[Vplayer0356]

is anyone running cobb stage 2 suspension because i am looking to get springs and sway bars. will these be good for daily driving and will i scrape at every driveway. any pics would be appreciated

[twiSTies]

Cobb springs lower the car too much for the stock geometry and for the stock struts with their little bump travel. You'll be sacrificing bump travel and your ride quality won't be very good because you'll be riding on the bump stops more than before with the stock springs. This means that you will feel more of the small imperfections in the road, as well as feel every mid to major bump. Lowering springs don't work well with the stock struts.

The swaybars in the kit are pretty decent, and I think the fitment issues on the rear bar have been fixed. They're mid-level at 25mm hollow, they aren't as aggressive as the Whiteline 27-29mm solid, but they're not as wimpy as the Cusco 22mm. They seem to be a decent compromise between a street-only bar like the Cusco, and a bar made more for track and autocross use in the Whiteline. I say this with firsthand experience of running the Cusco vs. the Whiteline. Below ~40mph, the Cusco bar was noticeable and did a good job, but in hard transitions and at higher speeds (like slaloming) the WL bar made itself very apparent beyond what the Cusco could do in roll stiffness.

If I had stock struts again and I only wanted a decent street car, I would do the following:

WL 24mm front and rear 22-24mm bar OR Cobb's set
Kartboy Endlinks
Prodrive springs with shortened front bumpstops OR RCE Lowering camber plates on the stock springs
Group N strut tops
Car Labs X Brace

Also, good tires and an alignment are a must.

This setup will outperform the stock hardware, give you a little bit lower of a ride height without sacrificing too much bump travel (or any with the RCE plates), and will do a pretty good job in the twisties. Bonus: The X-Brace will cut down on a lot of the noises from the rear of the car.

[GoLawrence]

Can anyone add some more info? I'm looking at this too! Is there something wrong with Cobb endlinks? Is Whiteline that much more better?

[IGoFast1589]

Originally Posted by twiSTies

Cobb springs lower the car too much for the stock geometry and for the stock struts with their little bump travel. You'll be sacrificing bump travel and your ride quality won't be very good because you'll be riding on the bump stops more than before with the stock springs. This means that you will feel more of the small imperfections in the road, as well as feel every mid to major bump. Lowering springs don't work well with the stock struts.

The swaybars in the kit are pretty decent, and I think the fitment issues on the rear bar have been fixed. They're mid-level at 25mm hollow, they aren't as aggressive as the Whiteline 27-29mm solid, but they're not as wimpy as the Cusco 22mm. They seem to be a decent compromise between a street-only bar like the Cusco, and a bar made more for track and autocross use in the Whiteline. I say this with firsthand experience of running the Cusco vs. the Whiteline. Below ~40mph, the Cusco bar was noticeable and did a good job, but in hard transitions and at higher speeds (like slaloming) the WL bar made itself very apparent beyond what the Cusco could do in roll stiffness.

If I had stock struts again and I only wanted a decent street car, I would do the following:

WL 24mm front and rear 22-24mm bar OR Cobb's set
Kartboy Endlinks
Prodrive springs with shortened front bumpstops OR RCE Lowering camber plates on the stock springs
Group N strut tops
Car Labs X Brace

Also, good tires and an alignment are a must.

This setup will outperform the stock hardware, give you a little bit lower of a ride height without sacrificing too much bump travel (or any with the RCE plates), and will do a pretty good job in the twisties. Bonus: The X-Brace will cut down on a lot of the noises from the rear of the car.

That sounds like a pretty nice setup....never thought of stock springs with the lowering plates

[Mykl]

Cobb springs are garbage. The swaybars though, are quite nice if your requirements end at sporty street tires.

[SuBart]

Honestly I find it funny how there is a consensus on this board that Cobb springs suk. I have them on my 06 and the car feels great. Perfect looking drop, a bit stiffer than stock, the ride quality is great, and much improved handling over stock. ( I have had 3 Subarus with modified suspensions before this car) I have had them on for two years and not one single problem, complaint, or regret. Being the Cobb whore that I am, I also plan on getting the full stg 2 suspension setup from them very soon.

[Mykl]

Go to an autocross or a race track and try to make the car brake and turn at the same time and see what happens. The car is going to understeer worse than stock.

The car may transition a bit better since the car is lower. But overall it will have less grip with the Cobb springs.

If you just want a big drop for the looks, more power to you. Because that's all the Cobb springs are good for.

[Mykl]

Here's the reason why Cobb springs suck....

Imagine how your car would drive if it did not have a suspension, just a big steel rod. Every time your tire hit any surface irregularity (bump) that the tire sidewall could not deal with the entire car would go up, unweighting the tire and causing a complete loss of grip.

The car will change directions and turn great with incredible immediacy, but it won't have much grip. So the car will feel like it handles great.

The problem with Cobb springs is that they lower the car to the point that it may as well be resting on the bump stops. The further you compress them, the stiffer they get, down to the point that they have gone infinite. As in you effectively have no suspension at all.

