Bilstein Shocks + Swift Spec-R Springs Review
09-10-2013, 04:45 AM
#25
Bilstein shocks with RSR Ti2000 springs
I tried the Bilstein shocks with the Eibach Pro progressive springs (spring rates in LBS initial/final front 296/384 initial/final rear 316/421). Initially I thought the springs were very good. But after 3.5 weeks the ride wasn't as smooth while driving the city streets and on the highways as I was expecting. The ride was a little jittery on the highway. When the roads were relatively smooth, the ride was great. I also noticed the steering was less responsive. Turn in was slower. Not good! I liked the lower ride and stance of the car, but I wasn't happy with the overall ride and less responsive steering. At times the ride was smooth, then harsh. It seemed as though there was never a gradual shift as the springs stiffened up from their lower spring rates to the upper rates. It seemed as though there was a sudden step change. It just wasn't smooth. The springs lower the car by 1 inch front and rear.
I then switched out the Eibach springs for a set of RSR Ti2000 linear springs. These springs lower the car by .6 inches on the front and rear. The spring rates are 345 for the front and 417 for the rear. I found the RSR springs to be a great match with the Bilstein shocks. The ride is fantastic - firm ride and well controlled when rolling over wavy and/or rough roads. No jittery ride. The car takes the turns extremely well. The quick steering response returned! Maybe the improved steering came back because I switched back to linear springs? Note, for both setups I have the SPC adjustable upper control arms in the front and in the rear SPC toe bolts, and SPL adjustable lower link.
I then switched out the Eibach springs for a set of RSR Ti2000 linear springs. These springs lower the car by .6 inches on the front and rear. The spring rates are 345 for the front and 417 for the rear. I found the RSR springs to be a great match with the Bilstein shocks. The ride is fantastic - firm ride and well controlled when rolling over wavy and/or rough roads. No jittery ride. The car takes the turns extremely well. The quick steering response returned! Maybe the improved steering came back because I switched back to linear springs? Note, for both setups I have the SPC adjustable upper control arms in the front and in the rear SPC toe bolts, and SPL adjustable lower link.
09-10-2013, 04:50 AM
#26
I tried the Bilstein shocks with the Eibach Pro progressive springs (spring rates in LBS initial/final front 296/384 initial/final rear 316/421). Initially I thought the springs were very good. But after 3.5 weeks the ride wasn't as smooth while driving the city streets and on the highways as I was expecting. The ride was a little jittery on the highway. When the roads were relatively smooth, the ride was great. I also noticed the steering was less responsive. Turn in was slower. Not good! I liked the lower ride and stance of the car, but I wasn't happy with the overall ride and less responsive steering. At times the ride was smooth, then harsh. It seemed as though there was never a gradual shift as the springs stiffened up from their lower spring rates to the upper rates. It seemed as though there was a sudden step change. It just wasn't smooth. The springs lower the car by 1 inch front and rear.
I then switched out the Eibach springs for a set of RSR Ti2000 linear springs. These springs lower the car by .6 inches on the front and rear. The spring rates are 345 for the front and 417 for the rear. I found the RSR springs to be a great match with the Bilstein shocks. The ride is fantastic - firm ride and well controlled when rolling over wavy and/or rough roads. No jittery ride. The car takes the turns extremely well. The quick steering response returned! Maybe the improved steering came back because I switched back to linear springs? Note, for both setups I have the SPC adjustable upper control arms in the front and in the rear SPC toe bolts, and SPL adjustable lower link.
I then switched out the Eibach springs for a set of RSR Ti2000 linear springs. These springs lower the car by .6 inches on the front and rear. The spring rates are 345 for the front and 417 for the rear. I found the RSR springs to be a great match with the Bilstein shocks. The ride is fantastic - firm ride and well controlled when rolling over wavy and/or rough roads. No jittery ride. The car takes the turns extremely well. The quick steering response returned! Maybe the improved steering came back because I switched back to linear springs? Note, for both setups I have the SPC adjustable upper control arms in the front and in the rear SPC toe bolts, and SPL adjustable lower link.
