How to screw up your cars handling and ride - step by step!

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by hyper4mance

Ah maybe I got confused. All i remember was there was something u can adjust on stocks for the rears, maybe that was only toe. In that case, 0 camber rear...lol

Thanks for both of your replies!

If you're lowered, you'll have a lot more than 0* in the rear. I was at -2.1* rear on swift sport springs. You'll be a bit under that because your springs don't lower quite as much (1" vs 0.8"), but you'll definitely have at least -1.5*.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by hyper4mance

Ah maybe I got confused. All i remember was there was something u can adjust on stocks for the rears, maybe that was only toe. In that case, 0 camber rear...lol

Thanks for both of your replies!

As wparsons said, you probably don't have 0 camber in the rear. Stock is closer to -1.5.

- Andy

[hyper4mance]

Yeah its weird. I'm going to leave the rear camber alone.
According to the last alignment which didn't touch it, rear left was -1 while rear right was -1.6

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by hyper4mance

Yeah its weird. I'm going to leave the rear camber alone.
According to the last alignment which didn't touch it, rear left was -1 while rear right was -1.6

I'm pretty anal so I'd want to fix that.

- Andy

[hyper4mance]

Lol yeah, I'm going to use a friend's shop next week and tweak it with their help. Hopefully the rears wont have such a huge difference.

[DeaconRoc]

Just read this thread, one question - why do you need a stiffer spring for a lower drop? If you're looking at about a 30mm drop what spring rate would you want?

[drewbot]

Originally Posted by DeaconRoc

Just read this thread, one question - why do you need a stiffer spring for a lower drop? If you're looking at about a 30mm drop what spring rate would you want?

Since you are closer to the ground, you want to make sure your car does slam onto the road (that's an over-exaggeration) when going over bumps. By making it siffer, you are increasing the spring's resistance to compress (more force is required to move the same distance)

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by DeaconRoc

Just read this thread, one question - why do you need a stiffer spring for a lower drop? If you're looking at about a 30mm drop what spring rate would you want?

1. Compression travel. If you're reducing travel a lot, it helps to have stiffer springs to resist bottoming out. Some coilovers are dual height adjustable so you don't reduce suspension travel as you lower, but those coilovers generally don't have a lot of travel to begin with.

2. Suspension geometry. Things get worse (roll couple and camber curve) when you lower that much, so stiffer springs help minimize the effect that geometry has on the car. Taken to the extreme...a car without body roll does not need to worry about geometry much (but does have to worry about a whole of other things).

As for what spring rate for a 30mm drop, the answer is it depends. Tire choice, usage, other mods, etc.

- Andy

[Trackrat86]

Originally Posted by STV3

Anyone have any info as to whether the TRD lowering springs will have a positive or negative effect on handling and ride quality?

I love the way the stock setup feels but wouldn't mind reducing the gap between the tire and fender a little.

I also would like to know.

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Join Date: Mar 2014
Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S
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I recently had TRD springs put on my 2014 FR-S, I believe they lower the car 1 inch if I remember correctly. Have I unknowingly compromised the handling capability of the car if I change springs only? I also planned down the road to get lighter wheels and the Sprint BBK for weight savings and tracking the car. I was planning on using the OEM tires because I like them. Are there negative effects to the suspension due to the drop and reduction in weight??? I honestly did not consider this until reading this thread

[STV3]

How much stiffer is the ride with the TRD springs? Is it a huge difference? I've been going back and forth in my head over and over about getting these.

Originally Posted by Trackrat86

I also would like to know.

Member

Join Date: Mar 2014
Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Trader Rating: 0 reviews


I recently had TRD springs put on my 2014 FR-S, I believe they lower the car 1 inch if I remember correctly. Have I unknowingly compromised the handling capability of the car if I change springs only? I also planned down the road to get lighter wheels and the Sprint BBK for weight savings and tracking the car. I was planning on using the OEM tires because I like them. Are there negative effects to the suspension due to the drop and reduction in weight??? I honestly did not consider this until reading this thread

[Trackrat86]

Originally Posted by STV3

How much stiffer is the ride with the TRD springs? Is it a huge difference? I've been going back and forth in my head over and over about getting these.

The car feels great with them on and obviously aesthetically it clearly looks better than before. I had the car up on the tail of the Dragon recently and it handled great with the TRD springs, but I never pushed the car that hard with the original springs so, I cant honestly say how much better it is or isn't. If by lowering the car I disrupted the geometry of the suspension in a negative way I cant tell it. I believe its just as good, if not better, but I'm not an expert.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Taken to the extreme...a car without body roll does not need to worry about geometry much...

- Andy

Like Colin Chapman said about the massive spring rates they had to run on ground effects F1 cars "Any suspension design will work if you don't let it".

[Cartman]

I'm probably commiting a sin, but I must say, I installed Swift Spec-R springs, OEM bottles up front still, Koni Adjustable at the rear to compensate for that 5.3K springrate. 1.1" drop front and 1" drop rear.

My laptimes improved by 1.5secs all else equal.

I'm quite happy, but I think I still have room to improve. Only running 1.1 degrees up front since thats the max the camber bolts will give, and I have no idea at the rear since I don't have LCA yet, but I have Toe set to 0.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Summertime bump.