Swift BRZ spec lowering springs reveiw
 

I installed a set of Swift BRZ springs ordered from kami speed. 2 reasons I chose this spring kit over others was the spring rates (3.8k f/4.5k r) seemed like they would reduce some of the oversteer without inducing understeer. Second reason is that the modest 1" drop will retain some effective stroke with the dampers while giving me some much needed negative camber. Oh... and also the sample picture lead me to believe that these springs had less number of total coils. In reality it has the exact same number of coils per spring compared to the factory units. http://www.kamispeed.com/Swift-Sport...FShxQgodn0QAPg

My impressions of these springs is that the spring rates seem better suited for the factory dampers than the stock FR-S springs. Although the front springs would benefit from a bit more rebound damping, the way the front seem to want to push back a bit after going over some larger bumps. Other than that, I'm very happy with this mod. The ride feels slightly better than stock while cruising and the chassis stays flatter under hard cornering. The oversteering tendencies under throttle has been muted and turn in has pretty much stayed the same as with just front camber bolts, as far as I can tell.

In retrospect I think their FR-S spec spring kit (3k f/ 4.5k r) would have worked better with the factory dampers. This is with just spirited driving and commuting on the streets on factory rims/tires. Hopefully I can get back on the track soon and see how I like these springs there with some stickier tires. For the money, I'm happy with the result and I'm one to look for the 'best bang for buck'. Would recommend. :thumbsup:

Awesome to hear that another person on here is liking the only springs we sell! swift springs!

I was just about to mention Hotchkis since I brought up "bang for the buck." The rates on their springs look like they would match the factory dampers quite well. At about $200 MSRP that seems like it would be the ultimate "bang for buck" springs.

Is there a reason that you carry some of their sway bars and strut bar, but not their lowering springs?

thanks for the review, but why dont you go ahead and post some pics...

Thanks for the review!

Cause I forgot to take photos of the springs. Here are some side by side photos of a stock height hotlava and my whiteout with the Swift springs.
Second thought... I will take better photos tomorrow.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43221.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43171.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43181.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43201.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43211.jpg

Absolutely love this pic! :drool:

Here it is with one of my all time favorite cars, Shelby Cobra, at Streets of Willow.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43251.jpg

245/40/17 Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2 on RPF1 17x8 +45
SPC camber bolts and Swift BRZ springs.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43261.jpg

Track impressions of this combo:

There is a touch of understeer while cornering, but if you mash the throttle with the wheels turned it will still easily show you it's back end. I settled on 38psi front and 36psi rear hot pressures toward the end, so that might have also contributed to understeer. Tires had decent grip but unimpressive compared to the 225/45/17 RS3 Hankooks I had on it before. Only tires I had to compare it to was the stocks and the Kooks. With the tires and springs there was barely any clearance between the tire and the lower spring coil/perch. Using my ghetto index finger clearance checker I'm guessing about 3mm of clearance with these tires. the Asymmetric 2's also had rounded shoulders, so tires with more squared off shoulders of this size may rub. Tires were also a bit noisy on the highway drive to Rosamond, much like the RS3.

My lap times were on par with my last visit to streets only this time we were going CCW at night instead of CW in the day. Also, I was not able to get very many laps in. Less than 20 laps for the entire night (4pm to 11:30pm). So I will say this is an improvement considering less grip with the new tires, the lack of visibility, and not having as much time on the track. Also, I hear lap times tend to be higher CCW than CW. Not sure if that is true.

Conclusion? Still recommend. :w00t:

You guys have close up pics of the springs installed? Want to compare to my install and see how springs are sitting.

I will take some photos when I swap my wheels later. yerwelcome :)

I just got done throwing around the car on my "test track." A one way, twisty, chewed up road by my house. Man.. I wish I went with the FR-S spec or Hotchkis. The front end was pogoing a bit. Definitely can use some more damping... definitely... definitely more damping. [Rainman voice] Or less spring...

what the difference between the frs and brz versions of their product?

The front spring rates are different. BRZ spec come with 3.8k/4.5k f/r. The FR-S specs are 3.0k/4.5k.

Thanks

Here is the before video on the busted up road I was talking about. stock suspension with SPC camber bolts only. RS3 tires.
http://s174.photobucket.com/user/sol..._4071.mp4.html

After I installed the Swift springs, still with SPC bolts and Asymmetric 2's
ttp://s174.photobucket.com/user/solid_ONE/media/IMG_4334.mp4.html

Not sure if you can see the front pogoing after some of the bumps and potholes on the second video.

great 2nd video driving btw

so you feel the rebound is too fast?

Yes it rebounds to quickly with these springs, but it's not horrible. The rears are pretty much on point. That is why I think the 3k or 3.3k front spring of the FR-s spec and hotchkis would be closer to ideal.

Believe it or not my fastest time on that road was with stock suspension and tires.

more pics! =)

Just confirms that I need to wait for bilsteins, go cut koni or get more of what i already got, which I was trying to avoid...

