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-   -   Anyone here run Bilstein PSS9's? (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/anyone-here-run-bilstein-pss9s-140733/)

type59 05-26-2008 03:13 AM

how did the install go?

Peppy@kacework 05-26-2008 08:42 PM

So I installed them today, can't tell you how they are yet. I have to take the rears off tomorrow morning and reassemble them. The instructions are pretty crappy and i missed a washer so the rears rattle around over bumps. Hopefully that's the only thing wrong. As it sits the car has 0 wheel gap all around.

SolarYellow510 05-26-2008 11:06 PM

Did you measure your ride height before and after? The biggest mistake I see on coilover installations is setting the ride height too low so they are in the bumpstops. Then it is on the elastomer all the time instead of the spring, and people complain about them riding and handling poorly, when the actual spring/damper combo is super dialed in. Especially with inverted monotubes like the Bilsteins, there's no way to see this from the outside because the elastomers are at the bottom of the outer tube. Stay within the recommended lowering range provided by the manufacturer. I generally set a car for minimum lowering (highest recommended ride height) to preserve as much bump travel as possible.

Are the front tender springs fully compressed at static?

Peppy@kacework 05-27-2008 04:12 PM

Ok. I took out the rears and raised them up a bit making sure the were within the recommended lowering range. I also put the washer in the right place that I had missed before. Honestly if you've ever built something from IKEA you'd know exactly what these instructions look like, lol. All pictures no real instructions and crappy labeling. This time I got it right though.

I drove home with the fronts set 3 down from full stiff and the rears 6 steps from full stiff. I have to say the car rides better now than it did stock. It feels firmer but soaks up the bumps and my cd's don't skip as much as they did with the stock suspension. Body roll is non existent. I got 2 of my tires/wheels mounted and balanced, picking up the other 2 tomorrow and getting the height adjusted and an alignment. I'll prolly get it corner balanced later on down the road.

I'll take some pictures tomorrow with the wheels on and post them up tomorrow. Right now the car is a little lower in the front and has the mustang look, lol. On the plus side of having to do the rears a 2nd time, i can replace an RX-8 suspension as fast as I could my WRX, 1hr:)

LionZoo 05-27-2008 04:37 PM

When will you get them set up so you can have driving impressions?

Peppy@kacework 05-27-2008 04:41 PM

I'm getting an alignment tomorrow and I'll have my summer wheels/tires on. I'll do a lot of driving tomorrow to test them out. So far from the 2hrs I've driven on them I love them:) they remind me a lot of my AST's and most of the other cars I've driven with PSS9's.

LionZoo 05-27-2008 04:57 PM

If you get a chance to push them, please tell us about the front to rear balance. I think everyone is curious how the Bilstein springrates will affect the RX-8.

SpIcEz 06-16-2008 02:21 PM

Any more feedback you can give us on your impressions ?

Its been about a month now, if Im not mistaken :)

Peppy@kacework 06-16-2008 06:05 PM

Well, I'm still loving them. I've got them set stiffer in the front and softer in the back. Honestly I haven't seen much of a difference in the balance, the car basically just turns no matter what speed ur going at. I haven't had any snap oversteer and the car is nice and progressive at the limit, which is really hard to get to on the street with 275's. I am very satisfied with these coilovers and would def. recommend them to anyone looking for a street friendly occasional track use setup. I'm pleased to say the fears of upset balance were unwarranted:)

Astral 08-26-2008 06:25 PM

How would you compare steering response/transitions with PSS9 vs stock?

Camel8 10-24-2008 12:03 PM

I Just installed PSS9's yesterday and this is by far the best mod i have done to my car so far. Still playing around with the settings, but full firm is NOT a good idea for the freeway, how my balls are still attached i'm not sure.

You can throw the car into corners scaring the crap out of anyone in the car without even tire squeal, and thats on 245's

Peppy@kacework 10-25-2008 09:29 AM

Camel8, when I lived in NE with crappy roads I found a good compromise setting for the street was 5 in the front 7 in the back. Now that I have moved to GA and most of the roads in my area are glass smooth I have them set basically full stiff 1 in the front and 2 in the back. I still like to keep them a tiny bit softer in the rear. Once I get my sway bars on I will probably put both on 1. The difference in steering response between full stiff and full soft is very noticeable.

Kadavr 11-29-2008 02:43 AM

Thank you! I think this is exactly the suspension setup I am looking for.

offtopic: do you miss the boost?

