KW V3 Setup for Street use.

[ABQautoxer]

My Compression for street so far is 8f/9r from full stiff. My Rebound is 9f/11r. Note generally you'll get a compression setting that works and will probably not change it unless you race/trackday so you'll mainly just adjust your rebound if anything.

[Racecomp Engineering]

I think as you add more solid bushings to this car you will dial OUT rebound as these shocks have TONS of rebound power in them. I personally like using compression to gain traction instead of "holding down" the car with rebound.

Myles

[ABQautoxer]

Interesting... I don't think I understand you or you are using the compression setting differently. You can't use more of one to really compensate a whole lot for a lack of the other but that's getting off topic of street settings.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by RYU

Myles, I've come to value your opinion and I'm new to the subie world so here's a quick question for you. How come you don't test some of the other seemingly well regarded jdm brands like RS*R?

I'm not talking about the lower end offerings from BC racing, Tein, Fortune, and <insert random brand here>. For example I run DG-5s on my other vehicle and find them very competitive in the approx $2-3k price range.

Drew explained it very well. I will add to that by saying that in 2005 my tech at the time and I changed my 04 STI suspension about 14 times that year trying ALOT of shocks. The FIRST thing you realize ( if you have raced and driven on GOOD dampers that by definition,..DAMPEN..) ..is that the JDM brands typically have VERY little ACTUAL range. Sure they have XX clicks but the actual range of the shock is based around the environment they were developed in which typically are/were super smooth roads and tracks.

The Euro brands are the extreme opposite. They tune dampers for ROUGH roads and track and therefore have to SLOW down the motion of the body.

All one has to do is watch 3-4 Best motoring videos at the motion of the cars as they hit the MINIMAL bumps on Tsukuba or other test roads and tracks.

Some people confuse "stiff" with bouncy.

If you go back 30 years the following shock brands existed and were being used on racecars and racebikes:

Koni
Bilstein
Carrera
Monroe
Ohlins
Sachs
SHOWA(Japan)
KYB
Tokico

From Koni came seemingly the largest spawn of entrepreneur/engineers as the founders or the following include: AST, MOTON, JRZ, KW all either worked at Koni in some capacity.

But more than name brands its about shocks that actually can dampen in the environment that you need them to work. For THIS reason I mention and have either raced on, autcrossed on or canyon carved( as much as you can on the east coast) those original brands.

Many brands just dont offer much actual "damping". What they do offer is colorful, camber plate clad, inexpensively priced, and some with a SWIFT option( which really appeals to many but who become polarized by that name alone and stop thinking of how the shocks actually will perform).

This is obvious as you watch some cars go down the road bouncing and when hitting bumps that require "travel" they bottom out.

Since I started instructing back in 1997 I have instructed many students who had "insert trendy name brand" on their car and you watch them try to adjust out the bounce as the car skips over medium bumps or cant get the power down because the shocks have next to NO droop travel. I wont say I've seen it all, but I have experienced many scenarios sitting right seat with at one point 80-100 students a year many years running.

With this BRZ platform it is SUPER sensitive to rear end traction and the traction control/stability. Once a driver gets SUPER smooth you know it because the light WONT flash. So far I have tested 3 brands on this car and the better the damper the less the light flashes thru NASTY corners with road crown and dust and bumps etc. I have had up to 500lb springs on theBRZ and can tell you as people attempt to make these car handle with cheap shocks........you will see the focus change BACK to good dampers.

Thats my take on many of the "other" brands out there.

Myles

PS: RYU, that was in ZERO way a mad post or anything aimed at you. WAY more-so it was something I hope people who are new to this will really consider strongly as they modify a already SOLID chassis.

[RYU]

Thanks very much Myles and Andrew for your feedback. It's enthusiasm/candidness like that will keep me as an RCE customer for a very long time.

My only problem now is.. I've outgrown my RCE Yellows! Just simply not enough high speed compression damping for what I'd like this car to do.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by RYU

Thanks very much Myles and Andrew for your feedback. It's enthusiasm/candidness like that will keep me as an RCE customer for a very long time.

My only problem now is.. I've outgrown my RCE Yellows! Just simply not enough high speed compression damping for what I'd like this car to do.

While this wont even seem possible if you watch the subframe bushing video you can see how the stock rear subframe bushings are consuming some energy from the shock performance. ) as well how much the stock ones flex )

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjx8WFXHNLA"]Team VCMC FR-S - AutoX Video 3: Rear Suspension, Subframe, Tire (HD) - YouTube[/ame]

Getting rid of that helps you feel MORE of what your shocks CAN do.

Fwiw.

Mw

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Metabrz

Sorry, but I am confused....when you talk about "......rebound-back off 10 clicks from full stiff" do you mean stiff being full fast or full slow?

I've only ever thought about rebound being either fast or slow, never stiff, as rebound dictates the return speed of the damper from compression.

There's no more guessing anymore . They put + and - on the shock adjusters. They put soft and hard on there too.

Start out at full HARD(stiff) and back it off( make it softer) .

Hope that helps !

Myles

[Circuit Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

While this wont even seem possible if you watch the subframe bushing video you can see how the stock rear subframe bushings are consuming some energy from the shock performance. ) as well how much the stock ones flex )

Getting rid of that helps you feel MORE of what your shocks CAN do.

Fwiw.

Mw

So much flex going on

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Circuit Motorsports

So much flex going on

yeah that video itself should have WL rear subframe bushings out of stock FOREVER!

Mw

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

yeah that video itself should have WL rear subframe bushings out of stock FOREVER!

Mw

only if whiteline or someone could do a vid with the subframe bushings installed to compare

[RYU]

Will the WL subframe bushings cause ride quality to be worse? Daily Driver friendliness is my major constraint with this car. Though I think you elude to ride quality being better?

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

While this wont even seem possible if you watch the subframe bushing video you can see how the stock rear subframe bushings are consuming some energy from the shock performance. ) as well how much the stock ones flex )

Getting rid of that helps you feel MORE of what your shocks CAN do.

Fwiw.

Mw

[ABQautoxer]

I'm going to find out, sooner or later. I know Simmons has them with KW3s and I think his BRZ is his DD.

[FreshFRS]

Originally Posted by Paragon

only if whiteline or someone could do a vid with the subframe bushings installed to compare

here is the difference: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKbZFknBzh8&feature=plcp"]Team VCMC FR-S - AutoX Video 4: Rear Crossmember and Swaybar - YouTube[/ame]

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Paragon

only if whiteline or someone could do a vid with the subframe bushings installed to compare

I've posted that video before...