Sidenote: the Z33 chassis is VERY height sensitive. Dropping much more than 1.3-1.4" ruins the suspension geometry and requires you to pretty much replace everything to get back to where you need to be (and I'm not talking about alignment, I'm talking about the way the arms move)
09-10-2013, 07:02 AM
#27
Just goes to show you that spring choice is everything! The eibachs just weren't well matched for the damping on the bilsteins. Glad to see you got a combo that works for you! Next time try swift and write a review comparing the two
Sidenote: the Z33 chassis is VERY height sensitive. Dropping much more than 1.3-1.4" ruins the suspension geometry and requires you to pretty much replace everything to get back to where you need to be (and I'm not talking about alignment, I'm talking about the way the arms move)
Sidenote: the Z33 chassis is VERY height sensitive. Dropping much more than 1.3-1.4" ruins the suspension geometry and requires you to pretty much replace everything to get back to where you need to be (and I'm not talking about alignment, I'm talking about the way the arms move)
09-11-2013, 07:10 PM
#31
And besides, I'll say this again - the Z33 chassis is extremely sensitive to ride-height. If you lower the car much more than 1.4" the roll center lowers too much, increasing the roll couple to a point where you need to alter much more of the suspension before handling is manageable. AKA: it performs worse than stock unless you're changing just about everything anyway... Here's a quote from a great handling guide
"The huge roll couple created by over-lowering will require an overly stiff suspension to control body movement. And when your suspension is too stiff it won’t absorb road irregularities effectively, which will make it harder to keep the tires in contact with the ground and you can’t drive fast if your tires aren't on the ground. This is called tire shock by us engineers."
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...ll-Center.aspx
10-11-2013, 02:23 PM
#35
More pics!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032104446/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032104446/]IMG_8443[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032101336/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032101336/]IMG_8441[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032088726/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032088726/]IMG_8409[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032010804/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032010804/]IMG_8382[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032120773/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032120773/]IMG_8359[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032104446/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032104446/]IMG_8443[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032101336/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032101336/]IMG_8441[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032088726/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032088726/]IMG_8409[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032010804/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032010804/]IMG_8382[/url, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032120773/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zswphotography/10032120773/]IMG_8359[/url, on Flickr
01-17-2014, 06:40 PM
#38
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bump from the dead... thanks for the review. I saw you didn't change the FUCA; I'm guessing you kept the stock rear camber adjustment too. What were your alignment specs after the drop? Were they within factory ranges?
01-17-2014, 06:45 PM
#39
I didn't change the front but I did change the rear. Running SPC adjustable links. At stock camber arms the camber was at about -1.8 degrees after drop.
Front were in factory specs though. Front toe was off if I recall but it was very close.
Front were in factory specs though. Front toe was off if I recall but it was very close.
Last edited by zswickliffe; 01-17-2014 at 06:47 PM.
01-18-2014, 11:11 AM
#40
Looks great, Im considering the bilsteins or tokico D-specs and havent decided. I know the blistein is one of the best shocks out there.
Is there any other springs that would match the blisteins well that would give me a little more of a drop without revalving? I think the d-specs drops 1.0 in the front and 1.5 in the rear.
Would you consider this a mild or aggressive upgrade? I want the best performance possible for <$1200 and i dont care about ride quality whatsoever. I noticed in the reviews people say it "rides great", but does that mean its a "milder" setup than im looking for?
Is there any other springs that would match the blisteins well that would give me a little more of a drop without revalving? I think the d-specs drops 1.0 in the front and 1.5 in the rear.
Would you consider this a mild or aggressive upgrade? I want the best performance possible for <$1200 and i dont care about ride quality whatsoever. I noticed in the reviews people say it "rides great", but does that mean its a "milder" setup than im looking for?