Bilstein B6 and B8 explained

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by jimgreen83

Has anyone put B8’s on a GR86? I put some on my GT86 under a year ago and wondering about stripping that car since the GR86 arrived earlier than expected.

At least 1 person has done this along with 1st gen springs.

- Andrew

[Racecomp Engineering]

Posted a little tech video where I talk about inverted struts using a Bilstein B6 as an example. I take it apart so you can see the bumpstop and grease inside.

Like/share/subscribe etc. plz because I made it through a ton of innuendo after a lot of takes.

- Andrew

[JIM THEO]

I installed yesterday the B6s with the tS pink springs and new top mounts, pedders fronts subaru rears.
My first impression is that they are more "tight" and slightly harder than the tS Sachs, give the car a more solid feeling, absorb better road imperfections at high speeds but are slightly less comfortable at very low speed bumps and potholes, but have much better rebound!
Their negative is they increase the ride height, tomorrow I'll measure by how much.
So far so good, I'll drive the car on mountainous roads to see it's overall difference but I am convinced they are better than the OEM Sachs.

[LancePower]

I have B8's paired with Eibach Pro-Kits and have the same observation.

Slow speeds or large imperfections are harsh, but the higher speed stuff feels more controlled.

How many miles does it take to break-in a shock? I still may not have hit that mark yet.

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by LancePower

I have B8's paired with Eibach Pro-Kits and have the same observation.

Slow speeds or large imperfections are harsh, but the higher speed stuff feels more controlled.

How many miles does it take to break-in a shock? I still may not have hit that mark yet.

I am not sure but I already did a 300Kms road trip mainly on good roads

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by LancePower

I have B8's paired with Eibach Pro-Kits and have the same observation.

Slow speeds or large imperfections are harsh, but the higher speed stuff feels more controlled.

How many miles does it take to break-in a shock? I still may not have hit that mark yet.

I drove yesterday the car on bad roads and it is a lot stiffer, more harsh and unfortunately ride height has gone up ~1cm!

[RToyo86]

I observed the same thing with my yellow springs when I swapped out OEM shocks. Ride height looked higher. I can try snapping a picture but I think they may have settled a bit since installing them roughly 60-70,0000km ago.

I have similar experience with ride quality. high speed stuff is good but low speed big bumps are quite harsh, the added spring rate isn't helping there.

[Racecomp Engineering]

And the internal bumpstops on the Bilsteins. It is a little bit annoying to open them and modify them, but the more I've thought about it, the more I think it's worth it. You just have to be careful.

- Andrew

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

And the internal bumpstops on the Bilsteins. It is a little bit annoying to open them and modify them, but the more I've thought about it, the more I think it's worth it. You just have to be careful.

- Andrew

Do you mean remove the Bilstein bump stops and replace them with oem or Eibach?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

Do you mean remove the Bilstein bump stops and replace them with oem or Eibach?

Those won't fit inside the fronts, so the only real option is to trim the Bilstein bumpstops.

I wish there were another option but I searched a LOT and came up empty. Trimming the fronts isn't ideal but I now think it's better than not doing it depending on the spring.

- Andrew

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Those won't fit inside the fronts, so the only real option is to trim the Bilstein bumpstops.

I wish there were another option but I searched a LOT and came up empty. Trimming the fronts isn't ideal but I now think it's better than not doing it.

- Andrew

I wish you have write this before I install the B6s Andrew, I am not going to remove it now

[RToyo86]

Yes I recall considering that during installation.. maybe I'll give that a go sometime especially if it can help with larger impacts.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by JIM THEO

I wish you have write this before I install the B6s Andrew, I am not going to remove it now

I would have considered it optional with near OEM height springs.

Part of the concern is that anytime you're taking apart a damper to get to something internal, there's a possibility that someone will make an expensive mistake. It's not difficult to do it right, but...even with a shop I'd be nervous about them making a mistake. The other part is I wish there was a full replacement bumpstop available but I just can't find any. Cutting a bumpstop is a compromise, though it may still be an improvement.

- Andrew

[JIM THEO]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I would have considered it optional with near OEM height springs.

Part of the concern is that anytime you're taking apart a damper to get to something internal, there's a possibility that someone will make an expensive mistake. It's not difficult to do it right, but...even with a shop I'd be nervous about them making a mistake. The other part is I wish there was a full replacement bumpstop available but I just can't find any. Cutting a bumpstop is a compromise, though it may still be an improvement.

- Andrew

Which points me to ask you another question, what is your opinion regarding the B6s paired with the original STI springs from the STI Bilstein kit? https://www.sti.jp/parts/subarubrz_z.../ST20330AS010/

I don't think there is much difference between the STI Bilsteins and the B6s, ok they are slightly longer and perfectly valved for the STI pink springs, but what about ride height, will the 15mm lowering from the STI kit correct the B6 height increase?
Or the lowering on the STI kit comes from the struts not the springs although they look similar with the B6s?
Ιt's easier for me to sell the tS pinks and replace them with the STI/Bilstein pinks that I guess will be slightly harder and better mated with the Bilsteins