|
Suspension | Chassis | Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing Relating to suspension, chassis, and brakes. Sponsored by 949 Racing. |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
05-18-2019, 05:22 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Drives: 14 BRZ SWP
Location: Elmhurst, IL
Posts: 44
Thanks: 10
Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Bilstein B6 and Stock Springs ("14)
Hi All,
Just thought I'd review the Bilstein B6 dampers when paired with the stock '14 springs. I didn't find a whole lot of information when doing research before I purchased some, so I thought I'd share my experience. Ride quality: is best be described as "firm but round". Compared to stock, bumps are less sharp, but firmer. If you were to graph it on force over time graph, I imagine a bump would look like a wider but less tall curve vs stock dampers. I like the ride, it inspires confidence and in many cases it's more comfortable, but in some cases less than stock. Performance: is greatly improved. I'm really really impressed with how these manage large weight transfers. I just got back from an autocross and they were excellent. On stock dampers, a hard left then right turn(or vise versa) would very much unsettle the car(think Top Gear's hammerhead turn). The dampers would allow the springs would overly compress then level out after. Now, with the Bilsteins those types of elements are definitely critically damped, meaning the car doesn't oscillate and transfers the weight smoothly in one motion. Overall, the bilstein b6 dampers/struts/shocks are really impressive. If you're looking for better performance without giving up height and even gaining some better ride quality in situations, I would certainly recommend them. If anyone has questions about this setup feel free to post them here and I'll answer them the best I can. I have RCE Tarmac springs I plan to throw on in a few months and will also review how those change the ride quality and performance. Last edited by AT-JeffT; 04-26-2020 at 08:39 PM. |
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to AT-JeffT For This Useful Post: | bhmax (05-19-2019), DarkPira7e (05-18-2019), MrSkubi (05-20-2019), Racecomp Engineering (05-19-2019), sato (05-19-2019), smg1138 (05-18-2019) |
05-20-2019, 03:42 PM | #2 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Drives: Whiteout track car; lava donor
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 244
Thanks: 85
Thanked 64 Times in 40 Posts
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Review the Bilstein B6 dampers w/ stock springs
Thanks for this review Jeff. I'm considering going away from the customer coil over track setup I have and returning to a more stock configuration.
I was staying away from Bilsteins -- which I have typically loved -- because of this suspension engineering video on youtube: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyVoiP0o_8&t=814s[/ame] But your review is encouraging. Quote:
|
|
05-20-2019, 04:09 PM | #3 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Drives: 14 BRZ SWP
Location: Elmhurst, IL
Posts: 44
Thanks: 10
Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Quote:
I'm not sure the B6's would have the same curve as analyzing in the video. He mentions that he's looking at the PSS (coilover) setup not sure if they would have valved those the same as the B6. Either way, the only other option for performance dampers was koni's which I read had leaking issues at the adjusters, so I don't think there's a perfect option out there. If you do end up with Bilsteins, feel free to review them here. I'd be interesting to see yours and other's opinions on them. |
|
The Following User Says Thank You to AT-JeffT For This Useful Post: | strat61caster (05-20-2019) |
05-21-2019, 02:52 AM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Drives: Whiteout track car; lava donor
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 244
Thanks: 85
Thanked 64 Times in 40 Posts
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Quote:
|
|
05-29-2019, 09:21 AM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S Monogram Series
Location: Indiana
Posts: 42
Thanks: 0
Thanked 28 Times in 14 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
I agree 100% with ATJeffT's original post.
I recently replaced the OEM front & rear struts with Bilstein B6s while leaving the rest of the suspension OEM. ATJeffT's comments are correct; the car is much more planted and stable, firmer yet not brutal at all. Cornering speeds are much higher now even with the OEM Michelin Primacy HP tires. The car pivots much better when rapidly changing steering direction. I would summarize my opinion of the B6s as "This is the way the car should have come from the factory" from a suspension point of view. Things to be aware of: 1. The shafts on the front struts are too wide to use the OEM bump stops so you run the fronts without the stops. 2. The shaft on the rear struts are a touch narrower so you can reuse the OEM bump stops but they will be "loose". I do not hear any funny noise as a result of this.
__________________
2014 FR-S Monogram Series, Raven Black, MT
Mods -ARP wheel studs, Bilstein B6, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Diode Dynamics "Tail-as-Turn" kit Future Planned Mods - Ace 350 Header & Tune. Oil cooler. Fuel Economy - Best was 37.2 mpg, Worst was 28.2 mpg |
05-29-2019, 10:14 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Drives: 2014 GT86
Location: Latvia, Riga
Posts: 4,333
Thanks: 696
Thanked 2,086 Times in 1,436 Posts
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
|
Hmm? If they need non-stock bumpstops, they didn't include such in set?
|
05-29-2019, 11:37 AM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S Monogram Series
Location: Indiana
Posts: 42
Thanks: 0
Thanked 28 Times in 14 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Nope. No matching bumpstops included.
