Bilstein B6's and Swift Sport FRS Installed (now with 15' WRX comparison)

[Firestorm_86]

updated with 30day+wrx impression.

[ayau]

How much shock travel is there before the shocks hit the bump stops when paired with the Swift R and Swift Sport springs?

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by ayau

How much shock travel is there before the shocks hit the bump stops when paired with the Swift R and Swift Sport springs?

Without taking it off to measure...
I believe the drop is about the same between the two springs. But, one being quite a bit stiffer than the other, the distance is more relevant for the Swift Sports since they're soft.

The drop is probably 1.1-1.25". So if you know what the stock is, subtract that off.

[cdrazic93]

Curious now, if these were the B8's would there be more of a drop?

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

stuff

bring this back from the dead.


are you still on this setup? Any changes in opinions?


why did you choose to go with the B6 unit (meant for OEM height) and not B8 (meant for lowered height)?

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

bring this back from the dead.


are you still on this setup? Any changes in opinions?


why did you choose to go with the B6 unit (meant for OEM height) and not B8 (meant for lowered height)?

I'd guess it's because the B8's reduce droop stroke and offer no other advantage.

[cdrazic93]

Dont the B8's settle lower than the B6's?

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

I'd guess it's because the B8's reduce droop stroke and offer no other advantage.

Well the advantage is, from what I understand, in the operating range of the shaft. An OEM length shaft is always compressed more at static height, reducing the compression effectiveness.


unless I'm wrong?

[wparsons]

You're not really losing droop compared to stock springs. If the B8's have an inch less droop (not sure what the measurement is, just for example), but you're lowered an inch you have the same total droop travel compared to resting ride height.

Yes, if you lift the car up you'll have less total droop compare to a stock car, but compared to resting height you'll still have good droop travel.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by mike156

You guys should do some more research before you post "information." It took about 5 minutes on the phone with Bilstein to get this information.

Here are the specs for the B6 and B8.

Front (B6/B8)
Length [Extended] - 18.95/18.17
Length [Collapsed] - 15.9/15.9
Valving [Rebound] - 179/179
Valving [Comp] - 116/116


Rear (B6/B8)
Length [Extended] - 15.45/14.66
Length [Collapsed] - 10.7/10.7
Valving [Rebound] - 141/141
Valving [Comp] - 70/70


The ONLY difference in specs is the extended length. Now, there could be differences in the valving curves at the low end but they end up at the same place at the high end where they take the specification from....but I doubt it.

If you are using springs that are wound to stay captive on the stock struts, IMO there is no reason to get the B8s over the B6s as they will simply reduce droop travel. If you are using springs that rattle around on stock struts...well, they are probably crappy springs and you should get different springs? Point is, the B8s absolutely do not increase compression travel and any spring that's a bad idea on a stock length strut is still a bad idea on the B8s.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...19#post1725819
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...light=bilstein
This is why I went with the B6 over the B8 for my Spec R's

[Firestorm_86]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...19#post1725819
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...light=bilstein
This is why I went with the B6 over the B8 for my Spec R's

Originally Posted by 7thgear

bring this back from the dead.


are you still on this setup? Any changes in opinions?


why did you choose to go with the B6 unit (meant for OEM height) and not B8 (meant for lowered height)?

I went with the B6 since the springs I had chosen were designed for stock OEM struts. I couldn't really figure out the use for the B8's unless it was for maybe springs that had a drastically reduced ride height. Bilstein didn't quite provide great direction on the differences, or more specifically, the valving.

I had to move away from this setup. It was too rough on the city roads in Atlanta (which are almost as bad as the Northeast). I moved to RSR-i Sports which allowed for some adjustability so I could tweak for daily vs track driving.

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by Firestorm_86

I went with the B6 since the springs I had chosen were designed for stock OEM struts. I couldn't really figure out the use for the B8's unless it was for maybe springs that had a drastically reduced ride height. Bilstein didn't quite provide great direction on the differences, or more specifically, the valving.

I had to move away from this setup. It was too rough on the city roads in Atlanta (which are almost as bad as the Northeast). I moved to RSR-i Sports which allowed for some adjustability so I could tweak for daily vs track driving.

It appears to be the same shock body... but the B8 uses a shorter shaft.

If you're using lowering springs, you're probably not going to benefit from the extra 1" of rebound/extension. Especially with stiffer springs. With a shorter shaft, the piston stays closer to the center of the shock and has less chance of bottoming. Also, it can allow for some pre-load on signficantly shorter springs that would otherwise move around at full extension.

[cdrazic93]

Sharkboy to the rescue!! Lol

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Sharkboy to the rescue!! Lol

Maybe we can change my name to Sharkenstein.

Not sure if the reference would be Shark Knife:

Or Left Shark