Bilstein B6 and B8 explained

[N_Raged]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

Is there a better combination (B6 w/OEM springs, B6 w/any particular aftermarket spring, etc) that rides better than the base (non-PP) OEM setup?

I track the car a couple of times a year, but since that is just for fun, keeping the wife happy and willing to ride in the car is more important than track use. Admittedly though it is not just her as I'm getting into the old fart age range and have to admit I care about a more compliant ride than I used to!

Koni Yellows are twin tube and are more comfortable than the mono tube Bilsteins, especially on the full soft setting. You can then crank them up when at the track.

If you're set on lowering springs then the Eibach Pro Kit or RCE Yellows or tS pinks have mild drops that are not that back-breaking.

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by N_Raged

I'm running this combo on my 2019 BRZ PP and I freakin love it.
Body control is far superior to the stock springs and Sachs dampers. The ride is a bit firmer (passengers will notice), but not harsh or crashy.

Forgot to ask you, is the ride height with the B6 same as with the OEM Sachs setup?
I've read it seats slightly higher front.

[churchx]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Interesting, I've found B8s (same as B6 with less droop travel) to be way WAY more comfortable on the road vs. '17 PP/Sachs. Way less harsh over bumps and way more front bump travel, while having *slightly* more low-speed damping. If anything I'd prefer more low-speed damping to go with 5.3/4.4 kg/mm Swift Spec-R springs on my car, feels slightly underdamped to me.

Maybe issue is stock springs i use them with. But as most of aftermarket ones (whose springrates maybe might be better match) are lowering, which is certain no-no for me to not lower dailydriving on local roads capabilities due reduced ground clearance (would strike out half of parking options near home over kerb and i'd scrape underside of bumpers all the time on local unplown roads in winter all the time), i don't consider them.

[N_Raged]

Originally Posted by JIM THEO

Forgot to ask you, is the ride height with the B6 same as with the OEM Sachs setup?
I've read it seats slightly higher front.

The front didn't change much but the rear did see a noticeable rise. Probably due to both new springs that haven't settled yet, and the high pressure of the Bilsteins. It looked so goofy I thought I installed it wrong but I took it apart and put it back together again and I don't think I did.

This was untouched factory suspension:


This was right after installing both tS springs and Bilsteins:


This is today almost a year after install (but very little km because of pandemic):


Looking at more and more real life photos of the tS, the rear does ride higher than you'd think - almost the same as the base model springs. So don't expect a noticeable drop from the tS springs.

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by N_Raged

The front didn't change much but the rear did see a noticeable rise. Probably due to both new springs that haven't settled yet, and the high pressure of the Bilsteins. It looked so goofy I thought I installed it wrong but I took it apart and put it back together again and I don't think I did.

This was untouched factory suspension:


This was right after installing both tS springs and Bilsteins:


This is today almost a year after install (but very little km because of pandemic):


Looking at more and more real life photos of the tS, the rear does ride higher than you'd think - almost the same as the base model springs. So don't expect a noticeable drop from the tS springs.

Comparing the OEM MY18 springs with the tS springs in mine it dropped around 10mm only in the front!

[JAS4]

Originally Posted by N_Raged

The front didn't change much but the rear did see a noticeable rise. Probably due to both new springs that haven't settled yet, and the high pressure of the Bilsteins. It looked so goofy I thought I installed it wrong but I took it apart and put it back together again and I don't think I did.

Looking at more and more real life photos of the tS, the rear does ride higher than you'd think - almost the same as the base model springs. So don't expect a noticeable drop from the tS springs.

Would you mind measuring the distance from the center caps vertically to the edge of the wheel wells? I am headed down the same path as you, but now I’m questioning what to expect in ride height change.

[N_Raged]

Originally Posted by JAS4

Would you mind measuring the distance from the center caps vertically to the edge of the wheel wells? I am headed down the same path as you, but now I’m questioning what to expect in ride height change.

Front 14¼-14⅜"
Rear 14¾"
Keep in mind I have front SPC camber bolts @-1.9° so that'll lower the front a bit compared to stock.
No camber mods in the rear.

[JAS4]

Originally Posted by N_Raged

Front 14¼-14⅜"
Rear 14¾"
Keep in mind I have front SPC camber bolts @-1.9° so that'll lower the front a bit compared to stock.
No camber mods in the rear.

Thank you for that. That’s very helpful. Not what I expected at all. I’ve got new B6 on the shelf and 18’ tS springs on the way. My 2020 PP (with SPC camber bolts and same front camber) is sitting 14 1\4” front and 14 1/2” rear on stock springs and Sachs dampers. I don’t care much about lowering, but a bit of a lift is surprising.

[marco_mc22]

Higher gas pressure causes a bit of lift

[Racecomp Engineering]

@N_Raged did you ever check to see if your rear spring perch is upside down?

- Andrew

[N_Raged]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

@N_Raged did you ever check to see if your rear spring perch is upside down?

- Andrew

I installed it with the "hook" of the spring perch pointing up since it seemed more correct. The other way around resulted in the spring sitting too high on the shock.





When I installed B6's on my Saab 9-3 it also raised the front up by a noticeable amount. So I'm guessing it's a high pressure thing.

[Daily86]

I'm noticing the difference in the spring perch heights.

[PulsarBeeerz]

Originally Posted by Daily86

I'm noticing the difference in the spring perch heights.

Oh wow!

[RToyo86]

Originally Posted by Daily86

I'm noticing the difference in the spring perch heights.

Are they B8 or B6?