__________________
2014 FR-S Monogram Series, Raven Black, MT
Mods -ARP wheel studs, Bilstein B6, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Diode Dynamics "Tail-as-Turn" kit Future Planned Mods - Ace 350 Header & Tune. Oil cooler. Fuel Economy - Best was 37.2 mpg, Worst was 28.2 mpg |
05-29-2019, 12:22 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Drives: #337 2017 Toyota 86
Location: San Diego
Posts: 225
Thanks: 32
Thanked 242 Times in 114 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Quote:
__________________
Sean Thomson | Instagram: @the_drivers_perspective / YouTube: The Driver's Perspective
Back To Basics Toyota 86: STX & 86 Cup Street Build |
|
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Lincoln Logs For This Useful Post: |
05-29-2019, 12:54 PM | #9 |
Dismember
Join Date: Mar 2013
Drives: 2013 Red Scion FR-S
Location: Castro Valley
Posts: 5,562
Thanks: 2,153
Thanked 4,002 Times in 2,157 Posts
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
|
Just put bilsteins on the rear of our Forester. They're a lot better than a blown suspension!
__________________
|
05-29-2019, 01:00 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Drives: 2015 BRZ
Location: Texas
Posts: 693
Thanks: 213
Thanked 336 Times in 254 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
What about the included bumpstops with the RCE Yellows? Would those fit on the B6s? just curious..
|
04-27-2020, 02:21 PM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Drives: 14 BRZ SWP
Location: Elmhurst, IL
Posts: 44
Thanks: 10
Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Update: I took the Bilsteins with stock springs off for the winter here and put back on the stock suspension.
I've now put on the Bilsteins with RCE Tarmac springs. For those following along, I've had 3 different combinations of shocks and springs on since last year. 1) Bilsteins with stock springs. 2) Stock shocks and stock springs. 3) Bilsteins with RCE Tarmac This latest combo is certainly the best combination. Strangely, it is the most comfortable setup of the 3 for street driving. The only type of bumps I've found less comfortable than stock are medium to large raised bumps. These raised bumps are about the same as the Bilstein/stock spring combo. Everything else is more comfortable than stock, broken pavement, small dips, transitions into parking lots, even railroad tracks! Performance wise, the change isn't very noticeable on the street. Weight transfer forward/back and laterally seems mostly the same on the street. On ramps yield slightly less body roll. I don't feel street driving is a good test of the performance of this set up. I expect to feel a bigger change when pushing the car harder, but we'll have to wait and see. Also, how it feels is one thing, and actual performance is another. I'll update this once autocross season finally begins. Last edited by AT-JeffT; 04-27-2020 at 04:31 PM. |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to AT-JeffT For This Useful Post: |
04-28-2020, 03:01 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Drives: 16 Silver BRZ, 04 Silver WRX wagon
Location: Rockland county, NY
Posts: 1,420
Thanks: 184
Thanked 774 Times in 444 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Quote:
|
|
04-28-2020, 03:38 PM | #14 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Drives: 14 BRZ SWP
Location: Elmhurst, IL
Posts: 44
Thanks: 10
Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
|
Quote:
Sure thing. The reason I changed over the suspension this year despite autocross not happening is due to a blown rear (stock) shock. It blew with around 75K miles, FYI. I compressed the shocks to check them before I put them on this past winter and they seemed good. Hopefully that gives you an idea of the stock shock lifespan. I'll rent a spring compressor and inspect the blow shock, but I have a feeling corrosion was the failure mode. After all 3 combos, it's pretty clear that the majority of how the car rides is due to the shocks. If you are looking for a firmer but less sharp ride, I'd certainly go for the Bilsteins. I like that they aren't adjustable like the koni shocks. I know I'd be tinkering with them more all the time and it would cut into my enjoyment of the car. The RCE Yellow springs seemed perfect for me, but I wound up finding a deal on the RCE Tarmacs. I really don't tolerate uncomfortable suspension set ups, and I don't think you could go wrong with either the Yellows or Tarmacs. |
|
The Following User Says Thank You to AT-JeffT For This Useful Post: | Racecomp Engineering (04-28-2020) |
|
|
Tags |
bilstein, dampers, shocks, stock springs, struts |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
which springs for bilstein b6 | mrg666 | Suspension | Chassis | Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing | 29 | 01-24-2019 10:12 PM |
coilcover choice, "will bilstein b14 be the last one" | jxtgy3 | Suspension | Chassis | Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing | 16 | 12-23-2018 10:29 PM |
Bilstein B8|RCE Tarmac Springs|Racer-X LCA|More | H1C | Brakes, Suspension, Chassis | 3 | 02-19-2018 01:05 AM |
Bilstein b6 + Stock springs | JMon85 | Suspension | Chassis | Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing | 135 | 07-17-2017 12:19 PM |
RCE Tarmac springs w/ Bilstein B8 struts | drifter-s | Brakes, Suspension, Chassis | 2 | 05-31-2017 11:50 AM |