2014 Ford Fiesta ST project

[koozy]

Sweet! We need more ethanol availability and filling stations here in Socal.

 

[razorlab]

Started swapping in the new coilovers today. Put them on the scale, along with the Bilsteins and OEM front strut assembly.

Complete Front strut assemblies: (strut, spring, top hats)
OEM: 18.9lbs
Bilstein: 11.4
BC: 12.1

I put the rear strut assembly on the scale and it didn't even register. I was just using a normal body scale so it's not 100% accurate but at least we know the deltas.

FYI, I extended the front BC coilovers 20 turns higher than out of the box because I didn't want to slam the car, however that made it almost 1" higher than stock.... lol. Oops.

 

[Sourskittle]

Hey razor a good way to use a body scale for weighing parts is to weigh yourself, then weigh yourself again holding the part

 

[koozy]

Hey razor a good way to use a body scale for weighing parts is to weigh yourself, then weigh yourself again holding the part

that's how a weigh my little Chihuahuas!

 

[RAAMaudio]

That is also how I weigh out Akita and our Irish Wolfhound, wearing a back brace as well, and my wife has to look at the readout as I cannot see it

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Makes sense the BC weight a bit more, they have separate height adjustment, a great thing to have instead of preload on the springs like nearly all coilovers have.

Let us know how you like the Bilstiens, I have them on my truck, 4Runner and had them on my vehicles, coilovers on BMWs, shocks on the trucks, etc....

 

[Sourskittle]

Bilstiens are the only thing I'd consider after my experience with jeeps and shocks. Something so simple, and no one got it right on TJ wranglers except Bilstien. Zillion shock options for jeeps and they were the only ones that worked the way they should ( for stock style bolt-on applications ).

 

[razorlab]

The Bilsteins are coming off the car in favor of the BC's.

The reason is, I am moving up to stiffer spring rates and the front Bilsteins where too low for my style.

Other than that, the Bilsteins where great. Awesome value for the money and built well.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Oops, got it backwards, I think you will like the BC, they made a custom race grade setup for my Forester XT and they were damn fine. I have had many many coilovers and the BCs are the best for the money I have ever used, maybe not quite in the league of the 3-way Ohlins on my last race car project but those cost $8500!!

I have ran Bilsteins for many years and once had them go bad after 100k miles, they replaced them no questions asked.

The only shocks I have liked better on a truck were the Edlebrocks on my 06 Duramax, no longer made, with automatic valving on the fly that were incredible. I talked to the original design engineer of the company that licensed the technology to Edlebrock, originally used for motorcycle racing and other race applications.

 

[JPGC]

Started swapping in the new coilovers today. Put them on the scale, along with the Bilsteins and OEM front strut assembly.

Complete Front strut assemblies: (strut, spring, top hats)
OEM: 18.9lbs
Bilstein: 11.4
BC: 12.1

I put the rear strut assembly on the scale and it didn't even register. I was just using a normal body scale so it's not 100% accurate but at least we know the deltas.

FYI, I extended the front BC coilovers 20 turns higher than out of the box because I didn't want to slam the car, however that made it almost 1" higher than stock.... lol. Oops.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that the Bilsteins were that much lighter. Is that with stock or aftermarket springs?

 

[razorlab]

Oh wow, I didn't realize that the Bilsteins were that much lighter. Is that with stock or aftermarket springs?

Bilstein coilover vs OEM Strut assembly with OEM Springs.

 

[JPGC]

Okay, gotcha. I should of figured that, lol. That's still a significant weight loss, hmmm

 

[razorlab]

Okay, gotcha. I should of figured that, lol. That's still a significant weight loss, hmmm

Just to be 100% clear. The items are full units for each. Strut, spring, top hat. Ready to bolt on to the side of the car. BC, Bilstein and OEM.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Half of the weight savings is unsprung weight and it is weight off the front of the car helping make the front to weight bias better.

Suspensions work better the stiffer the chassis, lighter the suspension, better valved or course, better rates to meet the use of the car....it all adds up!

I have saved around 50 lbs or more with the BBK, 15x9 track wheels, lighter tires, and BC coilovers, just on the front of the car, that is HUGE!

I am going to have to hook up with Razor at the tracks in CA so we can check out each others cars, run together, etc...great fun would be the story of the day

 

[JPGC]

Half of the weight savings is unsprung weight and it is weight off the front of the car helping make the front to weight bias better.

Suspensions work better the stiffer the chassis, lighter the suspension, better valved or course, better rates to meet the use of the car....it all adds up!

I have saved around 50 lbs or more with the BBK, 15x9 track wheels, lighter tires, and BC coilovers, just on the front of the car, that is HUGE!

I am going to have to hook up with Razor at the tracks in CA so we can check out each others cars, run together, etc...great fun would be the story of the day

Sounds fun and I bet that your FiST will move out pretty good on the track.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I got a bit carried away, this is Razors thread......

I do like and understand where he is coming from so one of the best build threads on any FiST forum

 

[JPGC]

I got a bit carried away, this is Razors thread......

I do like and understand where he is coming from so one of the best build threads on any FiST forum

Yes it is!

 

[ryst]

FYI, I extended the front BC coilovers 20 turns higher than out of the box because I didn't want to slam the car, however that made it almost 1" higher than stock.... lol. Oops.

I'm pretty pumped the BC coil overs are adjustable to, or above stock levels. I wasn't planning on ever getting suspension on my car because of ground clearance issues, especially in the winter (I frequently plow through 1-2 ft tall snow).

 

[RAAMaudio]

The BC's would be great as very well treated against corrosion and with the height you can set for winter, summer, etc....all you need to do is adjust the toe up front for winter or you can adjust the camber and toe, more neg for summer, less so for the winter and it will ride better but also what will help keep traction in the winter.

You do not need expensive tools nor to pay a shop(most of which do not do a very good job) to do your own alignments, it is pretty simple once you have the basics down.

BC coilovers are the best for the money I have ever had and somebody like Razor buying them just shows even more as he has done his homework and already tested something else. There are some interesting ones coming out I will be looking into but they are much, much more expensive and I am not sure I will really need them so probably going to just fine on the BCs.

 

[razorlab]

BC coilovers are the best for the money I have ever had and somebody like Razor buying them just shows even more as he has done his homework and already tested something else. There are some interesting ones coming out I will be looking into but they are much, much more expensive and I am not sure I will really need them so probably going to just fine on the BCs.

Best for the money for the FiST, sure. By far not the best or even close overall. For the EVO, they are horrible for anything other than hard parking. It actually pains me a little bit to even buy these to be honest, however they are the best for the FiST platform so far, as far as adjust-ability and options, stiffer rates, "custom dampening", etc. Note that I put that in quotes.

That said, they probably will be the best for me and for intentions for this car. There is no way in hell I would ever buy something like a $2600 set of Ohlins for this car and what I plan on doing with it, even if they where available. Of course, things change and "never say never" but for right now, the BC's where the best option, for me. I'm under no illusion to the quality or level of these coilovers.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I made lap times fast enough in my very modified but moderate power Forester XT that the head instructor at MMP came down from the tower to check out the "mini SUV" as he called and when he saw I was on street tires said "Holly Sheat, on street tires".....they were custom BC's made for me after talking to the company founder and owner.

$2600 for Ohlins would be cheap compared to the custom 3-way set I had made for the M3/LS I was building and they gave me a deal for being the first one for the E36 chassis, $8500, OUCH!

Sorry the BC Evo setup was not that great, I think they will be fine for our needs, I sure hope so as retired now and money for toys is from selling other toys.