My Experience with Racing Beat springs and 255/40/17's
 

I recently installed Racing Beat springs with 17x9 43mm offset rims and 255/40/17 tires and they rubbed very bad up front, on the top and on the fenders. I swaped the springs outwith H&R's up and that cleared up the problem other that some minor fender rubing wich I think rolling the fenders will solve. I believe Racing beat is having a problem with soft springs or something. Just wanted to let everyone know.

I have the same size up front. Not sure about my offset, it's been so long since buying my rims.
I really prefer a lowered car, but I was too afraid of rubbing so I went with a conservative Eibach drop. The car still looks like it needs to be lower to me, but I am really enjoying my cushy ride up front.

Raj

That makes at least 3 FD owners sharing the same experience with Racing Beat vs H&R springs--David Beale, Ryan Adkins, and myself.

Not sure how much more proof one would need to be convinced that Racing Beat spring rates are too soft for the low ride height the spring yields with a wide wheel/tire setup up front?

Enough proof for me. Thanks for posting this info guys because I'm having some rubbing problems w/ my RB's. Time to buy some H&Rs.

Tony

This is GREAT info. When researching what springs to get, I considered Racing Beat and now I'm more than happy to know that I made the "right" decision to go with H&R Sports. :)

Update: I am still getting fender rubbing in turns that was not solved by rolling the fenders. I am going to have to downsize to 235/40/17's in the front. H&R's still killed about 80% of the rubbing though

Dial in -1.5 degrees camber. That might be enough to take care of it. Remember that when you put your wheels on my car, we didn't have much of a problem--my car has 1.5 degrees negative camber fr/rr. Get the alignment done first before switching tire sizes. That should be your last resort. BTW, 235/40-17 is probably to narrow to mount on a 9-wide. Get a 245/40-17 S-03, if you must switch tire sizes up front.

I recently swiched from Racing Beat to H&R Sport springs on my FD and wanted to share my experiences.

My car has 17x8, 42mm offset BBS RX all around. Tires up front are 235/40/17 and rear are 245/45/17. Shocks are Koni yellows set to highest setting and I typically keep them on soft since I use my car for street driving and the roads are so rough around here.

Manufacturer ratings claim the RBs drop the car .75" front and 1.5" rear. HR supposedly 1.25" all around. Interestingly enough, after mounting the HR springs and driving the car around the block to settle the springs, the ride height hardly changed from the height with the RBs mounted. I'm talking they are within an eighth of an inch from each other, ie HR 1/8" higher than RB front, HR 1/8" lower than RB rear (opposite of what you'd expect based on specs).

With both sets of springs off the car and laying on the floor, the HRs are noticeably shorter than the RBs, although I did not measure. Possbily a half inch front and a quarter inch rear.

For street driving, the HRs are noticeably smoother riding due to their progressive design. The improvement in ride quality over the RBs, IMO, is greater than any loss in handling. Many claim the RBs handle better, but I think in order to experience this, you'd have to be really pushing your car to its limits on a track to tell.

Also, I no longer experience problems with rubbing that I occasionally had with the RBs. With the RBs and my shocks set to soft, I'd rub the liner under certain conditions. The prior owner at one point had wider tires up front (I assume the same size as the back stated above) and he rubbed the left lip with the RBs. To my knowledge, my smaller sized tires never touched the lip, just the liner with the RBs, and touch nothing at all with the HRs.

The HRs suit my needs well. I feel the RBs are better suited for someone who tracks their car regularly, especially with shocks set to a firmer setting. I just want something fun to drive :D

Thanks to everyone who helped me make my decision, especially SleepR1 with his numerous posts on the topic.

Tony

does this problem happen with the fc ones....

Tony, glad you're enjoying the setup. I hope this provides more info for other FD owners considering OE type springs. FWIW, the H&R springs are excellent track springs also. The progressive rate loads the outside tires "progressively" during turn-in

What is a great website to buy the H&R's from? I was debating which set to go with either eibach or H&R's...

I bought Racing Beat springs back in 1998 and ran them with Tokico Illuminas. My stock bumps stops were trashed in 10,000 mi. No tire rubbing but I was using 245/45's on stock wheels.

I think the problem is their soft spring rate. I believe RB says some where around 5 to 10% increase over the stock springs that are around 200 lb/in. They lower the car too much for such a soft spring. Search around for spring rates of H&R or others if you're in the market for replacement springs.

I now run Advanced Design shocks with 550F/450R springs and have to problems hitting the bump stops while riding at the same height. If I did it over, I'd go with M2's other recommendation of 450F/375R, I think this softer spring would help traction beside making a more comfortable ride.

Jack

Yes, the RB springs are not much stiffer than stock, hence the rubbing. I love my H&R's. Try www.shox.com - good pricing on shocks and springs.

My Racing Beat exhaust is great, but I can't say I've been satisfied with their other products. My RB rear sway bar (the old design) bent out at one of the arms severely. The powdercoat rubbed off beneath the bushings despite me using lithium grease per their directions. The exposed metal also rusted. The bar has since been junked.

My RB front sway bar reinforcement is beginning to rust where the powdercoat has chipped off in several places. It's a very thin layer. Too thin. In comparison, my Mazda Comp. sway bar mounts look as good as the day I got them, and they've been on the car much longer.

The RB flywheel is nice though.

My car sank to the ground when I had RB springs on stock shocks. They came off very quickly because I couldn't drive over anything without scraping.

Damn, I think it's safe to say that RB springs are the wrong choice LOL :)

I had RB's, and never had a problem... and I will say that nearly every lowered FD with aftermarket wheels rubs up front someplace... But Manny's right, there's some evidence to show that they're just too soft.

FWIW,
WAAY back when I was calling around asking about replacement springs, I called suspension techniques or somebody like that. They didn't make a set, but said they were familiar with what's out there... when i asked about the RB's , the guy said "they have the right idea, but you don't want to know who makes those things for them"