STX - bang for the buck coilovers...

[Skurj]

Thinking of finally commiting properly to STX, driving a '13 BRZ atm in DS with just the whiteline adj front bar.

Anyways saving the pennies and damn if there aren't a ton of coilover options out there....
I'd like to go with a brand with a reputation, but don't want to pay too much extra for that brand name.
Anyways short list is

Tarmac 2's and KW V3's

Not sure which springs to go with, many of the lots I run are pretty bumpy was thinking at least with the tarmac 2's going with the 400's

Any others in the same price point or cheaper worth considering? How about spring choice ?

Likely going to add spc adj rear control arms as well along with camber plates in the front. and thats where I will start for next season, more upgrades - tune exhaust etc as $$ allows.

[Stang70Fastback]

I have the KW V3s. I chose them specifically because I put 20,000 miles on my car as a DD, and I wanted coilovers that would be, above all else, comfortable for a daily driver, but that wouldn't completely fall apart during my weekend autocross stints.

I won Chicago Region SCCA STX last year, and I've won the first two events this year so far. So they aren't going to make it impossible to do well at autocross.

Having said that, if you are serious about autocross, or don't care so much about DD comfort, then you absolutely want the Tarmac 2s. The V3s are far too soft to be a proper autocross coilover, and they will handicap your car against a properly set up twin with higher spring rates. I do the best I can to mitigate the softness by pumping up the compression and rebound during events (which only helps during quick transitions), but that's not the proper way to do it, and it only works because the surface we run on is very smooth. When I run on other, bumpier surfaces, I can't stiffen them without the car hopping and skipping around.

[cjd]

T2 if autocross is the goal, KW for a slightly nicer daily ride and stick to the softer rates they come with.

Spring is harder to say but lots of fast folks on 400 square, up to 500lb square, and some a little off the norm not square. I'm at 400/500 considering a switch to 450/500, someone else recently mentioned already running the latter with success. My guess is anywhere in there will be good, and I think the T2 come 400sq.

Know the SPC arms need a bushing update to be legal, a tad too much metal in the bushing as shipped. That puts you in striking distance of a RacerX or Velox STX legal LCA. Something to consider.

You could be reasonably competitive most a places either way. If you're nationals bound, the T2 as shipped likely has the edge.

C

[renfield90]

T2 if you have any aspirations of competing at a national level. IMO the V3 valving doesn't support the spring rates you need to win given how well prepared people in the class are these days.

I found the ride really bad at the recommended settings - I use way more compression for street driving than Myles suggests and IMO it's much better. Aside from the really hard bumps you can't really tell much difference from stock. The V3s will be just about indistinguishable from the stock ride.

Keeping the drop to 1" or so will help keep you off the bump stops too which will also improve the ride.

[2superblus]

Well either of them will do it.

I currently am on the KW Clubsport 3 way and was previously on the standard KW V3.
Both suspensions have garner trophies on the National level.

It all depends on you as the driver and then partially how you set up the car.

[smg1138]

Originally Posted by 2superblus

I currently am on the KW Clubsport 3 way and was previously on the standard KW V3.

If you don't mind sharing, what ride height are you using on the Clubsports?

[xwd]

Originally Posted by 2superblus

Well either of them will do it.

I currently am on the KW Clubsport 3 way and was previously on the standard KW V3.
Both suspensions have garner trophies on the National level.

It all depends on you as the driver and then partially how you set up the car.

Could be the driver or coilovers, I think it's the sticker count. That's at least an extra 50hp.

[2superblus]

Originally Posted by smg1138

If you don't mind sharing, what ride height are you using on the Clubsports?

It is corner balanced but roughly 625mm to the wheel arch when measured by my alignment guy.

[smg1138]

Originally Posted by 2superblus

It is corner balanced but roughly 625mm to the wheel arch when measured by my alignment guy.

Wow, that's pretty low. I have my Tarmac 2's at about 640mm right now and feel so lifted compared to most other STX guys. I daily drive my FRS though, so going much lower has been problematic on the crappy roads around here.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by smg1138

Wow, that's pretty low. I have my Tarmac 2's at about 640mm right now and feel so lifted compared to most other STX guys. I daily drive my FRS though, so going much lower has been problematic on the crappy roads around here.

A lot of the quick cars seem that low, I'm about where you're at and I scraped at a speed bump last night like some stance kid.

[G_Ride]

Originally Posted by cjd

T2 if autocross is the goal, KW for a slightly nicer daily ride and stick to the softer rates they come with.

Spring is harder to say but lots of fast folks on 400 square, up to 500lb square, and some a little off the norm not square. I'm at 400/500 considering a switch to 450/500, someone else recently mentioned already running the latter with success. My guess is anywhere in there will be good, and I think the T2 come 400sq.

Know the SPC arms need a bushing update to be legal, a tad too much metal in the bushing as shipped. That puts you in striking distance of a RacerX or Velox STX legal LCA. Something to consider.

You could be reasonably competitive most a places either way. If you're nationals bound, the T2 as shipped likely has the edge.

C

Another option is Whiteline's LCA. Their LCA is STX legal and about the same price as the SPC LCAs.

[smg1138]

Yeah, the Whiteline LCA's are good. I bought them specifically because the bushing was STX legal. They've been reliable and my alignment guy can always set the camber exactly where I want it.

[bslate3]

I agree T2's are great right out of the box. I will probably go up to 500 lb/in springs in the rear. But even with the 400's square it's really good.

Question for the others, how are y'all running so low with the T2's without going lower than the allowed specs from KW? Raised top hats?

[Infinity]

Mann Engineering Type-25

They are based on AST 4150s similar to how the RCE T2s are based on the KW v3.