[MKTURBO]

well personally im a younger guy so i dont mind if it has N.V.H. but heres my question when you adjust the ride height on your coilovers do you have to get re-aligned? also the roads here in chicago are terrible, as well as having to deal with winters.....which option wil better suit these conditions? and for stretches question.....definately want to be lowered......a while back i saw a car with the yellow springs on nl rce plates and it looked like the perfect ride height........what i think im going to end up doing for right now is buy the rce yellows/plates and see how they preform, and then later on buy the fixed perch or sell the springs and get coilovers.......but this is what im contemplating in the back of my head.....springs+ plates (700-800), bc coilovers (1000).....how is everything else twice or three times the money, and doesn't come with anything? (no Plates)

[JAYMAC10]

I just finished getting all of my suspension goodies! (Haven't received anything yet...)

Like you, I was contemplating the whole "coilover or not" debate.... in the end, my pocket book was the deciding factor! I basically wanted to lower the amount of bobble head, lower the car (a tiny bit) and reduce some body roll.

I'm basically 100% daily driving and I think I went with what's going to give me the best ride for the buck... but I'll only know once I get everything on the car!

Anyways I purchased everything here on IWSTI and I feel like I did pretty well...

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 331pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=441 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 99pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4827" width=132><COL style="WIDTH: 92pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4461" width=122><COL style="WIDTH: 54pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2633" width=72><COL style="WIDTH: 86pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4205" width=115><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; WIDTH: 99pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=132 height=17>SPRINGS</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; WIDTH: 92pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=122>PRODRIVE</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; WIDTH: 54pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=72 x:num="175">$ 175.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; WIDTH: 86pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=115>Used</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>TOP HATS (FRONT)</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">GROUP N</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="100">$ 100.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Used</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>TOP HATS (REAR)</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">GROUP N</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="150">$ 150.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Used</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>FRONT SWAY BAR</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">WHITE LINE 24MM</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="145">$ 145.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">New</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>REAR SWAY BAR</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">WHITE LINE 24MM</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="145">$ 145.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">New</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>ENDLINKS (Rear)</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">KARTBOY</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="80">$ 80.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">New</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>ENDLINKS (Front)</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">KARTBOY</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="80">$ 80.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">New</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Bump Stops</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">PRODRIVE</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="20">$ 20.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">New</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Total</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="895" x:fmla="=SUM(C1:C8)">$ 895.00 </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Some of the prices include shipping and some don't...

Jay

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by jaydow11

Like you, I was contemplating the whole "coilover or not" debate.... in the end, my pocket book was the deciding factor! I basically wanted to lower the amount of bobble head, lower the car (a tiny bit) and reduce some body roll.

I think an important consideration to add to that list is fixing strut clunk. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. In the long run the best option financially is to plan ahead for that eventuality. Given that the currently available fixed perch strut option costs more than several coilover options, I think it's a good idea to keep that in mind. I have now spent quite a lot more in suspension mods than I would have if I had opted for coilovers early on.

[JAYMAC10]

Originally Posted by Rootus

I think an important consideration to add to that list is fixing strut clunk. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. In the long run the best option financially is to plan ahead for that eventuality. Given that the currently available fixed perch strut option costs more than several coilover options, I think it's a good idea to keep that in mind. I have now spent quite a lot more in suspension mods than I would have if I had opted for coilovers early on.

Good point! However, for ME, I don't plan on driving my STI for the next 10-15 years and to 200,000 miles!

I also only drive it about 10,000 miles a year.

So in 3-6 years I'll more than likely be driving a different car (maybe even another 06 or 07 STI??)

I just took my car in to the dealer for a right rear strut clunk and they said that the struts are fine and it was the exhause rattling... The dealer said after 2004 there is a different part number for the struts than the 04's have which fixes the problem.... (I still think its the struts but whatever...)

The dealer said 90% of the time it's not the struts clunking but the exhaust rattling.

I'm sure more than a lot of people might dissagree with this but that's what they said....

Anyways, for me, spending $2000 on struts is too expensive for my 100% daily driving and overkill....

[STInk]

"exhaust rattle" is code for "fu** off".

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by jaydow11

Good point! However, for ME, I don't plan on driving my STI for the next 10-15 years and to 200,000 miles!

I also only drive it about 10,000 miles a year.

So in 3-6 years I'll more than likely be driving a different car (maybe even another 06 or 07 STI??)

So, you're planning on keeping it for 30K to 60K miles. That'll be 2-6 sets of struts, I bet. Kinda depends on your own luck. My first set lasted 19K miles, the second 3K.

I just took my car in to the dealer for a right rear strut clunk and they said that the struts are fine and it was the exhause rattling...

As the previous poster mentioned, they were just blowing you off. They know better. Rear struts is the primary failure point on the STI.

The dealer said after 2004 there is a different part number for the struts than the 04's have which fixes the problem.... (I still think its the struts but whatever...)

Yet more code for "go away." There sure is a new part number for struts in 2005+, because the hubs changed size and so the mounting bracket had to be changed.

The dealer said 90% of the time it's not the struts clunking but the exhaust rattling.

I'm sure more than a lot of people might dissagree with this but that's what they said....

Strike three, they're out. They keep telling you to **** off.

Anyways, for me, spending $2000 on struts is too expensive for my 100% daily driving and overkill....

It's whatever price you put on your sanity . I hate the sound clunking struts make, and when they get worse you start to feel them binding every time you stop and start at a traffic light.

