New Sti Owner Need some suspension guide

xekh4 · 03-12-2007, 09:06 PM

Hi guys, i just got a 04 sti a couple of months ago and i think the ride is too bumpy, well girlfriend is complaining that its too bumpy. I want something thats comfortable (not bouncing all over the place) but i dont mind if its more stiff. I plan to do spirited drivings on the twistys and road racing. what is some good suggestions for this? It is a full daily driver car. I'm willing to spend up to $5000. Any help will be great! thanks guys! i'm looking for anything such as sway bars to coil overs or spring+shock combo. i'm new so help guys! thanks

Mykl · 03-12-2007, 09:22 PM

Since you've got an '04, unless you plan to upgrade to '05 hubs/bearings I would suggest that you seriously consider this...

Koni 8610/Ground Controls

Just because this option is inexpensive doesn't mean you'll be giving anything up. Koni builds a really good budget damper.

The next step up would be to go with either KW Version 3's or perhaps RaceComp Engineering's new Tarmac-2 coilover setup, which offers a range of spring rates from slightly stiffer than stock to about twice as stiff as stock. If you're willing to spend even more, I hear the Ohlins Sportlines are a great all-around setup, and if you want to go nuts... check out ZZYZX Motorsports.

For swaybars I would suggest going with a pair of Whiteline bars. 27mm front and 22-24-26 rear is popular, although I would consider going with a smaller front bar unless you plan on running race rubber at some point.

LOLSTi · 03-12-2007, 09:24 PM

Nothing will beat Ohlins struts for a combination of performance and comfort.

Mykl · 03-12-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOLSTi

Nothing will beat Ohlins struts for a combination of performance and comfort.

Yeah, if I wanted the ultimate "all around" suspension I'd go with the Sportlines. Nobody short of a champion autocrosser is likely to run into whatever performance limitations these things have anyway...

LOLSTi · 03-12-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mykl

Yeah, if I wanted the ultimate "all around" suspension I'd go with the Sportlines. Nobody short of a champion autocrosser is likely to run into whatever performance limitations these things have anyway...

grambo · 03-12-2007, 09:40 PM

I'd listen to these two...they know their stuff. (LOLSTI has helped me out before on some other issues..lol)

LOLSTi · 03-12-2007, 09:43 PM

Mykl knows what he's talking about as well.

**Alex** · 03-12-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mykl

Yeah, if I wanted the ultimate "all around" suspension I'd go with the Sportlines. Nobody short of a champion autocrosser is likely to run into whatever performance limitations these things have anyway...

Well said!

With $5k you could buy yourself a nice set of ohlins and a pillow to place your rear ontop of

Part of the bumpyness in the stis is actually attributed to the stiff seat. You could look into finding a set of Evo Recaro takeoffs (usually under $1k).

BayRain · 03-12-2007, 09:48 PM

If you are driving on uneven pavement and are unhappy with the STi "bumpyness", I would not get coilovers. They may be stiffer and do away with the bounce...but they will not be easier on your gf.

Trust me. I have the V3's and while they ride extremely nice for a coilover, they are still a coilover. As will be the RCE T2's. I have a friend who says the Ohlins Sportlines improved the ride....

BUT. I would still say go the Ohlins Fixed Perch's with springs if you have money for coilovers.

BTW- If you have plenty of money to spend, I would get different seats and see if that fixes your problem without even touching the suspension.

xekh4 · 03-12-2007, 10:10 PM

well.. lets just say it was soo bumpy that it would take me awhile to change a track on the cd player. same goes with gf.

xekh4 · 03-12-2007, 10:21 PM

ok guys, what about other stuff. i'm thinking about end links and chassis reinforcements. would that still be good for twistys?

Risk3233 · 03-13-2007, 12:08 AM

My setup has passed the wife test. On the softer settings she appreciates the ability to put on her makeup during our commute to work.

BTW my setup is on an 04.

