GR86 Lowering - Coilovers and Springs

[Doridori]

I'd like to lower the car a little

Ohlins have some coilovers available but don't seem to be available in the UK yet, they would be my first choice.

What are peoples thoughts on lowering springs, honestly?

Eibach Pro are probably the only ones I'd consider but I don't fancy messing with the dampers as they work extremely well and deal with awful back roads in a way I've not experienced before. I'd imagine you'd lose the excellent small bump compliance available at the top of the damper stroke and end up sat into the dampers travel pogo-ing around like an imbecile.

The stock setup has slightly too much high speed rebound deeper into the damper travel at the rear for my taste but it's almost spot on really. It really is very good and I'd think it would deal with road and track very well.

I'll have a think. Some eibachs might work for a little while until Ohlins become available

I am having exactly the same dilemma as you currently so thanks for sharing your journey! Would like to lower the car a touch to make the wheel arch gap more reasonable, but I wouldn't want the ride to be any firmer than stock as the roads are quite bad round where I live. Indeed, I'd love a setup that removes some of the 'jitter' around town, and reduce the tendency to lose traction at the rear when accelerating over sharper undulations (my hypothesis is too much high speed rebound damping causing the rear to monentarily lose contact with the ground after a bump)

I thought about going Bilstein B12 also but having read your experience, it doesn't feel like something I'd like either!

Have you seen these Sard x showa setup? Haven’t seen anyone sell these outside of Japam but it sounds like just the ticket for a road car if SFRD (probably similar to Ohlins DFV) is as good as they claim it to be!

SHOWA TUNING – SARD GR86 GT1

Debut

www.sard.co.jp

Seems very effective if you believe Keiichi Tsichiya's review here!

 

[Bathroom_Security]

I am having exactly the same dilemma as you currently so thanks for sharing your journey! Would like to lower the car a touch to make the wheel arch gap more reasonable, but I wouldn't want the ride to be any firmer than stock as the roads are quite bad round where I live. Indeed, I'd love a setup that removes some of the 'jitter' around town, and reduce the tendency to lose traction at the rear when accelerating over sharper undulations (my hypothesis is too much high speed rebound damping causing the rear to monentarily lose contact with the ground after a bump)

I thought about going Bilstein B12 also but having read your experience, it doesn't feel like something I'd like either!

Have you seen these Sard x showa setup? Haven’t seen anyone sell these outside of Japam but it sounds like just the ticket for a road car if SFRD (probably similar to Ohlins DFV) is as good as they claim it to be!

SHOWA TUNING – SARD GR86 GT1

Debut

www.sard.co.jp

Seems very effective if you believe Keiichi Tsichiya's review here!

Thanks

No not seen this.

The Bilsteins weren't atall like I expected at the rear

With swave or SPL arms that's not an issue now with the adjustable mounting points. I just didn't know that was even possible when I first got these

Hard to tell what the showa dampers would be like without seeing them. There's always the option of fitting camber arms to adjust the suspension behaviour at the rear if you find them too firm. I hear you on the rebound thing. You should experience the B6/Eibach setup on rough roads on the stock arms, feels like a pogo stick only with no travel....

 

[WWGR86]

Thanks

No not seen this.

The Bilsteins weren't atall like I expected at the rear

With swave or SPL arms that's not an issue now with the adjustable mounting points. I just didn't know that was even possible when I first got these

Hard to tell what the showa dampers would be like without seeing them. There's always the option of fitting camber arms to adjust the suspension behaviour at the rear if you find them too firm. I hear you on the rebound thing. You should experience the B6/Eibach setup on rough roads on the stock arms, feels like a pogo stick only with no travel....

Out of interest, where did you get your SPL arms from? I am looking to get pair of RUCAs.

 

[Bathroom_Security]

I got swave from fensport

I think SPL have metal bushings? Which is why i went with Swave.

 

[mackie]

Looks like Ohlins is now listing a Gen 2 kit with the SKU "SUS MP21S2". Relatively soft with 5KG spring rates front and rear.

Sorely tempted to do this in the summer, just need to decide whether to go with adjustable topmounts or go for OEM-style Pedders offset ones plus camber bolts for adjustment.

ETA: I got a price of £2,335.86 inc VAT from a UK reseller. Lumpy but probably worth it. They're just up the road and can service them too so that's a consideration too longer term.

 

[hsb]

Looks like Ohlins is now listing a Gen 2 kit with the SKU "SUS MP21S2". Relatively soft with 5KG spring rates front and rear.

Sorely tempted to do this in the summer, just need to decide whether to go with adjustable topmounts or go for OEM-style Pedders offset ones plus camber bolts for adjustment.


ETA: I got a price of £2,335.86 inc VAT from a UK reseller. Lumpy but probably worth it. They're just up the road and can service them too so that's a consideration too longer term.

I was waiting for the Öhlins but decided to buy HKS Hipermax S (5kg front, 6.5kg rear which is around 60% stiffer than stock) instead and I'm very happy with them. Comes with camber adjustable top mounts in the front and shorter end links. A fair bit cheaper also, even though I had to pay custom fee and VAT when importing them from USA to Sweden.

 

[WWGR86]

I was waiting for the Öhlins but decided to buy HKS Hipermax S (5kg front, 6.5kg rear which is around 60% stiffer than stock) instead and I'm very happy with them. Comes with camber adjustable top mounts in the front and shorter end links. A fair bit cheaper also, even though I had to pay custom fee and VAT when importing them from USA to Sweden.View attachment 16824

I have decided to go for HKS as well! Will see how it cope with the infamous UK road

 

[ZN8]

HKS make some great coilovers, I've always wanted to try them, but a word of caution. UK support for these doesn't exist. If you were to need a rebuild they'd have to go to Japan which I believe isn't really viable, mainly down to duration and the cost is high, then your only real option is to buy a new set.

