shock questions
 

HI All,

I plan to buy the pink STI spring for my BRZ.
I have some questions as below.

1. What's different (road quality, handling..etc) between using the stock
shock and aftermarket one (ex. Bilstein B8)?



ps. 1. STI spring only have minor drop (15 mm) on both from and rear.
2. I am a daily driver without any track or autocross.

I hope can make the car more comfortable and also improve
some handling.


2. I saw the picture from Subaru BRZ Sti ts
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=53

Did they also use Bilstein B8?
Thanks a lot.

1)
Aftermarket shocks will have a different range of optimal damping. For example, the Bilstein B6's are used for non lowering springs. The B8's on the other hand should be used with lowering springs like RCE yellows. The valving is different for each.

2)
More comfortable but improving handling is a tough one with just springs. Since Koni have adjustable dampers, a set of those with some RCE yellows or B8's with Swifts would be a good setup. You can substitute the STI Pinks for those springs. I'm unsure if the B8's are adjustable or not.

Why you suggest using other spring (RCE,Swifts...etc) instead of STI?
Thanks again.

Simply because I have heard more about those than the STi Pinks, that's all :)

Recommend Swift as a lowering spring, but definitely not optimal.

B6 and B8 have the same valving. You can Google B6 and B8 differences. Only difference is B8 is meant for lowering springs and B6 is meant for OEM springs.

I don't think that's always true....

I realize there's lots of stuff on the web that says so but I don't think its definitive.

- Andy

"The BILSTEIN B6 Sport is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber designed to dampen wide-ranging vibrations very precisely. Where an oil shock absorber produces an oily foam and creates a spongy driving feeling after a very short distance, the BILSTEIN B6 Sport remains constant, precise and stable. The BILSTEIN B8 Sprint is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber specifically designed to be used with lowered vehicles with shorter stroke. It also offers the same advantages as the BILSTEIN B6 Sport shock absorber."

From the Bilstein website. My thinking that they have different valving is becuase the B8s are designed for a shorter stroke, rather than the B6, which would require more aggressive valving...I could be wrong.

HI All,


What kinds of different drive feeling that I should expect compare using
STI pink spring (or other) on stock shock and Bilstein B8?
Thanks again.

Stock shock vs B8, or B6, a Bilstein Monotube, is going to be the difference between the stock liquid filled shock and a nitrogen gas Monotube. The B6/8 wi be more sensitive valving. Liquid filled dampers will feel soft and spongy, where as gas filled shocks will feel like new everyday.

Lowering springs will make stock shocks ride a bit firmer, the B6/B8 are probably more comofortable with a lowering spring than the stickers with a spring

HI,


Which setup (Stock or B8) you will suggest for the daily driver with mile drop (less than one inch ex. STI, TRD, Tanable, Swift..ect)?


ps. Compared with liquid filled and nitrogen gas stock, which has
longer lifetime?


Thanks.

I just ordered the Swift Spec R springs, the car is a DD with no track time?

thoughts?

Oh dear, longer lifetime? I would consult @CSG David about that one. That's as far as I can go lol. I would suggest some B8s with a spring of your choosing. A lot of people have had great success with RCE yellows, RCE Tarmacs or Swift. If you want to adjust the shock, than the Koni damper is the way to go.

Remember folks, if you put lowering springs on stock struts/shocks you will reduce their lifespan since they are not meant to operate in the range you are looking at with the lowering springs. RCE makes a set of springs that offer marginal lowering which will work with OEM Shocks/Struts.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
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