Best springs for performance?

[eikond]

Hey everyone, I know we have mulitple threads about springs, but I've yet to see any that compare all the different spring options to one another.

I don't want to start asking questions in the individual threads because I don't want to start pitting sponsors against each other, etc..

So I thought I would ask the question here in my own thread.


I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks is the best spring option for performance and a mild to medium drop.

Here are my priorities: Keeping in mind that I don't want to spend $1k to $2k for coilovers at this point.
1.) Performance. I want to retain the stock balance of the car. I don't want a set that increases understeer or oversteer and changes the stock balance of the BRZ. I want an improvement of pitch and dive characteristics, but don't want it to be squirley or overly harsh.
2.) I'm pleased with the ride smoothness of the BRZ in stock form. I can handle some trade-off for a little firmer ride if I get better handling. But I don't want it to be extremely harsh.
3.) I do want a drop in height for the asthetics as well. About an inch would be nice I think.. I can handle a little more or a little less.. but I think anything in the 20 to 25mm range should be good.
4.) price is an issue, but not a huge one. I think the springs I've seen so far range between $200 and $350 or so.. Anything in that range is ok for me.


The car is a weekend cruiser.. a play car. I'll drive it to work sometimes, but not always. I plan to autocross at some point, but I'm not hardcore.. i don't need to win.. i don't really care what class they put me in.. it's more for my own education, training, and fun.


So what's the best choice?

-RCE Yellows
-Eibach ProKit
-Mach V Awesome
-Tein
-Subaru STI just came out..


What am I missing?

I have to say i'm leaning toward the RCE's based on their extensive R&D thread here as well as Moto-P's positive comments. But, that doesn't mean the others haven't done just as much work to perfect their products.

Anyone have a good recommendation?


Thanks!

[Nitro22]

Originally Posted by eikond

Hey everyone, I know we have mulitple threads about springs, but I've yet to see any that compare all the different spring options to one another.

I don't want to start asking questions in the individual threads because I don't want to start pitting sponsors against each other, etc..

So I thought I would ask the question here in my own thread.


I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks is the best spring option for performance and a mild to medium drop.

Here are my priorities: Keeping in mind that I don't want to spend $1k to $2k for coilovers at this point.
1.) Performance. I want to retain the stock balance of the car. I don't want a set that increases understeer or oversteer and changes the stock balance of the BRZ. I want an improvement of pitch and dive characteristics, but don't want it to be squirley or overly harsh.
2.) I'm pleased with the ride smoothness of the BRZ in stock form. I can handle some trade-off for a little firmer ride if I get better handling. But I don't want it to be extremely harsh.
3.) I do want a drop in height for the asthetics as well. About an inch would be nice I think.. I can handle a little more or a little less.. but I think anything in the 20 to 25mm range should be good.
4.) price is an issue, but not a huge one. I think the springs I've seen so far range between $200 and $350 or so.. Anything in that range is ok for me.


The car is a weekend cruiser.. a play car. I'll drive it to work sometimes, but not always. I plan to autocross at some point, but I'm not hardcore.. i don't need to win.. i don't really care what class they put me in.. it's more for my own education, training, and fun.


So what's the best choice?

-RCE Yellows
-Eibach ProKit
-Mach V Awesome
-Tein
-Subaru STI just came out..


What am I missing?

I have to say i'm leaning toward the RCE's based on their extensive R&D thread here as well as Moto-P's positive comments. But, that doesn't mean the others haven't done just as much work to perfect their products.

Anyone have a good recommendation?


Thanks!

Hey eikond,

Hotchkis just released their springs. These have been designed to match the balance of the stock BRZ. They have been testing at the track and autocross. It's taken them a little longer than the other companies, but they wanted to perfect this platform.

Here's my car with them on:

http://www.hotchkis.net/_uploaded_fi...rodimage_2.jpg

http://www.hotchkis.net/2013-scion-f...l-springs.html

These springs seem to fit your priority list perfectly. Good luck with your search!

Cheers!

[eikond]

Thanks! I'm going to read up on the Hotchkis springs right now.

[No Limit Motorsport]

Swift are releasing their springs soon, and I just got an email from Tanabe that their GF210 is going to be available mid-september. These two are usually top performers as well.

