Tags Posts tagged with "COILOVERS"

COILOVERS

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Are your tires wearing out quickly after installing aftermarket springs or coilovers?

Is your new wheel and tire set up not delivering the traction it should be?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, it’s quite likely that your suspension’s alignment could be amiss. If you lower the ride height of your vehicles factory suspension, you are dramatically altering the alignment and camber adjustment specs of your vehicle. This change in ride height and camber results in alignment issues, which consequently can wear out your tires unevenly – and far before they’re time. Sure, if you’re about that stance life you probably don’t care you’re only wearing out one section, but if you enjoy your vehicles performance and don’t relish the idea of buying another set of pricey performance tires, ensuring your vehicle’s alignment is within spec is something you don’t want to miss.

Check out the video below to learn more about what these SPC Adjustable Suspension Control Arms have to offer:

The trouble is, many OEM front and rear control arms lack the necessary adjustments to bring a lowered vehicle within spec. SPC Suspension offers these adjustable replacements, which help ensure the best alignment whether you want to ensure your factory suspension stays accurately in spec, but they’re especially useful if your vehicle has been fitted with a suspension upgrade like lowering springs or coilovers. A set of SPC Adjustable Arms will improve your handling, extend the life of your tires by preventing unnecessary wear, and complete the look of the fitment inside the fender wheel arch. Get the best alignment with SPC Adjustable Suspension Arm components. A set of SPC’s “Front Adjustable Control Arms (Pair) and Rear Adjustable Arms (Set of 3)” replace the factory control arms of your chassis that lack the range of adjustments needed to keep a performance vehicle in spec.

This all depends on what your target goal is and what you want to do with your vehicle. Here at STILLEN we like to use the best aftermarket parts that provide an unlimited amount of adjustability because this can be helpful to correct any issues with performance or uneven tire wear. Easily obtain a better custom alignment by establishing the proper adjustments after installing lowering springs or when in need of better than factory specification for the wheels on the vehicle.

Are You Multi-Adjustable?

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo
Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo
Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

 

Front

  • Multi-link Wish bone, is similar to a upper control arm is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a multiple adjustable arm that adds to the chassis correcting the angle of the ball joint by adjusting the middle collar and threads outwards to generate length furnishing factory specifications desired. Vehicle manufacturers interest that this system gives the best road handling properties, because of all the assorted joints that make the suspensions versatility.

Do You Camber?

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Rear
3 Adjustable Rear Control Arms

    • Camber- Top of the wheel showing “tilt” Positive Camber or Negative Camber can determine how much rubber tread patch your tire will come into contact with the road. Alignment machines ensure that all four wheels are true and steady with each other and are corrected for the best connection on the paved roadway.
    • Toe- Toe Out, is the front of the wheel pointing away from the centerline of the vehicle.
      Toe In, is the front of the wheel pointing towards the centerline of the vehicle.  Rear Toe adjustment is the most important, because it can be critical to tire wear and handling.
    • Set Back- Positive Set Back indicates that the right front wheel are sitting further back than the left front wheel and Negative Set Back refers to the left front wheel sitting further back than the right front wheel.

After installing of the rear arms bringing full adjustability to camber, toe, and set-back links adapting the settings; simply adjust the suspension arms simply rotate the middle section of the arm expanding the length providing a custom precision alignment of your liking.

Take full benefit of an adjustable performance coilover dropping the ride height even lower compared to the factory specs and in return the car is more adhesive to the ground, lowering the center of gravity, enhancing your lap time, and impressing everyone with the precision fitment you acheived. These adjustable arms are a guaranteed need if you plan on lowering your vehicles height or want a more aggressive appearance with the wheel, tire and fender combo.

Eibach and SPC Suspensions are iconic for providing the best suspension upgrades for the enthusiast that demands the highest return in investment, and that’s where the two top manufactures pair well when sharing the desired handling experience on or off the track.

Installed SPC Adjustable Suspension Arms

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo
Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Installed: Front Multi-link Adjustable Wishbone

Best Alignment X SPC Adjustable Suspension Duo

Installed: Rear Adjustable Control Arms

After installing the RSR coilover suspension on the SEMA 2017 Red Sport and reducing the cars ride height, the STILLEN team of technicians were able to dial in the custom alignment ensuring the best handling characteristics.

With over 30 years of aftermarket performance product knowledge, research and development expertise, the experts at STILLEN share their knowledge with enthusiasts by involving themselves in the community, and that’s how we’ve a leader in the aftermarket performance world.

