BC Racing coilovers help!
 

I cant wait any longer to lower my car so i have decided to go with BC Racing coilovers on my FR-S because i am on a budget, but i need help deciding wether or not to get the extreme drop and/or swift spring options or just get the standard coilover kit. How much lower does the extreme drop kit go compared to the standard kit and what exactly am i getting out of the swift spring upgrade? I'd like to see some pictures of u guys with the BC coilovers installed and know if u got the standard kit, extreme drop, or swift springs to have an idea how my car will look and handle when i get em. I'd really appreciate some help.

All your questions are based on your budget and your personal preference for the setup.

Shoot us a Message if you want and we can help go over all of the options with you :)

Thanks...im new here at the forums so i sent u an email

Wasnt even aware there was a "extreme low" model of the BC for our cars?!

-edit. Only heard of these for the GD subarus and Mazda 3s but did a quick search and found the "Extreme Drop" version of the BR coilovers are available for the BRZ/FRS for $75 more(according to the site they came up in my search). This is awesome news.

It did also note "Shorter springs - Negative preload" so it seems the strut body isnt any different but just a shorter spring which kind of sucks. I Remember on my old 06 STi, the bottom of the struts would hit the axle boots so the "Extreme Low" version offered shorter front struts to allow for lower ride height. If this is true then its kind of disappointing to pay extra for just a shorter spring ???

Theres actually no extra cost for the extreme drop kit. There is a $300 upgrade fee for the swift springs

This is an e-mail from Sam at BC Racing:

I mentioned to you that the extreme drop package is of no extra cost to you, but the swift upgrade is. I want to make sure that is clear.

Swift upgrades are 260.00 on top of the BR price.

Regards,

Sam

Depends on how low you are trying to go, Ive seen the BC standard kit drop the car low enough that my shop jack cant fit under the car on stock wheels.

I see they have a 8k, 9k, and 10k spring rate but what do these numbers mean?

Basically its a measurement of stiffness, the higher the number the stiffer the spring. Ive read somewhere on this board that the stock springs are in the 4.5k range and alot of aftermarket springs are usually in the 7-8k range for FR-S applications.

Well, if my stocks are in the 4.5k range then i think i will go with the 8k springs since im just using it as a dd, no track for me

im planning to run aggressive wheel set up and go as low as possible so 10k all around and damping set to full stiff

For those of you interested, we can do any custom kit available for the BC Racing coilovers.

WE don't charge extra for the extreme drop kits, but the Swift springs do incur a charge. Either way, we can help out with custom setups on the kits and any questions you guys have. We can also go over the springrate options (8k/6k, etc.) We are an longtime Authroized BC dealer so we have a pretty good working knowledge of this stuff ;)

So is it recommended to get a stiffer suspension the lower u go? I just want to cover the wheel gap on my frs and use it as a daily driver...will 8k springs and some damping adjustment be ok 4 me?

Theres no option to order the extreme drop kit on ur website or upgrade to swift springs. However there is an option for rear damping extenders. Sam at BC Racing told me the extreme drop kit will lower the car close to 3" as opposed to 2" with the standard kit. I think i am going to buy the extreme drop kit just to have the option to go lower if i ever want to but do u guys think the extreme drop kit with the 8k springs lowered just enough to cover the wheel gap is a good setup as a daily driver?

Yeah just realized we don't have the Swift kit in that section, we'll get it added. I can help in the meantime though. We'll shoot you a PM :)

when the wheels or tires are literally millimeters away from slapping on the fenders you'd want the least suspension travel. if youre just closing the gap you'll be fine with maybe 8k, but extreme cases you'd want stiffer.

this is my 2006 sti with very aggressive wheel fitment , as u can see milimeters away from the fender lol. Coils were around 6k/7kish set to full stiff. Still rubbed alot.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...91313224_n.jpg

Friend of mine had a 350z with very soft springs, he had about a half inch wheel gap and when he got in the it dropped about an inch+ . he hated the way it sat parked because he couldnt tuck tire due to how much the car dropped when he was in the car driving. Stiff springs wouldve solved that issue as he wouldve been able to lower the car as much as he wanted and wouldve looked good driving and "hard parked"

-Also i think the swift springs are a bit longer than the normal BC springs so possibly going with the swift springs option might limit the drop available. Maybe one of the vendors can confirm swift spring length versus BC spring length?:iono:

The Swift springs length depends on what rates you get, same for the BC's. The stiffer the spring the longer it will be...so bear that in mind.

The FT86 uses very compact springs and dampers - so there is very little room to work with.

You kind of need to lean to one side or the other - Stanced or Handling/Comfort.

I think i will be lowering the car about 2" but i want to have the option to go lower so i think i will get the extreme drop kit. If i get the basic 8k springs with the extreme drop kit, what should i be expecting as far as handling and comfort?

The 8k springs are what I would call a "firm street kit".

The more you lower the car the worse it will feel though. That's a fact for any coilover kit.

I dont have a lot of experience with coilovers, but my last setup was the Tein Basis Street coilovers on a 2002 Honda Accord which were great. The only disappointment was that they didnt lower the car as much as i would have like them to and once lowered all the way down it was actually not bad, kept the ride comfort pretty good. The front did sound like it was bottoming out though, but i didnt get to find out what exactly was causing that bottoming out-like noise.

If i lower the BC BR type coilovers, wether its the standard or extreme drop kit, all the way down, will i have any bottoming out issues?

Well..on a Tein Basis as you lower the car you are using up your shock travel, so you were probably bottoming out the shock on most bumps.


On the BCR kit you lower it with the lower clevis mount, so the shock travel will stay the same. So if you do it correctly you'll have the same shock travel no matter what height it is set at.

You still need to consider wheel and tire clearance as well. You will also alter the suspension geometry the ore you lower it, so keep that in mind. That will affect the ride and handling.

Is this a good site to get bc coilovers?

ive never had experience with this site, just used as an example to show the extra cost for the "extreme drop" version of the coils

Where's a good place to get bc with extreme drop and 10k springs?

i want a comfort ride what should be the spring rate

I have the base BR-type coilovers, and the springs that came with them are hella stiff.
I can't find any info on their spring rate, but it needs much less stiff springs.
I'm assuming mine are around 10k, and from what I've read, the stocks are ~4.5k.

Do you know what the OEM BR-type spring rates are?
I have them, and they are hella stiff!!
I can't find that info anywhere, and their website doesn't really offer any spec info.

[insert recommendation for Stance coils based upon good ride quality and lowering range here]

I'm laughing as I type this. Thanks.

i just picked up somed used BR's and they are installed but now i am hearing some noices at low speed, like pulling in a driveway or like driving it a parking lot. any one have some ideas?

Did you check to see if the coilovers were pre-loaded? Because if not then they will tend to make noise if not properly setup.

i honestly don't know what that is, Could you help me? haha cuz i just put them on

A little difficult to explain but here is video from BC Racing.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlqOA35NmAw"]BC Racing Coilover Spring Change and Preload Adjustment on Vimeo.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

Check it out. Tells you exactly how to set the preload. And if you still have issues after that shock my be blow or some bolts are loose elsewhere on the control arm, etc.

Thanks man!