[Hispanics]

I have Put spring and shock combo on a 240sx and Integra that I have owned. But I think I am ready for coil over height adjustible suspension Like the one from JIC TIEN CUSCO. What would you guys recommend for an STI? I hate the wheel well gap on the stock suspension. Not to mention the performance gains I would get.

Also I am not familar with how the hieght adjustment works. How do you keep all four corners at the same height? Because its very hard to impossible to fine a completely level surface to park the car and check to see if you are equal at all for corners. This is something that conserns me. Is it something I should worry about?

Any information would be helpful

 

[sakura-iro]

where to begin...

subarus in general do not respond too well to excessive lowering, and the sti is already about .5" lower than a standard wrx. if you're doing it for aesthetic reasons then by all means go with whatever coilover you like. if you're actually trying to improve performance get ready to do some serious work. imho improving the sti suspension beyond the simple stuff (droplinks, sway bars, etc.) is going to be very difficult.

when the wrx first came out everyone ignored the sti suspension kit and tried out all sorts of different coilovers. after about a year lots of people went to subarus package. for basic fast road stuff it was very well matched to the car and basically "fire and forget".

if you're a serious autoxer or you do track days and you know something about suspensions and you love fiddling with things, then by all means shop around. otherwise i would be inclined to leave things alone and wait for other people do do the research for me.

 

[Hispanics]

Yes,
I am looking to lower primary for performance not aesthetic reasons. I know that I will sacrifice some comfort for the gains but who cares! By all means I am not looking for an excessive drop. Maybe a . 5 or inch. Well, I like the look of a two finger gap between the fender and tires. But if you say that's to low for a subaru then I guess it would have to play with the coilovers until I get the best height and performance.
But keep in mind that I am trying to improve performance while getting that lowered sporty look. I will not sacrifice one bit Performance for the look!

Also what about my question with the coilovers?

Also I am not familiar with how the height adjustment works. How do you keep all four corners at the same height? Because its very hard to impossible to find a completely level surface to park the car and check to see if you are equal at all for corners. This is something that concerns me. Is it something I should worry about?

thanx!

 

[Pizzo]

Well, in my experience, being level isn't always a good thing.
You have to play around with it to find out for sure, but with an audi 5 cylinder mounted way in front of the front axle, you want a tight rake, so as to prevent fishiness from the front end. i.e., front should be lower than rear.

You have to look at static weight balance, brake distribution, etc, before you start playing with it, though. I'm going to have the car corner weighted before I play with spring rates and damping. I'll fit some swaybars, though, that never really hurts you, unless you go overboard. ;-)

Have they published WRX and STI spring rates?

 

[CloNeGTS]

I wouldn't touch the suspension unless someone VERY knowledgable claims to have better the effort STi has made.

 

[murley]

"Knocking" evident when lower octane fuels ued

Marry a 250pound fat woman....

 

[eatV8]

someone very knowledgable like a suspension company as there business is susension in general, unlike STi who have the whole car to manage not just the suspension sorry clone couldnt resist! . check out some performance shops around. for some reason im agreeing abit with clone here, make sure the person knows suspension not some back garage guy.

 

[Hispanics]

Yeah I am going to leave it alone until actual tests are done. They will have to prove to me that it will enhance performance. For example:Show me another STI with the suspension and let me go for a drive in it!

 

[RDiamond]

Let's see -- the STi beat all the aftermarket suspensions in the SCC test in this months magazine, even cars with more power (less torque, though).

Shiv's car was a bit unfair since it used R compound tires, but the STi was about as far behind as you'd expect a car with lesser tires to be behind. STi got this one right. Perhaps down the road someone's going to do better, but they set the bar really high!

 

[CloNeGTS]

Yeah...how bout that SCC article......I think that shows just how good the STi suspension is. I'm not even going to think about changing a suspension part until someone shows that it makes a marked improvement.

 

[JJ]

If you want to drop it an inch, go ahead, but only if you don't care at all about the handling. I guess it is your car, do what you want- but I have driven and been into performance Impreza's for at least 5 years now, and I can tell you that the most I have EVER seen a Impreza dropped where it did not have a severe adverse effect on the handling is 1"...

To make the suspension "better" thank what it has I think you are talking things like double-adjustable external reservoir coilovers, camber/caster plates, bushings, etc. Many THOUSANDS of $$$...

 

[bi11y]

Marry a 250pound fat woman....

haha u always find a way to make me laugh ^_^

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

How to drop your STi an inch? Very carefully. Although...during WRC rallies, STi's are often dropping from several feet in the air