Recently attending the world famous product development trade show, SEMA 2017, SPC teamed up with STILLEN to debut the newest custom adjustable suspension on the market. SPC partnered with STILLEN to help develop and test fit the brand new product on the freshly wrapped red chrome Infiniti Q60 Red Sport built by STILLEN for the show. SPC trusted the team at STILLEN because of our history of success and level of expertise that’s led OEMs to work with STILLEN as well as STILLEN’s winning Racing Heritage with a variety of platforms, from Off-Road Stadium Race Trucks to LeMans Winning IMSA Race Cars.


Chat with STILLEN:  866-250-5542

Email STILLEN:  sales@stillen.com

Check out STILLEN Website: https://www.stillen.com/

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017front_v2

STILLEN is excited to announce the launch of our complete line up of products for the 2018 INFINITI Q60 at the 2017 SEMA show.

The INFINITI Q60 redsport is a very exciting car as it brings performance back to the INFINITI marque.  Featuring a potent 400 horsepower twin turbo V6 badged the “VR30.”  This car offers the driver an exhilarating experience and inspires the driver to push the car aggressively.

STILLEN has been involved in performance parts for off-road trucks, supercars and street performance cars of a variety and makes and models, but STILLEN is perhaps best known for our experience in tuning NISSAN/INFINITI vehicles… we’ve been involved with developing performance parts for Nissan (and later Infiniti) for over 30 years now.  When the opportunity came to work with Infiniti on this platform, we jumped at the chance and let our engineers run wild.


INTAKE


To kick things off, we took a look at how we could beef up the car’s performance.  Our engineering team immediately began dissecting the air intake system to study it and determine how we could optimize airflow. While the engineering team was busy with figuring out how to get every last pony out of the intake, our fabrication team were hard at work under the car, reviewing the exhaust routing, tube diameter, configuration of the system and the construction of its muffler, all in order to see what gains could be made.

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017 3R1A0019 Cover off

After going through more than 20 prototype intakes trying to achieve our goals, our induction specialists produced a Q60 Intake design that yielded a huge gain of over 20 horsepower at the wheels, and that’s without the need for further tuning or any modifications to the vehicle. Not every ‘high flow’ intake on the market works with the OEM ECU map, so making sure our intakes benefit the car with the stock tune is a high priority for our design team. The end result is what you see above – the urethane airboxes offer a significant advantage over an exposed conical filter, as the airboxes ensure that the intakes are drawing in only cool, outside air, rather than sucking in hot air from inside the engine bay (which robs you of power). Designed as a complete solution, the STILLEN Cold Air Intake for 2017 Infiniti Q60 comes complete with silicone couplers, CNC machined and tig welded aluminum MAF tubes as well as poly-urethane air boxes to keep the engine fed with cooler air, helping to deliver maximum power output.


EXHAUST


STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

Turbo V6 engines are notoriously difficult to get the sound “just right.”  In the end, our team was not satisfied with any of the common mufflers we could source “off the shelf.”  The only option was to build our own.  So, we engineered our own mufflers, manufactured them in house, and pack them with a high temperature ceramic wool.  These tuned mufflers truly allow the heartbeat of the car to be experienced. The final exhaust design was selected after 15 different prototype systems were rigorously tested on our Dynojet chassis dyno.  It took quite a while to determine what the engine wanted in order to produce the most power across the entire powerband.  The end result is a tuned Y-Pipe, leading to a single Mid-Pipe which branches back into a dual outlet exit.


BODYSTYLING


STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

With the performance parts development underway, now it was time to address the exterior styling. The Q60 is a fantastic looking car straight out of the factory, but like a nice tailored suit, it can look even better with the addition of the right accessories. To bring out the car’s flowing lines, we opted to wrap the car with a red chrome wrap.  The brilliant luster of the red chrome accentuates all of the angles and curves of the body of the car and truly ‘makes it pop’. The Q60 has a very organic, free flowing design, and the hyperreflective red chrome shows off these daring curves and deep creases exceptionally well.  Like any car, we felt it could be a bit more aggressive and could do with some aero styling to really accentuate the curves the car comes with. The STILLEN design team then set to work shaping a Front Bumper Splitter featuring STILLEN Front Bumper Splitter for 2017 Infiniti Q60 – (with Winglet Extensions). With the front end spiced up to our satisfaction, we shifted our attention over to to the rear of the car, the STILLEN craftsmen then created a set of side splitters and rear spats to suit the aggressive feel we were going for.  Both of these parts were custom fabricated exclusively for the STILLEN Q60.

