Standard Shocks vs Sachs Performance package
 

Hi all,

Does anyone know how significant a difference the PP Sachs dampeners really make over standard? I believe they were offered starting 2017 as part of the available Performance Package on limited models. Are they a noticeable improvement over the standard or just a slight change?

Thanks!

IMHO they are too stiff for the street and not stiff enough for the track

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I really enjoy them on the PP BRZ. I have a friend with a stock example, it is more crashy over bumps but nowhere near what a poorly sub-$1200 coilovers would be like. I think it's perfection for a street car that sees minor HPDE

People either love the Sachs or hate them. If you search these forums you'll see plenty of people who couldn't wait to swap out the Sachs dampers for coilovers. The common complaint being that they are crashy.

On the other end of the spectrum is that people have said the Sachs dampers are very comparable to the Bilstein B6. So yes they are firm and have good damping for stock suspension.

The Sachs are actually more compliant while offering better control.

They only get crashy when you pair them with lowering springs.

The Sachs in my 2017 felt crashy with the OEM spings.

The suspension was the second thing I swapped, tyres were the first.

The roads here are quite bumpy though.

As with everything, Opinions may vary

When you say "crashy" what do you mean exactly?

Newer models with softer springs are far from crashy. Still firm, sure, but at least the rear doesnt skate around on potholes etc like the 2013 models.

The sachs are good if you can find them for cheap. I wouldn't pay $200+ a shock for em though.

I have a 2013 FR-S which had standard shocks for some time.
Those definitely felt a bit overdamped and crashy.

I then switched to PP Sachs when one of my stock Showas started leaking at 65k miles.
My impression of the differences:
The Sachs have a bit more low speed compression, so initial turn in support is improved. The stock FR-S shocks like you would hit the rear bump stops with a higher shock velocity which I feel made the car more tail-happy. The Sachs mitigate this to some extent, also the bump stops are a different color and possibly have a different spring rate range.
The Sachs don't have a ride quality that I feel is leaps and bounds better than the FR-S. They both have a sensation of feeling overdamped, the Sachs maybe a little less so.
Neither is really what I'd call a track-ready shock/spring setup. On bumpy tracks and sticky tires(<=200tw), you will find the available travel is insufficient. On high-g corners with some bumps, the chassis will have some oscillations from that lack of travel. (Buttonwillow's Riverside comes to mind)

I've never felt that Subaru's suspension tech/tuning was great. Whether on my 06 STi, 11 WRX hatch or the newer WRX/STI, the suspension leaves a lot to be desired.

With that being said, I've been a long time BMW guy so that's my comparison. Not trying to sound like a BMW snob, but I think a lot can admit, manufactures have "chased" BMW for years....whether that's steering feel, suspension tuning, exterior styling, technology, etc, they've WERE the "benchmark" for many, many years (nowadays is different as they've seemed to lost their way).

The non PP suspension, IMO, is better on the street than the PP suspension. The PP suspension is over damped for most street applications (I live in NH). Yet, the PP suspension isn't great on track (very, very few stock suspensions are good on track).

Again, just my $0.02.

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with lowering springs, you get a much harsher ride because the damping curves are specific to the oem springs. You typically get overdamped compression and underdamped rebound.

Yeah I can attest to this. Got lowering springs on Sachs. Don’t care for the ride at all. Wish I went with coilovers. Lesson learned.


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Which Springs did you go with?

When test-driving new BRZs back in 2017, I found the PP cars to have noticeably more high-speed compression damping and 7/10ths handling felt more go-kart-like vs. non-PP. The non-PP cars seemed to me to have a smoother ride but still handled great. I really don't think the PP Sachs dampers are "better", just different. At the time I preferred the PP dampers but now I think the harshness in highspeed damping isn't warranted and gets kinda old sometimes. Anyway, I went with the PP primarily for the brakes. I hate changing pads with sliding calipers...