Next Level Performance
July 13, 2026 • 11 min read
Our Verdict
The KW Clubsport 2-Way is the best coilover for a 2013–2016 Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ that sees real track time.
It is the only kit here that combines separately adjustable rebound and compression damping (KW's TVR-A and TVC-A valving) with adjustable top mounts in the box, and KW developed the setup on the Nordschleife. If you only drive on the street, the $1,717.15 Koni GTS and the $1,155.24 Skunk2 Pro-ST deliver most of the usable benefit for roughly a quarter of the money.
Shop Our Top Pick →The best coilovers for the 2013–2016 Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are the ones matched to how you actually drive the car, not the ones with the biggest number on the box. A coilover is a combined spring-and-damper assembly with a threaded body that lets you set your own ride height and, on most kits, your own damping force — the two things the factory FR-S and BRZ struts do not let you change at all. The ZN6/ZC6 chassis makes 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0L FA20 boxer four and weighs roughly 2,750–2,800 lb, which means you do not go faster by adding power, you go faster by controlling the chassis. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, this is one of the most common suspension questions we field, so we pulled the seven kits we actually stock, sorted them by what their dampers can and cannot do, and priced them out.
Why the FR-S and BRZ Are Built for Coilovers
On a 200 hp car like the FR-S and BRZ, suspension is the single highest-leverage modification you can make, because the chassis reaches its handling limit long before it runs out of power.
The factory setup gives you nothing to work with. The stock struts have fixed damping and a fixed ride height — there is no perch to turn, no knob to click. That means you cannot corner balance the car, you cannot dial out understeer with damping, and you cannot compensate for a stickier tire or a stiffer bar. Every coilover on this list replaces that fixed assembly with a threaded body, and five of the seven add some form of damping adjustment on top.
This is also why the ZN6/ZC6 is one of the best-supported coilover chassis on the planet. Toyota and Subaru sold the car cheap, mounted the flat-four low in the bay for a famously low center of gravity, and enthusiasts have been autocrossing, drifting, and track-daying them for a decade. The result: kits from KW, Bilstein, Koni, and Skunk2 that span $1,155.24 to $4,864.00 — all for the same chassis.
KW V1 INOX-LINE: stainless bodies, factory-set damping, ride height still adjustable.
How to Choose: The Three Tiers of Coilover Damping
Damping adjustment is the honest way to separate these kits, and it is the spec most listings blur. There are exactly three tiers, and the tier you need is decided by whether you ever adjust the car at a track.
Tier 1: Non-adjustable damping (ride height only)
The KW Variant 1 and the Bilstein B14 PSS have no damping adjustment at all. The manufacturer sets the valving at the factory, tunes it for this specific chassis, and you get a threaded body to choose your ride height. Bilstein is explicit that the B14 gives you ride-height adjustability "without the expense of a fully adjustable damping system." That is not a weakness — a well-valved fixed damper beats a badly adjusted adjustable one every time, and it removes the single biggest way to get coilovers wrong.
Tier 2: Single-adjustable damping (one knob)
The Koni GTS, Skunk2 Pro-ST, and Bilstein B16 PSS10 give you one adjuster per corner, but they do different things with it. The Koni GTS adjusts rebound only — the classic Koni approach, controlling how fast the spring is allowed to return. The Skunk2 Pro-ST offers 12 preset settings and the Bilstein B16 offers 10 stages, and on both of those a single click moves compression and rebound together. That is the critical distinction: a 10- or 12-way kit is not the same as a 2-way kit.
Tier 3: True 2-way independent damping
The KW V3 and KW Clubsport 2-Way let you set compression and rebound separately and independently of each other, via KW's patented TVR-A (rebound) and TVC-A (compression) valve technology. This is what lets you raise compression damping to get more grip out of the front tires without also over-damping the rebound and making the car skate. If you are chasing setup at a track day or a time attack, this is the tier that pays for itself. If you never touch the knobs, you are paying for capability you will not use.
