Showa spring/shock available soon
 

http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1110.jpg

May not be of much interest in the US, but Showa (the OE maker of the 2013-2016 FRS/BRZ shocks) also has performance springs/shocks available for the car.

A worthwhile upgrade to consider should you have a need for it.

Sports:

• 31N/mm / 41N/mm front/rear
• -5mm / -10mm lower vs stock
• ~$860-900 MSRP for spring/shock combo

Evolution w/ SFRD technology:

• 35N/mm / 44N/mm front/rear
• -15mm / -15mm lower vs stock
• ~$1200-1300 MSRP for spring/shock combo

Showa makes fine stuff. I'd definitely give these a look, considering the pricing. Those spring rates are pretty light, which is nice for places that have rough roads. It all comes down to how the shocks are valved.

http://www.showa-tuning.com/evolution.html

Google Translate:

Gen 2? :O I would love a set.

Gen 2 what?

I can get it if you're serious about it.

Haha - yeah, I found that as well...love the translated text.


As long as the high speed damping isn't too harsh, the light spring rate could produce a nice ride on choppy roads and potholes/expansion joints/etc. That's always been my gripe with aftermarket performance shocks...they crank up both low and high speed damping too much for street use....more low speed damping gives you better feel, but high speed damping increases should be kept at a minimum for compliance on the street. Sometimes I think manufacturers just say "20% increase on spring rates, 20% increase in damping", across the board..."

SFRD .. something similar to tein's EDFC?

Since these are fixed damping I think it would be something closer to Koni's FSD.

What about comparing this with tein flex z coilovers?

Compare how so?

Showa is fixed lowering height. Damping is not adjustable. Stock upper mounts are reused.

Tein is the complete opposite of all the above.

These are nice! Pricing is great. Quality should be very good as well. As a note for early cars (2012-2017) ride height is -10mm Front -15mm Rear and pricing is even less at only $1150 MSRP.

http://www.showa-tuning.com/_src/sc491/SFRD_web1.jpg

http://www.showa-tuning.com/_src/sc492/SFRD-2.jpg

I've already provided feedback to them on this. It's a bit annoying but they list these following spring specs:

Sport:

• ZN6 MT 31/41 N/mm, -5/-10mm
• ZN6 AT 31/41 N/mm, -5/-10mm
• ZC6 MT 31/42 N/mm, -10/-15mm
• ZC6 AT 31/41 N/mm, -5/-10mm

Evolution:

• ZN6 MT 35/44 N/mm, -10/-15mm
• ZN6 AT 35/44 N/mm, -10/-15mm
• ZC6 MT 35/44 N/mm, -15/-15mm
• ZC6 AT 35/44 N/mm, -10/-15mm

There are 6 different part numbers for essentially 2 cars. I'm trying to convince them to make this list shorter and more simple.

P.S. Japanese MSRP is not accurate, because you cannot get these in a timely fashion direct from Japan as they cannot be shipped via air.

-alex

Any experience with Japanparts.com's purchase service (not the regular catalog but specifically this service?) Looking for anyone that's used it and what their experience was.

https://www.japanparts.com/forwardin...rchase_service

Their purchase service is fine, I'm sure... they are just offering to bid on things on Yahoo Auction or other 3rd party seller sites.
The shipping is still the same... You cannot ship shock cartridges or assemblies with compressed air in them via any courier that flies.

If it goes ocean freight, for something super small like this the shipping charges are absurd.

A small list of the ocean charges that are itemized:

• loading charges
• export handing
• terminal handling - origin
• BAF
• export customs clearance fee
• terminal security fee
• fuel surcharge
• import service fee
• AMS fee
• chassis surcharge
• LCL container freight station - dest
• fuel
• doc preparation
• pickup - origin
• ocean freight LCL (actual shipping charge)
• ISF filing fee
• delivery
• duties - destination

Last time I shipped 2.0 M3 (2 cubic meters) from Japan via LCL, it cost me roughly $1150 before US duties are applied.

Ouch! Do you have a recommended US distributor for Showa products like this?

I think the BRZ versions aren't as easy to come by, I'm tempted by these and have been looking at them for a while. RHDJapan have the GT86 M/T versions listed however, but I think if you want a drop then you'd want the BRZ ones. Their shipping prices don't appear too crazy, £115-£150 to the UK.

https://www.rhdjapan.com/showa-tunin....html?___SID=U

Sounds like a type of high speed compression blow off like a Ohlins DFV.

While there may be stuff on the market with more features at lower price points, but if these fit your needs exactly or closer than the other options then why not? Why pay for features you wont use anyway and deal with drawbacks that might come with them?

I know a few, PM me if serious.

The problem is shipping only calculates weight/dimension, does not take into consideration that compressed gas cartridges cannot be sent via air. This is usually flagged after an order is placed.

-alex

Some more pics.

Springs:
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1212.jpg

Shock body w/ Subaru stamping, they are the OE manufacturer of the stock FRS/86/BRZ shocks up to 2016.

http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1209.jpg
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1216.jpg

The front struts have different paint on the shock bolt/upright mounts, so the red paint is not prematurely worn down. Retains the look of performance shocks for longer.

http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1215.jpg

The biggest difference is the shock body itself. It is much longer/lower than the OE shock, even though the stroke of the shaft is shorter. Here's some comparison to a stock 2016 shock:

http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1218.jpg
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1219.jpg
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1220.jpg
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1223.jpg
http://media.frsport.com/IMG_1224.jpg

Where do I get these?

We will have them on our site in the near future.

Sports kit will be around $760 and Evolution will be around $1050-1100

Want..

