shock questions - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

cslntuee · 04-11-2014, 08:48 AM

HI All,

I plan to buy the pink STI spring for my BRZ.
I have some questions as below.

1. What's different (road quality, handling..etc) between using the stock
shock and aftermarket one (ex. Bilstein B8)?

ps. 1. STI spring only have minor drop (15 mm) on both from and rear.
2. I am a daily driver without any track or autocross.

I hope can make the car more comfortable and also improve
some handling.

2. I saw the picture from Subaru BRZ Sti ts
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=53

Did they also use Bilstein B8?
Thanks a lot.

cdrazic93 · 04-11-2014, 01:37 PM

1)
Aftermarket shocks will have a different range of optimal damping. For example, the Bilstein B6's are used for non lowering springs. The B8's on the other hand should be used with lowering springs like RCE yellows. The valving is different for each.

2)
More comfortable but improving handling is a tough one with just springs. Since Koni have adjustable dampers, a set of those with some RCE yellows or B8's with Swifts would be a good setup. You can substitute the STI Pinks for those springs. I'm unsure if the B8's are adjustable or not.

cslntuee · 04-11-2014, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

1)
Aftermarket shocks will have a different range of optimal damping. For example, the Bilstein B6's are used for non lowering springs. The B8's on the other hand should be used with lowering springs like RCE yellows. The valving is different for each.

2)
More comfortable but improving handling is a tough one with just springs. Since Koni have adjustable dampers, a set of those with some RCE yellows or B8's with Swifts would be a good setup. You can substitute the STI Pinks for those springs. I'm unsure if the B8's are adjustable or not.

Why you suggest using other spring (RCE,Swifts...etc) instead of STI?
Thanks again.

cdrazic93 · 04-12-2014, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cslntuee

Why you suggest using other spring (RCE,Swifts...etc) instead of STI?
Thanks again.

Simply because I have heard more about those than the STi Pinks, that's all

CSG David · 04-12-2014, 04:52 PM

Recommend Swift as a lowering spring, but definitely not optimal.

ayau · 04-12-2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

1)
Aftermarket shocks will have a different range of optimal damping. For example, the Bilstein B6's are used for non lowering springs. The B8's on the other hand should be used with lowering springs like RCE yellows. The valving is different for each.

2)
More comfortable but improving handling is a tough one with just springs. Since Koni have adjustable dampers, a set of those with some RCE yellows or B8's with Swifts would be a good setup. You can substitute the STI Pinks for those springs. I'm unsure if the B8's are adjustable or not.

B6 and B8 have the same valving. You can Google B6 and B8 differences. Only difference is B8 is meant for lowering springs and B6 is meant for OEM springs.

Racecomp Engineering · 04-12-2014, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayau

B6 and B8 have the same valving. You can Google B6 and B8 differences. Only difference is B8 is meant for lowering springs and B6 is meant for OEM springs.

I don't think that's always true....

I realize there's lots of stuff on the web that says so but I don't think its definitive.

- Andy

cdrazic93 · 04-12-2014, 06:28 PM

"The BILSTEIN B6 Sport is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber designed to dampen wide-ranging vibrations very precisely. Where an oil shock absorber produces an oily foam and creates a spongy driving feeling after a very short distance, the BILSTEIN B6 Sport remains constant, precise and stable. The BILSTEIN B8 Sprint is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber specifically designed to be used with lowered vehicles with shorter stroke. It also offers the same advantages as the BILSTEIN B6 Sport shock absorber."

From the Bilstein website. My thinking that they have different valving is becuase the B8s are designed for a shorter stroke, rather than the B6, which would require more aggressive valving...I could be wrong.

cslntuee · 04-13-2014, 02:14 AM

HI All,

What kinds of different drive feeling that I should expect compare using
STI pink spring (or other) on stock shock and Bilstein B8?
Thanks again.

cdrazic93 · 04-13-2014, 04:06 AM

Stock shock vs B8, or B6, a Bilstein Monotube, is going to be the difference between the stock liquid filled shock and a nitrogen gas Monotube. The B6/8 wi be more sensitive valving. Liquid filled dampers will feel soft and spongy, where as gas filled shocks will feel like new everyday.

Lowering springs will make stock shocks ride a bit firmer, the B6/B8 are probably more comofortable with a lowering spring than the stickers with a spring

cslntuee · 04-13-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Stock shock vs B8, or B6, a Bilstein Monotube, is going to be the difference between the stock liquid filled shock and a nitrogen gas Monotube. The B6/8 wi be more sensitive valving. Liquid filled dampers will feel soft and spongy, where as gas filled shocks will feel like new everyday.

Lowering springs will make stock shocks ride a bit firmer, the B6/B8 are probably more comofortable with a lowering spring than the stickers with a spring

HI,

Which setup (Stock or B8) you will suggest for the daily driver with mile drop (less than one inch ex. STI, TRD, Tanable, Swift..ect)?

ps. Compared with liquid filled and nitrogen gas stock, which has
longer lifetime?

