I know the damper question has been asked innumerable times, but this time I ask it knowing that I want the Swift Spec-R springs. I have read favorable reviews on the quality and performance of these springs, and the drop looks perfect to me.

That said, I'm curious as to what struts would best compliment this spring. The Bilstein B4 looks like a good strut, but it's touring class and these springs are certainly performance so I don't know if they would cooperate with each other. I've also read the Koni FSD's are fantastic performance struts, but they also don't work well with springs that have any kind of drop. For reference, the drop is 0.7" (18mm) and 0.5" (13mm) F/R.

Any thoughts?

 

Koni Yellows, they are on sale right now and are a great shock with an adjustable rebound rate.



FSDs are not compatible with lowering springs, but do ride great on stock height setups.

Don't forget to cut your bump stops down, otherwise you'll be on them through every corner and over every bump.

 

Is it that bad? I thought you could leave the bump stops alone. If that's the case, maybe I shouldn't go for Swift springs.

 

bump stops are part of the suspension design, they are not hard rubber they have give to them that increases the springrate as they start to compress

you can tailor the ride by getting different bumpstops or trimming them

 

+1 for KONI Yellows and Swift R's.

 

How does the Swift/Yellows setup compare to stock and FSDs? I know it should be the stiffest of the three, but is it still bearable on the street? Would I be better off with stock springs and FSDs for spirited street driving?

 

I don't know about the swift spec r springs but koni fsd's and stock springs are great for spirited street driving while having better than stock ride comfort. I even autocross on them and they work but if I planned on doing more autocross or track days I'd go with lower springs and koni yellow adjustables.

 

Don't pair the FSD's with the Swift Spc R's. They are designed only for use on stock springs. If lowered, you don't get the full benefit of their design and some people have claimed that they fail. A lot of my friends have paired the Swift's with Bilstein Sports and said they were perfect! I'm sure the Koni yellow's work well too. Great springs, but they need the right shock to control them or they will be too bouncy!

 

Oh, and Fat Cat Motorsports make great bump stops!

http://fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_Products_Mini.htm

 

So Swifts + Bilstein Sport's or Koni Yellows will be a good combo? Is there a significant tradeoff in comfort with those as opposed to FSD's? Again, the car is a 100% daily. I just have some nice roads I hit pretty often.

 

Everyone's ideal level of comfort is different, so it's a bit hard to quantify. I'm currently on FSD's with stock springs. I ran Swift's for a while but my local roads suck bad, so yeah, there is a trade off. Swift/Bilstein?koni combo will definitely be firmer than FSD and stock springs, but they also handle a lot better. Only you can make that determination. If you don't have a lot of broken pavement and harsh expansion joints on your roads, the Swift's would probably be fine. Either way, I recommend the Fat Cat bumpstops. They even make one's that specifically work with FSD's.

 

So I stumbled across this and wanted to ask about a different set up...

Contemplating Stagg shocks & struts w/ Vogtland Springs. Would the OE bump stop kit from Fat Cat be beneficial?

Sorry to thread jack :/

 

Curious what the threat starter here sevin went with... I'm also looking at Bilstein HDs.

With a moderate drop like the Swift springs (or actually trying to source a set of JCW springs) is it really necessary to go with the Bilstein SPs?

Swift advertises the Spec-Rs as being designed to work with stock dampers (albeit at their limits), so I would imagine an upgraded stock damper replacement (Bilstein HD) would do just fine, no? I have also read some other accounts of people using HDs with moderate (less than 1" drop) springs successfully.


btw, I'm not ruling out the Koni yellows, but have just heard the Bilsteins are near indestructible, whereas I've heard some mixed reviews of yellows being difficult to install, wearing out, etc.

 

Didn't get anything yet. When I do I will probably go with stock springs and FSDs. I just can't justify Spec-R's on a daily driver, I'd rather have the comfort of FSDs.

 

I've had Koni Yellows and Swift Spec R springs for a while now.

Made the decision since the Swifts are the only regular springs with a linear rather than progressive rate. Also they reduce the car's natural understeer tenancy with their spring rates. After having Koni's on my Miata I knew they'd work well with autocross and track days. Not the most comfortable but certainly more tolerable than any coilover around $1,000 or less.

 

Dr how did you make out in Ft Meyers?