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

Finishing off the ground effects package, STILLEN designed a Rear Diffuser for the Red Sport V36 Infiniti Q60 with a set of aggressive air channels and openings for a larger-than-stock dual exhaust.  The STILLEN diffuser for Infiniti Q60 is no “one off” for a show car – this part is a production item you can purchase and install on your own Q60, along with the rest of the aero suite, including the STILLEN front splitter and winglets. While these days the majority of aftermarket manufacturing seems to be done overseas, but at STILLEN, we make all of our products right here in the USA. Every single STILLEN aero or appearance upgrade, intake and exhaust system is designed and manufactured in the USA, right here at STILLEN headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. Not everyone realizes that here at STILLEN we fabricate pretty much everything in-house,  exterior parts, intakes, exhausts, suspension bits — our CNC machines, benders, welders and a team of experienced and talented craftsman makes it possible to do everything here. Now that we had the ground effects completed, the team still felt like our Q was still missing something.  The rear end still lacked something, so next, the STILLEN artists then turned their attention to the rear spoiler.  The initial idea was a simple, clean spoiler that would added a bit of height to the deck lid.  After a few design studies, the team decided to step it up and came up with something that would compliment the dynamic lines of the Q60’s design, and created a custom hand crafted rear wing that completes the car and ties in beautifully with the overall design concept.


SUSPENSION


With the power and exterior styling completed it was time to focus on supporting all of that extra power and downforce.  To do so, the STILLEN team partnered with RSR suspension, who used the STILLEN Q60 to develop and prototype a set of coil overs that are truly incredible.  One difference that sets STILLEN builds apart from other SEMA showcars is that our cars are built to be driven. Our Q60 Redsport is no trailer queen – this car was driven to the show and then driven home.  Since this car would be seeing hundreds of miles of actual road use between STILLEN HQ in Costa Mesa and Las Vegas, it was vital that the car not only look good, but could also retain its handling performance. The team at RSR hit another home run with the RSR Coilovers for 2017+ Infiniti Q60 we had fitted to the car – we really enjoyed these dynamic coil overs.  The ride quality is fantastic when cruising on the freeways and the car carves through the canyons with ease.

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

To make sure that the alignment was correct after the coil over installation and subsequent ride height lowering, SPC suspension provided a complete set of adjustable suspension including front upper control arms and SPC Suspension Rear Camber, Toe and Setback links for 2017 Infiniti Q60.  By installing the adjustable SPC suspension the STILLEN technicians were able to precisely dial in the alignment ensuring excellent handling characteristics

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017

No car would be complete without the right wheel and tire package.  Wheels are one of those items that can make or break a car.  For years STILLEN has chosen VOSSEN Wheels for 2015+ Infiniti Q50 / Q60 and NITTO tires for their vehicles.  On this car though they wanted something a little different.  To accomplish this the STILLEN team selected the Vossen X Work line of wheels.  Particularly, the VWS-1.  Work wheels is a leading Japanese manufacturer of high end wheels and the collaboration between Vossen and Work has resulted in a melding of Japanese technology with American style.  These two piece wheels feature a high luster polished lip with a matte  gunmetal center and polished anodized barrel.

NITTO tires have been the preferred tire for STILLEN for many years.  Offering a wide range of tire selections for everything from race cars to passenger cars and even offroad vehicles.  For the STILLEN Q60 project STILLEN selected the INVO series of tires.  INVO tires are designed specifically for the luxury sports car enthusiast.  They offer excellent performance and grip without sacrificing comfort.

STILLEN INFINITI Q60 REDSPORT 400 SEMA 2017 STILLEN_Q60_Sema_2017_rear_v2

We’re thrilled with the end result of how our 2017 SEMA project came out – the team here at STILLEN feels that the Q60 we put together strikes the perfect balance between high end street luxury, with design inspired by our race-winning heritage tempered with elegant style.

STILLEN Vice President Kyle Millen had this to say of the project:
“The STILLEN Infiniti Q60 project car is one of my favorite cars out of the many projects we have created.  The team at STILLEN did an amazing job and made a car that is truly one of a kind.  From the work of the body craftsmen, the engineers and fabricators working tirelessly on the performance parts, I am extremely proud of the effort put into this car and the end result.”