9krpmrx8 11-29-2008 09:26 PM

I am resisting the urge. I just saw them at www.shox.com

Kadavr 11-29-2008 09:39 PM

^^^ it looks like they have the best price out of all the places I've seen.

RXallan 11-30-2008 02:54 PM

if you dont mind,

can you post some pics from the install or how you have your ride height set ?

chiketkd 11-30-2008 03:34 PM


Originally Posted by Peppy@kacework (Post 2454543)
I got mine for $1335 including shipping. I'm aiming for next weekend on the install.

Where'd you get them from at that price? I'm very interested in these coilovers...

Peppy@kacework 11-30-2008 05:49 PM

I purchased them from shox.com. It seems as if they have raised the price since I purchased mine. I don't think I have any pictures left over from the install, I'll dig around and see if I can find any. I have them set towards the lower end of the recommended range.

chiketkd 11-30-2008 07:00 PM

Cool - thanks. Now you've had the coilovers for a few months, how do you like them for daily driving? Do they soak up bumps and road imperfections well? Have you done any track events and/or autocrosses on them? How much lower is your current ride height from stock?

I'm running B-stock again in '09, but will be moving to STX in 2010. I need a coilover set-up that's comfortable enough to daily drive on, yet competitive enough to win on!

Peppy@kacework 11-30-2008 07:50 PM

I have them set to full stiff for my daily driving and don't find them any less comfortable than stock. They really do well on the street. I have my first track weekend on them this upcoming weekend at Road Atlanta, I'll let you know how they are on the track. I'm not sure how much lower than stock I am cause I never measured stock but this picture can give you an idea of how low it is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...owrx/Lake1.jpg

chiketkd 11-30-2008 09:32 PM

Thanks. I'm very interested in your write-up after your first track day with them.

I'm currently using konis with the stock springs in B-stock. Due to konis having a lower gas pressure than the stock struts, my ride height has actually been reduced by roughly a 1/2" over stock with them installed.

http://photos.teamwtf.org/photos/282748183_Fvc5a-L.jpg

From the pic you posted above, I'd say your car sits at least 1" lower (so maybe 1.5" lower than stock).

RXallan 12-01-2008 07:32 PM

car looks really good man :icon_tup:

chiketkd 12-08-2008 12:21 PM


Originally Posted by Peppy@kacework (Post 2748737)
I have my first track weekend on them this upcoming weekend at Road Atlanta, I'll let you know how they are on the track.

How was the track event at Road Atlanta? How did the Bilsteins perform? Btw, what are your current alignment settings (as this could impact handling as much as the Bilsteins).

Thanks.

Peppy@kacework 12-08-2008 03:20 PM

The weekend went really well. I couldn't be more pleased with this setup. Never had any issues with the car on the track. I would definitely recommend these if you plan on tracking your car but also want something streetable. There was a stock rx-8 in my group and it really allowed me to see the difference the PSS9's made in the hard corners. Here's my alignment settings:

Front camber: L -1.9/R -1.9
Caster: L 7.1/R 7.1
Front Toe: L -.01/R -.01

Rear camber: L -1.8/R -1.8
Rear Toe: L .07/R .05
Thrust angle: .02

chiketkd 12-08-2008 05:56 PM

Cool - awsome. Thanks for the review and the alignment specs.

chiketkd 12-14-2008 10:10 AM

Does anyone know if the Bilstein PSS9's can be converted into double adjustables? Is there a PSS10 coilover offered for the RX-8?

Peppy@kacework 12-14-2008 01:00 PM

I've never seen PSS10's for the RX-8. I have seen some incorrectly labeled as PSS10's on European vendor sites. Your best bet is contact Bilstein and ask them if the PSS9's can be converted to double adjustable. They have always been great about answering my questions.

imput1234 12-14-2008 01:13 PM

How low can you go with this setup? anyone know can? can you tuck the rear tires?

Peppy@kacework 12-14-2008 01:29 PM

Yes you can tuck the rear tires and stay within the recommended lowering range, on the strut I am about 10mm up from the lowest setting. It also depends on your wheels tires. With my stock wheels/tires my rears are slightly tucked. My tires in those pictures have a smaller diameter which causes more wheel gap.

imput1234 12-14-2008 01:37 PM


Originally Posted by Peppy@kacework (Post 2768550)
Yes you can tuck the rear tires and stay within the recommended lowering range, on the strut I am about 10mm up from the lowest setting. It also depends on your wheels tires. With my stock wheels/tires my rears are slightly tucked. My tires in those pictures have a smaller diameter which causes more wheel gap.

