My 2 year old FR-s suspension refresh
 

After 2 fun filled years driving my 2013 FRS 23,000 miles, which included many canyon runs. It was time for a suspension refresh for improved performance. On my suspension build I wanted to do most of it at one time without replacing controls arms and such. That might be at a later time.
I did these mods for my FR-S to increase the performance shortly after I bought the car.
First I bought Enkei Fujin 17x7.5” wheels (3 lbs lighter/rim).
I preordered the Greddy Evo3 exhaust & Intake.They weren’t available yet. The exhaust came first, intake came later.
I recently purchased a set of Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3 (225/45 17) after putting 21,000 miles on the stock tires.
With every mod addition, i noticed increased performance.
Now it is time to increase the suspension performance.

After doing my research and patiently waited on Bilstein and TRD to come out with their products, I came up with this suspension refresh for my Daily Driver and Canyon Runner..

TRD Lowering springs
TRD Anti-sway bars
Bilstein B-6 Shocks (OEM size, recommended for the TRD lowering springs)
Whiteline bushings
KCA416 Camber adjusting bolt
KSR210 Steering- rack & pinion,
KDT926 Gearbox- positive shift kit
KDT925 Differential- mount in cradle & support outrigger insert bushings
KDT922 Rear Crossmember- mount insert bushings
Cusco Power Braces
Front Tower Bar (Type ALC OS)
Front Lower Control Arms
Front Crossmember bar (Type ll)
Rear Crossmember bar

After getting all the parts together, I had Shoreline Motoring in Huntington Beach, Ca. install them. They did a great job. I dropped the car off in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon.

After driving my FR-S for about a month with over 2,000 miles with canyon runs. This is what I noticed:

Front end lowered 1”, Rear end lowered 3/4”. Looks better even dropping that little.
Steers way better, Better turn ins. Tighter turns. Precision turns, Carving is amazing!
Better on freeway driving. Better connection to the freeway surface. It used to kinda feel like you are skating down the freeway, when driving on the thick grooves of the freeway. It did it less with the new tires but it is even better now.
You really feel connected to the road!
Traction is way better.
Better traction in the turns.
Of course, it stays way flatter and faster in the turns.
Bettering cornering going down hill on the off camber turns.
The ride is so much better. Now it is firm but not stiff. Before it was marshmellowy on the bumps and in the turns.
The car feels more solid, tighter and more nimble on the road.
Accelerates better, It almost feels like I got 10 more hp & 10lbs torque.
Better shifting
Better off the line.
Better driving up hill. Especially accelerating out of a turn going uphill on a switchback.
Better braking
Better canyon runs!!!

Am i forgetting anything?

Increased NVH from the differential, and transmission bushings. Not bad, just sounds more like my Toyota truck. But those bushings along with the rear crossmember inserts makes the car accelerate so much better!! It is also no big deal when you already have “crickets” and “water bottle creeks and vibration sounds”.

I think that covers it, If I think of something else, I’ll add later.

Overall, I’m very happy with my FR-s Suspension Refresh. Not did I only get improved suspension performance, but also improved acceleration performance.

With my suspension refresh, the original feel and sprit of the car has been retained. It has only been refined.

Lastly,
The car is even more fun to drive now!!!

Damn, that's a quality refresh.

CSG approved!

Those TRD kits with Bilsteins look like a very attractive upgrade for anyone to consider as the first set of mods to the suspension of these cars.

Why use the TRD springs?

so since the trd springs are design for stock shocks its better use b6 instead of b8?

Minimal lowering recommended not to upset feel & ride of car.

I followed the instructions. TRD knows the car better than I do. The B-8's are for lowering 2" or more.

It was one thing lead to another.
It started out as new tires. Then It was I might as well enjoy these new tires with some new Bilstein struts or coilovers. If I'm going to do the shocks or coil overs. I might as well do the lowering springs and antisway bars. It was either TRD or the Eibach pro kit. I went with the TRD even though it is made by Eibach. I figured the TRD engineering would be less likely to change the feel & ride of the car. The recommendation by TRD for OEM shocks solved struts or coilover question. This lead to, If I really want to do it right, I need some chassis & steering mods. Whiteline bushings. Which ones? I was recommended a list so I went for it. If I'm going to do bushings, I might as well do some bracing in key areas, Cusco.
I'm glad I did what I did. It cost some good money but well worth it. My suspension is pretty much complete for a long while.

I wish more people had your mentality to doing things with heavily R&D'd parts that have proven results, instead of trying to "find the cheaper way to do it" (and almost always getting less-optimal results).

Just curious, are these the USDM or JDM springs?

Also interesting note on the B8's only needed to be used on springs with a 2 inch drop...haven't read that elsewhere.

I believe the springs are made by Eibach in the US.

Who told you that?


As far as I can tell from the Bilstein website the B6 shock can be used down to a maximum is 30mm drop in ride height over the OEM. The B8 are recommended for a drop of 30mm - 50mm over OEM.


Also, It appears the B6 and B8 shocks have the same valving and therefore it would be best to get the B6s and re-valve them for the spring you intend to fit - if required as they are designed for a moderate rate increase over OEM springs.


I quite fancy the RCE yellows with the B6 dampers, though the Koni dampers are adjustable which might be nice for road/track use and I have no idea what spring rates the compression damping is set for. I suspect a compromise between rock hard and OEM.


Source:


http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/product...-service/faqs/

Thanks, I've been corrected.
Still the TRD lowering springs only lowered 25.4mm (1") in the front and 19.05mm (.75") rear. I installed the correct shock, the B6 over the B8. The ride is great. It has been refined from OEM, firm not marshmallowy or stiff. The Bilstein shocks with the TRD Lowering Springs are Awesome! I love the ride, perfect for a Daily Driver/Canyon Runner.

Man these TRD springs are looking better and better to me.