If you have any questions about the Infiniti Q60 3.0t or any STILLEN products for the Infiniti Q60 on our website, give us a call at (866) 250-5542, email sales@stillen.com, or message us on our Live Chat!


 

Super Duty Adjustability

Lead

ICON Vehicle Dynamics Coilover Conversion Kit for 2005+ Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty

ICON Vehicle Dynamics invests countless hours of in-house research and development, along with thousands of miles of on and off-road testing in order for its engineers to cultivate a thorough understanding of each development platform. Thus, ICON’s engineers lead the industry when it comes to Ford Super Duty performance suspension systems, shock absorbers and their true capabilities. The latest addition to the ICON Vehicle Dynamics line of Ford Super Duty products includes a collection of 2.5-inch Remote Reservoir Bolt-In Coilover Conversion Kits that add a new level of performance and adjustability to the 2005+ F-250 and F-350 platform.

ICON Parts

The advantage of a coilover conversion kit is that it’s designed to increase the overall damping ability of the vehicle while allowing for user-defined ride height adjustment. The 2.5-inch Remote Reservoir Coilover Dampers featured in these kits are based on ICON’s 2.5 VS Series shock line, which means that Eibach coil springs, FK Rod End bearings and vehicle-specific valving come standard. Quality machined components and a fully serviceable design make for a product that will withstand the test of time yet retain the ability to be rebuilt or revalved as necessary. ICON’s CDC (Compression Damping Control) Valve option adds to the adjustability of these coilover conversion kits, allowing the end-user to adjust the dampening characteristics of the vehicle with the turn of a knob.

ICON Parts Installed
These new 2.5-inch Remote Reservoir Bolt-In Coilover Conversion Kits are available for 2005 and newer Super Duty F-250 and F-350 4WD trucks. Available lift ranges include 2.5-3-inch (Part #61720, 61720C) as well as 4-5.5-inch (Part #61721, 61721C). Each kit is available as an individual component that can be used in place of the ICON 2.5- and 4.5-inch Dual Rate Front Coil Spring Kits, or as a part of several staged systems that have been added to ICON’s line of Ford Super Duty products (contact STILLEN for more information.)

ICON Parts 2
ICON products proudly manufactures its suspension systems in the USA at its Southern California-based facility by a team of passionate off-road enthusiasts. With a reputation for quality, performance, and service, ICON Vehicle Dynamics is the top choice for Ford Super Duty suspension systems and shock absorbers.

KEY FEATURES

  • Bolt-in system fits in OE coil bucket location
  • Ride height adjustable coilovers (2.5-3-inch, 4-5.5-inch)
  • Decreased body roll and improved on and off-road ride dynamics
  • Vehicle-specific shock valving provides unparalleled ride quality and control
  • Shocks are fully rebuildable and revalveable
  • Coil-over conversion allows for the addition of secondary shocks
  • Corrosion-resistant CAD-plated coilover shock body with 7/8-inch shaft
  • Eibach Coil Springs are guaranteed for life against sagging or breakage
  • FK Rod End spherical bearings offer extended longevity and minimal deflection
  • CDCV technology allows for quick and easy compression damping adjustment (optional)
  • Made in the USA

To order or if you have any additional questions, please feel free to give us a call (866-250-5542), shoot us an email (sales@stillen.com) or reach out to us on Live Chat at STILLEN.com.

Best Suspension 201: Coilovers

Best Suspension 201: Coilovers stillen_u_banner_blog_v1

We recently went over the basics of lowering your vehicle with springs and shocks in our Suspension 101 article. While this covered the basics, we know a lot of enthusiasts are looking for more capability than what springs and shocks alone can offer. That takes us to the next stage of Best Suspension 201: Coilovers.

When you hear the phrase “coilovers”, most people are referring to an aftermarket replacement damper and spring combination. The term coilover originated from the design of the coil spring being placed over the shock. This description does not apply to all “coilovers” as some still utilize a separate spring and shock setup depending on vehicle application. For this article, we will be using the term “coilover(s)” in reference to the adjustable aftermarket replacement suspension systems.

Advantages of a Coilover System are (this can depend on the model):

  • The ability to run a specific spring rate while perfectly matching a damper to that spring.
  • Independent height adjustments at each corner.
  • Adjustable dampening (rebound and compression).
  • Adjustable spring preload (via spring compression) at each corner for corner balancing.