 

[Bathroom_Security]

Interesting on the Ohlins, may get saving up

Tbh, I'm not dissatisfied with my Bilstein stuff now it works very well.

 

[mackie]

I think the fact you can get them serviced or rebuilt without any bother is a pretty big consideration. Certainly top of my list right now. I like the fact there’s only one adjustment too, less to get wrong.

 

[Delahorney]

Anyone had experience with the Tein lowering springs that Fensport offer? Not sure I can stomach coilover prices at the moment (perhaps further down the line).

Lowering Spring Kit - Tein High Tech Luxury Master -20mm - GR86

Tein Luxury Master High Tech Lowering Spring Kit for GR86Front -20mm, Rear -20mm Spring rate front 3.4kg, rear 4.6kg TEIN High.Tech springs utilize the latest spring and material technology to optimize comfort, performance, and quality. Designed and tested in North America to be used in...

www.fensport.co.uk

 

[ZN8]

I have a set of luxury masters on my GT86, very good, mainly because the spring rates weren't far off stock, which meant they were pretty well matched to the dampers, looking at the advertised spring rates its the same for this car. Even the comments in the blurb and from Fensport seem to agree. The only thing with Tein stuff is it goes crusty after a while, not a major problem just doesn't look good.

 

[GRistopher]

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but would you guys who fitted the Hypermax S and Ohlins mind sharing your opinion on them?

My main focus is road driving so i'd just be looking to make some subtle changes. Slightly lower ride height, slightly reduce body roll, add a bit of -ve camber.
I'm actually hoping to improve over the stock ride quality - or at least make it more consistent. The stock dampers seem to vary quite significantly with temperature. I know the spring rates will be increased over stock, but in my past experience, a high quality damper can increase ride quality, even with higher spring rates.
Also, have you noticed much in the way of increased NVH? I don't daily the car but it does get used. I'd rather avoid annoying squeeks and creaks.

Thanks

 

[hsb]

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but would you guys who fitted the Hypermax S and Ohlins mind sharing your opinion on them?

My main focus is road driving so i'd just be looking to make some subtle changes. Slightly lower ride height, slightly reduce body roll, add a bit of -ve camber.
I'm actually hoping to improve over the stock ride quality - or at least make it more consistent. The stock dampers seem to vary quite significantly with temperature. I know the spring rates will be increased over stock, but in my past experience, a high quality damper can increase ride quality, even with higher spring rates.
Also, have you noticed much in the way of increased NVH? I don't daily the car but it does get used. I'd rather avoid annoying squeeks and creaks.

Thanks

I was concerned of increased NVH before fitting my Hipermax S as it comes with camber adjustable metal front upper mounts to replace the OEM plastic ones, but happy that I didn't notice any difference after fitting them. From memory, there is a different sound when going up a curb but it doesn't sound harsh .
Also, even though the spring rate is 60% higher it's no less comfortable, the dampers are tuned correctly to the spring rate.

 

[GRistopher]

I was concerned of increased NVH before fitting my Hipermax S as it comes with camber adjustable metal front upper mounts to replace the OEM plastic ones, but happy that I didn't notice any difference after fitting them. From memory, there is a different sound when going up a curb but it doesn't sound harsh .
Also, even though the spring rate is 60% higher it's no less comfortable, the dampers are tuned correctly to the spring rate.

Thanks a lot. They seem like a decent option

 

[ninjin]

I went with Tein RX1. Fitted them a few days ago and will be doing a europe road trip in April, so hopefully can give some feedback but I've done minimal miles with stock suspension to be able to compare....

 

[mackie]

I'm currently weighing up Hipermax S vs Ohlins R&T and can't decide. The DFV damping will be superior but the HKS with included top mounts is a huge amount cheaper (> £600) even if I use Pedders OEM-style top mounts let alone the ~£500 extra for adjustable front top mounts.
Ohlins pros: there's UK servicing support, unique DFV damper tech, probably overall better on-road comfort
HKS pros: Much cheaper while still getting an inverted monotube setup with simple damping adjustment and good comfort + the "JDM, yo" factor

 

[ZN8]

It's worth noting there is no support for HKS over here, if you want them rebuilt you'd have to ship them to Japan, which probably won't be worth it.

 

[mackie]

It's worth noting there is no support for HKS over here, if you want them rebuilt you'd have to ship them to Japan, which probably won't be worth it.

Yep, BG Motorsport are half an hour away from me so it's a fairly big factor. That said, there is a 3 year international warranty on the Hipermax S so while it'd be a pain to get an issue sorted there is at least some backup available.

 

[Grblue86]

I'm currently weighing up Hipermax S vs Ohlins R&T and can't decide. The DFV damping will be superior but the HKS with included top mounts is a huge amount cheaper (> £600) even if I use Pedders OEM-style top mounts let alone the ~£500 extra for adjustable front top mounts.
Ohlins pros: there's UK servicing support, unique DFV damper tech, probably overall better on-road comfort
HKS pros: Much cheaper while still getting an inverted monotube setup with simple damping adjustment and good comfort + the "JDM, yo" factor

Someone (sorry to be adding to the rumour mill) told me in one of the Caffeine and Machine meets that the Ohlin R&T weren't good on GT86, can't recall the exact reason he gave me but recommended not to go for them. I wonder if people have heard of that before or something to the contrary.