Ohlins fixed perch
Group-n rear mounts
RCE lowering camber plates
JDM Pink springs
Whiteline 27-9 front sway bar
Whiteline 22-4 rear sway bar
Kartboy endlinks
Carbing/Okuyama front strut bar w/integrated MC brace

That's it. I set the shocks to 7 in front and 5 in back for daily driving duties and it's firm and controlled, but livable. At these settings, I still can't push beyond the limits safely on public streets.

I could have easily dropped the money on coilovers, but I've been there and done that. If my car had continued in SCCA SM class competition, I would have dropped for some coilovers, but as it is, this setup is ideal for DD duty.

I actually retired the STi from Solo competition and now race a Miata.

Busta · 03-13-2007, 02:05 AM

I'm actually running a similar setup and LOVE it, just got the Ohlins struts from Myles but also have:

Pink springs
Top hats
Perrin end links
Cobb sways front/rear
whiteline steering bushing
Front strut tower brace

I too just like spirited driving and I have a 04 which is also my daily driver. The ride is very sophisticated with the ohlins dampening but very performance oriented. More of a european feel compared to the cracker box setup the 04 came with... I was bouncing all over the place like a "bobble head"

Risk3233 · 03-13-2007, 08:24 AM

I agree that the Ohlins takes the bobble head away. It's also a little firmer at initial bump, but does not have the oscillation that the OEM shocks had even with OEM springs or the Pinks.

The damping is very good with the Ohlins...that's a big understatement.

bspecial · 03-15-2007, 10:18 AM

I'm in the same boat. Just got an 04 STi and the GF ain't digging the bobblehead effect.

What's the best place to buy??? Any websites you guys can throw my way will help.

Got about 3k to spend (hopefully won't cost that much). Wanna keep a few bucks for some other mods.

Thanks.

03-12-2007, 09:06 PM	#1
xekh4 Amateur STI Driver Car: 04' Sti Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 20 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	New Sti Owner Need some suspension guide Hi guys, i just got a 04 sti a couple of months ago and i think the ride is too bumpy, well girlfriend is complaining that its too bumpy. I want something thats comfortable (not bouncing all over the place) but i dont mind if its more stiff. I plan to do spirited drivings on the twistys and road racing. what is some good suggestions for this? It is a full daily driver car. I'm willing to spend up to $5000. Any help will be great! thanks guys! i'm looking for anything such as sway bars to coil overs or spring+shock combo. i'm new so help guys! thanks This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-15-2007, 10:18 AM	#15
bspecial Amateur STI Driver Car: 2004 JBP STi Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 23 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm in the same boat. Just got an 04 STi and the GF ain't digging the bobblehead effect. What's the best place to buy??? Any websites you guys can throw my way will help. Got about 3k to spend (hopefully won't cost that much). Wanna keep a few bucks for some other mods. Thanks. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

New To Site?	Need Help?	More
REGISTER FOR FREE! IWSTI Rules/Signature Rules Create a Member Journal Bookmark IWSTI Tell your friends about IWSTI	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Make a suggestion or report a bug Mark Forums Read Contact Us	Member Journals Forum Pictures & Photography Forum GR Series (08+) Marketplace GD Series (03/04-07) Marketplace Hot eBay Deals Forum Beyond Off Topic

03-12-2007, 09:22 PM	#2
Mykl S204 Racer Car: '04.5 STi Fav Mod: Whiteline steering rack bushings Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 3,073 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Since you've got an '04, unless you plan to upgrade to '05 hubs/bearings I would suggest that you seriously consider this... Koni 8610/Ground Controls Just because this option is inexpensive doesn't mean you'll be giving anything up. Koni builds a really good budget damper. The next step up would be to go with either KW Version 3's or perhaps RaceComp Engineering's new Tarmac-2 coilover setup, which offers a range of spring rates from slightly stiffer than stock to about twice as stiff as stock. If you're willing to spend even more, I hear the Ohlins Sportlines are a great all-around setup, and if you want to go nuts... check out ZZYZX Motorsports. For swaybars I would suggest going with a pair of Whiteline bars. 27mm front and 22-24-26 rear is popular, although I would consider going with a smaller front bar unless you plan on running race rubber at some point.