Best Suspension 201: Coilovers RSR-XLIT275M_790x675

So what do these advantages mean for us?

From the performance perspective:

Having a spring and damper engineered to work together is paramount to performance. One of the limitations of a typical lowering spring is that one must match the spring fairly well with the OEM dampers. This generally means limited spring rates as well as a progressive spring design. When it comes to coilovers, extefnd higher spring rates which means improved handling (within reason). A non-OEM spec damper means a lot of coilover systems use linear rate springs which gives more consistent feedback as well as more predictable handling.

Ride height adjustability at all four corners gives you the ability to optimize suspension geometry as well as achieve the proper balance of a lower roll center and vehicle pitch (aerodynamics).

Adjustable dampening can be a big performance benefit when it comes to versatility. On a smoother road, or track, you can increase compression (the rate at which the dampener compresses under pressure) and rebound (the rate at which the damper returns to resting height after compression). In turn this reduces roll, increases pressure on all four tires, and keeps weight transfer in and out of turns under control. This type of setup is ideal on a smooth road or track as bumps and moderate imperfections in the road can quickly unsettle the car- potentially causing a loss of control. On a rougher road, or track, you can decrease your rebound and compression. While this will allow for a little more body roll (which can be countered a bit by stiffening the sway bars), when encountering bumps and imperfections in a turn the suspension will absorb them more effectively without getting unsettled.

The option of changing preload/compression length of a spring is completely performance oriented. Corner balancing is the technique of utilizing spring preload (the amount of pressure on a spring set by the length) to balance a car. Production cars are not perfectly balanced from the factory as most of you know. For handling performance it is ideal to balance the weight of the car as equally as possible. While this can be a little easier to accomplish in a full race car, most people don’t want to remove interior bits from their car and move things around too much. So how can we accomplish more balance without removing parts of the car or adding weights? Corner balancing is done by weighing the car, then placing each wheel on an independent scale. Using those weights, one can calculate how to adjust the spring rate so the pressure on each tire can be close to even on each corner. This is typically done with the driver in the car as that greatly affects weight distribution. For an example, let us say we have a 350Z that we are corner balancing. For simplicity we will just do the front right to left balance. We find the weight on the front right tire is 850 lbs (or 385.5 kg) and 905 lbs (or 410.5 kg) on the front left tire. If we want to balance that out we can increase the effective weight on the front right tire by compressing that spring. If we have a spring rate of 560 lb/in (10 kg/mm) we are adjusting to correct for the 55 lb difference (or 25 kg) we simply need to calculate the increase via percentage. 55 lbs is 9.8% off 560 lbs (or 250% of 10 kg). So we simply multiply 1 inch by 9.8% (or 1 mm by 250%) so see how much to compress the spring (you can also decompress the side with the higher weight by the same amount instead).

Best Suspension 201: Coilovers 201_article

2015 Subaru WRX sitting on RS-R Sports-i coilovers.

From the aesthetics and comfort perspective:

For many enthusiasts, the goal of lowering is primarily aesthetic. When the goal is to achieve a specific look, many enthusiasts don’t want to sacrifice ride quality. While spring rates and dampening affect performance greatly, it also makes a big impact on comfort. While you might not select the same coilover for racing as you would for daily driving, there are a lot of options that can offer a high level of versatility. For example, the RS-R Sports-i coilovers work fine for track days, but they can be adjusted to be extremely comfortable on the street (often times more comfortable than stock). They utilize features such as rubber bushings in the mounting hats, rebound and compression adjustability, as well as height adjustment independent from spring preload to retain a very civilized ride quality and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness). Lower rebound and compression usually means a softer and more compliant ride even when running a higher spring rate than stock. So just because a spring rate looks high on a coilover system, don’t assume immediately that it won’t be comfortable.

There are so many reasons to have height adjustability. Everyone has their preference of what an ideal ride height is, and there are definitely looks that can’t be achieved with traditional lowering springs. Because most modern cars have a higher fender line in the front wheel wells, lowering often results in a larger wheel gap in front if the spring lowers evenly. With the adjustability of coilovers you can easily get the wheel gap you want.

We hope this helps you with your suspension knowledge. There are still many details we did not go over. If you have further questions about the Best Suspension 201: Coilovers, we would be happy to answer you.