FR-S and BRZ Coilover Comparison: Damping, Height and Price
Every kit below fits the 2013–2016 Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ (several also cover the 2017–2020 Toyota 86 and the 2022+ GR86). Prices are current at NLP Performance.
| Kit | Damping Adjustment | Ride Height | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KW Clubsport 2-WayTop Pick | 2-way independent (rebound + compression) | Approx. 0.8–2.0 in | HPDE, time attack, club racing | $4,864.00 |
| KW Variant 3 (V3) | 2-way independent (rebound + compression) | Approx. 0.8–2.0 in | Street and track dual duty | $3,214.00 |
| Bilstein B16 PSS10 | 10-stage, combined comp. + rebound | Threaded body, adjustable | OE-quality street and track | $2,469.00 |
| KW Variant 1 (V1) | None — factory-set valving | Approx. 0.8–2.0 in | Sporty daily driver | $1,924.00 |
| Koni GTS | Single-adjustable, rebound only | Up to 4 in of adjustability | Autocross and track days | $1,717.15 |
| Skunk2 Pro-ST | 12-way, combined comp. + rebound | Independent height/preload | Best budget club racer | $1,155.24 |
The Bilstein B14 PSS at $1,339.00 sits alongside these as the non-adjustable, ride-height-only option from the same German monotube family as the B16.
The 5 Best Coilovers for the 2013-2016 FR-S and BRZ
1. KW Clubsport 2-Way — Best Overall for Track Use
What We Like
- + Separately adjustable rebound and compression (TVR-A / TVC-A valving)
- + Adjustable top mounts included in this SKU — you can dial camber
- + INOX-LINE stainless steel bodies resist corrosion for the life of the car
- + Continuously adjustable ride height for true corner balancing
Things to Consider
- – At $4,864.00 it costs more than four Skunk2 Pro-ST kits
- – Overkill if the car never sees a track — you pay for adjustment you will not use
2. KW Variant 3 — Best Street and Track Dual Duty
What We Like
- + True 2-way independent damping at $3,214.00 — $4,864.00 less than the Clubsport
- + Made in Germany, TUV-tested adjustment range
- + Stainless INOX-LINE bodies; same corrosion resistance as the Clubsport
Things to Consider
- – No top mounts or camber plates included — budget for camber bolts or plates separately
- – Still a big step up in price from the single-adjustable tier
The Clubsport's adjustable top mount is what separates it from the V3.
3. Bilstein B16 PSS10 — Best OE-Quality Build
What We Like
- + 10 damping stages, adjustable by hand at each corner
- + 5-year North America warranty — the longest coverage in this guide
- + Zinc-coated threaded bodies and monotube gas dampers, made in Germany
- + Currently $2,469.00 against a $3,568.00 list price
Things to Consider
- – One dial moves compression and rebound together — not a true 2-way kit
- – No camber plates included
4. Koni GTS — Best Value for Autocross and Track Days
What We Like
- + Camber-adjustable top mounts included — rare at $1,717.15
- + Up to 4 in of ride-height adjustability, the widest range here
- + Standard 2.25 in ID linear springs: change spring rates without changing kits
- + Fully rebuildable and revalvable, so the kit outlives the car
Things to Consider
- – Rebound-only adjustment — no compression control
- – Twin-tube construction rather than the monotube designs from Bilstein and Skunk2
Koni GTS: camber plates and a 2.25 in ID spring standard, at $1,717.15.
5. Skunk2 Pro-ST — Best Budget Club Racer
What We Like
- + Cheapest kit here at $1,155.24 and still includes billet camber mounts
- + Independent height and preload adjustment — you can corner balance properly
- + 52 mm monotube bodies with oversized piston valves
- + 12 damping settings from soft to firm
Things to Consider
- – 12-way moves compression and rebound together — single-adjustable, not 2-way
- – Skunk2 does not publish a TUV certification like the German brands
KW Clubsport 2-Way: Key Specifications
Key Specifications
Installation, Alignment and Corner Balancing
A four-wheel alignment is mandatory after installing any coilover on an FR-S or BRZ. Changing ride height changes camber and toe — that is geometry, not opinion. Skipping the alignment is how people destroy a set of tires in 2,000 miles and then blame the coilovers.