Thanks so much for feedback

Passenger Side Front:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43421.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43361.jpg

Tire marks on front coils:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43371.jpg

Front clearance with tire. My index finger feeler gauge was pretty accurate. abt 3-4mm clearance at full droop.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43401.jpg

Nemo camber:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43381.jpg

Driver side rear:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43411.jpg


I'm hoping a 5mm spacer will let me add some more camber using a second set of camber bolts on the strut bottoms while eliminating the tire contact with the coils. May have to go 8mm spacer...

On my rears, there is no gap between the top coils of the spring. The coils are touching each other. Is it installed wrong?

Did the spring come like that? Also, on the lower spring perch are your springs seated like what you see in my photo?

What size tire was that?and how much camber r u running?

:) the spc camber bolts and the 1" drop is getting me about 1.5 degrees of neg camber, more or less.

Just a little update on my suspension with the Swift springs installed. Initially after installation the rear end felt very good with the factory dampers offering enough damping for these up-rated springs. Now, while I'm still pretty satisfied with the ride and performance, I feel the rear damper's compression damping to be a little bit lacking for the springs. I'm not sure if it's the oil in the factory dampers breaking down in viscosity or if I just hadn't noticed before, but the rear seems to have softened a bit. Not to the point of bottoming, but compliant with a little boat-like action over some bumps.

I suppose you really can't ask for too much with just lowering springs. I'm sure when they are coupled with heavier duty dampers they will be that much better.

Here's a recent test 'lap' I did with stock wheels and tires after adding some more negative camber out front. http://s174.photobucket.com/user/sol...43611.mp4.html

Did you cut the bumpstop during installation? I haven't driven around enough to have a proper impression of the springs but so far been pretty happy with them.

Yes I cut the bumpstops.

What sized tires are you using?

Look 4 posts above yours.

Oh I missed that. I just got my Swift BRZ springs also. Haven't installed them yet though. How are you liking them as of now? Did it rub because of the offset? Did you need a camber kit as a requirement or just a toe adjustment?

Is there any visual differences between FRS and BRZ spec? Each person that I've talked to that is selling a used set is never 100% sure.

Edit: @Corner3garage You seem to be a great advocate for these springs. Any visual difference? And what is your preference between each spec for a DD with an autox weekend several times a year?

the rubbing is caused by a combination between the wheel offset and negative camber I added from camber bolts. I added more camber by choice, not a necessary modification. You will have less than half a degree of negative camber out front without any camber adjustments. Although, the rear will gain some considerable negative camber. I'm relatively satisfied with them for what they are, just lowering springs on stock dampers. Although I wish I had gone with the FR-S specs or Hotchkis springs over these as I think they would be better suited to the stock dampers than these even if I think I like the BRZ spec spring rates better.

I think there are some part numbers on the coils, but they were taped on. I don't think there is any difference visually. I could be wrong tho.

With the pogoing won't you need a stiffer front? I was torn between the FRS Swift Springs and the BRZ Swift ones and multiple vendors PM'ed me that BRZ was better for higher speed. They also said that for DD I won't feel the difference between the 2 different front springs much. But hey, you know stuff based on experience. I haven't even installed mine yet. Lol! Too bad nobody has bought both and compared them side by side on an FRS.

more spring will require more damping.

There is definitely a visual difference with other springs, but from FRS and BRZ the rates are so close that there is no visual difference.

Their proprietary metal allows them to coil the spring with LESS COILS and this makes the spring lighter.

I would suggest a BRZ set if you are looking to AUTOx, just because more people are claiming they have more neutral handling and since you are autox'ing you can always change driving styles to accomodate more oversteer.

Thanks,
Mike

Great Review!!! :party0030: And Thank you for the shout-out :thumbup::thumbup:

I had a very good transaction with you guys. Good price and really fast shipping considering you guys are on the other side of the US.

Were your track times with Swift springs quicker, all else being equal? I'm contemplating a spring swap but can't gauge how much additional spring the stock damper is actually capable of handling without degradation in track performance. The brand seems to be good (Showa), and some people think they're a bit over damped for the stock springs which leads me to believe they can handle more than 3/4.5.

It seems the Swifts run only slightly stiffer compared to stock, similar to other sport springs. Any feedback on something like the Ground Control setup which favors much more spring (6.7/7.7). Any one you know run that setup on track? Any feedback?

So is it safe to conclude that in your experience unless you're looking for the drop (which I'm not), the marginal spring increase with Swift is not worth it in terms of track performance?

I have not tested the Swift springs with RS3 tires as it would not have qualified me stock class in 2013 86 CUP, so I ran the 300TW Goodyears going CCW at Streets of Willow. With the Stock springs with RS3 tires going CW at Streets of Willow my times were about the same as when I did SOW CCW on 300TW Goodyears. Considering the lack of grip compared to the RS3 tires, I was able to go about the same pace. My gut feeling is that Swift springs will improve lap times with all else equal. This is as unscientific as it gets.

On the test road, since it is only 1/2 a mile long, the time difference between the setups has more to do with my inconsistent driving than anything. As far as the feel of the chassis goes, there is an improvement in feel along with signifigantly decreased body roll wile under cornering, also the tail of the FR-S does not rotate as easily upon mid-corner throttle application allowing me to apply more throttle earlier and much more confidence inspiring. I believe this, at least for me, 'should' translate to faster laps.