Moonrover333

JUst curious if anyones running them, how they compare to others, what kinda drop, etc?

DOMINION

You know I have heard great things about them. But dont know if anyone is running them on there 8.

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

Anyone run these yet?

I'm deciding between the Swifts and the Espelirs.

I'm afraid the 30mm drop on the Espelirs is too much.

Seems like the 20mm drop on the Swifts is more performance-oriented rather than bling-bling.

LionZoo

My own concern with the Swift springs is the low springrate in the rear. It seems like these are designed to work with the factory shocks, but I'm not sure if lowering the car AND going to a lower springrate is a great idea.

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

but the rears are progressive rate, correct?

1.6 to 2.3, so it tightens up when doing a long left-hand or right-hand sweeper, but stays comfy on bumps?

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

here's a little more info from the FS section:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=113124

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

Damn it! Already bought the Espelirs...$161 was way too cheap to pass up...I'll wait for the shocks to die, then go with something more aggressive altogether...maybe coilovers.

Thanks for the link though...finally some testimonials on the Swift springs.

cfrx8

I track on these lowering springs. I used to run tein on mine and I switched over to swift. performance wise swift is way better. I clock a 1.40 on willow springs big track with them.
I went to willow springs one time during the weekday and I saw a bunch of stock cars.
It turned out that swift rented out the whole track for themselves to test out every spring rate on every car that they make for. They hired a pro driver named kikuchi from japan. In fact their saleman told me that the reason why they only only have an application for a few cars is because this riggurously track test every car they make the springs for. the other companies just look up the stock specs and make it a little stiffer (Spring setup doesnt work that way). That is why eibach, H&R, and tein have so many applications.
This is when I realized if they go this far for just lowering springs I took my springs out and put in the swift.

cfrx8

speak of the devil. I just remembered. I found this guy is selling them for a decent price
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=swift

LionZoo

I'm apparently second in line. Haven't heard from him yet though. cfrx8, can you give a bit more detail on how the Swifts feel? What shock are you running? Is the lower spring rate in the rear a problem?

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

that's the same one i linked to a week ago in this same thread.

SmokeyTheBalrog

Does anyone know a preferably good online store (or store nearish NYC) that has a selection of Swift springs? I'd like to know if they have springs that do just about the same thing as those listed here, but don't lower the car.

To many potholes and too much snow in the winter for lowering.

Cam

iTrader: (1)

Smokey,

I beleive Swift only makes one spring for the 8.

Swift is top notch. If/when I change out my suspension Im thinking of going with Swift/Koni's.

FYI, Swift is the maker of the springs for Zeal (Endless) coilovers.

Edit: The Swift spings only lower the car .8''

Cam

iTrader: (1)

cfrx8,

Definetly post more of your thoughts on the Swift springs. I dont know of any other owner running them.

SouthFL

I had a set of Swift (2 sets to be exact) on a WRX wagon. Both sets lost their integrity after 3 months of street/track use. They sagged excessively and lost their initially good ride/handling characteristics. Swift was supposedly addressing these issues after my 1st set and sent me a revised set (which also lost their integrity).
I initially went with Swift because they're supposedly a company based on performance and racing. Unfortunately, their Spring for the WRX wagon needed further R&D after it went to market.
Hopefully they did their R&D well for the RX8 application.

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

Nice! Finally someone with real experience, not just a salesman. Thanks for the input. I know it doesn't mean Swift sucks, but I'd rather have someone share a real story instead of trying to sell a brand to others. My $0.02.

LionZoo

Thanks, that is most interesting.

SouthFL

^
No problem. Again, it was another platform/vehicle, so one should keep that in mind. However, the springs were marketed as a good spring to pair with stock dampers as their rate was only slighty stiffer than stock and as a spring which would only drop ride height about 5/8" total and that they were as linear a design as possible (in other words, they weren't marketed as a progressive spring).
What ended up happening was a drop of over 1.5" as the spring settled and not enough spring rate to deal with this kind of a drop.
Initially they were an incredible spring. I was really happy with their handling chracteristics on track and their comfort/ride quality on the street but unfortunately, as described things would go south after a few months of use.

Edit: on the flip side, STi users are having much success with Swift, so again, the issues I experienced could have been WRX Wagon specific.

SmokeyTheBalrog

This past winter I did a little plowing at stock ride hight. And it was a pretty mild winter. (Except for a few days) So I don't think I can afford even a small drop, since this is my daily driver.

b4racing

I used to own a GDB and have personally talked to the owner of Swift USA about this issue. What he told me was that they made the springs for the GDA (sedan). However, the springs also fit the GDB (wagon) and some people were installing it in them. The extra weight of the wagon caused this issue. He said that they were going to change the spring rates to correct this issue. Soon after I sold the vehicle so I never really did a follow up.

SouthFL

Swift currently sells a sedan specific and a wagon specific spring. These were '04+ Wagon Specific WRX/9-2x springs which were having the issue.

cfrx8

Well I promote because I love these springs. I compete in many ae86 events also. I raced in the ae86 club4ag timeattack. I run monroe shocks from pepboys and swift lowering springs. They are my secret weapon. There were about 25 cars competing and a few pros were there. Ken Gushi, Yoshioka, Wesely Hamachi, Lisa klasen (pro-rally). My car was the only street car at the whole event and placed 4th. I sport these springs on every car I own.

Anyways for the rx8 it definately feels a lot more controlled, and the car is just a lot more predictable. I track my cars a lot.
As I said I swapped out my springs from tein. This is what I am comparing to. I definately liked the teins while I drove on them, but the moment I swapped to swift the car felt completely different. It might be driving style but I clocked my fastest time on willow springs on my rx8 with swifts I beat my same car with tein by a full second. I definately dont feel them sagging yet.

Anyways the one downside to these springs is that for this car I feel like it doesnt lower the car enough, but I like the slammed car look.

LionZoo

cfrx8, how many miles do you have on the springs? Lowering is not an issue for me; if anything I'd prefer to keep the OEM ride height.

woodstock

most japanese tuners/shops run swift springs on their race cars

cfrx8

I have had them for about 1 year. hmmmm.... I think I have about 35000 miles on it. Plus some track driving.
Why?? I'm not selling my set. Get your own.. HAHA.

these springs definately do lower the car a bit. But I just daily drive this thing with occasional track days. That is why these springs are perfect for my rx8. It definately handles better than any other lowering spring. But if you really want to build a track car it would have to be coilover suspension system. (with swift springs....HAHAAAHAHAAA)