Suspension Tips, for those who want to lower this car.

[wired]

Originally Posted by Moto-P

I've sampled Cusco Street, RS*R Sports-i, and both of them were extremely well behaved and designed for medium grip to high grip tires. Both worked really well at FULL SOFT setting on both ends, even with track radials like the Azenis RT615K. So going stiffer is only needed perhaps, to compensate for wear of the dampers, and also to settle the car at really high speed tracks where stability is in order over quick vector changes.

Both do come at a price of nearly $2000 but with the ability to be 30mm lower, and unlike lowering springs on stock shocks, that allow maybe 20mm max on short rear shocks of the FRS/BRZ, the fully-tapped coilovers can go a full 35mm lower with all of the original stroke range, and has adjustability to actually make the ride more comfortable with more sophisticated valving that is not cost-constrained like the stock shocks.

So if budget is the key, Racecomp's 20mm drop springs are really ideal.

If ride qualities of the stock is a bit harsh for you, you can use either of the more expensive setup to improve that while retaining all the of the nice handling capability with much lower height around 30~35mm drop.

I've also found that 20mm drop is ideal for dynamic alignment (as designed), and 35mm still retaining pretty good alignment as well.

I'm reviving this thread because I really need some suspension advice and this post seems to hit the nail to the head.

I'm a fairly new 2015 FR-S owner in CA - 1200 miles.
Coming from Greece, I used to drive a 9yo RX-8. Surprisingly, the Greek roads felt a lot smoother w/ the RX-8 than the South Bay CA roads feel w/ my new FR-S.

Now, there are a lot of differences between the two cars, so it's not a fair comparison, but for public road driving in CA I feel the FR-S suspension is a bit too stiff. I'm pretty sure that in a race track with decent asphalt the FR-S will shine, but I haven't been to one yet (was patiently waiting for the 1k mile mark).

Unfortunately on typical public roads around here it feels that the car struggles a lot to stay level - I test drove the car 3 times and didn't notice. The moment I did tho, after buying it, it was like my eyes were opened and I can't stop noticing it anymore. Things get even worse on mountain roads where asphalt quality sucks even more.

Will the more expensive setups help fix this feeling without ruining my future track experience?

Thanks

[SilverFRS]

You may want to check out this thread:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69248

I have owned first and third gen MR2 and 98 M3, the FRS has a less controlled or comfortable ride than any of them over less than ideal roads. My MR2 spyder feels more composed over tight low speed roads than the FRS, roads that I did not consider bumpy until I owned this car.

[wired]

Thanks, this was a very useful link. I've commented there and will probably try out a few of the things mentioned in that thread.

[Stewie]

Why isn't this a sticky?

[Trackrat86]

I recently had TRD springs put on my 2014 FR-S, I believe they lower the car 1 inch if I remember correctly. Have I unknowingly compromised the handling capability of the car if I change springs only? I also planned down the road to get lighter wheels and the Sprint BBK for weight savings and tracking the car. I was planning on using the OEM tires because I like them. Are there negative effects to the suspension due to the drop and reduction in weight??? I honestly did not consider this until reading this thread

[troek]

I think you'll be fine, i put my best lap time down ever on rsr lowering springs and stock shocks. i have hks coilovers now, and while the car performs better at high speeds on bumpy surfaces for sure, on a smooth race track stock shocks and springs worked great for me.

[Trackrat86]

Originally Posted by troek

I think you'll be fine, i put my best lap time down ever on rsr lowering springs and stock shocks. i have hks coilovers now, and while the car performs better at high speeds on bumpy surfaces for sure, on a smooth race track stock shocks and springs worked great for me.

Thanks for the info.. Happy motoring

[bilsteinmotorsport K]

well , im running bilstein B6 shocks with racecomp lowering spring . handling is just perfect and the car is comfort as well .

[MGPAX]

Why B6 and not B8 if you have lowering springs?

Originally Posted by bilsteinmotorsport K

well , im running bilstein B6 shocks with racecomp lowering spring . handling is just perfect and the car is comfort as well .

[bilsteinmotorsport K]

well . you are right ... why not B8 !!! i should install the B8 because travel is lower than B6 and works better with lowering springs .
will swap them soon to PSS10 kit

but absolutely B8 is better when u have lowering springs . B6 for oem springs

[tofumania]

I have koni yellow full strut replacement, and eibach sportline. i have the whiteline crash bolts in the front at -1 degree, and whiteline rear control arms, at 0 degrees. i was thinking of getting the car realigned with -2 in the front and -1 in the rear. Is this a good setup? the car is alittle lower the the 20-30 mm mark and is more like 34 mm. is this bad? should i get a front swaybar? the car to my knowledge still handles good, the rear looses grip a little more abruptly the stock.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by tofumania

I have koni yellow full strut replacement, and eibach sportline. i have the whiteline crash bolts in the front at -1 degree, and whiteline rear control arms, at 0 degrees. i was thinking of getting the car realigned with -2 in the front and -1 in the rear. Is this a good setup? the car is alittle lower the the 20-30 mm mark and is more like 34 mm. is this bad? should i get a front swaybar? the car to my knowledge still handles good, the rear looses grip a little more abruptly the stock.

0 camber in the rear is not good...even -1 is not enough IMO.

-2 front -1.5 rear should be fine for you. 0 toe front and a tiny bit of rear toe in.

IMO those springs are lower than ideal for handling and ride quality but fix the alignment first and see what you think.

- Andrew

[Brayden_23]

Subscribed!

Lots of great information in this thread. I am going to get Rays 57extremes 18x8.5 square set up with 235/40 tires and wanted to upgrade springs at the same time. Looks like it's between RCE Yellows, Tein H techs, or RSR Super downs. I'm only looking for a small drop while maintaining the playfulness of the current ride. I also want to avoid tire rub and dropping it too low where I have to worry about making it over bumps. These options seem like the best ones to go with for what I'm looking for (DD with occasional spirited driving on backroads). Anybody have anything to say about the above listed springs as to which ones I should go for? Want to maintain the oversteer as close to stock as possible.
TIA!

[afishl1]

Any tire recommendations for Rsr Sport-i, lowest height and softest setting with camber, stock wheels, so-cal weather, not track driven, occasionally hard street driven.