Comfortable street-only winter-only dampers
 

I live in north east (salt and potholes in winter), have Ohlins R&T and love them...but would like to save them for warmer months.

I would like to swap Ohlins with another set of dampers and adjust camber during winter months to minimal negative camber. Have rear SPL LCA. I drive winter "sport" tires on stock rims for about five months (November - March), then swap to summer tires when temps get above 45F.

In colder months, I don't do any track, AX or spirited driving, averaging up to 250 miles per week.

What dampers should I consider for comfortable winter street driving, without reusing any part of the stock dampers, drop no more than about 1" and budget up to about $2k? I drove on stock dampers for about 7 months (July - Feb) and the ride on the street was harsher than I would prefer. Not looking for Cadillac ride, just more comfortable than stock on NY roads.

Considering Bilstein B14 with Raceseng camber plates and adapters.

Please advise, thank you

Just throwing this out there, but wouldn't the cost of twice a year alignments + new dampers equal the cost of a new set of Ohlins assuming the Ohlins last 3 years?

It would be cheaper to rebuild the ohlins more often. Or buy a set of stocks with Koni yellows in them.

Thanks, good points - it's hard to estimate how long it will take for Ohlins to deteriorate with winter driving in north east. Given about $1000 cost for swapping between dampers and realigning two times per year, it would add up to the total cost of Ohlins in about 3 years. However, with street/track/AX use only during summer months, Ohlins will be at their peak performance longer and require less frequent ($480 + shipping) rebuilds. If I left them on year-round, I would still want them rebuilt at least once every 2 years, which requires two damper swaps/alignments.

If I swapped them every winter, I would still have them rebuilt every other season.

My objective is not to save money at all cost but to have the most optimal solution in the long term.

Thoughts?

Time to build a spreadsheet!

I lived in new England for 20 years and spent the last 6 in alaska so I understand. I swap my brakes out in the winter too.

I would look at stock struts with Koni yellows in them and a mild spring unless you have clearance issues. But if you did the bilsteins wouldn't fit either.
There is always the option of contacting an ATV suspension company that makes neoprene boots and covering the ohlins. I do this on my dual sport bikes. Then the top hats would be the only possible weak point.
If youve got the cash cusco and trd make coilovers that RAISE the car and you could run a serious winter setup!

BTW, I do have a set of brand new stock dampers that came off the car when Ohlins were put on, so if just swapping springs to add comfort works, that's an option also. Do Koni Yellows add enough comfort from stock springs and without too much drop? Alternatives?

I also swap my AP Racing Sprint calipers and all rotors and pads to stock for winter.

Not sure never driven on them with this car but they are adjustable and high quality.

What about custom spring rates on stock struts?

If you did the suspension swap yourself that would drop your cost below $200.

Stock shocks and something like RS*R Down Sus springs (not to be confused with their Superdowns because you want your ride to be nice). RS*R Downs only give about 1/2" drop and a just a bit firmer than stock to compensate for that. You can trim the same amount from your OEM bumpstop (the hard end) for the best ride. $200.

http://www.rs-r.com/product/scion-fr...-springs-2012/
Approximate Drop:

• Front -10mm to -15mm (-0.4inch to -0.6inch)
• Rear -10mm to -15mm (-0.4inch to -0.6inch)

Spring Rates:

• Front 2.82kg/mm
• Rear 4.49kg/mm

Bilstein B6 would be an option worth considering.

- Andy

Thanks, with which springs for street comfort?