**NEW**Bilstein B8 HD Struts and Shocks Released

[dem00n]

When they are at the end of their life you could get them re-valved, no?

[Krispeee]

great option for strut/spring combo as opposed to cheap coilovers in the $1000 range. I'm now torn between RCE T0 and Tarmac/B8 HD combo as the price is almost the same (give or take $100).

Regardless, great news for the 86 platform with more viable options in the sub $1500 range.

[Victor Draken]

Originally Posted by Krispeee

great option for strut/spring combo as opposed to cheap coilovers in the $1000 range. I'm now torn between RCE T0 and Tarmac/B8 HD combo as the price is almost the same (give or take $100).

Regardless, great news for the 86 platform with more viable options in the sub $1500 range.

Yeah but... RCE T0 with stiffer spring is 1900 almost

By the way I still don't get what's better between:

B14 - RCE T0 - Spring/B8HD combo.

As someone said the spring/b8hd combo cost almost as much as the two coilovers listed above.

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

The B6 Kit will be a little less price wise but it's not valved in the same way.

[Krispeee]

Originally Posted by Victor Draken

Yeah but... RCE T0 with stiffer spring is 1900 almost

By the way I still don't get what's better between:

B14 - RCE T0 - Spring/B8HD combo.

As someone said the spring/b8hd combo cost almost as much as the two coilovers listed above.

You're right, the more aggressive spring rates on the RCE 0 puts them at RCE II price point.

I've asked the same question about B14 Vs. RCE T0 to Yo at FT86 SpeedFactory. Here's his reply:

"The spring rate on the RCE coils is stiffer than the Bilstein. They are also damped for the stiffer rates. The Bilstein uses a progressive spring, which means the spring get stiffer the more they compress. This gives you a softer rate will driving down the roads, but a stiffer rate while pushing it in the corners. The RCE coils will be more geared for the track compared to the Bilstein."

Hope that helps.

[Victor Draken]

Originally Posted by Krispeee

You're right, the more aggressive spring rates on the RCE 0 puts them at RCE II price point.

I've asked the same question about B14 Vs. RCE T0 to Yo at FT86 SpeedFactory. Here's his reply:

"The spring rate on the RCE coils is stiffer than the Bilstein. They are also damped for the stiffer rates. The Bilstein uses a progressive spring, which means the spring get stiffer the more they compress. This gives you a softer rate will driving down the roads, but a stiffer rate while pushing it in the corners. The RCE coils will be more geared for the track compared to the Bilstein."

Hope that helps.

Yes now we need the difference between B8 and B14/T0.

I would buy T0 with the stiffer springs if it wasn't around 1900$.
I still think a basic T0 is still better then the B14 due to not having progressive spring and I don't like eibach springs that much as well (B14 use eibach).

B8 give no height adjustability etc.
B14/T0 do.

I hope RCE or someonelse will make few test and help us decide between these 3 suspension upgrade that in my opinion are the good one (performance wise) on a sub 1500$ budget.

[fooddude]

What are the stiffest drop-in/lowering springs currently? The RCE Tarmac(grey)? front 5kg & rear 5.2kg correct?



B14: f 4.5kg & r 7kg (but progressive)
T lowering springs: f 5kg & r 5.2 kg
T0: f&r 5kg
T0 (w optional stiffer sprangs: f&r 6.3kg

So, maybe the new B8 shocks will be valved similarly to the B14's. And all of the above are seriously not that far apart/different. It's not like we're comparing a 6kg spring to a 14kg spring..so perhaps they will all be valved similarly to a point.

RCE stuff seems a bit over priced for what you get (no upper mounts, non-flipped front pistons and no separate sleeve design...even the T2 look cheaply made and ghetto...similar to the KW's that everyone seems to like - no flipped piston, no separate sleeve/shock mount, etc.) and/or charges a lot (ie: an extra 360 just for a stiffer spring option...it should be a free choice when order placed, or no spring included at all with a lower price so the customer can choose any spring at the same cost at any spring choice). Their lowering spring prices are astronomical too at almost $500 I just noticed.

At these prices of these american KW and RCE brands, I would just go Tein MonoFlex easily, or just save up for SRC or Ohlins.

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by Krispeee

"The spring rate on the RCE coils is stiffer than the Bilstein. They are also damped for the stiffer rates.

This may or may not be true regarding the dampening...but the R0 are f&r 5kg (unless you opt for the stiffer springs); which is not much of a difference than the B14's 4.5kg & 7kg (the rears of the B14 will be valved for much stiffer springs). Would the R0's be valved for both the softer 5kg and also the 6.3 option? ..even then, it is not too different than the B14s. Imo, I think it would come down to manufacturing, shock and valving design and quality and also R&D....if that were the case and if Bilstein took this product seriously, I would really think that the B14 would have been much better developed, designed and manufactured than the RCE's and might be the better choice. Heck, even those nice Ohlins coilovers come with pretty conservative spring rates out the box..but that doesn't mean they are lesser..they are most likely the best production coilover on the market.

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by lbejosano

Curious to see how these would go with the Ground Control cover sleeves.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Ditto. I'd love to see and hear about more GC users.

I am surprised not many use GC on these forums or on these cars these days. Are they bad or something? I used them on my EG in the early/mid 90s with some custom rates along with some tanabe adj struts iirc, and they were decent.

GC would be a nice option ...especially with the big selection of custom spring rates. You can easily choose something even stiffer than the RCE Tarmac's f:5kg r:5.2kg (not to mention the price would be similar) ...idk if the valving could keep up with stiffer rates though, so maybe just a little stiffer.. maybe 6kg or 7kg perhaps??

edit: after reading past threads of people using very stiff custom rates on their gc/koni coilovers (I read some tried 450lb or 8kg), maybe these B8's can easily handle 6-8kg springs.

[BRZPDX]

So I have Eibach sportlines, and the stock struts should be crapping out soon. So with Auto-X, DD and weekend canyon runs, do you guys recommend B8/spring setup or ~$1,500 coils?

Option A - Eibach sportline spring + B8 strut
Option B - FA500 coils
Option C - Bilstein B14 coils + camber plate
Option D - ST coils + camper plate

After putting my lip kits, I don't think I need to slam my car to have the lowered look. Any lower and my DD is gonna suffer a lot. So torn, what do you guys recommend? Will the Eibachs work well with these struts?

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Originally Posted by BRZPDX

So I have Eibach sportlines, and the stock struts should be crapping out soon. So with Auto-X, DD and weekend canyon runs, do you guys recommend B8/spring setup or ~$1,500 coils?

Option A - Eibach sportline spring + B8 strut
Option B - FA500 coils
Option C - Bilstein B14 coils + camber plate
Option D - ST coils + camper plate

After putting my lip kits, I don't think I need to slam my car to have the lowered look. Any lower and my DD is gonna suffer a lot. So torn, what do you guys recommend? Will the Eibachs work well with these struts?

Eibachs would work fine with these. Keep it simple, and spend the extra money on track days and driving schools. I've been racing for a long time now, and still like to do at least one school a year if not more, that's the best bang for the dollar hands down.

[BRZPDX]

I hope my car will be ready for the track soon. Rear axles, brake pads, SS line/brake fluid swap, install my oil cooler, lighter wheels/better tires, hood vents, gah so much more shit to have my car track ready!

[tonystewart]

Nice to see Bilstein options, still love the Koni / Swift combination!

[WillBRZ]

Price?