03-12-2007, 09:24 PM	#3
LOLSTi S204 Racer Car: RIP 02 WRX Fav Mod: 2004 Aspen White WRX STi Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,614 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Nothing will beat Ohlins struts for a combination of performance and comfort.

03-12-2007, 09:40 PM	#6
grambo Spec C Club Car: 06' CGM STI Fav Mod: Rustoleum Flat Black Location: Tracy, NorCal Posts: 1,805 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2006 Trader Rating: (6)	I'd listen to these two...they know their stuff. (LOLSTI has helped me out before on some other issues..lol)

03-12-2007, 09:43 PM	#7
LOLSTi S204 Racer Car: RIP 02 WRX Fav Mod: 2004 Aspen White WRX STi Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,614 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Mykl knows what he's talking about as well.

03-12-2007, 09:48 PM	#9
BayRain Senior STI Driver Car: 05 Legacy Location: North of the Golden Gate Posts: 324 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	If you are driving on uneven pavement and are unhappy with the STi "bumpyness", I would not get coilovers. They may be stiffer and do away with the bounce...but they will not be easier on your gf. Trust me. I have the V3's and while they ride extremely nice for a coilover, they are still a coilover. As will be the RCE T2's. I have a friend who says the Ohlins Sportlines improved the ride.... BUT. I would still say go the Ohlins Fixed Perch's with springs if you have money for coilovers. BTW- If you have plenty of money to spend, I would get different seats and see if that fixes your problem without even touching the suspension.

03-12-2007, 10:10 PM	#10
xekh4 Amateur STI Driver Car: 04' Sti Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 20 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	well.. lets just say it was soo bumpy that it would take me awhile to change a track on the cd player. same goes with gf.

03-12-2007, 10:21 PM	#11
xekh4 Amateur STI Driver Car: 04' Sti Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 20 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	ok guys, what about other stuff. i'm thinking about end links and chassis reinforcements. would that still be good for twistys?

03-13-2007, 12:08 AM	#12
Risk3233 Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 04 STi Location: In da mountains. Posts: 98 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	My setup has passed the wife test. On the softer settings she appreciates the ability to put on her makeup during our commute to work. BTW my setup is on an 04. Ohlins fixed perch Group-n rear mounts RCE lowering camber plates JDM Pink springs Whiteline 27-9 front sway bar Whiteline 22-4 rear sway bar Kartboy endlinks Carbing/Okuyama front strut bar w/integrated MC brace That's it. I set the shocks to 7 in front and 5 in back for daily driving duties and it's firm and controlled, but livable. At these settings, I still can't push beyond the limits safely on public streets. I could have easily dropped the money on coilovers, but I've been there and done that. If my car had continued in SCCA SM class competition, I would have dropped for some coilovers, but as it is, this setup is ideal for DD duty. I actually retired the STi from Solo competition and now race a Miata.

03-13-2007, 02:05 AM	#13
Busta Junior STI Driver Car: STi 04' black Posts: 92 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm actually running a similar setup and LOVE it, just got the Ohlins struts from Myles but also have: Pink springs Top hats Perrin end links Cobb sways front/rear whiteline steering bushing Front strut tower brace I too just like spirited driving and I have a 04 which is also my daily driver. The ride is very sophisticated with the ohlins dampening but very performance oriented. More of a european feel compared to the cracker box setup the 04 came with... I was bouncing all over the place like a "bobble head"

03-13-2007, 08:24 AM	#14
Risk3233 Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 04 STi Location: In da mountains. Posts: 98 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I agree that the Ohlins takes the bobble head away. It's also a little firmer at initial bump, but does not have the oscillation that the OEM shocks had even with OEM springs or the Pinks. The damping is very good with the Ohlins...that's a big understatement.