UPDATE - RCE YELLOW springs for 2nd gen BRZ and GR86 – pics and specs!

[Racecomp Engineering]

We’ve been working quietly for a while now on our RCE Yellow springs specifically for 2nd gen Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 and are getting close to release. We know a lot of people have been waiting for these since they're one of the most popular spring sets for the 1st gen and the go-to choice for anyone looking for a performance lowering spring.

A little background on RCE Yellows…for every platform that we make these, they're always a function-oriented spring set…not simply a “style” change. We know our customers care about performance so compromising there just isn’t something we do. And so for 1st gen cars you’ll see these even on some fairly well-prepped cars, including on other companies’ shop and track cars (which is cool!).



Spring rates are 280 lbs/in (5 kg/mm) front and rear.
Lowering amount is 25mm front and rear, retaining factory rake.

These work really well with the factory dampers for both cars, retain great ride quality, and perform well. The car is still playful, but the added roll stiffness is very beneficial on track especially for the front McPherson strut suspension. Designing springs has some interesting compromises, but if you do it right, you can make an impressive and positive change to the car.

Yes, a good set of height-adjustable coilovers is the way to go for more hardcore track or autocross use, but not all coilovers are good. These springs are an excellent choice for those looking for an inexpensive but functional suspension upgrade.

RCE Yellows for 2nd gen will be ready for purchase in Spring of 2025. Stay tuned for more.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Spring rates are 280 lbs/in (5 kg/mm) front and rear.
Lowering amount is 25mm front and rear, retaining factory rake.

IIRC first gen Yellows were 250 lbs/in and 20mm drop, no? Why the move to stiffer and lower for the second gen?
Also, with the slightly different motion ratio in the rear in the second gen, wouldn't a slightly staggered spring rate would have been more appropriate? (not to say anything about the growing community preference for stiffer rear springs, or maybe that's just my perception bias, especially in the gr86 forum).

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

IIRC first gen Yellows were 250 lbs/in and 20mm drop, no? Why the move to stiffer and lower for the second gen?
Also, with the slightly different motion ratio in the rear in the second gen, wouldn't a slightly staggered spring rate would have been more appropriate? (not to say anything about the growing community preference for stiffer rear springs, or maybe that's just my perception bias, especially in the gr86 forum).

We went a little bit stiffer than before because the dampers can take it.
The stiffer chassis structure is also a motivation (less flex from body means more displacement in dampers/springs).

And we do like the 2nd gen dampers a lot more than the 1st gen dampers, which were basically too stiff where you didn't want them to be and yet still didn't have enough damping where you did want it. They got better over the years but that was the general idea.

For the 2nd question, the rear is the limiting factor in terms of the overall stiffness of the springs. By that I mean the front dampers could handle an even stiffer spring, but the rear dampers couldn't go much stiffer in our opinion. So that sets a limit for the front too in effect because we do want the car to be balanced. And going softer in the front (say 250 front and 280 rear) would absolutely be slower around a track than 280/280.

The rear motion ratio for the 2nd gen is slightly higher than first gen, so wheel rate for a 280 lbs/in spring is slightly higher on the 2nd gen (meaning a tiny bit more rear spring bias).

Designing springs with the factory dampers in mind is such a different exercise than essentially starting from scratch with coilovers.

- Andrew

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

And we do like the 2nd gen dampers a lot more than the 1st gen dampers

Nice! I wonder if putting second gen dampers/struts on a first gen car would be beneficial (kinda like the folks putting 2017+ dampers on 2016- cars). I'm sure these could be had cheap from people moving to coilovers.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

Nice! I wonder if putting second gen dampers/struts on a first gen car would be beneficial (kinda like the folks putting 2017+ dampers on 2016- cars). I'm sure these could be had cheap from people moving to coilovers.

Yeah I ran all stock 2nd gen dampers + springs on my 2016 for a while in between some coilover testing. It was a solid upgrade over the old factory stuff (especially when those have a lot of miles) and you can find them for dirt cheap sometimes.

- Andrew

[RToyo86]

How would these pair with B6?

They sound very similar to the Tamarac springs used to offer

[nomtimesthree]

Cool! Any idea how these would do with the 2nd gen sachs or hitachi OE dampers?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by nomtimesthree

Cool! Any idea how these would do with the 2nd gen sachs or hitachi OE dampers?

They're great with sachs dampers. We haven't had our hands on the hitachi dampers but expect them to be even better.

- Andrew

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

How would these pair with B6?

They sound very similar to the Tamarac springs used to offer

In terms of valving yes it's a great match (the old RCE Tarmac springs with Bilsteins was a great combo on first gen). But 2nd gen springs on 1st gen rear dampers isn't a perfect fit.

- Andrew

[Racecomp Engineering]

Just thought I'd mention...congrats to our guy Sarin who just won SCCA Time Trial Nationals with his 1st gen BRZ on 1st gen RCE Yellows.

- Andrew