Hi all,

I just bought a 13 GS450h that is slammed with Godspeed Mono-SS coilovers (MSS0185-A assuming 10K/8K spring rate) . Fenders have been rolled and damaged, missing fender liners, underbody covers, etc.. I had a shop try to raise the Godspeeds but they are seized while set to their lowest point. Shop also states rear camber plate touching control arm. This sucks because I did not budget for new coilovers as the ones on the car look relatively new and that was one of the attractions of buying this car (lowered with coilovers)

So I now I have to drop roughly $2000 into new coilovers that I wasn't prepared to do. I am planning on using 18" wheels close to the stock offset or possibly jumping to 19' but nothing too outrageous. I want the car to have a 1-2 finger gap between tire and fender and ride as comfortably as possible. I also need to take into account of occasionally hauling adults in the backseat and cargo in the trunk without bottoming out the rear suspension.

That said, I am trying to figure out what is the best spring rate. My Godspeds seem to ride fine until hitting a huge dip or bump where I assume I am crashing into upper control arms or ????. In other words, assuming the springs really are 10K/8K I am happy with the cruising ride quality but can not really judge anything because of how low everything is.

Per Godsped: my coilovers and spring rate of 10K/8K are desgined for the GS350 and the GS450h. They don't account for the extra 400lbs for the 450h hybrid battery and motor.
Per BC: They only list coilovers for the GS350 RWD L10, not the GS450H. Call to their tech support say the BR-20-R Kit for the 350 spring rate is 8K/8K. To account for the extra 400lbs, they recommend 12/12K using BC springs or 10/10K using the $340 Swift Springs.
Fortune Auto: In terms of ride height are designed to drop 1-3 inches over stock. Spring rates for GS350 RWD 12k front and 6k rear.They recommend going with somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-14kg front spring rates and 8-9kg rear to account for the 400lbs extra pounds of the hybrid over the standard GS350.

I have read posts from various other GS350 coilover owners where they are using 12K/10K or 12K/12 but no coilover spring rates from GS450h owners. I have read the Swift Springs ride nicer but the difference is more noticeable at the track than the street.

To 4GS coilover owners, can you tell me what brand of coilover you are using, their spring rates, ride quality compared to stock default mode, if you have any issues with sagging, or bottoming out the suspension from load and would you buy the same package again?

Any incite you guys and gals can offer is appreciated.

Thanks...
Neil

 

I too have a '13 GS 450h and I recently put on the Tein Flex AVS coilovers and BBS CH-R 20x8.5. Aside from the occasional rubbing I get, because I'm lower than what is ideal for the roads I drive on, the ride quality is very close to stock. I would absolutely buy the Tein's again.

 

Do you know what spring rates you have? How low are you adjusted? Any sagging or issues of bottoming out the suspension if you load up your car with passengers and/or trunk? How is the ride quality, noise, etc. and did you have any issues aligning the car?

Thanks..
Neil

 

Spring rate is 8.0F / 12.0R and to my knowledge is the only option. I didn't install them so I can't say what the measurements are, but I attached some pics to give you an idea. No issues with sagging, bottoming out on the bump-stops or noises to speak of so far. I installed the SPC camber arms at the same time so I wouldn't be able to say how close to factory specs you could achieve without them.

 

Thanks for the info and sweet car!

 

Revel Coilovers are Front: 10K Rear: 9K

They're very comfortable.

 

Is your lovely F a 350 or 450? I am trying to account for the extra 400lbs of heft that the 450h has and not bottom out the suspension when carrying people or cargo.

 

Mine is a 350. The nice thing with BC racing is that you can choose different spring rates if their default isn't stiff enough.

 

back again
had a few question on coilovers
was running tanabe springs on stock shocks
but worn out so now i’m thinking coilovers.
again don’t really wanna lose the AVS system
so any coilovers recommended ?

 

We do a lot of RSR coilovers that retain AVS. SPC rear camber arms.

Can also do Tein AVS coils but not as readily available.

-Josh

 

bumping as I'm also in the market for coilovers but not sure how much I'd regret losing AVS if I go with non-AVS coilvers (BC, Tein flex Z) vs coils that would retain AVS (Tein Flex AVS, RSR)

have a 2015 RWD F-Sport