2015 FiST suspension softened?

[M-Sport fan]

^^^So, did they improve the damper to spring rate compatibility any over the older spec setups in doing this new suspension?

 

[FordParts_NWOH]

The RMM from 14-16 stays the same part number so they are the same across the board. The front suspension does have a supersession half way through 15 to a new design.

 

[Capri to ST]

The RMM from 14-16 stays the same part number so they are the same across the board. The front suspension does have a supersession half way through 15 to a new design.

What was the nature of the change to the front suspension? Also, could a part change a little but still have the same part number, or if there is a change in a part does it always get a new number?

 

[Karl S]

I'm not sure about the spring to damp rate changes

 

[Khill007]

The RMM from 14-16 stays the same part number so they are the same across the board. The front suspension does have a supersession half way through 15 to a new design.

Interested in this! Do you have the new part #'s

Springs?
Dampers?
Front and Rear changed?

 

[Accel Junky]

Just to clear this subject up,all the fiesta sts built from 18/8/2015 were built with the new suspension setup which has been fitted to the Fiesta St 200 it was cheaper for ford to do this so there wasn't a separate line for the St200

This is not applicable to the US 4-doors though:

"However, because of production constraints at the Cologne, Germany, factory that builds European Fiestas, these chassis settings have been applied to all of the STs manufactured there; it?s basically a free upgrade before a new model arrives next year."

-Car and Driver

 

[robbie_d]

This made me wonder about my car. It's a 2016 built December of '15, so it would be in this new group of cars. I've read all I can about this topic. Everyone gives a time mid to late 2015 for the switch. What would the switch include? Most articles say it's softer springs/struts and more sway bar to compensate. The st200 supposedly has a larger front sway bar of 21mm. Stock fiesta st is 19mm and mine has... well, it's a 19mm. I can say then, not all cars got the st200 suspension pack. My car seems to ride identical to a 2013 I was able to locate and drive. PLEASE PEOPLE, GO MEASURE YOUR FRONT SWAY BARS!!! I really want to know the truth behind the myth. Personally, I prefer the non st200 setup.. I think. Regardless, love my FiST!

 

[Capri to ST]

This made me wonder about my car. It's a 2016 built December of '15, so it would be in this new group of cars. I've read all I can about this topic. Everyone gives a time mid to late 2015 for the switch. What would the switch include? Most articles say it's softer springs/struts and more sway bar to compensate. The st200 supposedly has a larger front sway bar of 21mm. Stock fiesta st is 19mm and mine has... well, it's a 19mm. I can say then, not all cars got the st200 suspension pack. My car seems to ride identical to a 2013 I was able to locate and drive. PLEASE PEOPLE, GO MEASURE YOUR FRONT SWAY BARS!!! I really want to know the truth behind the myth. Personally, I prefer the non st200 setup.. I think. Regardless, love my FiST!

I would also like to know this, and have also read all I could find. It's clear to me the change to slightly softer suspension was done on all the European cars, and I'm under the impression that our Mexico-built cars have the same suspension as the Euro FiST's. My '16 was built in 7/16.It feels a bit more compliant than a '15 and an early '16 I test drove, which I like. I ordered my car,and was concerned it might ride too hard, I had only driven one on a couple brief test drives. Whether it's softer or the same, now that I have had my car for a month, I like the ride/handling balance and also love my car.
I'm a few months out from hernia surgery,but when I'm feeling more agile I'll measure my front sway bar.

 

[Accel Junky]

My 2016 rides really aggressively for an OEM suspension. I would be surprised if the US cars got softened.

 

[Tommyspanner]

I dealt with the stiff ride by replacing the OEM suspension with coilovers. Rides AND handles better.

I do suspect they did make a few changes that weren't noted, including firming up the Roll Resistor.

Mine is only months old and quite hard ride , but tyre settings , are also a factor !! , I,m running factory pressures front 36 psi and rear at 26 , !! It,s still pin sharp , but was 31 , back and front , and was a little hard, but better now, without losing any of the Go kart sharpness !! , those pressures of course are on a 3 door euro UK , spec not the 5 door only US , and not normally used for a full load , hope this helps , well delighted with this little road rocket as an ex mechanic !! and of course car anorak !!! best ford in a long time , along with of course the focus ST , !! , but the Fiesta ST , - handles even " more " pin sharp !!! and the Focus, for sure , is damn good too !!

 

[BRGT350]

According to a number of sources (outside of Ford), the 2014 US and EU Fiesta ST's had the same suspensions, but the 2015 US model has softer bushing rates. I had logged 6 months with the 2014 ST and then bought my 2015 ST and could not feel any difference. The one person who claimed to actually feel a difference between the cars was a professional driver who probably has the ability to feel a difference at the limit between the cars.

 

[BobMaxed]

The front suspension does have a supersession half way through 15 to a new design.

This change no doubt then was for 2016 model st's. I have a Fist with a 4-14 build date and it is a 2015 model.

 

[mykrrrr]

Mine was built last week of April 2015. I would suspect it has a "new" RRM. Don't get me wrong under light and medium acceleration its fine. But doing launches I have bottomed out the RMM twice or the wheel just bounce trying to stay on the asphalt. Once I get my mountune one I will post pictures and we can see if there is a difference.

I really wish people would stop with this notion that the engine actually hits the firewall on hard shifts.