Thanks.

Jmonty · 04-13-2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSG David

Recommend Swift as a lowering spring, but definitely not optimal.

I just ordered the Swift Spec R springs, the car is a DD with no track time?

thoughts?

cdrazic93 · 04-13-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cslntuee

HI,

Which setup (Stock or B8) you will suggest for the daily driver with mile drop (less than one inch ex. STI, TRD, Tanable, Swift..ect)?

ps. Compared with liquid filled and nitrogen gas stock, which has
longer lifetime?

Thanks.

Oh dear, longer lifetime? I would consult @CSG David about that one. That's as far as I can go lol. I would suggest some B8s with a spring of your choosing. A lot of people have had great success with RCE yellows, RCE Tarmacs or Swift. If you want to adjust the shock, than the Koni damper is the way to go.

AZP Installs · 04-13-2014, 02:02 PM

Remember folks, if you put lowering springs on stock struts/shocks you will reduce their lifespan since they are not meant to operate in the range you are looking at with the lowering springs. RCE makes a set of springs that offer marginal lowering which will work with OEM Shocks/Struts.

-Mike Paisan

04-11-2014, 08:48 AM	#1
cslntuee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Lexington MA Posts: 962 Thanks: 604 Thanked 103 Times in 79 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	shock questions HI All, I plan to buy the pink STI spring for my BRZ. I have some questions as below. 1. What's different (road quality, handling..etc) between using the stock shock and aftermarket one (ex. Bilstein B8)? ps. 1. STI spring only have minor drop (15 mm) on both from and rear. 2. I am a daily driver without any track or autocross. I hope can make the car more comfortable and also improve some handling. 2. I saw the picture from Subaru BRZ Sti ts http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=53 Did they also use Bilstein B8? Thanks a lot. Attached Images

04-11-2014, 01:37 PM	#2
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	1) Aftermarket shocks will have a different range of optimal damping. For example, the Bilstein B6's are used for non lowering springs. The B8's on the other hand should be used with lowering springs like RCE yellows. The valving is different for each. 2) More comfortable but improving handling is a tough one with just springs. Since Koni have adjustable dampers, a set of those with some RCE yellows or B8's with Swifts would be a good setup. You can substitute the STI Pinks for those springs. I'm unsure if the B8's are adjustable or not. __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

04-12-2014, 06:28 PM	#8
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	"The BILSTEIN B6 Sport is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber designed to dampen wide-ranging vibrations very precisely. Where an oil shock absorber produces an oily foam and creates a spongy driving feeling after a very short distance, the BILSTEIN B6 Sport remains constant, precise and stable. The BILSTEIN B8 Sprint is a mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber specifically designed to be used with lowered vehicles with shorter stroke. It also offers the same advantages as the BILSTEIN B6 Sport shock absorber." From the Bilstein website. My thinking that they have different valving is becuase the B8s are designed for a shorter stroke, rather than the B6, which would require more aggressive valving...I could be wrong. __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

04-13-2014, 04:06 AM	#10
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Stock shock vs B8, or B6, a Bilstein Monotube, is going to be the difference between the stock liquid filled shock and a nitrogen gas Monotube. The B6/8 wi be more sensitive valving. Liquid filled dampers will feel soft and spongy, where as gas filled shocks will feel like new everyday. Lowering springs will make stock shocks ride a bit firmer, the B6/B8 are probably more comofortable with a lowering spring than the stickers with a spring __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

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04-12-2014, 04:52 PM	#5
CSG David Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: California Posts: 2,109 Thanks: 537 Thanked 1,723 Times in 956 Posts Mentioned: 173 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Recommend Swift as a lowering spring, but definitely not optimal.

04-13-2014, 02:14 AM	#9
cslntuee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Lexington MA Posts: 962 Thanks: 604 Thanked 103 Times in 79 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	HI All, What kinds of different drive feeling that I should expect compare using STI pink spring (or other) on stock shock and Bilstein B8? Thanks again.

04-13-2014, 02:02 PM	#14
AZP Installs Join Date: Oct 2011 Drives: '11 STi->'14 BRZ \| '14 Touareg TDi Location: Kenilworth, NJ Posts: 1,269 Thanks: 359 Thanked 558 Times in 371 Posts Mentioned: 49 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Remember folks, if you put lowering springs on stock struts/shocks you will reduce their lifespan since they are not meant to operate in the range you are looking at with the lowering springs. RCE makes a set of springs that offer marginal lowering which will work with OEM Shocks/Struts. -Mike Paisan Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001. Like us on Facebook! \| E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com \| 725 Fairfield Ave \| Kenilworth, NJ 07033 \| 908.248.AZP1 (2971) \|AIM: AZP Installs *"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"*

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