Lowering as a daily & sometimes spirited driver - Page 3 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

mike the snake · 12-23-2013, 02:42 PM

I read something someone posted here that really hit home.

On adjustable coilovers, there's basically one setting only that is "just right", that nails the proper valving and spring rates for a given setup.

While adjustable, you only have the one correct setting, and the rest of the adjustments are further from correct. A non-adjustable kit that comes with proper valving for the given spring rates is golden.

I have the ST's, and they have soft spring rates, perfect for me, not too stiff, great for spirited driving and the occasional AX or track day I might do. They can lower your car up to 2".

They seem to me to be valved well for the car and spring rates.

I had nice, adjustable coilovers on my last car, and honestly never used the adjustability, and the spring rates ruined the ride.

Racecomp Engineering · 12-23-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike the snake

I read something someone posted here that really hit home.

On adjustable coilovers, there's basically one setting only that is "just right", that nails the proper valving and spring rates for a given setup.

While adjustable, you only have the one correct setting, and the rest of the adjustments are further from correct. A non-adjustable kit that comes with proper valving for the given spring rates is golden.

I have the ST's, and they have soft spring rates, perfect for me, not too stiff, great for spirited driving and the occasional AX or track day I might do. They can lower your car up to 2".

They seem to me to be valved well for the car and spring rates.

I had nice, adjustable coilovers on my last car, and honestly never used the adjustability, and the spring rates ruined the ride.

This is kind of true....but sometimes there isn't even one setting that is just right on some of the lower end stuff.

- Andy

nyfries · 12-23-2013, 04:28 PM

how bout taking off the top hat? i want to diy the entire install. I have heard spring compressor being dangerous and stuff is it really as bad as people make it out to be?

also it is OEM top hat better or aftermarket one? With the oem top hat i guess u can't adjust camber?

wparsons · 12-23-2013, 04:56 PM

Spring compressors aren't bad at all if used properly.

By OEM top hat, do you mean the spring seat, or the upper mount?

nyfries · 12-23-2013, 05:49 PM

From what I can tell bc racing come with their own strut mount and spring seat? St come with neither? So I guess my question is stock strut mount + spring seat vs aftermarket one (specifically the bc ones in my case)?

Yamajee · 12-23-2013, 06:11 PM

I'm dropped on eibach pro-kit and stock struts for over 8 months now and never had a single issue, car handles so much better than stock but I'm considering coilovers because I want to drop it some more and I don't think the sportlines + stock struts will work well.

Nevermore · 12-23-2013, 07:58 PM

I may be wrong, but last time I checked I think the RCE yellow springs plus the koni yellow shocks were around $900 or so together. This is my current suspension goal. And judging by what people say about not cheaping out on coils I suppose this isn't a bad alternative.

DarkestBuddha · 12-23-2013, 08:08 PM

wouldnt bilstein b14 / st coils be good for the DD

spookyz · 12-24-2013, 01:06 AM

@1086 I would be very interested to hear what direction you go for this. I'm in the exact same boat.

That Hotchkis Stage 1 looks compelling to me, but the Koni + RCE Yellows sounds really nice as well.

hmong337 · 12-24-2013, 04:07 AM

My goals are very similar. I want a 1" drop- set it and forget it type of thng. I'm going to go for the Hotchkis springs. They were also designed for the OE strut so no worries there. I plan to tweak the camber upfront with some camber bolts and that as far as I am going to go (for now).

I don't do anything that requires a high degree adjustability to be worth while so springs are perfect for me.

fooddude · 12-24-2013, 10:26 PM

Are the Tein cheaper coilovers really that bad?? I mean, they're at least short stroke bodies, so they won't be in a compressed-state/position all the time like the Koni's.