The Showa Evolution and Sports Suspension kits are now listed on our site... Please PM me with your zip code for pricing.

Sports kit:

http://media.frsport.com/86-1.jpg

Evolution kit:

http://media.frsport.com/86_evo.jpg

Do you guys plan on demoing how the SFRD works and its benefits? I think that would be a good idea and 'help' people's decision to buy this over many of the other setups in this price range.

The only unfortunate thing about these is that they seem to use the OE sized spring & spring perch. Which means that wheels like 17x9 +45 probably won't fit.

The point of OE replacement shocks is not for wide wheel fitment. The same could be said for Bilstein and any other shocks that can be reused with stock springs.

Adjustable coilovers are great but the vast majority of people using them do not understand how to use and maintain them properly.

Here's a little more info that I found as I'm getting ready to install a set (courtesy of the Googs translator (not much, but the picture is becoming clearer).) Waiting on camber plates and an appointment window at my favorite alignment shop.

https://translate.google.com/transla...-text=&act=url

https://www.showa1.com/jp/technology...mg/h1_sfrd.jpg

Aim of development

It was possible to vary the damping force without resorting to electronic control and aimed at achieving both ride comfort and steering stability of the vehicle under various circumstances.

Technical features, superiority

Generally, the variable damper electronically changes the damping force by sensing the vehicle condition such as the suspension working stroke of the suspension, SFRD adopts a frequency response type damping force adjustment structure that can handle high frequencies , The frequency of the road surface is automatically determined mechanically and the damping force is varied smoothly.

By doing this, it operates smoothly on a rough road surface and firmly stepping on a corner, so that the ride comfort and steering stability of the vehicle are compatible under various circumstances.

Yep, I know. This is one of the reasons I didn't go Bilsteins :)

Yeah, tell me about it. It looks like I'm going to have to spend hundreds of dollars to get my ASTs re-valved to get them how I want them.

do they sell just the shocks alone?

I really do like these and was almost about to pull the trigger on them. But part of me really wants to wait until the spring rates for the following get discovered
stock 2017 brz PP suspension
sti pink springs
2015 jdm brz TS suspension
2018 USDM brz TS suspension (most likely a revised sti pink to work with sachs damper)

Just to get a better understanding of where the stock and OEM-ish suspensions are coming from before I move on from the 2017 PP suspension.

but for real I'm my this now trigger finger is itching for this lol!

I'll be honest and say these are probably an upgrade over stock 2013-2015 shocks, and practically the same as what you have on your car now (stock shocks by Sachs).

The ride quality may be marginally better given that the shock design is meant for a mildly lowered application, however you can probably get more meaningful performance upgrade from swapping out tires.

The spring rate won't matter much given how soft they are.

Trying to figure out if they do or not. Showa sells this as a complete package in Japan.

To me it looks like B6 looks a bit better offering from somewhat same budget class. Or depending on type of use, maybe also Koni Yellows, Flex Z or Tarmac 0. Of course if i'd live in Japan, it might be different, but adding on top of base price shipping & import charges, +no local serviceability ..

Probably, but:

• Adjustable coilovers should not be included on this list for comparison, it's not the same as non-adjustable OE replacement springs/shocks. They may be similar in price but the comparison should just end there. People shopping for STI springs aren't going to cross-shop low-end coilovers, and vice versa.
• I'm working with the importer on establishing warranty/service/support in the US. They are Showa's distributor in Japan.
• No import charges for North America. Obviously you are not in North America so parts of this doesn't apply for you.

A serious question: Is Bilstein B6 a better option? Why?

I was kind of suspecting that about the OEM-ish options compared to the 2017 pp suspension. I guess I've just been waiting for someone to test them. I also wanted to wait until more 2017 specific options came out whether its in the aftermarket like these showas or the 2018 TS stuff STI is going make for it.

But I also like these because it's nice to have someone think of the shock travel and modify it to go with the spring instead of lowering the spring only and not taking the stock shocks piston travel parameter shift.

So I see there is one of these in stock on their website, I also see these are designated as 2017 specific can FRSport or anyone else shed some light on why or how the 2013-2016 version is different from the 2017 version?

Also I would like to know if springs made for the stock shocks are interchangeable with the springs in this set up?

It would be neat to add a 25mm drop spring into this shock because it would only be operating 10mm lower than it was intended to instead of operating 25mm (1in) lower thank it was intended to if it was on an OEM shock. Of course there is the rear axle issue that comes with lowering but never the less interesting.

To address your questions:

• The Evolution kit(s) all come with the same shock, but Showa has a different part number for the 2017+ kouki models. I was told by Showa's importer that the springs are different, I suspect the springs are slightly progressive rate and may have slightly different overall feel vs the 2013-16 zenki models. On paper the springs are virtually the same rate.
• The shocks are OE replacement, so any OE replacement aftermarket springs will work with this setup.
• It would be, except it won't be as intended and may be lowered past the optimum range. Plus, Showa as a company is very conservative and they tend to stay on the safe side when it comes to parts.

Any perceived improvements from this new set vs. the 13-16 sti pink spring/silver sti strut combo? Im constantly battling crappy roads, and would prefer this comfort focused style over a coilover system if tye performance benefits/height (raise) arent diminished.

Hard to say without driving two identical cars side by side w/ these springs/shocks vs yours.

If your suspension is still stock and have significant mileage on them, they may very well be worn out.

Im interested in a sti silver strut pink spring comparison to these (my current setup). By the look of the extended body, there is more travel to help keep the springs soft which will help with the crap roads around here that eat up most suspensions travel and make for a bouncier ride.