Ohlins Road & Track for FRS/BRZ suspension install/review thread

[Anthonytpt]

Not sure if you ever make the trek out to Orange County from Hacienda Heights, but if you do I'd love to go for a ride to see how these are.

[OICU812]

Looks awesome Mav, what size wheels and tires? Looks meaty!!

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Anthonytpt

Not sure if you ever make the trek out to Orange County from Hacienda Heights, but if you do I'd love to go for a ride to see how these are.

Yes definitely.. I usually don't end up at any meets but will let you know if opportunity arises.

Originally Posted by OICU812

Looks awesome Mav, what size wheels and tires? Looks meaty!!

Work VS-XX
18x9" +34
18x9.5" +39

Toyo T1 Sport
245/35-18
255/35-18

It was a semi-clone of the MotivConcepts BRZ: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29290

(except the fronts are more aggressive tire/wheel-wise).

-alex

[OICU812]

Nice, the T1s you're happy with comfort and road noise wise? Not a lot of folks run em and they look to me to be a great tire. Aysemetrical to I believe?

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Makes me wonder if Toyota/Subaru even spent as much time dialing in the shocks as they claim to have done... or if the FRS factory shocks are better? Hmm, thoughts to ponder.

The BRZ/FRS/86 all have identical shocks. Only difference is the spring rates

[OICU812]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Yeah, max is about 1.5" that you can lower. Maybe close to 2" if you preload the springs.

I prefer it this way, to be honest.

-alex

Honestly though even 1.250-1.5" is more then enough. Adjustment is all done via threading bottom body up on fronts and back correct or no? Just trying to understand this 100%. I know that's how rsr work and "think" that's how these are done to...

Bottom holes slotted for any camber there or all done up top for fronts? Vendors pics look like "no"?

[RYU]

any observations over the big bumps? does it feel like you're bouncing off the bumpstops?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by OICU812

Nice, the T1s you're happy with comfort and road noise wise? Not a lot of folks run em and they look to me to be a great tire. Aysemetrical to I believe?

Asymmetrical, yes. The road noise is actually better than I thought, given I'm running a 245/255 contact patch... comfort is pretty good, actually, but not sure if it's the suspension or the tires. It'll be more clear in a couple of weeks.

Although, I did manage to slide the car going to work today. Granted it was raining, but I had never been able to do that with stock tires.

Originally Posted by Fizz

The BRZ/FRS/86 all have identical shocks. Only difference is the spring rates

I know, just pondering out loud about things. I'm just surprised the stock suspension was so much worse at soaking up larger bumps.

Originally Posted by OICU812

Honestly though even 1.250-1.5" is more then enough. Adjustment is all done via threading bottom body up on fronts and back correct or no? Just trying to understand this 100%. I know that's how rsr work and "think" that's how these are done to...

Bottom holes slotted for any camber there or all done up top for fronts? Vendors pics look like "no"?

Same with most other "double adjustment" coilover setups: you loosen the lower mount (the part that bolts to the spindle/upright assembly), and you can either 1) loosen it completely from spindle and turn, or 2) turn the shock body (with spring rotating) to adjust height.

I will note some exceptions to this in my 2nd post in a few days, when I set my ride height.

Originally Posted by RYU

any observations over the big bumps? does it feel like you're bouncing off the bumpstops?

Not even remotely close. I have not come close to even bottoming out the suspension, and big(ger) bumps have not given me any issues. In fact, the stock suspension was more at risk of bouncing off bumpstops...

-alex

[mav1178]

Updated 2nd post with some install pics and notes.

-alex

[Racecomp Engineering]

For anyone thinking of doing this, 450lb springs ALSO feels AMAZING on these. I had them on for 8 weeks before we started our part out. ( yes these are now on the bench after only 1000 miles and looking for a new home). The valving handles the 450 lb rates with no problem. I found 9/10 to be the sweet spot for aggressive daily and back roads. These are consistent with the EVOX Ohlins we tried and the original GD STI Swedish valved shocks from July of 2005.

Myles

[OICU812]

Hey Mav how's your impressions now that you've settled em in and driven on em more? What was your finalized ride height?

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by OICU812

Hey Mav how's your impressions now that you've settled em in and driven on em more? What was your finalized ride height?

Lkewise. WOuld love to hear more impressions on these dream-coilovers

RCE..any track/autox time on these?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by OICU812

Hey Mav how's your impressions now that you've settled em in and driven on em more? What was your finalized ride height?

Originally Posted by fooddude

Lkewise. WOuld love to hear more impressions on these dream-coilovers

I plan on raising the fronts a tiny bit after I get the @Raceseng Cascam upper mounts (by about 5mm), rears I most likely won't lower it anymore and will live with the height.

The coilovers have approximately 20 clicks of adjustment. 1 being the harshest (full clockwise) and 20 being the softest (full counterclockwise):

Street:

• 10-12 clicks yields the best results for Los Angeles streets. This may be a combination of my tires (Toyo T1 Sport) with the coilovers, but a firmer street setting has better rebound control and ride quality
• Ride quality is phenomenal: the car, aside from sharp angle driveways, doesn't feel lowered or on stiff suspension.
• Dust buildup on threads and springs is about normal. I've taken the wheels off around 6 times in the last 3 months, and really have not had to clean the suspension excessively

Track:

• I've experimented with anywhere from 2-6 clicks on the coilovers, and found (so far) that bumpier tracks do best with around 5 clicks. I have yet to run any super-smooth tracks, but will dial in a stiffer setting on those.
• This is a true "road and track" setup: on the track, I just set the dampening stiffer, set tire pressures, and go. There's minimal dialing in of the suspension, and I can focus more on driving and having fun. Don't get me wrong, lots of adjustment is great, but for those without suspension tuning experience and always asking about what settings to dial in KW V3s at, you'd do better to invest in something single-adjustable like Ohlins.
• No bottoming out issues with the coilovers, even flying over berms at full speed. I have not run them over FIA-spec berms yet, will do that later this year with Laguna Seca or Sears Point.

I did notice the price was dropped, selling price now is lower than what I paid for last year with my discount.

-alex

[OICU812]

@mav1178

Alex great writeup!

In this picture is you're front setting lowest setting that looks right about where I'd want to be actually to be honest, how much more could you go on back? I know I've asked this before but now I have a straight on side pic and I know tires etc you're running. In this pic do you have much lore low you can go on backs? Thx !!