Bilstein Damptronic pics.

[InvalidJohnny5]

Is there an ETA on these?

[DougW]

Still tweaking the package as far as ride height and spring/ camber plates so it will probably be in December after all the trade shows before I finalize everything, so far so good. Looks like a 1" drop with a 350lb spring is a good fit for travel/ ride, the question is if you drop it more you will need special camber plates like HVT so maybe several different versions depending on application. I need to get with Bilstein to see if the new B14 can be stuffed with the damptronic pistons this would help on cost.
DougW

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by DougW

Still tweaking the package as far as ride height and spring/ camber plates so it will probably be in December after all the trade shows before I finalize everything, so far so good. Looks like a 1" drop with a 350lb spring is a good fit for travel/ ride, the question is if you drop it more you will need special camber plates like HVT so maybe several different versions depending on application. I need to get with Bilstein to see if the new B14 can be stuffed with the damptronic pistons this would help on cost.
DougW

Hi Doug, been following this thread for quite some time now and I want to say thanks for bringing such an innovative product to the FRS/BRZ/'86 market.

My question is in regards to ride height. IMO a -1.25" to -1.5" drop seems to suit this car best from a visual perspective. Looking at many of the members cars here, I see something similar -1" to -2". So by "several different versions" are you referring to multiple Damptronic "packages" with hardware appropriate to the ride height and possibly even spring rate to suit demand? That would be ideal for me as I would like to keep my -1.25" drop. If not can you offer recommendations for hardware to accomplish this?

[DougW]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Hi Doug, been following this thread for quite some time now and I want to say thanks for bringing such an innovative product to the FRS/BRZ/'86 market.

My question is in regards to ride height. IMO a -1.25" to -1.5" drop seems to suit this car best from a visual perspective. Looking at many of the members cars here, I see something similar -1" to -2". So by "several different versions" are you referring to multiple Damptronic "packages" with hardware appropriate to the ride height and possibly even spring rate to suit demand? That would be ideal for me as I would like to keep my -1.25" drop. If not can you offer recommendations for hardware to accomplish this?

Here's the deal the damptronic piston adds 2" to the internal normal piston so I loose some travel, if you lower it 2" I have to add 2" to the spring hat to get the shock travel. What I did on Austin's car was make camber plates that had extra travel I didn't want to get into the spring/camber plate side of this. If you look at the geometry -2" only gives 1 more inch of travel before everything goes crazy so you either have to run high spring rates or rework your sub frames to get more travel this is why 12" from center to fender is really the minimum for a street car this is a 2" drop from stock. Since these all have to be made making custom versions isn't a problem and ultimately lets me sort out over the next years what works best, as I said still sorting this out.
The good news is we are way ahead of a standard set of coil overs in both ride and turn in, just need to put a nail in it and make some decisions as to the package/price.
DougW

[RYU]

Doug, thanks for answering the shock travel problem. It's especially horrible in the rear.

Perhaps you can consider a solution like this.

By the way, I love the B14 idea. That gives you a prepackaged damper housing specifically for the 86.

[OICU812]

Man auto adjusting ride sounds dreamy. I really appreciate all the work going into this sure wish it was available now waiting always sucks.

[DougW]

Originally Posted by RYU

Doug, thanks for answering the shock travel problem. It's especially horrible in the rear.

Perhaps you can consider a solution like this.

By the way, I love the B14 idea. That gives you a prepackaged damper housing specifically for the 86.

Ok, so my package needs to include LCAs, springs and hats, you are probably right but my business is selling controllers we are seeing mission creep. I've been looking at Coparts to build a track car, so here I go again this is how I got into racing years ago. The LCAs don't fix the geometry, they help but the only right way to go below 2" and have travel is to relocate the rear subframe up into the car.
DougW

[welllam]

Any ball park figure on pricing? Wondering if this gonna be a dream or a buy.

[DougW]

They should fall in around $3200.00 for the shocks harness and controller, what I'm working on is a complete package with springs and camber plates for 1.5" lowered cars. We still need some track time but with the end of year and my crazy schedule it's going to be late Nov before we can dial the track package in.
Thanks for looking
DougW

[InvalidJohnny5]

Hopefully all the kinks of the project are worked out by next August, that's when I come back from my deployment.

[DougW]

Originally Posted by InvalidJohnny5

Hopefully all the kinks of the project are worked out by next August, that's when I come back from my deployment.

Should be, I will give discounts to support our troops, thanks for your service.
DougW

[OICU812]

So if a customer wants 1.250" lower no big deal just mention and you'd tailor to that?

Also for someone rarely racing and just seeking ultimate comfort street/hwy you're confident these will be bees knees for that purpose as well?

[DougW]

Originally Posted by OICU812

So if a customer wants 1.250" lower no big deal just mention and you'd tailor to that?

Also for someone rarely racing and just seeking ultimate comfort street/hwy you're confident these will be bees knees for that purpose as well?

The street ride is fantastic even with 350lb springs, the track is unknown at this point because of lack of testing. I know this same package on Porsche 997s at VIR and several other PCA events works great so I'm sure with a little spring tuning it will be great as well. If you stay in that 1.5" and under range then the current package works when you get lower than that then camber plates and special spring spacers are required.
DougW

[InvalidJohnny5]

Will these work with STI springs?