Tanabe GF210 - Minimum advertised price - $280
Drop - Front .6 inches / Rear .9 inches
Spring rates - Front 2.7kg / Rear 4.5kg

I bet you will be very happy with any of the brands that you listed too, they are all top notch stuff.

[ultra]

This thread might help in terms of comparing various spring rates.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8739

According to the chart, the Hotchkis springs should be slighly less aggressive than the Eibach Pro Kit springs, with a similar drop.

[ultra]

Originally Posted by Nitro22

Hey eikond,

Here's my car with them on:

Cheers!

Driving impressions?

[eikond]

I've looked at the sticky thread with all the statistics.. that's why I didn't post numbers or drops in my list above.

The problem is.. Those numbers don't always tell the whole story. Just having drop and spring rate doesn't necessarily mean you can understand how they will handle.

It's also important to know if they springs were developed using FRS or BRZ in mind. The two cars had different settings stock.. FRS is more tail happy. BRZ is more balanced. If someone (Hotchkis) made a set of spring that are 45% more stiff in front and 25% more stiff in back for an FRS.. those %'s wouldn't translate the same way to the BRZ because our springs started differently..

It's all a bit confusing to me.

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by No Limit Motorsport

Drop - Front .6 inches / Rear .9 inches

Why is the drop more in the rear than the front? Wouldn't that mess up the rake? Thanks.

[Kido1986]

Everything you described sounds like you want Swift Springs. They should be available within a month they told me.

Swift makes springs for HANDLING, not lowering springs, though they end up dropping around an inch usually.

[20valvewynn83]

I'm waiting for DG-spec springs! Dan Gardner has already tested his custom spec rims with his springs and told me he loaded them up at a 100mph on turns so yeah I'm good. DG-spec will be everyones best bet. He is making all suspension parts so you all know

[Nitro22]

Originally Posted by eikond

I've looked at the sticky thread with all the statistics.. that's why I didn't post numbers or drops in my list above.

The problem is.. Those numbers don't always tell the whole story. Just having drop and spring rate doesn't necessarily mean you can understand how they will handle.

It's also important to know if they springs were developed using FRS or BRZ in mind. The two cars had different settings stock.. FRS is more tail happy. BRZ is more balanced. If someone (Hotchkis) made a set of spring that are 45% more stiff in front and 25% more stiff in back for an FRS.. those %'s wouldn't translate the same way to the BRZ because our springs started differently..

It's all a bit confusing to me.

Yeah, sorry about that. It is not the same percentage increase for the BRZ. It's more like 21% stiffer in front and 38% stiffer in the rear. Increasing the front rate more versus the rear for the FR-S will improve stability (less oversteer) which was what Hotchkis was aiming for. This strategy was geared toward getting it closer to how the BRZ is balanced while still allowing for rear rotation when needed.

[eikond]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

Everything you described sounds like you want Swift Springs. They should be available within a month they told me.

Swift makes springs for HANDLING, not lowering springs, though they end up dropping around an inch usually.

Thanks!

I've always heard good things about Swift.. though i'll admit I haven't owned any of their product in the past.

I can wait a month to see what else comes out.


Hopefully other people will find this thread interesting and helpful as well.

[Nitro22]

Originally Posted by ultra

Driving impressions?

With the Hotchkis coils:
- Ride comfort is great with a slight increase in harshness.
- Noise and vibration have not increased.
- Steering response and transitions are noticeable quicker.
- Steady state cornering shows neutral handling.
- Steady state cornering leading into decreasing turning radius (sudden increase in steering input while in a corner with same amount of throttle input) shows slight understeer.
- Steady state cornering leading into off throttle deceleration shows neutral handling
- Steady state cornering leading into braking deceleration shows neutral handling
- Sudden steering input while mashing on the throttle shows controllable power oversteer.
- Sudden steering input with sudden off-throttle shows slight oversteer

Driving on a road course is great since the balance is so neutral. I prefer neutral handling on the road course and an oversteer setup for autocross. That's where sway bars come into play.

[just86]

seem like Eibach spring got problems from the other thread, so try and stay away from that