Differential mounts? Is it a straight diff swap from S2 to S1?
rear coilovers? S2 R3 to S1?
rear subframe? S2 R3 to S1?
please reply if you know for sure. I have both, so eventually I’ll find out, just looking to get info before I delve into it.
Thanks

 

The rear shocks and springs are different between S1 and S2, so you can't mix them, but as long as you're using the entire coilover from the same series, you can swap them.

 

Thanks Loki, just curious as to why the aftermarket bilstein and Ohlins kits have the same for both S1 and S2?

 

The suspension geometry is the same, but the rear spring is shorter and the spring perches are adjusted accordingly on an S2. That's what I mean, you can interchange the complete coilover, but you can't mix and match springs and shocks individually.

 

Game set and match. Perfect answer.

 

Thanks Loki. That answers one of my questions conclusively.

 

All the guys who have swapped S2 diffs into S1, Team? Do you remember if the diff mounts are different?

 

the S2 differential is a direct swap

there are some minor rear geometry changes on the S2, I’m still not entirely sure what specific parts it takes to accomplish that. The S2 rear suspension arms are a bit beefier than the S1, but the lengths are identical, so whether it’s the subframe, the rear uprights, rear shock mounts and/or chassis positioning of them I’m not sure of.

 

Bilstein from a 2009 R3 vs S1

 

There you have it; the bottom perch on the S2 is lower


Is the upper shock mount shaped differently?

I can’t tell if it’s just the orientation in the picture or not.
.

 

The upper mount is the same, just the angle of the camera or it was loose fitted. So I swapped the rear subframe from S1 to S2 and vice versa. They fit without a problem. Just the connector for the headlight level sensor are different that connect on the driver side inside the trunk next to the abs connector, so I swapped the sensors too. The reason I swapped the rear subframe is that apparently the differential mounts on the subframe are slightly different between the the two generations. I intend do the lfx swap on my S2 rescue8.

 

Neutral and reverse sensor connectors S2 on left S1 on right

S2 rear subframe


S1 rear subframe

 

Speedo, abs and traction control not working after the swap. Will try to diagnose in the next few days.

 

Those rely on the wheel speed sensors in each hub. Are they connected?

 

Yes, they are connected. Dannobre pointed out to me that S2 and S1 sensors might have different footage output. I have to swap them and check.

 

it would have been a lot easier to swap just the differential mounting bracket if in fact they’re different, rather than swap subframes. Otherwise the RX8 differential is a direct swap between the S1 and S2