Coil springs on OEM shocks

[Mikepage]

Can i install coil springs without change the shocks? I mean, do you think the OEM shocks can handle a more hard springs?

I know normally, i change the coil and the shocks but hte car will be brand new... brand new shocks...

[Kochinopride]

I think this has been done a crazy amount on these cars. I have Tein lowering springs and they're stiffer than stock. Been running them for about 2k miles so far - no issues.

[wheelhaus]

As far as durability goes- The typical problem is that the aftermarket springs go too low and it puts too much stress on the OEM damper by forcing it to ride deeper in it's travel than it was designed. If you're looking for a mild drop (1" or less) and a mildly stiffer spring, aftermarket springs should be fine.

The other issue that affects some cars more than others, is if the car has very little suspension travel to begin with. Using lowering springs often requires the use of different bump stops that are firmer and have a different ramp rate. This allows the suspension to still move correctly without riding on the OEM bump stops constantly.

[Mikepage]

Ok guys thanks a lot for the informations.

I will probably not going to drop under 1" and maybe change the damper to be safe if i change my coil springs.

I also want to be sure to do not improve the understeer. I want to drop de car a little bit and rigidify the suspension.

[fatoni]

i hear that the shock can handle a little drop and stiffer springs. the only concern for me is the fact that you might later want to further upgrade so you are wasting time and money reinstalling suspension components and having to spend money on multiple alignments. keep the car stock for 20k miles. there is nothing wrong with the stock car. i always find it odd that people can spend 30k on a car and then not want to spend the extra grand to get decent suspension.

[Mikepage]

Good point you are right Fatoni, i just want to pick up some more informations.

[Mikepage]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

As far as durability goes- The typical problem is that the aftermarket springs go too low and it puts too much stress on the OEM damper by forcing it to ride deeper in it's travel than it was designed. If you're looking for a mild drop (1" or less) and a mildly stiffer spring, aftermarket springs should be fine.

The other issue that affects some cars more than others, is if the car has very little suspension travel to begin with. Using lowering springs often requires the use of different bump stops that are firmer and have a different ramp rate. This allows the suspension to still move correctly without riding on the OEM bump stops constantly.

I check to buy the Hotchkis springs, i think this is the best way to keep original setup of the suspension and put the car more lower and stifness.

[switchlanez]

STI Japan offers 15mm lower coil springs designed for the stock BRZ shocks. My car in my sig has them on.

[Tim_Asphalt_FRS]

Originally Posted by Mikepage

I check to buy the Hotchkis springs, i think this is the best way to keep original setup of the suspension and put the car more lower and stifness.

I plan on getting the Hotchkis springs exactly for this reason.


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[Spartan65]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

STI Japan offers 15mm lower coil springs designed for the stock BRZ shocks. My car in my sig has them on.

These are the springs I'm looking for, where were you able to locate them. Were they less than half the price of BC entry level coil springs.
Thank you for any information.

[Mikepage]

Originally Posted by Tim_Asphalt_FRS

I plan on getting the Hotchkis springs exactly for this reason.


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Let me know if you buy it, another opinion will be apreciate.

We have already a good review on this in the forum by the way.

The OEM shocks is supposed to resist :p ... am not cheap, i just want to do not change the brand new shock from this brand new car.

[Hotchkis]

A good performance spring can actually work very well with a stock shocks and struts. To give the car more of a performance "feel," the OEMs will typically over-dampen the shocks/struts and go a little lighter on the spring rate. Aftermarket sport springs, like ours, are designed to bring the spring rates in line with the damping rates of the stock shocks/struts and deliver a very neutral handling car. The other key to using a performance spring on the stock shocks/struts is to keep as much suspension travel as possible and keep from over-compressing the shocks, which leads to increased wear and can cause premature failure. To do this, you want to make sure that you aren't lowering the car more than about 1" front and rear and that you either retain some sort of bump stop, whether you trim the factory piece or use a smaller aftermarket one.

[Mikepage]

Thanks Hotchkis for the detail, you just confirm we can run your springs whitout any problem to broke something.

2 questions :

Why did you do not give a new bump stop and you ask users to cut the OEM bump?
You have test it and it's working fine?

And, can you tell me if the car get more understeer feeling with you springs?

[Racecomp Engineering]

The OEM shocks are actually pretty decent. The old saying of "you have to upgrade shocks when you use lowering springs" is not always true. In this case, the OEM shocks can handle a decent amount of spring rate. A big drop as others have said will cause problems because there is not a lot of bump travel...anything over an inch or 25mm is too much in my opinion for optimal handling and ride quality. We stuck with a 20mm drop plus we include replacement shortened bumpstops with our RCE Yellow springs.

Below is a shock dyno test we ran on the OEM dampers.



There is a lot to gain by going to Koni or Bilstein eventually (when they come out) but for most street drivers the OEM shocks will do the trick.

- Andrew