ST or B14's?

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

As a DD, isn't progressive better, if not desirable? I won't be tracking it all that often, so the progressive handling change at limit shouldn't be too big to deal with.

Originally Posted by Createddeleted

But if we take the case of the street driven car that is lowered, do progressive springs still suck in this application? Where ride quality may be improved by progressive springs and still achieve a better driving experience by tightening up the ride, reducing the COG, and reducing a certain amount of body roll. In this application do progressive springs suck, and if so why?

My apologies. I was answering in relation to performance/track day orientated cars (which is the way I usually see things). You are quite right. For a dd my reply may not be appropriate.
I have no idea how much of a compromise the damping/valving becomes on progressive springs.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

My apologies. I was answering in relation to performance/track day orientated cars (which is the way I usually see things). You are quite right. For a dd my reply may not be appropriate.
I have no idea how much of a compromise the damping/valving becomes on progressive springs.

Then again you also have to remember what car your driving, not a minivan but a sports car! I would be perfectly fine with linear RCE Tarmacs and B14's. Although I'd probably go for the B16...

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Then again you also have to remember what car your driving, not a minivan but a sports car! I would be perfectly fine with linear RCE Tarmacs and B14's. Although I'd probably go for the B16...

Its a big ump to the B16s, basically RCE tarmac territory, as well as lower end KW's.

What about the $1500 range? What's an extra $500 get me for daily driver comfort, mountain carving, and occadional track day performance.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

Its a big ump to the B16s, basically RCE tarmac territory, as well as lower end KW's.

What about the $1500 range? What's an extra $500 get me for daily driver comfort, mountain carving, and occadional track day performance.

A lot actually. the B8+Tarmac's are in that range with some upper mounts.

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

A lot actually. the B8+Tarmac's are in that range with some upper mounts.

But that's really just performance oriented springs over the progressive springs if the campers are comparable. And it doesn't seem theyre adjustable for where I can go softer for DD and more firm for track or mountains.

[themajesticone]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

I'm trying to decide between the ST by KW's or Bilstein B14's (or some combo spring+damper).

Budget is around $1000. I would like to lower very little (.5" - 1") if possible; I drive on some crap roads. My use will be daily driving (on crap roads), mountains during the weekends, and a track day or two during the year. Dampers are probably highest on the list since I feel like an improvement over stock can be had. And since all springs are stiffer than stock, I'm not too worried unless it's overly stiff.

Other suggestions/combinations are welcome, but you'll have to sell your case.

read. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71386

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

But that's really just performance oriented springs over the progressive springs if the campers are comparable. And it doesn't seem theyre adjustable for where I can go softer for DD and more firm for track or mountains.

for that kind of adjustability I would probably prefer some fortune auto 500's since the B14's are only height adjustable.

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by themajesticone

read. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71386

Yeah, I've read up on your thread initially. Your budget is a little higher than mine, I was hoping to keep it around $1000. But it seems that its $300 springs, or $2000 coilovers. But that, to me at least, seems like there is a gap in the product offerings.

[themajesticone]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

Yeah, I've read up on your thread initially. Your budget is a little higher than mine, I was hoping to keep it around $1000. But it seems that its $300 springs, or $2000 coilovers. But that, to me at least, seems like there is a gap in the product offerings.

I agree! I hope the thread helped. There is a low end and high end certainly. The in between can vary but regarding the shocks there are really only two, non adjustable, choices so it comes down to choosing from a series of springs.

[Racecomp Engineering]

ST vs. B14 is a tough call honestly. I think the Bilstein is a better damper, just stuck with the progressive springs (which are fine for the street). Both aren't bad for their intended applications.

- Andy

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

ST vs. B14 is a tough call honestly. I think the Bilstein is a better damper, just stuck with the progressive springs (which are fine for the street). Both aren't bad for their intended applications.

- Andy

From what I understand, you guys have KW build your coilovers to your specs. Given whatever knowledge you have about them, you'd consider the Bilstein damper better versus the ST at this level?

I'm actually thinking for the street, the progressive will be more ideal for me. I'll find myself in the mountains more than I will at AutoX. And probably the occasional track day more than AutoX.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

From what I understand, you guys have KW build your coilovers to your specs. Given whatever knowledge you have about them, you'd consider the Bilstein damper better versus the ST at this level?

I'm actually thinking for the street, the progressive will be more ideal for me. I'll find myself in the mountains more than I will at AutoX. And probably the occasional track day more than AutoX.

I'm not a huge fan of the valving of the ST and KW V1. It's not bad at all, just a little soft.

Our RCE T0 are essentially our RCE T2s at a certain fixed setting (which is very very different than ST and KW V1).

- Andy

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I'm not a huge fan of the valving of the ST and KW V1. It's not bad at all, just a little soft.

Our RCE T0 are essentially our RCE T2s at a certain fixed setting (which is very very different than ST and KW V1).

- Andy

Can I read that, for my intentions, as:
soft = good for suckyass poorly maintained Atlanta in-town roads?
soft = bad for track days and overall pure performance?

I should add, if so, would that make it preferable to the Bilstein's then? Or still Bilsteins over the ST?

[Food]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

ST vs. B14 is a tough call honestly. I think the Bilstein is a better damper, just stuck with the progressive springs (which are fine for the street). Both aren't bad for their intended applications.

- Andy

IMO...not really a tough call or difficult decision.

I would pick B14 easily for the better internals, stainless steel bodies for DD durability, better quality in general, easily re-valvable at Bilstein for cheap.

If later on you want to swap out the prog spring, it's only a couple hundred bux for a set of nice linear Swift/Hyperco springs. And you can also re-valve if you want to go well beyond the stiffness of the stock B14 damping with the new springs. That would be a nice B14 set.

Hyperco springs are around $50-80ea and Bilstein revalve is less than $100 per shock...just to give you an idea of how cheap it would be for future customization and rebuilds