800-576-2131
sales@stillen.com
www.stillen.com

If you would like to shop for coilovers, please visit the following pages:

Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks

Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks stillen_u_banner_v3

Lowering your vehicle is one of the most noticeable modifications both in visual impact and driving dynamics. We get quite a few inquiries about suspension setups and are often asked about the best practices to lowering a customer’s car. We are here to give you a brief “101” overview to  lowering your vehicle with springs and also complimenting them with shocks.
Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks

Lowering your vehicle has several benefits:

  • Roll Center Reduction – The reduction in distance between the chassis and the ground reduces the roll center of the vehicle. This benefits the car in the weight transfer from one side of the vehicle to the other in a turn. Less weight transfer means more evenly-distributed pressure on all 4 tires which means better traction.
  • Spring Rate – In combination with the lower center of gravity, the increased spring rate of a lowering spring, which helps compensate for the shorter shock travel, improves handling by reducing body roll.
  • Aerodynamics – Lowering your vehicle improves the aerodynamics by reducing the amount of air passing under the vehicle. Reducing drag not only aids in performance but also improves fuel economy.
  • Style – Visual impact is typically the main reason people lower their vehicle. There is no denying that a lowered vehicle looks more stylish and sporty.

Springs have been the go-to method for lowering vehicles. The design of a good lowering spring takes into consideration things like factory spring rate, factory shock dampening, vehicle weight, and suspension geometry. Companies like RS-R and Eibach factor in all these  variables to create  a spring that offers good ride quality, improved handling, and does not compromise the factory shock absorbers. You can expect a slightly stiffer ride after installing lowering springs. Most enthusiasts welcome the increased road feel and the average consumer can’t tell much of a difference in comfort. With springs being fairly inexpensive and straight-forward to install, most enthusiasts choose them for lowering their vehicle over the more expensive coilover systems.

Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks s-l1000

When selecting a spring there are typically a couple of options: Spring type (Progressive vs Linear) and Lowering Amount (I.E. 1 inch vs 2 inch). Selecting the amount you want to lower your vehicle comes down to preference and also how much ground clearance you feel is adequate for where you drive. For selecting spring type, it is important to know the differences between Progressive and Linear springs.

  • Progressive springs are pretty much what they sound like. The spring rate progressively changes as it is compressed. The advantage of this design is being able to keep a close to factory spring rate in a given operation range (say the range you would typically be in during daily driving) which retains factory ride quality. The range past this in which the spring would be compressed at a faster rate, such as aggressive turns and impacts (bumps and potholes), a mildly higher spring rate improves performance and also keeps the suspension from compressing too much (which could result in bottoming out or moving out of the operation range). Lowering springs typically utilize this design because of the versatility.
  • Linear springs are also what they sound like. The spring rate is constant along the entire spring. Linear rate springs are used when a specific shock absorber is designed and tuned to go with them. They offer a more consistent feel under compression (like what you would feel in racing and aggressive driving). When used for lowering a vehicle you sacrifice ride comfort. Because you are running a much higher spring rate, you don’t have the same comfort range like you do on a progressive spring. For most enthusiasts, the benefits do not generally outweigh the decrease in ride comfort so they are less commonly used by manufacturers.

Shock absorbers paired with lowering springs are also a common upgrade. While properly engineered lowering springs are matched to the factory shock absorbers, there are still performance benefits from a more aggressively-valved shock absorber or by simply replacing the old factory units with newer ones. There are several great offerings from Eibach for replacement shocks that are valved specifically for lowering springs so the performance benefits of your springs will be increased along with the peace of mind that comes with their 2-year warranty. Most shock absorbers last between 40k-80k miles depending on vehicle weight, driving habits, and road conditions. If you are in that area we definitely suggest looking at upgrading or replacing your shocks while you are installing lowering springs.

Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks 47800

If you are still not sure what route you want to go to lower your vehicle, we would be happy to help you in any way we can. Please feel free to contact us for questions or further advice on all your modifying needs. Check out our website for our great deals!

Best Suspension 101: Lowering Springs Shocks DSC06289

2016 Nissan Altima lowered on the Eibach Pro-Kit.

Subaru fans, get ready for the RS-R Subaru WRX Down Sus Springs and RS-R Subaru WRX Sports-i coilovers! In typical RS-R fashion, they are the first to come out with 2015 WRX lowering springs and coilovers. Also, like the other RS-R springs and shocks, the Subaru WRX kits are manufactured in Japan from the finest quality materials and a specially designed for the 2015 WRX. This allows them to ensure the lowering springs and coilovers fit perfectly, look good and provide you with a comfortable ride.

