Subaru WRX, STI and BRZ, Toyota GR86 Coilovers

This article was written by Coilovers.com Owner and Principal, Lou Tortola.

The right Subaru coilovers start with your exact generation, because every brand lists the WRX, STI and BRZ by chassis code and years. Find the listing that names your car, then choose the kit for how you drive: street, autocross or rough roads.

We list kits for these cars from BC Racing, KW, Fortune Auto, Öhlins, TEIN, Bilstein, Feal, Ksport and Solo-Werks. That is a lot of choice, and it is easy to grab the wrong year. Here is how our listings break the cars down, plus what changes when the GR86 and BRZ twins come into it.

Subaru Coilovers for the WRX and STI, Generation by Generation

Many brands list the WRX and STI as separate kits, and they follow the chassis codes. These are the splits as our listing titles state them.

The pattern is clear. Never assume a WRX kit fits an STI of the same year, or that a sedan kit fits the hatchback. The title is the fitment. Confirm on the product page, or call 1-800-460-9106 with your VIN.

BRZ, FR-S, 86 and GR86: The Twin Chassis

Toyota states that the GR86 and the Subaru BRZ were jointly developed. Each brand tuned its own driving feel, but the base is shared. Toyota lists a MacPherson strut front and a double wishbone rear for the GR86.

That shared base shows up in our listings, with some kits covering more than one badge. Öhlins lists its BRZ Road & Track kit for 2012 to 2020 and 2022 to 2025, also fitting the Scion FR-S and Toyota 86. KW lists the 2012 to 2023 BRZ (all) and the 2017 to 2023 GT86/GR86. BC Racing lists the 2013 to 2024 BRZ (ZC6/ZD8), Extreme by Default.

Other brands split by generation. Fortune Auto lists the BRZ (ZC6) for 2012 to 2020 and the BRZ (ZD8) for 2022 to 2024. It also lists the 2022 to 2024 Toyota GR86 (ZN8), and all three include front endlinks. Bilstein lists B14 PSS kits for the 2013 to 2020 BRZ, 2022 to 2026 BRZ and 2022 to 2026 GR86.

So can a BRZ kit go on your 86? Only when the listing says so. Shared platforms still change from year to year, and a title that names one car does not cover the other. Buy the listing that names your badge and year.

Street Builds: Ride Height, AWD and Alignment

Most Subaru coilovers end up on a daily driver. The goal is a lower stance without ruining the ride or the alignment. Adjust ride height with the car on stands, then lower it onto its wheels, let the springs settle and measure again. Our guide on how to set ride height on coilovers walks through the steps.

On full-length kits like BC Racing and Fortune Auto, ride height is set at the lower mount, and the spring perch sets preload. A locking collar holds each setting. Snug the collars and keep the threads clean, especially if your roads see salt.

Any height change alters camber and toe, so book an alignment after you set it. A bad toe setting chews through tires fast. There is no single safe drop for every car. It depends on your wheels, tires and how rough your roads are.

BC Racing's BR Series is a common street pick, with 30-click simultaneous compression and rebound. Swift Springs SPEC-R springs are an upgrade option on most BC Racing fitments. TEIN's Flex Z brings 16-click damping, and Bilstein's B14 PSS keeps damping fixed while letting you set height.

Autocross Notes

Autocross rewards a car that turns in fast and puts power down out of tight corners. That means a sensible spring rate, damping you can adjust, and a good alignment. It does not mean slamming the car. Too much drop eats the travel you need over bumps and curbing.

Adjustable damping is where you tune. Start from the kit's manual setting, change one adjuster at a time, and take notes after every run. Small steps tell you more than big swings. Our guide on coilover setup by discipline goes deeper on this.

Want to adjust compression and rebound separately? Look at a coilover kit built for it, such as a KW V3 or the Fortune Auto 510 Series. The difference between those and single-adjuster kits is covered in our guide to adjustable coilovers.

Rally, Gravel and Rough Roads

Subaru owners love a dirt road. Stage rally, though, is its own world. It asks for long travel, strong mounts and parts built for impacts that a road kit never sees. Our guide to rally suspension design covers what changes.

For a road car that sees gravel and broken pavement, keep the drop modest. Keep enough travel that the bump stops are not doing the suspension's job. Check your locking collars and dust boots after rough drives, and clean grit off the threads.

A word on unsprung weight, since rally talk raises it. Unsprung weight is the mass the springs do not carry: wheel, tire, hub, brakes and part of the arms and damper. A coilover does not cut it by itself. Lighter wheels are the usual way to bring it down.

Matching a Brand to Your Build

Every brand above earns its place in performance suspension. The question is which coilover kit fits your build and how you drive.

Frequently Asked Questions