What's the lowering range? is it around 3" all around? Just went to Bilstein's website, useless. lol Does the ride height affect preload?

chiketkd 12-14-2008 08:27 PM


Originally Posted by Peppy@kacework (Post 2768515)
I've never seen PSS10's for the RX-8. I have seen some incorrectly labeled as PSS10's on European vendor sites. Your best bet is contact Bilstein and ask them if the PSS9's can be converted to double adjustable. They have always been great about answering my questions.

Thanks - I'll shoot them an e-mail.

the_duke313 12-15-2008 03:09 PM

anymore updates and impressions?
adjustments made?

Camel8 12-15-2008 09:22 PM

I will post a full view on my opinions AFTER i get an alignment. Put my coilovers on without aligning the car (and the car hasn't be aligned in 2 years as it is!).

Side question: Corner balancing worth the extra?

imput1234 12-15-2008 09:53 PM

get pics of the stance too if u dont mind.

Andreas Neophytou 12-16-2008 08:31 AM

Hello.
I am running my RX on Bilstein PSS (JDM). I bought last year from a friend that sold his RX and traded with my stock ones. I think they feel great. Recomended.

the_duke313 12-25-2008 04:58 PM

stance pics?

Peppy@kacework 12-25-2008 06:50 PM

Here's the stance at speed and taking some turns, lol. Pictures courtesy of SilverEIGHT
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wrx/track6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wrx/track7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wrx/track4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wrx/track2.jpg

imput1234 12-25-2008 08:00 PM

looks good.

TopGear8 12-25-2008 08:22 PM

Now if only one of the venders would set up a group buy for these for around $1100. I would definitally think about getting some!! :)

Peppy@kacework 12-25-2008 08:43 PM


Originally Posted by topgear8 (Post 2785960)
Now if only one of the venders would set up a group buy for these for around $1100. I would definitally think about getting some!! :)

Or if the dollar gained some value back against the Euro they would be $1100 like they used to be 10 months ago ;) Compared to other cars such as the Evo and Sti the PSS9's are still cheaper for the RX-8. Last time I checked they were $1800-2100 for them for most other cars. Honestly I would pay $2k for the quality and performance they offer any day. Luckily I didn't have to :) If you make it to Roebling in May you can check em out for yourself. I'll be at CMP for the NASA event in Feb also.

TopGear8 12-25-2008 09:00 PM

^I would love to be at CMP in Feb because it is only about an hour and a half from my house. But I'm not sure if I will have my azenis by then. I just got some black rpf1's, just like you :) Then I will be getting the azenis, So if I got the PSS9's We would have very similar cars :)

Peppy@kacework 01-03-2009 07:13 AM

If anyone is thinking about pulling the trigger on these, I noticed shox.com has a 5% off coupon code on their site right now, says it applies to everything but konis. It's not a huge discount, but it's something.

supra sean98 01-04-2009 10:07 PM

which after market sway bars would work well with the pss9 coilovers? i was thinking of running them with racing beat sways. Any thoughts?

dreamtheatermetallica 01-12-2009 09:44 PM

i have the agency sway bars with my pss9's setup is great. however i still must have assembled my pss9's wrong. i have rattleing coming from the front.

Race Roots 01-13-2009 01:01 AM


Originally Posted by supra sean98 (Post 2799079)
which after market sway bars would work well with the pss9 coilovers? i was thinking of running them with racing beat sways. Any thoughts?

Bleh, I am not a big Fan of RB when it comes to sways.

My Two Favorites are AP and Progress.

I ride AP on my car and have yet to try them out with the new end links I am trying out.

I was extremely satisfied with my AP.

TopGear8 01-13-2009 10:12 AM

^This man got hit in the head with something. Racing Beat sways are great! :)

Peppy@kacework 01-13-2009 10:48 AM

I just put the Progress bars on. I picked them cause they were adjustable and I got them stupid cheap.

snarlingbeast 01-14-2009 12:23 PM


Originally Posted by topgear8 (Post 2814291)
^This man got hit in the head with something. Racing Beat sways are great! :)

I'm guessing he's "not a big fan" of the RB sways because he's trying to sell Progress and AP bars.

TopGear8 01-14-2009 06:19 PM

^Not exactly true, because he does also sell RB sways on his website. He just prefers solid over hollow bars.

MilesJ 01-15-2009 08:35 AM

Peppy,
Did these come with a shock dyno sheet? If not, does anyone have a dyno sheet for the PSS9's? Due to the spring rates I'd be interested to see how they are valved.


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