RS-R Lowered WRX

RS-R Lowered WRX

Available Now: WRX Down Sus Lowering Spring

Like other RS-R springs, the RS-R F400D springs for 2015 Subaru WRX are designed to offer you the best of both worlds – good ride quality and an exceptional looks. With the Down Sus springs, you can expect to enjoy a moderate drop height and increase your spring rate by 30-50%.

Down Sus Springs Specs:

Coming Soon: WRX Sports-i Coilovers

If you’re looking for maximum ride height options, then the RS-R XSPIF400M Sports-i  coilovers for 2015 WRX are the coilovers for you. With 36 way adjustable front and rear dampers, you can easily adjust your WRX for to get the perfect look. Plus, the Sports-i coilover shocks come pre-tuned and pre-set for the optimal balance of comfort, performance and style.

Sports-i Coilover Specs:

  • Part Number: RS-R XSPIF400M Sports-i Coilovers for 2015 Subaru WRX
  • Preset Approximate Height:
    • Front: -1.4″
    • Rear: -1.4″
  • Maximum Adjustment Ranges:
    • Front: -0.2″-3.1″
    • Rear: -0.4″-3.5″
  • Recommended Adjustment Range for Optimum Ride Quality:
    • Font: -0.6″-2.4″
    • Rear: -0.8″-2.4″
  • Spring Rates:
    • Front: 7.00kg/mm
    • Rear: 7.00kg/mm
  • Warranty: 1 year/ 12,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty from date of purchase

Contact Us

If you have questions for about the RS-R springs, coilovers, or any of the other 2015 Subaru WRX performance parts we carry, be sure to give us a call at (866) 250-5542.

Since first opening its doors in 1986, STILLEN has been known throughout the industry for being product experts in each part we manufacturer and sell. Today, we continue our dedication to this tradition by not only keeping up with our own products, by also maintaining the same level of product knowledge about the other vendors we carry. To do so, we regularly invite vendors to visit us at STILLEN headquarters to train us on their product line. Just a few weeks ago, we welcomed RS-R to our facility and enjoyed an intensive training learning more about their product line, including their coilover shocks and lowering springs. Here are a few things we learned.

RS-R Coilover Shocks & Lowering Spring Training

RS-R Coilover Shocks & Lowering Spring Training

100% Japanese Made Coilover Springs

With a goal of delivering “a nice drop, great performance, and a factory-like comfortable ride,” the RS-R coilover springs truly live up to their reputation as the #1 spring manufacturer in Japan. Each of their springs is made from the highest quality steel that is sourced from Japanese domestic metal providers. From there, RS-R’s expert R&D team develops a quality spring that is model specific. This practice ensures that you get the optimum spring rates and drop heights to ensure the best ride in terms of comfort and performance based on the amount of drop you would like.

RS-R offers three different lowering spring options for you to choose from, allowing you to select the perfect balance of comfort and style for your ride. Check out their product line up below:

  • Half Down Sus Lowering Springs – With 20-40% increased spring rate and a conservative drop height, these coilover springs are ideal for up to a 1/2 inch drop.
  • Down Sus Lowering Springs – Characterized by an increased spring rate of 30-50% and known for its moderate drop height of approximately 1 inch. It’s no wonder the RS-R Down coilover springs are RS-R’s best-selling line
  • Superdown Sus Lowering Springs – With a 40-60% spring rate, the RS-R Superdown springs offer RS-R’s maximum drop height and are ideal if you’re looking for a slammed look.
RS-R Coilover Shocks Training

RS-R Coilover Shocks Training

Quietest Coilover Shocks Available on the Market

RS-R has earned their reputation for having the highest quality coilover shock available on the market for good reason – they are. Like their springs of their shocks are constructed from high grade metals sourced from top Japanese metal providers. From there their team develops a vehicle specific valve set up, uses advanced laser cutting techniques to shape their upper mounts, hand welds their lower brackets and hand assembles each coilover in RS-R’s Japan headquarters.

Here are a few features that the RS-R coilover shocks are known for:

  • Monotubes are hand assembled and
  • Urethane bushings
  • Roller bearings
  • Rubber padding
  • Ti2000 springs
  • 36-way adjustable damper adjustment dials
  • Add up to 1.5 degrees of camber

The RS-R coilover shocks come in two different styles for you to choose from based on your driving habits and look you are going for.

