RCE Yellow vs. Koni Yellow
 

Hey guys,

Newbie here, but have been enjoying my 2016 BRZ Hyperblue. Right now it's currently stock and I feel it's time to upgrade the suspension. At first, I didn't have any problems with it, but on long highway drives, the bumpiness is starting to bother me. I don't track my car at all, so comfort on the street is most important to me.

It seems like RCE Yellow springs and Koni Yellows get good reviews around here. But if you could only choose ONE, what would be the best for getting a smoother ride? Cost is not a factor. In other words, what makes a better pairing, RCE Yellow with stock shocks that are tuned to work together, or stock springs with Koni shocks that are better quality and adjustable?

Of course the ultimate combo would be to get both. But again for this thread you can only choose ONE!

And here she is brand new and shiny at the dealership! :thumbsup:

You'll be better off with oem springs and the Koni adjustable shocks.

I'm not convinced either solution will get you a car that's less bumpy... but I suppose that depends very much what it is you're not liking. Both have the potential to make for a harsher ride.

I expected the BRZ to have a firm ride but mostly on the highway every little gap in the pavement sends a jab to my butt. When I drive my minivan over the same road, I don't get any of that sensation. Now, I don't expect the BRZ to feel like a cruise ship, but I'm just looking or something to smooth out the tiny vibrations.

In several threads there is mention that the stock shocks are overdamping the springs. If the springs and shock rates are matched, I assume that would be the solution. Seems like a higher rate spring would work or a more compliant shock. I am just not sure if the Koni at full soft would still be too stiff for the stock springs?

I love that you are comparing the ride quality of your minivan to the BRZ. I hope you find what you are looking for.

if you buy higher-end coilovers, you will notice that they will increase your handling performance while still being relatively "soft"

I love Koni Yellows BUT I would not use them to improve ride smoothness. (they are good for handling improvements though)

I have used Bilstein dampers on a Magnum RT and a C6 Corvette. In both cases the ride improved.

RCE Yellows on OEM dampers.

^x2

Hrm.. What? I bought these and the last thing I would describe them as is "relatively soft"

http://astsuspension-na.com/index.ph...00-subaru-brz/

I have Koni Yellow with RCE Yellow on my '13 BRZ. They are not soft at all but definitely improved on my DD on NYC roads. If you are interested they are for sale as well.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6a0fcc01cc.jpg

I'm thinking more along the lines of Ohlins or the Tein SRC's

Tein SRC are not soft when the road is rough. I'd still say they rode really well for what they are (spring rates and all) but... A rough seam in the road can hurt. I still did road trips with a bum back happily, so they're not the crap ride you get from cheap coilovers packages either.

No experience with Ohlins.

In this case I'm guessing it's not all about the suspension, it may be seat and it may be expectations. Or some of all these things.

That's that setup, not all high end coilovers are soft, some are probably downright punishing. The point of opening up the budget to that level is you can get precisely what you want and consistent meaningful adjusters.

Spring rates, regardless of the hype that dampers get, will be the driving force behind the comfort level over poor pavement. Hell even if they springs are super soft, if they are mismatched it could create a miserable ride.

The AST's look super nice, but I can't find what spring rates they come with for the life of me. On this car though, I wouldn't want to run more than 400#/7k if comfort and compliance is the goal. The aforementioned Ohlins either in the 6k or 4k/3k variant garnered a reputation for a decent ride for a reason. Meanwhile at near enough the same price point the Tein SRC's come with 10k/12k springs, thinking both would ride 'relatively soft' would be nuts.


To the OP's question, I have no idea what will produce better ride quality. Given what I know at this point (which ain't much), I'd try the springs first and be fully prepared to change your mind down the road and change it once again.

I've been considering this description and am wondering if the seat is unable to cushion adequately... This would be more likely if you're a bigger/heavier individual. Its sparsely cushioned... And it could have broken in enough that it no longer shields you from some things. Could be off base,but figured it was worth throwing out there.

The off the shelf rates for the AST 5100s are 6k/7k.

What spring rates are you running?

Same. 6k/7k.

The OP will soon have a solution that I think will suit his needs quite nicely. ;)

Good point. To the original poster, you have unrealistic expectations if you're disappointed by the fact that your sports car rides more firmly than your mini-van. You've given us a problem and greatly limited our choices to solve it effectively - RCE 'Yellows' or Koni dampers, neither of which by themselves are the best choice. The RCE springs are generally thought to be excellent, but are firmer than stock. The Konis are twin-tube units that have improved wheel control over the stock dampers, but are anything but supple. So, trying to stay within your hypothetical rules, here are my thoughts:

- Increasing spring rate on a car that already rides too firm makes no sense, so I'd start with the Konis before I'd do the RCE springs.

- I've owned Konis and been generally pleased, but did not find them comfortable - and I doubt you will, either.

- A better choice, in my opinion, would be to change the stock damper out to a Bilstein B6 damper while still running your stock springs - although you didn't give us this option. The Bilsteins ride noticeably better than the Konis.

- If it were my car and I had limited options, I'd pair the RCE springs with the Bilstein B6 or B8 damper, but you and I obviously have different priorities.

- None of these options will make your car ride like a mini-van, and I seriously question if the FR-S/86/BRZ is the right car for you.

There, that brought things back on topic - good luck solving your problem!

He bought my SACHS coilovers. haha Shipping them out today.

Ride was noticeably improved over stock when I had them on my car, despite slightly stiffer rates. Damping is great, and the range of adjustment can go from a nicely compliant ride to noticeably stiffer. Of course over big bumps you'll feel it a bit more, but over most normal road imperfections (like washboard surfaces) they definitely felt better than stock.

Normally not an option in this price range, but he lucked out that I was selling them around the same time he was looking.

lol did you sell him your sack, I mean Sachs?

Edit: fuck should have refreshed

Someone finally wanted my sack! :lol:

RJasonKlein's post sums it up fairly well IMO.

Our RCE Yellows change the ride quality...in some ways it's slightly better, in some ways slightly worse. Some might call it an improvement. BUT if your main goal is to improve ride quality, I'm not sure they're the best choice if you're limiting yourself to 1 modification.

Also, I would check your local forum to see if anyone is willing to give you a ride on RCE Yellows or any other option you're interested in. Keep in mind the OEM shocks have changed slightly over the years and different tires can make a big difference.

I would choose the Bilstein B6 over the Konis if the goal is to improve ride quality. So my vote is option C, none of the above. :)

EDIT: or find a deal on some sachs/sacks!

- Andrew

I'm glad he snagged them - I saw them in the classifieds and thought that they looked like a rare find and a good deal.

Thanks for all your input guys! So I think the consensus is that changing only one component is not ideal.

I used to have a 2000 Acura Integra lowered over 1" on H&R Sport springs and Koni Yellows. It was firm but I drove cross country from San Diego to Raleigh, NC without any problems. So this leads me to believe that there is something seriously imbalanced with the 2016 BRZ stock suspension. I test drove a 2017 with performance pack, and the ride was definitely an improvement.

In the end, I decided not to go the cheap route, and I pulled the trigger on the Sachs coilover set from fellow forum member SharkBait88. It has adjustable monotube shocks and low spring rates which I hope will be the recipe for a smooth ride. Hope to have them installed soon and will be back with my impressions!