12-23-2013, 07:58 PM	#35
Nevermore Wayward Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Hot Lava 86 Location: Bust of Pallas Posts: 3,336 Thanks: 1,669 Thanked 2,312 Times in 1,386 Posts Mentioned: 50 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	I may be wrong, but last time I checked I think the RCE yellow springs plus the koni yellow shocks were around $900 or so together. This is my current suspension goal. And judging by what people say about not cheaping out on coils I suppose this isn't a bad alternative. __________________

12-24-2013, 04:07 AM	#38
hmong337 Emperor JDM Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: '91 MR2 Gen3 3SGTE, '13 FRS Location: Onterrible, Canada Posts: 1,750 Thanks: 3,498 Thanked 909 Times in 495 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	My goals are very similar. I want a 1" drop- set it and forget it type of thng. I'm going to go for the Hotchkis springs. They were also designed for the OE strut so no worries there. I plan to tweak the camber upfront with some camber bolts and that as far as I am going to go (for now). I don't do anything that requires a high degree adjustability to be worth while so springs are perfect for me. __________________

12-24-2013, 10:26 PM	#39
fooddude Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: 04 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Reg Cab Location: LA > SF > NYC > OC Posts: 943 Thanks: 556 Thanked 268 Times in 200 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Are the Tein cheaper coilovers really that bad?? I mean, they're at least short stroke bodies, so they won't be in a compressed-state/position all the time like the Koni's. Last edited by fooddude; 12-26-2013 at 11:43 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Weight Reduction (budget diet) for daily/spirited driving	1086	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	86	03-22-2015 01:18 PM
New to me daily driver.. 95 M3.	Dave-ROR	Other Vehicles & General Automotive Discussions	58	07-17-2014 02:05 AM
FRS as a Daily Driver?	Pake1	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	104	08-15-2012 11:48 PM
Will the BRZ be your daily driver	WRXGuy1	BRZ First-Gen (2012+) -- General Topics	47	05-23-2012 12:15 PM
BRZ as daily driver?	Pakjk89	BRZ First-Gen (2012+) -- General Topics	81	03-22-2012 09:50 AM

12-23-2013, 02:42 PM	#29
mike the snake Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Norcal Posts: 1,592 Thanks: 1 Thanked 623 Times in 378 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I read something someone posted here that really hit home. On adjustable coilovers, there's basically one setting only that is "just right", that nails the proper valving and spring rates for a given setup. While adjustable, you only have the one correct setting, and the rest of the adjustments are further from correct. A non-adjustable kit that comes with proper valving for the given spring rates is golden. I have the ST's, and they have soft spring rates, perfect for me, not too stiff, great for spirited driving and the occasional AX or track day I might do. They can lower your car up to 2". They seem to me to be valved well for the car and spring rates. I had nice, adjustable coilovers on my last car, and honestly never used the adjustability, and the spring rates ruined the ride.

12-23-2013, 04:28 PM	#31
nyfries Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 14 FRS Whiteout Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 423 Thanks: 159 Thanked 85 Times in 59 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	how bout taking off the top hat? i want to diy the entire install. I have heard spring compressor being dangerous and stuff is it really as bad as people make it out to be? also it is OEM top hat better or aftermarket one? With the oem top hat i guess u can't adjust camber?

12-23-2013, 05:49 PM	#33
nyfries Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 14 FRS Whiteout Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 423 Thanks: 159 Thanked 85 Times in 59 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	From what I can tell bc racing come with their own strut mount and spring seat? St come with neither? So I guess my question is stock strut mount + spring seat vs aftermarket one (specifically the bc ones in my case)?

12-23-2013, 06:11 PM	#34
Yamajee Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: Rocket Bunny'd GT86 Location: Dubai Posts: 556 Thanks: 68 Thanked 144 Times in 100 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm dropped on eibach pro-kit and stock struts for over 8 months now and never had a single issue, car handles so much better than stock but I'm considering coilovers because I want to drop it some more and I don't think the sportlines + stock struts will work well.

12-23-2013, 08:08 PM	#36
DarkestBuddha Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: BRZ limited GBS Location: SoCal Posts: 376 Thanks: 27 Thanked 121 Times in 60 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	wouldnt bilstein b14 / st coils be good for the DD

12-24-2013, 01:06 AM	#37
spookyz Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: 2014 Subaru WRB BRZ Location: Los Angeles Posts: 30 Thanks: 21 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	@1086 I would be very interested to hear what direction you go for this. I'm in the exact same boat. That Hotchkis Stage 1 looks compelling to me, but the Koni + RCE Yellows sounds really nice as well.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password