Black-i Coilover Shocks

RS-R Black-i Coilover Shocks Training

RS-R Black-i Coilover Shocks Training

If you are looking for an extreme drop height for your vehicle, the RS-R Black-i coilover shocks are the perfect balance of comfort and style. These coilovers come pre-tuned from RS-R, are 1 way adjustable and has a pre-set rebound.

Sports-i Coilover Shocks

These high quality performance coilover shocks that are suitable for everyday use, provide a comfortable ride and come pre-tuned from the RS-R performance team. Additionally, the RS-R Sports-i Coilover shocks are 1-way adjustable, come with pre-set rebound and are tuned from RS-R to strike a perfect balance between performance and comfort.

Questions? Call Us

The STILLEN Team Learning about RS-R Lowering Springs and Coilovers

The STILLEN Team Learning about RS-R Lowering Springs and Coilovers

After the intense training session, our sales team can comfortably say that we are experts in their product line and would love to answer any questions you have about the RS-R coilover shocks and lowering springs. To speak with one of our experts, simply call (866) 250-5542 and we will be happy to help you.

We’re all pretty excited to be selling RS-R coilovers (RS-R Black-I and RS-R Sport-I) and RS-R lowering kits and when one of the sales guys had an opportunity to test the ride quality of an AWD Q50S, you can imagine how excited he was. Check out his review below:

“I got a chance to drive the Q50 before and after the coilover install and I was very impressed. It is not night and day difference obviously being a luxury car; however, I noticed it was more compliant on some of the bumpier roads and felt very solid over road imperfections (the run flats suck though). Handling feel was definitely improved and the car felt very well composed and planted in turns (though I did not push it at all). My wife rode in the car and had no idea it was lowered until I told her.” – STILLEN Imports Sales Specialist, Infiniti Q50

 

More RS-R Reviews:

After hearing his review on the forums, other reviews started pouring in from other STILLEN customers and forum participants.  In each case the story is the same – they love the ride quality and handling.  Check out STILLEN customer, Manny E.’s review of the RS-R Sport-I:

“In summary, the sports-I is awesome. Ride is perfect. Very minimal bounce or none at all. my wife didn’t even notice I had them in there until my front scraped while we were coming down a steep driveway then she asked– DID YOU LOWER THE CAR AGAIN???!!! Did a little canyon driving and handling was very impressive just don’t overcook too much. This car is my DD and I am very satisfied with the comfort and the performance if the need arises.” – STILLEN customer Manny E., Infiniti Q50

Then we saw even more reviews…

“I would like to thank RS-R and Stillen for making my car looks fab— I had the RS-R coilover over a month now and I may say ( thanks RS-R for installing my coilovers) ..the quality of my ride really improved … the handling … very nice as in very nice….. and the drop level RS-R did on my car.. i loved it!!!!” – STILLEN customer Ricky P., Infiniti Q50

“Compared to the OEM…the ride quality difference is day and night. Right away, car feels much more planted and balanced, very predictable and gives great feedback. From the picture, look at the top mount, you’ll see a rubber layer over the top-mount where it connects to the chassis, this reduces coilover clunking noise with metal mounts, been over 3 weeks now and haven’t ran into any noise/chatters, or problems. Customer service is awesome, they even offered me to come in when their Japanese engineers were in town to ask any questions or need any help.

Performance wise, I did couple of canyon runs and I’m more than satisfied, feedback from the car is top-notch, handling greatly improved!” – the370Z.com forum participant, Nissan 370Z

Next Steps

As you can see from our sales rep’s review and the customer reviews, the RS-R system is top notch and provides superb ride quality.  So much so that there were several wives that didn’t realize the car had been lowered until the dreaded scrape gave it away or until questioned if they noticed anything different about the car. If you’re interested in getting a set for yourself or have any questions, be sure to give our experts a call at (866) 250-5542 and we will be happy to help you. We should add that the Q50 RWD RS-R Coilovers are available now and are ready to ship!

 

The SUBARU BRZ / SCION FRS is taking the sport compact world by storm and naturally the masterminds in our RD department have got the creative juices flowing in order to bring more excitement to this fantastic platform.

I can’t say what parts we currently have in the works so I’ll end this post with a question to all you FRS / BRZ owners.
What parts would you like to see us develop first for this bad boy?