Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - Upgrade to Koni/Pro-Kit from Stock/Sportlines

Intro

I purchased a used 2014 BRZ Limited about 3 weeks ago. My intention is for this car to be my daily driver with some autocross here and there. The car had a few modifications:

38,700 miles
Perrin cold-air intake
Eibach Sportline lowering springs (stock shocks)

When I first test drove this car, I noticed the ride was harsh and somewhat bouncy, so I asked to test drive a new 2017 BRZ, which had a very smooth and compliant ride. I assumed that the harsh ride with the lowered 2014 BRZ was the reason the car was not selling for this low of an asking price (right under $17k).

I used to own a 2002 WRX when they first came out and made a number of suspension mods to that car, so I decided to purchase the 2014 BRZ with the harsh ride and low price and then upgrade to Koni adjustable shocks like I did on my old 2002 WRX.

After driving the car for a week to work (41 miles one-way), I was really questioning my decision on buying this car. The ride was really harsh on the freeway….sometimes hitting the bump stops on bumps and dips on the freeway. The first day I drove the BRZ to work, I hit this dip on the freeway at 70mph and the rear suspension hit the bump stops and it felt like I caught air under the rear tires. So, the car was really unsafe to drive above 70mph.

Installation of Koni/Pro-Kit springs and Driving Impressions

After the first week of driving the car to work with the diabolical suspension, I ordered the following:

New Koni yellow front struts and rear shocks
New Group N strut top mounts for the front struts
New KYB top mounts for the rear
New Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs (I like the look of the Sportline springs, but was concerned about having that much drop)

All parts came in last week...installed the rear Koni’s & springs first on Saturday morning then took a test drive. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face….the harsh ride was gone…hitting the bump stops over bumps was gone….the bounciness was gone….and I hadn’t even replaced the front suspension yet.

After a 20 minute joy ride…went back to the house to install the front Koni’s & springs then took another test drive. More improvement…just not as much of an improvement as when I replaced the rears.

Yesterday was my first day to drive to work with my new suspension… the car handled all the bumps and dips on the freeway under complete control when the previous suspension would sometimes hit the bump stops.

Final Review of stock shocks with Eibach Sportlines

I do not have the full history of this car since I am the second owner, but I believe the stock shocks were wore out (especially the rears) at 39,000 miles with the Sportline springs. Maybe I’m not hitting the bump stops anymore because I have a little more travel with the Pro-Kit springs versus the Sportline springs, but I don’t think 5/8” more travel would make that much difference. Maybe the top mounts were worn out also, but it wouldn’t explain me hitting the bump stops so often, especially at the rear. Btw, when I took off the original suspension with the Sportline springs, I checked the bump stops to make sure they installed the Eibach replacement bump stops with the Sportline springs instead of the factory bump stops, and they properly used the Eibach replacement ones.

One negative I’ve noticed with the Pro-Kit springs versus the Sportline springs is the steering is not quite as crisp and snappy with the Pro-Kit springs. Steering is still quick…just not as quick. It’s not a very big difference, but I noticed a difference.

Koni settings

Still playing around with the Koni settings…current settings are:

1-1/2 turns from full soft for the fronts
3/4 turn from full soft for the rears

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Conclusion

With all that being said…I highly recommend the Koni/Eibach Pro-kit suspension combination.