Lowering springs for '22/'23, bump travel?

[ZDan]

Would lowering springs for 1st gen fit 2nd-gen? Not finding a lot of 2nd-gen-specific options out there... Ideally want something like Swift Spec-R spring rates (4.4F/5.3R).

How are the factory '22/'23 for strut/shocks bump travel, i.e. how low can you go with the stock dampers?

Application: daily-driver and time-trials car. Tenths of a second *matter*. Also considering RCE SS-2 coilovers, but with them I'd have to add 80 lb. of ballast...

[nomtimesthree]

Seems like there's something different with the spring seat, so ymmv. Probably better off getting springs designed around the 22+ cars.

See: https://tinyurl.com/mrr6w6he


Coilovers, sway bars and brakes are interchangeable if you have a GR86. 22+ BRZ has a different front knuckle which may cause issues with some BBKs and the rear sway mounts are different, but I think the bars will fit if you have the right hardware.

[Racecomp Engineering]

What they said.

Also total travel is the same 1st gen vs 2nd gen OEM dampers.

You could swap your complete Bilstein + Swift assembly over to 2nd gen if you want.

- Andrew

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by nomtimesthree

the rear sway mounts are different, but I think the bars will fit if you have the right hardware.

The are mounted different, but the bar occupies the same physical space. All bars that fit previous gens will fit unless they need spacers.

[nomtimesthree]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

What they said.

Also total travel is the same 1st gen vs 2nd gen OEM dampers.

You could swap your complete Bilstein + Swift assembly over to 2nd gen if you want.

- Andrew

Would love to see the difference in lap time and feel between a stock gen 2 setup versus a gen 2 on gen 1 swift/billies.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by nomtimesthree

Would love to see the difference in lap time and feel between a stock gen 2 setup versus a gen 2 on gen 1 swift/billies.

Guarantee the 2nd one would be faster...just the stiffer springs would make the difference. Might not be that much through.

- Andrew

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

What they said.

Also total travel is the same 1st gen vs 2nd gen OEM dampers.

You could swap your complete Bilstein + Swift assembly over to 2nd gen if you want.

- Andrew

Hmm, I didn't realize that was an option...

[cmiovino]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Application: daily-driver and time-trials car. Tenths of a second *matter*. Also considering RCE SS-2 coilovers, but with them I'd have to add 80 lb. of ballast...

I'd be looking at the SS-1 or SS-2 if you're stating tenths of a second matter. I think you're leaving a good bit on the table just moving to lowering/stiffer springs. Also keep in mind that coilovers offer the ability to increase front camber, way more over stock.

So even if you're daily driving it you could run a good -3 or even -3.5 degrees whereas stock style struts and no upper camber plates or adjustability is only going to leave you with about -2.5 max with camber bolts installed. Also add in the ability to adjust rebound with coilovers.

IMO, the coilovers are going to offset the 80lbs you'd have to add.

If not, RCE Yellows paired with a good strut are common and a good setup. Yellows, Sachs dampers or Bilsteins, camber bolts running -2.5 camber up front.... that's about the max performance you'll get out of a strut setup before needing camber plates up front and rear LCAs, which might make you take more of a ballast hit in this class/format it sounds like.

Remember that it's less about the lowering and more about the stiffer spring rates that are going to actually help handling. You want some roll to load up the tires, but more than stock to keep roll in check and more equally distribute the weight, utilizing each tire more than just overloading your front outside.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by cmiovino

I'd be looking at the SS-1 or SS-2 if you're stating tenths of a second matter. I think you're leaving a good bit on the table just moving to lowering/stiffer springs. Also keep in mind that coilovers offer the ability to increase front camber, way more over stock.

For sure I'd get camber plates with lowering springs to get at least -3 up front.

IMO, the coilovers are going to offset the 80lbs you'd have to add.

Yeah, could be... On the '17 I ultimately added front/rear sways to the lowering springs/camberplates/Bilsteins, at that point it's only 1 additional suspension point (+40 lb. ballast) to get 1-way height-adjustable coilovers (with stock sways).

If not, RCE Yellows paired with a good strut are common and a good setup. Yellows, Sachs dampers or Bilsteins, camber bolts running -2.5 camber up front.... that's about the max performance you'll get out of a strut setup before needing camber plates up front and rear LCAs, which might make you take more of a ballast hit in this class/format it sounds like.

yeah, see above

Remember that it's less about the lowering and more about the stiffer spring rates that are going to actually help handling. You want some roll to load up the tires, but more than stock to keep roll in check and more equally distribute the weight, utilizing each tire more than just overloading your front outside.

I think I had about as good a "lowering springs + plates + Bilstein B8s" on the '17, and was overloading the outside front mid-corner. Thinking coilovers might address that not having outside front quite as hard on the bumpstop...

[RedReplicant]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

The are mounted different, but the bar occupies the same physical space. All bars that fit previous gens will fit unless they need spacers.

Can confirm the Mann Engineering bar doesn't fit the 2nd gen BRZ, but like you said, it uses spacers