On the stock springs when you tell the car to turn and brake at the same time this is a big problem. On Cobb springs the stops may be compressed so much that even turning or braking could be problems all by themselves. Because the stops will be compressed to the point that the suspension can not absorb bumps, and any bump you hit will cause the entire car to become unweighted, forcing a momentary loss of grip.

Loss of grip may even continue beyond that initial bump due to a concept called tire slip angle. The massive amount of pressure being applied to the tire alone may cause serious understeer.

[SuBart]

Speaking of bump stops my car never came with them. When I took my car to Precision Tuning when it was 100% stock to get my springs put on I told them that I wanted to have the bump stops cut. When they took my shocks apart we were all puzzled to see that my car did not come with any. My conclusion is that it was a flaw from the manufacturer or I got some kind of special shocks that dont need bump stops and therefore make Cobb springs perfect.

[Mykl]

Well... perfect until the top of your strut meets the bottom of your strut top, or until your springs bind.

I don't have bumpstops on my car at all right now. But I have double height adjustable coilovers and have set it up so I don't need them. The amount of grip I have between the braking zone and apex now is absolutely incredible.

[TheHammer]

I currently run front/ rear Cobb sway bars with KB rear endlinks, RCE v2 Yellows with RCE bumps with Group N Tops in the front with maxed camber front/rear.
Car handles very nicely.
I do not use the car on the track nor do I plan on pushing it to the point of wrecking it. Not a racer type just a normal dude who likes a fast car to respond well at my limits. Suffice to say I love driving it and IMO the ride is exactly the way I envisioned this car driving like when I first purchased it. For me all the suspension mods I have made thus far have struck a nice balance between performance and driveability.

Lots of choices out there..remember whats right for someone else doesn't mean it's right for you.

Do lots of research its your moolah!

Good luck!!!

[GoLawrence]

Originally Posted by TheHammer

I currently run front/ rear Cobb sway bars with KB rear endlinks, RCE v2 Yellows with RCE bumps with Group N Tops in the front with maxed camber front/rear.
Car handles very nicely.
I do not use the car on the track nor do I plan on pushing it to the point of wrecking it. Not a racer type just a normal dude who likes a fast car to respond well at my limits. Suffice to say I love driving it and IMO the ride is exactly the way I envisioned this car driving like when I first purchased it. For me all the suspension mods I have made thus far have struck a nice balance between performance and driveability.

Lots of choices out there..remember whats right for someone else doesn't mean it's right for you.

Do lots of research its your moolah!

Good luck!!!

I'm not a "Racer" but want the car to stick to the twisties!!! I enjoy a nice mountain road once or twice a month. I like your set up, how are the yellows in normal driving? Over stock? Roads in California SUCK and I'll put 35k on per year. I don't mind feeling the bumps but I don't want to feel like i'm rallying down the highway, street or driveway...

[USNSTI]

Originally Posted by twiSTies

If I had stock struts again and I only wanted a decent street car, I would do the following:

WL 24mm front and rear 22-24mm bar OR Cobb's set
Kartboy Endlinks
Prodrive springs with shortened front bumpstops OR RCE Lowering camber plates on the stock springs
Group N strut tops
Car Labs X Brace

Also, good tires and an alignment are a must.

This setup will outperform the stock hardware, give you a little bit lower of a ride height without sacrificing too much bump travel (or any with the RCE plates), and will do a pretty good job in the twisties. Bonus: The X-Brace will cut down on a lot of the noises from the rear of the car.

Bump for a good setup. After doing lots of reading this is the setup I decided to go with. I just ordered my prodrive springs and Cobb swaybar set. I am probably gonna put the sways on first, then put the springs on when I get the Group N's. I will probably get the x brace last. I have one question about the endlinks. Are kartboy endlinks really that much better than all the other ones I have seen? They all look pretty much the same in pictures. I am kind of a Cobb whore so if the Cobb are just as good I will probably get them.

[MGizzle]

Originally Posted by SuBart

Speaking of bump stops my car never came with them. When I took my car to Precision Tuning when it was 100% stock to get my springs put on I told them that I wanted to have the bump stops cut. When they took my shocks apart we were all puzzled to see that my car did not come with any. My conclusion is that it was a flaw from the manufacturer or I got some kind of special shocks that dont need bump stops and therefore make Cobb springs perfect.

Not trying to get at you or anything but in case you didn't know our bumpstops can not be seen by just looking at the strut. They are actualy inside the strut at the bottom if I remember and you have to actually unbolt a portion and pull the strut body out to see them.

This actually can further stiffen the bump stops since they can only expand radially as much as the ID of the strut. These suckers can ALMOST get solid and give you a very nice, high spring rate.

[ASU]

One of the most reptuable Suby shops in the country PIA recommends COBB springs . I asked them with concern before I ordered them about all the negative things I heard about them . There anwser was simple the STi basically already rides the bumpstops and has very little travel up allready . Most people who have these springs seem to like them so I dont know if everybody really knows or is it just hearsay .