The order of operations matters. Set your ride height first, then corner balance, then align. Corner balancing means adjusting the spring perches so that diagonal weight is distributed evenly, and it is only truly possible on a kit whose ride-height adjustment is independent of spring preload. That is a real differentiator on this list: the Skunk2 Pro-ST and the KW kits give you separate height and preload adjustment, so you can add or remove corner weight without changing how much the spring is compressed. Do it with equal tire pressures, roughly half a tank of fuel, and driver weight in the seat — then align.
One FR-S/BRZ-specific note: once you drop the car meaningfully, factory camber goes negative and you will likely want camber bolts or adjustable top mounts to bring it back. The Koni GTS, Skunk2 Pro-ST, and KW Clubsport all include camber-adjustable top mounts. The KW V3, KW V1, and both Bilstein kits do not — budget for that separately.
Bilstein B14 PSS: ride-height adjustment without paying for adjustable damping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best coilovers for a 2013-2016 Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ?
The KW Clubsport 2-Way ($4,864.00) is the best coilover for an FR-S or BRZ that sees track use, because it is the only kit that pairs separately adjustable rebound and compression damping with adjustable top mounts in the box. For street driving, the Koni GTS at $1,717.15 and the Skunk2 Pro-ST at $1,155.24 deliver most of the real-world benefit for a fraction of the price, and both include camber-adjustable top mounts.
What is the difference between 2-way coilovers and 12-way coilovers?
2-way means compression and rebound are adjusted separately and independently; 12-way usually means 12 preset positions on a single knob that moves compression and rebound together. A KW V3 or Clubsport is genuinely 2-way. The Skunk2 Pro-ST's 12-way and the Bilstein B16's 10-stage systems are single-adjustable — more settings, but one combined adjustment. More clicks does not mean more adjustability.
How much do coilovers lower an FR-S or BRZ?
Most kits for this chassis give roughly 0.8 to 2.0 inches (about 20 to 50 mm) of lowering, adjustable via the threaded body. The KW V1, V3 and Clubsport all fall in that window, and the Koni GTS publishes up to 4 inches of total ride-height adjustability. Because the body is threaded, you choose the drop rather than being locked into a fixed height like a lowering spring.
Do I need an alignment after installing coilovers on a BRZ?
Yes. A four-wheel alignment is required after installing coilovers on a BRZ or FR-S, because changing ride height directly changes camber and toe. Running the car without one will wear tires unevenly and can make the handling unpredictable. Plan the alignment as part of the install cost, and set ride height and corner balance before the car goes on the alignment rack.
Are coilovers worth it on a 200 hp car like the FR-S?
Yes, and arguably more so than on a powerful car. The FA20 makes 200 hp and 151 lb-ft in a roughly 2,750–2,800 lb car, so lap time comes from cornering speed rather than straight-line power. Coilovers let you lower the center of gravity, set corner weights, and control body motion — the levers that actually make this chassis faster. The stock struts offer no ride-height or damping adjustment at all.
Which FR-S and BRZ coilovers include camber plates?
Three kits in this guide include camber-adjustable top mounts: the KW Clubsport 2-Way, the Koni GTS, and the Skunk2 Pro-ST (billet radial-bearing upper camber mounts). The KW V3, KW V1, Bilstein B16 PSS10 and Bilstein B14 PSS do not include them, so if you lower the car significantly you should budget for camber bolts or aftermarket plates to bring alignment back into range.
What is the cheapest good coilover for a Subaru BRZ?
The Skunk2 Pro-ST at $1,155.24 is the best budget coilover for a BRZ or FR-S. It uses a 52 mm seamless carbon-steel monotube with one-piece forged bodies, offers 12-way damping, and still includes billet radial-bearing camber mounts and independent height/preload adjustment — features usually reserved for kits costing two to three times more.
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