The noise you hear is mount flexing and doing it's job by restricting roll (WOW...novel concept) so things like this don't happen.

Unless you've personally witnessed your 1.6L EB engine hit the firewall and have video or photographic evidence to back it up, please stop spouting an untruth.

[/cranky old car guy rant]

 

[CanadianGuy]

I really wish people would stop with this notion that the engine actually hits the firewall on hard shifts.

The noise you hear is mount flexing and doing it's job by restricting roll (WOW...novel concept) so things like this don't happen.

Unless you've personally witnessed your 1.6L EB engine hit the firewall and have video or photographic evidence to back it up, please stop spouting an untruth.

[/cranky old car guy rant]

Well I just edited my quote ! Sorry about that, was an older post.

 

[Original J-Pat]

Isn't there video evidence? lol

 

[BRGT350]

There isn't enough bushing compliance to allow the motor to hit the firewall. The issue originated from the Focus ST world in which the motor would bump the AC lines under hard acceleration on early ST models. There was a TSB and the issue was solved. If you look at the Fiesta ST engine compartment, there is significant amount of room around the back of the engine and firewall. Bushing compliance is probably close to .50" in the RMM and then there is the arc of travel the RMM takes during articulation. Bottom line, there isn't enough movement available for the motor and firewall to meet. The noise heard is more of a function of wheel hop and bushing wind-up in the control arms under acceleration. The sound heard on a launch in the ST is almost exactly the same as I would get with my Mustang (with stock suspension) when wheel hop occurs. The bushings in the LCA deflect, release, deflect, release, which causes the tire to oscillate. The more oscillation, the more pronounced wheel hop and the more wind-up in the bushings. Bushings and tires act like springs, so they bounce back and forth without damping. Changing bushings to a stiffer material increase the spring rate, which reduces the amount of deflection for a given load. The RMM bushings being changed limit the amount of deflection of the motor under an acceleration load. Since the transverse mounted engine and front drive wheels have torque movement in the same axis, the RMM helps with reducing wheel hop and motor rotation. Can you still get wheel hop with an RMM? Yep, sure can. Does is sound exactly like what is described as the motor hitting the firewall? Yep. Is the motor hitting the firewall? Absolutely not!

What are my credentials for this analysis? I was a suspension engineer for 5 years and much of that time was spent working with bushings. I also have spent a great deal of time researching suspension forces while developing the suspension for my autocross/open track Mustang.

 

[Tommyspanner]

I feel like if you get aftermarket springs like Eibach (what I have) it softens up the ride a bit. It was more bearable for my wife.

Got mine , a november 2015 , on I think stock springs and dampers !! It,s firm but fine, just the way a sports hatch and "Drivers" car should handle , !! no roll and sticks like glue to the road !! , no complaints here, !! If you want , soft and cosseted , buy a bentley !! lol , go kart handling , for a "Drivers" car I say , as the ST , is an enthusiasts, sports hatch , and best I reckon globally !! even pin sharper, than the focus ST , which is very good too !! love those Recaros !! , well done Ford, for bringing the Fast Ford fun back , for us !! , but loved my XR3i , nearly as much !! , well "nearly" !!!

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^Now just think about if you lived somewhere that NEVER had any of those 'Fast Ford' hatches/compacts whatsoever (maybe except for the Capri, if you count that as a 'hot hatch'), until now with the FiST and FoST and FoRS.

NO; Mk.1/2 etc. RWD Escorts (twin cam Lotus/Cossie headed or otherwise), none of the decent FWD models you had available after those RWD models, no RS500 Sierra Cossie, no Sierra Cossie AWD sedan, or Escort Cossie RS/WRC, and not even the Mk.6 Focus RS/RS500.

It was pretty BLEAK here in the states for Fast Ford hot hatch fans until now.

 

[neeqness]

Got mine , a november 2015 , on I think stock springs and dampers !! It,s firm but fine, just the way a sports hatch and "Drivers" car should handle , !! no roll and sticks like glue to the road !! , no complaints here, !! If you want , soft and cosseted , buy a bentley !! lol , go kart handling , for a "Drivers" car I say , as the ST , is an enthusiasts, sports hatch , and best I reckon globally !! even pin sharper, than the focus ST , which is very good too !! love those Recaros !! , well done Ford, for bringing the Fast Ford fun back , for us !! , but loved my XR3i , nearly as much !! , well "nearly" !!!

Got mine at the same time! Loved the Eibach springs too for the same reason...except on most of the pothole, bump ridden roads that unfortunately dominate my neck of the woods.

Had to change my shocks and consider a meatier tire once my current one wears down. Still have the eibach springs and stock shocks in storage though. Maybe I'll move one day...

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[robbie_d]

After driving my fiST for a while, my wife decided to trade in her '14 focus for a Kona '16. I have driven hers for a hundred miles and could tell no difference between it and my black one. Fast forward to today... took an off ramp and it felt different. It was different enough that I came straight home and got to measuring.

Wouldn't you know, the wife gets the new suspension! Her fiST build date July '16 has the revised suspension with a 21mm front bar. My build date is Dec '15 with the 19mm bar. Obviously, at some point between it changed. I'm not going to say the new is better all around. I couldn't tell until I was comfortable enough to take it fast. It felt more stable and easier to modulate angle with throttle. The springs or dampening supposedly softened up but I sure can't tell, even back to back driving.