• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Fiesta ST Forum and Fiesta ST community dedicated to Fiesta ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Fiesta ST Forum today!


Swift springs and Bilstein B8 disappointed

DangerMouse

Senior Member
Messages
812
Likes
334
Location
Rockford
#1
So I thought this was the combo to go with, it wasn't until after I installed them, that I found the b8's don't allow the swift springs to lower the full 1.1" front and 1" rear. Actually all I've found is the for the rear, no one seems to have issues with the front, or they just haven't measured.

I'm only getting .6" front and .4" rear drop.

I am using powerflex rear spring pads so I knew that would contribute a little to it but I still expected to be closer to an 1" all the way around.

If you are running this combo can you post how much it lowered your car?

Would it be beneficial to swap to bilstein B6 or do you think I have an issue? It could be coilover time, but I don't need more than a one inch drop. Heck .75" all around would be fine.
 


MagnetiseST

1000 Post Club
Premium Account
Messages
1,311
Likes
1,153
Location
Dania Beach
#2
I dont think the B6s would be as good of a choice. I have the B8s up front, and I', growing tired of them. I will probably change them out for Konis. Theres just something very different between the two shocks.

I should mention that I have the swifts as well.
 


Messages
140
Likes
176
Location
Lisle
#3
I have the B8s up front and Konis in the rear...I had my order in for the swifts but they were outta stock so I ended up with H&R Sports...from comparing the H&Rs lower more than the swifts...so if you decide to go with a different spring you know what the difference is...


Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk
 


OP
DangerMouse

DangerMouse

Senior Member
Messages
812
Likes
334
Location
Rockford
Thread Starter #4
I dont think the B6s would be as good of a choice. I have the B8s up front, and I', growing tired of them. I will probably change them out for Konis. Theres just something very different between the two shocks.

I should mention that I have the swifts as well.
I had ordered koni streets, but one strut was on back order. The b8's came available and that was my original plan so I thought it was working out. Why are you getting tired of the b8's?
 


Messages
97
Likes
45
Location
Arcadia
#6
B6 are stock length B8's to my knowledge, I have the B6 with swift springs but the B6 wouldnt drop them any further than the B8 but even less.

B6 is designed to work with springs that don't lower from factory, B8 is designed for springs that lower the car. The body of the B6 is longer than the B8, that's the primary difference

https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/b...ifference-between-bilstein-b6-and-bilstein-b8
 


Messages
2,088
Likes
968
Location
Minnesota
#7
I’d say the biggest difference is the Mountune set up works great
 


anticon

Active member
Messages
602
Likes
525
Location
Sherwood
#8
I have B8s and swift springs. Unfortunately I didn't measure the drop when I installed them. You have me curious though. Maybe they will settle in?
 


MagnetiseST

1000 Post Club
Premium Account
Messages
1,311
Likes
1,153
Location
Dania Beach
#9
I have the B8s up front and Konis in the rear...I had my order in for the swifts but they were outta stock so I ended up with H&R Sports...from comparing the H&Rs lower more than the swifts...so if you decide to go with a different spring you know what the difference is...


Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk
What size tire are you running with this?
 


Dpro

6000 Post Club
Messages
6,157
Likes
5,780
Location
Los Feliz (In the City of Angels)
#10
Koozy runs ST springs with B8’s his car sits pretty low in fact It sits slightly lower than my car with STXA d coilovers. My boy JAndretti has the Whitelines I was going to use with stock 17 shocks. He is right about the same height as I am sitting.
To the OP those powerflex rear spring seats are probably part of your problem.
 


MagnetiseST

1000 Post Club
Premium Account
Messages
1,311
Likes
1,153
Location
Dania Beach
#11
I had ordered koni streets, but one strut was on back order. The b8's came available and that was my original plan so I thought it was working out. Why are you getting tired of the b8's?
I just don't like how numb they feel. They were great on the track, but they are a middle ground in terms of, rebound stiffness, VS the Koni at full hard.
 


Mikey456

Active member
Messages
672
Likes
406
Location
Los Angeles
#13
So I thought this was the combo to go with, it wasn't until after I installed them, that I found the b8's don't allow the swift springs to lower the full 1.1" front and 1" rear. Actually all I've found is the for the rear, no one seems to have issues with the front, or they just haven't measured.

I'm only getting .6" front and .4" rear drop.

I am using powerflex rear spring pads so I knew that would contribute a little to it but I still expected to be closer to an 1" all the way around.

If you are running this combo can you post how much it lowered your car?

Would it be beneficial to swap to bilstein B6 or do you think I have an issue? It could be coilover time, but I don't need more than a one inch drop. Heck .75" all around would be fine.
That’s good to know. Might need to change my shock plans in the future. Let us know if the shocks settle after awhile of driving. Thanks.
 


danbfree

3000 Post Club
Messages
3,510
Likes
1,196
Location
Tigard, Oregon, USA
#14
It was mentioned just briefly by a couple of others, all springs take a while to settle. You only get about 60% of the drop initially, depending on the brand but all of them it take some time/miles for them to settle and it can make a significant difference.
 


Dpro

6000 Post Club
Messages
6,157
Likes
5,780
Location
Los Feliz (In the City of Angels)
#15
It was mentioned just briefly by a couple of others, all springs take a while to settle. You only get about 60% of the drop initially, depending on the brand but all of them it take some time/miles for them to settle and it can make a significant difference.
This is true my ST’s settled initally around 500-1000 miles now after another 500 or so they have settled in a little more. I saw more settling in the rear than the fronts as well. I did set my rears up a bit higher than the fronts anyways for a little rake. I have seen the rears drop around 1/2inch -3/4 of inch.
 


Messages
340
Likes
183
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
#17
I have experienced B8s contributing to at least a 1/4" increase in rear ride height in the rear. Did not observe the front being effected. I have used stock, B8s, and now running Koni yellows in the rear. Yellows and stock had about the same ride height. Photos are ride height with B8 (24 1/2") vs Koni (24 1/4"). Measured with stock tires w/ 25% remaining tread.
 


OP
DangerMouse

DangerMouse

Senior Member
Messages
812
Likes
334
Location
Rockford
Thread Starter #18
Hmm I figured after 3 weeks it would be settled but I probably only have 250 miles on them. I'll give them some time. Maybe I'll grab a new set of rear oem spring pads, I really like the powerflex pads but they are thick.

For those that recommend koni yellow, I refuse to run them due to previous negative experience with the product and warranty support.
 


danbfree

3000 Post Club
Messages
3,510
Likes
1,196
Location
Tigard, Oregon, USA
#20
Hmm I figured after 3 weeks it would be settled but I probably only have 250 miles on them. I'll give them some time. Maybe I'll grab a new set of rear oem spring pads, I really like the powerflex pads but they are thick.

For those that recommend koni yellow, I refuse to run them due to previous negative experience with the product and warranty support.
So, do the fronts use pads too or just the rears? I'm going with Eibach springs and they drop slightly more in the front than the rear to start with. So with wanting a more raked look, those Powerflex pads for the rear could actually give me the exact look I want while still dropping the rear some overall.
 


Similar threads



Top