Bilstein B6 and Stock Springs ("14)

[J-Mac]

Originally Posted by Ernest72

Thanks for this update and appreciate your opinion as you drive it more. I have 50k and figure in about two years I will do the suspension. One of my options is to go RCE yellows and B6, so this helps. I am DD and some spirited driving on mountain roads.

Hey Ernest72,
First off I’d like to say I agree with at-jefft’s review, especially the part about the weight transfer being better. Love the B6 shocks and they seem to match up pretty well with my RCE yellows. Great combo.
I use the car to get groceries and the like as well as a lot of spirited driving in the mountains around my house. Couldn’t be happier.
I should add I have some serious lower back/spine issues and find this combo very comfortable. Honestly can’t believe how little this car affects my pain level stock or slightly modified. And my roads are completely garbage for the most part.

[AT-JeffT]

Update after some more time with the Bilstein/RCE Tarmac combo.

Now that I've had some more street miles on this setup, I'd say it's a bit less comfortable than I had initially thought. For low speed (45mph and below) it does start to wear on me after about 15min of sustained low speed driving. I didn't have this with the Bilstein/stock springs. So I would have to say I no longer think it is the most comfortable of the 3 set ups. It's not awful, and sustained highway driving is not an issue. I just don't think it's the most comfortable of the three as I had claimed earlier.

I'm starting to notice little areas of performance gains despite not having my summer tires on yet. I've noticed how much earlier I would be able to get on the throttle on corner exits.

I wish I knew someone locally with the RCE Yellows and Bilsteins to compare. I think that would be the sweet spot for comfort and performance, for my tastes.

[nikitopo]

Bilstein B6 should be used with stock springs or near stock springs . If you want to lower the car with other springs, then it is better to use Bilstein B8.

[AT-JeffT]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

Bilstein B6 should be used with stock springs or near stock springs . If you want to lower the car with other springs, then it is better to use Bilstein B8.

This is a common misconception. The valving is the same between the B6 and B8. The only difference is the length. The B8 has a reduced length to keep lowering springs captive.
The RCE springs which have a 20mm drop are captive in both the B6 and B8.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Correct. I recommend the Bilstein B6 for our RCE springs.

- Andrew

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by AT-JeffT

This is a common misconception. The valving is the same between the B6 and B8. The only difference is the length. The B8 has a reduced length to keep lowering springs captive.
The RCE springs which have a 20mm drop are captive in both the B6 and B8.

It looks strange, but you are right. In some other cars this was not the case.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...9&postcount=60