[JAYMAC10]

Originally Posted by Rootus

So, you're planning on keeping it for 30K to 60K miles. That'll be 2-6 sets of struts, I bet. Kinda depends on your own luck. My first set lasted 19K miles, the second 3K.

As the previous poster mentioned, they were just blowing you off. They know better. Rear struts is the primary failure point on the STI.

Yet more code for "go away." There sure is a new part number for struts in 2005+, because the hubs changed size and so the mounting bracket had to be changed.

Strike three, they're out. They keep telling you to **** off.

It's whatever price you put on your sanity . I hate the sound clunking struts make, and when they get worse you start to feel them binding every time you stop and start at a traffic light.

I totally hear and agree with you on all points!


I'm pretty sure my strut is "rattling" but even if I get it replaced, it's still going to be replaced by a defective part! Right...

I think it's just not bad enough for the dealer to want to do anything about it at this point....

Therefore, I'll just go buy some synthetic grease and take care of it that way... it seems that most people are starting to do that anyways instead of taking it to the dealer which will just become a vicious cycle...

Jay

Sorry, probably should get back on topic...

[cpa]

How about GC coilover sleeves with GC camber plates on stock struts? It sounds like this would deal with the stock strut suspension travel issue, spring rates could be chosen as desired, not sure if they are linear or not, and caster would also be adjustable?

There are a few comments if you search for the coilover sleeve. Sleeves and plates look like $700-$800, install, height adjust and align probably $300 if done right, and another $500 for sways front and rear with endlinks, your choice of parts and install. So maybe $1,700 or so total with tax out the door and done which would be parts cost entry point for say a Bilstein coilover alone? Obviously there are trade offs, but maybe an option?

[webcrawlr]

Originally Posted by stretch

It depends on your ride height.
If you want to stay at the stock ride height, fixed perch struts are an OK solution. However, at any lowered ride height, it's not physically possible for an OE-replacement strut to offer sufficient bump travel. Even if the strut could support more travel than stock, you'd get coil bind from the springs.

Bummer. So even with a quality aftermarket fixed perch such as Ohlins there still could be bind/bump stop issues with springs such as RCE and JDM pinks....

[mykrrrr]

Originally Posted by MKTURBO

Alright Guys after going stage 2 and contemplating if i should get protuned with all the extras or do suspention work, i have decided that the suspention aspect is definately needing some attention......heres the deal though: currently the suspention is completely stock......i've been told to do the 27-29 whiteline bar and 24-26 whiteline bar along with endlinks, but i have no idea what i actually should do......the car is primarly a daily driver.....that on the week-ends goes to autocross and track days.....also if it matters im in chicago, and has to deal with rough winters and such.....im not the kind of person that is very picky with what mods classify me for what class in auto-x, im just out there to have some fun........also by no means am i a suspention technician, so i probably wont be needing something with a million ways of adjustability....i just need something that has enhanced performance and limited adjustiblity.....basicaly set it for street, and dial it harder for the track.......so what i guess it comes down to is fixed perch vs. coilovers......all input would help greatly
MK

IMO I think you've already answered your own question.

Go with a fixed perch adjustable strut w/stiffer springs and bigger swaybars or keep your stock STi struts, get some springs that aren't too stiff for the damping rates of stock struts (STi Pinks, Swift or RCE's) and some swaybars.

Use the $$$ saved on Evolution driving school and seat time.

I was basically in the same boat as you when I went w/my suspension set up. I'll probably go up to an adjustable FP strut or full coilover since I want compression/rebound adjustment. Ride height adjustment doesn't really matter to me. I don't need to be scraping speed bumps...

[twiSTies]

Originally Posted by MKTURBO

but this is what im contemplating in the back of my head.....springs+ plates (700-800), bc coilovers (1000).....how is everything else twice or three times the money, and doesn't come with anything? (no Plates)

springs and plates on stock struts won't outperform the BCs. springs on the stock struts are a compromise and as stretch has said a million times ( ), its best to stick with the stock springs on the stock struts due to bump travel issues.

I did the lowering spring thing (that rhymes), with Swifts for over a year. I ran camber bolts to get -1.6 degrees up front, and I autocrossed with this setup. I went from running mid-pack in BSP to winning it in my first autocross with the BCs.

Now, you said you're young and don't mind NVH. IMO, the NVH thing is way overblown when it comes to coilovers. You drive an STi. If you wanted zero NVH, you bought yourself the WRONG car. Seriously, the car really isn't that loud inside with coilovers. The radio easily drowns it out and you can still have conversations, etc. without raising your voice. Is it louder than regular tophats? Of course.

What you're paying for at two to three times the cost is simple:

Valving and materials used.

Why don't they come with tophats? I wish I knew the answer. It is pretty frustrating to have to buy additional pieces to make the system work separately. You just know that the consumer is the loser in that scenario.

It's most likely done to keep the prices competitive with the JDM coilovers that come with them. It's not something I'm personally fond of. This is why I like the Sportlines so much--they come with plates instead of having to spend another $700 to buy your own.

[thunderbird]

Originally Posted by TheLimitedProject

^Well, no ride height adjustment might be a good thing. Didn't RCE design the yellows to be the ideal dropped ride height at all four corners? Plus, for me, after one winter there was no such thing as ride height adjustment lol.

I use ride height to help adjust to wider tires. My daily drivers are 265/35R18s, my autocross tires are 285/30R18s. I can't run the car very low on the autox tires!