+1

 

It's been two weeks since my Swift install. If you haven't been reading these posts I also added Yellows, Vorshlad plates, H-Sport Comp. SB, H-Sport rear arms, Conti Ext. Con. DW 205/50/16.

My first impressions haven't changed. Car feels much more stable. Not just in the corners but as an overall feel. Contact and feedback through the steering wheel, seat of the pants and on the pedals adds to that painful grin that was there before my susp. upgrade! All my worries about an uncomfortable ride became smoke up the chimney. O.K., hit a major crack, bump etc...you feel it more and direct but that's what I paid for and wanted, more feel / contact.

My installer was not too impressed with the Swifts, thought the front spring was far to soft. Figured the car would sit very low because when holding the Swifts he was able to easily compress the springs with arm strength. I think what he experienced was that until the closely wrapped first three coils bind you don't get the actual 280 lbs. feel. That's my guess and I'm no way a suspension guy. If others have an opinion chime in.

I checked my car prior to the install, measured from the ground to the plastic wheel trim...

Front : 25 1/4 in dropped to 24 3/4 in. a drop of 1/2 in.

Rear : 25 1/2 in dropped to 24 3/4 in. a drop of 3/4 in.

**Note front and rear measure exactly the same....."not a coincidence me thinks"!

Obviously the springs are not too soft noted by the drop and my driving impressions. The drop is also affected by the tire change that before the Conti's were 195/55/16 and maybe a wee bit with the camber plates.

Most importantly, I'm a very happy camper.

I haven't changed anything from the initial set-up. Yellows are 25% firm front and rear, rear bar on soft. If I do change things up I'll be going up to 50% front and sway bar to the middle setting.

Comments welcome.......

 

Just installed my Koni Sports and HSport Comp rear sway bar and powerflex LCA bushings last weekend. I will say, I like the Swift Springs A LOT more now then when they were on stock shocks.

I have my Koni's on full soft, stock upper mounts, HSport Camber arms, HSport Comp rear sway set on soft and Swift springs. I will probably try setting the Sway bar to the middle setting, but yea the handling is awesome now and the car handles/manages bumps much better with the Koni's.

Overall very happy right now.

 

NINJALO,

Your hatch looks very nice~
I also like your wheel design.
So I'm very interested in getting a set of Buddy Club F91 Kuroki wheel.
Does it clear OEM JCW brake on R58?
Do you use hubcentric rings and OEM wheel bolts?
Do you think that there is any rubbing with a 205/45R17 tire set on stock suspension?

It would be great that you can mention the target price of wheel set.

Happy Motoring~ from Louisville, KY

 

If you have an R58 you'll need to buy an M14 to M12 stud conversion. Way motor works sells one. It will clear the stock JCWs as well as Brembos/Stoptechs/AP Racing calipers. I run a 215/45/17 with no rubbing issues so you should be fine. The wheels will need a 73mm to 56.1mm hub cebtric ring.

 

I'm currently running the FSD with the TSWv3's and have been relatively happy with the handling.

If I swap out the springs for the Swifts am I going to regret the FSD's? (bounciness?)

Has anyone experienced the combo? I might try it out and if I had it I'll just sell the FSD's and get yellows, or bilsteins.

/mulling things over...

 

I don't think you'd want to run the Koni FSDs with the Swifts....the FSDs are a bit too soft for those firm springs. It'll be bouncy.

- Andrew

 

Just reporting in: ~10,000 miles later, the ride settled a little bit more and isn't as harsh as when new installed. Not sure if it was the shocks that softened up (they have been on full soft after 2k miles installed), or if the springs settled.

 

I've read that the bilsteins are way stiffer than koni yellows, and if you pair the bilsteins with swift springs, you may have an extremely rough time. But if all you do is track, you might be the envy of some coilover setups.

 

I have Bilsteins w/SWIFT springs on my R53. It was harsh as all get out when first installed, but mellowed quickly. My MINI handles like a new car.

We can special order the SWIFT springs for the R53 and R56 at competitive prices if anyone wants a set.

-Clint

 

Too bad I'm not in the area, I would def like to take a spin around and see how the ride compares to the koni yellows.

 

Hey guys, just wanted to give you a heads up that we are having a huge sale on R53 and R56 springs this weekend, don't miss out on over 35% off!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nday-sale.html

 

Just another quick update: I had busted my strut mount earlier this week, so I went ahead and replaced the other side while I was replacing the busted one. I got the cheapy $36 per side ones from O'rileys and the ride isn't jarring anymore and feels like driving a brand new car again.

Cliff notes: If the ride is super stiff and crappy, replace the strut mounts.