RCE vs Swift: Any Insight?
 

I've seen lots of threads about RCE Yellows. I've seen much more reliable advisors talk about Swifts with coilovers. With that said, I have yet to see a direct comparison between the two.

RCE Yellows
Rates: 4.6K F, 4.6K R
Drop: 20mm (0.8")
Linear Compression

Swift Springs
Rates 3K F, 4.5K R
Drop: 25mm (1")
Linear Compression


So?

Rates have been fixed!

Do Swifts come with new bumpstops? That's why I went with the Yellows. They are a nice drop to get rid of the gap, but they are made with the stock struts in mind.

RCE is 4.5 front and rear, 7k is the Tarmac II's i believe.

Just a note, our rates are not 7k front and rear.

It's closer to about 4.6 kg/mm front and rear (or 250lbs/in).

Swifts are excellent springs, and we do sell them as well. Our RCE Yellows were designed from the outset to work with replacement shortened bumpstops and a mild drop to maximize bump travel and let the spring do the "work". With the firmer front rates, this means that the initial loading happens in a more linear fashion...rather than a soft spring then firm bumpstop progression. It's a little more confidence inspiring and consistent. It also reacts a little quicker and tames the back end a bit.

We did a lot of testing since we were lucky enough to have access to a preproduction BRZ (thank you Subaru of America) and went through a couple of different rates and drops before reaching our final iteration.

RCE springs + a few bushings and toppings makes one hell of a Frizzle or Brizzle. Even the springs alone just turns things up a notch into a real "sport" package. :)

- Andrew

correctamundo.

Input?

Myles at RaceComp is a solid dude and pretty funny too! Swift? Never dealt with them.

Oh, the springs? I have no idea. I have RCE Yellows that I haven't put on yet.

I love my RCE Yellows!

Both options are very good for springs. Really the only two to consider when it comes to springs.

I've run Swift springs on R56 Mini and H&R Sport springs on a 2IS. Both rode very well, the swifts could have been from the factory since they weren't too much stiffer than stock, but handling improved greatly. The H&R were stiff and had a sporty ride.

I'd go RCE for the FRS

I used to see this kind of thread a lot back in the day on IWSTI.

I think this comes down to preference. We sell and work with SWIFT a good amount. They make awesome springs as well. This is one of those decisions thats like...." Do I jump into the GT3 CUPCAR or do I jump into the 458 Challenge car?" BOTH will work well for you and offer great performance.

Myles

edited to stay on point.

@Racecomp Engineering, did you guys try a christmas tree style bump stop?

I haven't install my Yellows yet and have no reason to ask other then pure, 100% curiosity. So anyone reading this, please don't think my question comes from a negative opinion.

I think the decision really comes down to how tail happy you want the car to be. The Swift FRS rates are the most tail happy, Swift BRZ rates are a bit more neutral and the RCE's are the most neutral.

Given that some people find the FRS a bit too tail happy stock on some tracks slightly more neutral might not be a bad thing, but it'll all come down to preference.

This.

There is no "correct" or "best" spring rate.

Can I pick all of them?

1 RCE spring, 1 Swift spring, 1 H&R spring, 1 Eibach Pro-kit spring; boom done!

I like that the RCEs are not as low and slightly stiffer, which will mean less time spent in the bumpstops.

This. You can't go wrong with either choice. RCE has always proven to meet my needs in the past, so their springs were a no-brainer for me. And they didn't disappoint. With my background in AWD handling, the Yellows were a perfect fit. But if RCE had gone with rates similar to Swift's it wouldn't have taken long to adapt. So really, take your pick and you'll be happy.

Now, if pressed for a recommendation, I'd say the RCE Yellows. The swift springs will make it easier to rotate the car, true. However, as a driver you have many techniques available to you to achieve the same thing. So having a more neutral, and therefore more stable, setup is preferable in my opinion. But that's all this is, my opinion.

i just put my RCE yellows in yesterday wow! its fantastic

love your yellows its amazing what difference they make even the ride quality feels better :thanks::thanks:

RCEs with a bunch of Whiteline stuff and 17x9et35 RPF1s with 2450/40R17 Z2s seems to be the shizznat on my car.

x2
Replacement bumpstops are very important.

If anyone is interested, I might be selling my Yellows with or without my stock struts within the next month. PM me if anyone wants em.

I am in the same boat as the OP. I was really leaning towards Swift because I have heard nothing but good things, but I can say the same about the RCE yellows as well. Mine is strictly a DD with over 90 miles each day. Decisions decisions.

I am really enjoying my RCE springs with Koni Sport shocks. I also like the adjustability that the Konis provide. I've been playing with them a bit, and at closer to full soft they feel like stock. At full stiff they are very stiff. I can feel every wave in the road with them.

Based on my limited use ( I've had them on for less than a week), they make a really good set. I'm happy with them.

I was in the same bind and finally ordered the Swift BRZ springs a few days ago. I wanted to keep the OEM balance of the stiffer rear springs and that is what finally swayed me to Swift. I drive 100/miles a day, so hopefully I'm happy with these.

Question, should I have my shop cut down 1/3 of the OEM bumpstops? I saw one build thread where this one done and another post saying it wasn't needed.

Thanks!:thumbsup:

Question on both springs. Because these springs are both considered linear springs; what are the differences versus a progressive spring in using this with stock shocks or aftermarket shocks such as Koni yellows?

That's a whole nother can of worms.

A simple way to put it:
A linear spring has the same rate from least to max compression. This means thats your suspension can be reliably tuned for consistent performance. These are a bit stiffer for a daily driver. A progressive spring gets has a much lower rate at full length than it does at full compression. This makes tuning somewhat difficult since the suspension will act different around every corner. These are made with the daily driver in mind.

+1 for RCE Yellows, they match the OEM struts perfectly :)

Will linear springs prematurely wear the shocks? I've been looking at RCEs as well.

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

^^ Absolutely not, at least not from being linear alone. If the rates are way too high then it doesn't matter if it's linear or progressive.

Should I worry that RCE's will create more understeer? To a fault perhaps?

In a steady state corner the stock setup is fine, the front end lets go a little before the back making for a 'safe' setup. But have you hit the front bump stops yet? I have a few reducing radius turns on my way to work that I like playing with. Even on OEM tires I have to slow down so I don't run into the damn bump stops and have the back end of my car start racing with the front end.

I like a car that's predictable and controllable at the edge. I honestly can't believe the FRS was release the way it is.

I have RCE yellows and love them!

Not at all. Springs are just part of the equasion. Get a good alignment with some actual negative camber and the car will be wonderfully neutral. RCE's starter kit is great for getting a real alignment.

I've got a set of Yellows ready to install as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. I have some camber bolts as well.. should be a good start.

With the starter kit I'm at -2 degrees front camber and -0.8 degrees rear. The car may want more in the rear, but that's where I'm at for now. On the street it's very neutral. The rear will stick when I want or start following the front if I let it. The front is just perfect with godly amounts of grip.

I've had to wait 7 months to get this to an AutoX. Hopefully it'll be warm enough on the 30th to get a good test. I'm very confident.

I have a set of these RCE springs in the garage. My car is pretty tail happy even with a alignment. Hoping these settle the back end down a bit. Worried the rebound is going to get even worse though.

What do you have installed for camber correction? What is your alignment?

anyone compare these to mach v springs?

this is what its at. Soon to be installed are the springs and whiteline rear camber bushings.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7361/frsv.jpg

From what I hear, a bit of toe in the rear (1/16") really settles the back end down. I go for my alignment next week and that's what I'm going to get.

Do you have crash bolts up front? Which ones?