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Racecomp Engineering BRZ build!

We've been meaning to put this together for a little while. This thread will document the build of the RCE shop BRZ and testing of our own parts and the parts of various other manufacturers.

About us:

We're a group of function-first suspension guys dedicated to providing quality parts to the community and doing our best to educate customers as best we can. We like a car that looks good, but done right with the proper attention paid to handling and ride.

Since our founding in 2003, Racecomp Engineering components have been found on everything from daily drivers, to SCCA autocross national championship winning cars, to Speed World Challenge GT racecars.

-------------------------------

Early in 2012, we had a unique opportunity to get a first hand look at the BRZ. We were able to get some time behind the wheel as well as do a lot of measuring and testing well before the car was released to the public. We knew we were extremely fortunate to have that access to the car and we immediately went to work on the R&D for our RCE Yellow springs.

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Initial testing and R&D session at RCE headquarters, early 2012.

Tearfully, we had to give the car back at the end of its stay in our shop. Myles immediately put a preorder in for the shop BRZ, a white Limited model just like the one we sampled. Here's Myles' write-up on the experience and first drive review of the BRZ:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4535

We had a set of BBS CH-R 18x8 +38 wheels as well as another set of prototype RCE Yellow springs ready and waiting for Myles to take delivery. More testing on the springs and other parts was undertaken immediately.

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RCE BRZ with RCE Yellow prototype springs and BBS CH-R wheels

From this thread:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7932

Stay tuned....

Next up, Bryan at JRZ asked us to test their latest RS1 coilover for the BRZ. Naturally we obliged...

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JRZ RS1 coilovers and the RCE BRZ

These are a single adjustable monotube high pressure damper. Intended as a streetable clubsport application that is capable of hardcore auto-x and track time while still being comfortable on a daily driver

Rates used were 400 lbs/in front and rear (7 kg/mm) but as with any JRZ damper tons of range on the shock to go much stiffer. Tons and tons of stroke with these as well. Even with these rates the car is very smooth. On full soft it is SOFT.

A few of Andrew's comments on the coilovers:

Quote:

JRZ is known for a good amount of low piston speed compression valving and high gas pressure to provide "platform" and to control the unsprung mass. Just a tremendous amount of control and response without running a ton of high piston speed damping that overwhelms the car.

I went for a 30 minute drive yesterday in Myles' car on the JRZ's. No one does high piston speed compression valving like JRZ. First thing I said when we hit a small bump. AND it has tons of bump travel. The car rides so damn smoothly....I kept turning to Myles saying "I can't believe these are 400 lbs/in springs!"

The ride is as good or better than stock. I hate saying that because you always see it and then ride in some guy's car that's bouncy and crashes over sharp bumps, then the guy turns to you and is like "Pretty much the same as stock right?" Uhhh no. Well, this time I was just floored by the ride and laughed as I drove over broken pavement because it really is that good.

Ride quality is waaay better than my MINI with Konis, soft-ish springs, and non-runflat tires, which rides much better than a stock MINI for reference.

A big test for me is the "girl who doesn't care about cars" test. Lets say you pick up a girl for a date. She knows your into cars but maybe that isn't her thing (but she's really hot, er....really cool so you're giving it a chance). As your driving to the *farmers market or whatever boring thing she wants to do, do you feel like you need to apologize that parts of her body and yours bouncing all over the place? Are you worried she's not gonna want to get back in your car?

And lets pretend she actually IS into cars and knows a thing or two....is she gonna laugh at your poorly valved dampers and tell you that you're compression valving is just not digressive enough for her? If so, apologize, then sell your crappy coilovers and marry her immediately.

Anyway, all that talk about ride isn't to say that these are just a comfort thing. A well damped and smooth damper is FAST. Flying around corners soaking up mid-corner bumps WITHOUT upsetting the car....very nice. The car is flat, well balanced, and reacts well on entry and exit. The car is so stable and confidence inspiring, yet it still has TONS of grip and you can keep turning the wheel and it keeps turning. Commit to a corner and you aren't fighting anything. Get on the brakes and straighten the wheel a bit, no drama.

This was on stock swaybars.

- Andrew

*I actually love the farmers market here in Bmore.

We also added a set of STI rear pillowball arms:

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Quote:

I know this is about the shocks and I know this is a pricey option but for some, they wont want to spend time or money pressing out and in poly bushings. these went on in about an hour. We also replaced rear camber bushings from Whiteline. I can tell you that the amount of feedback from the rear is AMAZING ! Any shifter karters out there who know how to wag the tail of a 125 or a 100 yamaha/Emmich sprint kart know what I mean, but now you feel that the rear is "CONNECTED" to the main body/frame. Cornering is predictable. Very solid feeling modification. This is one of those mods that is hard to describe or quantify as its benefit is confidence inspiring to even those with ALOT of experience. At the limit you feel as though the line between grip and drift is easier to manage. Under HARD braking the car tracks much straighter.

I had these on my 04 STI and the pillowballs are sealed with a bearing cover and never made noise or had any play.

I am doing this on our 2011 WRX ASAP.

Myles
RCE

Also, I put together this post on spring rates and motion ratios a while ago:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9936

I'll keep this space saved for any other tech articles we write.

- Andrew

I need to drive up and see the shop one of these days...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering (Post 421633)

About us:

We're a group of function-first suspension guys dedicated to providing quality parts to the community and doing our best to educate customers as best we can. We like a car that looks good, but done right with the proper attention paid to handling and ride.....

Stay tuned....

You sound like my kind of people. Subscribed. :popcorn:

Thanks guys! We hope to have an open house this fall when it's not so damn hot out.

Still a ton of stuff in the works. Swaybars, RCE Tarmac II coilovers, camber plates, a few surprises here and there....

- Andrew

Attachment 14440

Attachment 14441

Ooops ! kinda big !

STI front lip spoiler.

Myles

nice lip! where did you guys order it from?

Love the choice of wheels. They look spectacular on the BRZ:thumbsup:

Those coilovers sound awesome, this part was pretty damn funny.

Quote:

And lets pretend she actually IS into cars and knows a thing or two....is she gonna laugh at your poorly valved dampers and tell you that you're compression valving is just not digressive enough for her? If so, apologize, then sell your crappy coilovers and marry her immediately

:bellyroll:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayau (Post 421900)

nice lip! where did you guys order it from?

we source these from Japan. We have 1 extra in stock at the moment.

Mw

Excellent color choice ;)

So what's the downside of the STI rear pillowball arms? Are they just less comfortable/harsher? If so, how much so? I'd be interested in trying them out...