJI they have always used the OEM fitment specs for their special projects for road going cars. I cant see them changing that now. Mainly because it would require them to make a special spring just for that single application, something that FUJI doesn't do ( too much ) any longer. In saying this I'm going back to the 1994-ish era thru the current time.

All of our special co-branding projects with BILSTEIN have been using the B6 due to most model Subaru's being travel challenged we saw no need to reduce droop or bump travel.

Myles

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by Canehda

+1 Would love to know how they differ from the B6/B8 series struts!


I originally purchased them as a cheap alternative to buying quality coils but after half a summer of use I absolutely love them (Bilstein B6) for both the track and road paired with swift springs!

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

In ** ALL ** of STi's history of collaborating with BILSTEIN and BILSTEIN working with PRODRIVE and FUJI they have always used the OEM fitment specs for their special projects for road going cars. I cant see them changing that now. Mainly because it would require them to make a special spring just for that single application, something that FUJI doesn't do ( too much ) any longer. In saying this I'm going back to the 1994-ish era thru the current time.

All of our special co-branding projects with BILSTEIN have been using the B6 due to most model Subaru's being travel challenged we saw no need to reduce droop or bump travel.

Myles

I was second guessing my purchase of Swift BRZ springs and Bilstein B6 struts but thank you guys for making me feel better about my purchase. I just need to get my Bilstein fronts installed, if anybody would like to swap their FRS spec Swifts for the BRZ spec please PM me.

[Panman]

I have B6 and STi Pink springs (so effectively the TS combo) and can't speak highly enough of this setup. I do 1-3 HPDE/Track Days/Sprints/Regularity per month and keep up with guys with much more expensive (and professionally tuned) suspension setups. On top of this it's my daily commuter on fairly ordinary roads.

[krayzie]

You guys missed reading about the longer shock travel on the original Showa silver shocks for the first BRZ tS. They just finally got Bilstein to make them instead of Showa this time around. I'm just not sure if the Showa ones are inverted shocks like the Bilstein. I like the perches on the Bilstein more since they are more beefy.

Translate this:

http://e-nenpi.com/article/detail/221317

I posted about this originally here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1768539

STI also made a Bilstein damper kit for the GR WRX STI:

http://www.sti.jp/parts/catalogue/im...0ZR020XXX.html

This is the BRZ one:

http://www.sti.jp/parts/catalogue/br...0310ASXXX.html

I think the B6 used to called Heavy Duty (had green colored tubes), and B8 used to be called Sport (had yellow colored tubes). These have been around for ages (IIRC Porsche used to come with them stock, maybe still true to this day).

[lamune]

I've had these on the car since December of last year Can't give you any technical details or any comparisons to other suspension setups though..