Granted, I doubt many of you own STis, but I'm thinking of a set of coilovers or sport springs for my '05.

I've looked into the Megan and H&R coilovers, and they're both priced within about $200 of each other.

With a coilover suspension, how harsh is the ride? Also, if I go to a coilover setup will I need to get my alignment redone? If so, does it need to be realigned every single time I change the height of my car?

I don't want something that's going to shake my teeth loose. I'd like to take the edge out of the bumps but pick up some handling, as well as a nicer stance.

Can anybody lend a hand?

Thanks!

 

With most coilovers, you can adjust the ride height and the stiffness.

With either springs or coils, you will need an alignment, but not every time you change the height on coils.

 

you may want to ask this question over on NASIOC......

Ride harshness is determined by spring rate and shock damping. Alignment must be redone after coilover installation, it should also be redone ofter any ride height adjustments.

My friends 05 Sti has the Tein Flex and Strano front sway bar. Balance is pretty good and overall the ride is good on the street.

 

Thanks for the advice, guys!

For the record, I prefer to stay away from NASIOC, but thanks. All I've learned there are that Evolutions suck and WRXs can out-perform STis with Cobb Stage 2 kits.

 

I had Cusco Zero 2r on my STi and on my WRX Wagon. Now after having KW V3's I dont know why I wasted time with "JDM" coilovers. With the Cusco's they had 5 rebound adjustments, I can say 1-2 wasnt much of a change but 1-3 was, and so forth. With the KW's a 1/4-1/2 turn is noticable from the get go, one click of bump is noticable...guess thats German Valving. Bottom line they just ride smoother.

I'd search around on Nabisco and see if anyone is running KW V's. Another coilover I read had good reviews were the Whiteline's don't remeber the model. You could also check out Hotbits. But if your stuck on 1k coilovers I'd consider JDM Pink Springs.

 

Yeah Nabisco isnt that great, and IWSTI went to poo. ClubWRX might be a good place. Like any forum if you search around you'll find some reviews that are useful, and a lot that arent.

 

IWSTI hasn't gone to poo. It's always been poo. If you aren't a Suby fanboy, you get banned. Don't ever go on to IWSTI and mention that there was a car that beat an STi.

Club WRX seems pretty good.

 

We started out with Subaru's....Myles was on nasioc as 944turboguy waaaay back in the day.

If you have any questions about suspension for Subaru's, just give us a call. Myles has tested literally just about every possible spring, coilover, and strut available for the impreza and legacy platform. So we have plenty of experience, both on the track and the street.

Give us a call.



- drew

 

Our sentiments exactly......



and FYI, there are MANY KW's on Imprezas these days.

- drew

 

Thanks for the info, Drew. I basically want something that is going to close up the wheel gap to a respectable level without it being a dirt plow. Maybe I don't need coilovers at all?

The suspension mods that I want to do in the future include front/rear swaybars, possibly an anti-lift kit, and something to give the car a performance-oriented stance while sharpening up the handling.

I love the way the car looks as-is in stock trim, but I think it could look better with a slightly lower stance.

As for go-fast goodies, I don't plan on much other than a downpipe, possibly an intake, turbo-back exhaust, and a Pro Tune.

 

You should consider some JDM Pink Springs. I thought they were pretty good. Maybe Swift has a spring for the STi.

Myles the human spring compressor. Good guy 3 years ago I screwed up a strut on my STi due to being joy happy with them impact, I had 3 days til i had to drive across the country. Needless to say Myles hooked me up.

KW V3 FTW.

 

Subarus are finicky cars chassis wise .... two low, wheel geometery is easily screwed up. Escpecially on the 2005 models.

Maximum drop for a DMS 40mm for example is recommended at 15-20mm (not even 3/4 inch)

However, if you just go with lower springs, the OE shocks will blow even sooner. Typically JDm shocks will be harsher to ride, OHLINS and DMS for example way smoother, but provide hugh increases in traction and response. KW I have not had enough experience to date, but what I do know is that their settings aren't working like they are supposed to (not independant and consistant)

If you go the coilover route, be prepared to take car of the units and service them. Consult your distributor, if he says "you don't need to touch them" it is BS, and find a new shop. All coilover will need maintenance. The better they perform, the more $$ that is required to keep them that way.

If you have any other questions about shocks in general, don't hesitate to ask, that is what we are here for.
Cheers,
mark
www.dmsnorthamerica.com

 

Mark you care to elborate on this? If you want you could post it in the KW tread no to OT sinister's thread here.

 

STi JDM Pinks and Swifts are both great springs for the STi. And a little FYI, we developed our own spring for the STi and used those two springs as a starting point to improve upon. Customers are just receiving the Racecomp Springs this week after a lengthy (and very enjoyable ) testing and design process. Nothing else like them on the market, extra attention is paid to the rear spring rate....we wanted to do something different that really works.


Good to hear . On that note, our phone calls get forwarded to Myles' cell after hours, so it's not uncommon for him to walk someone through a spring install on a Saturday morning or a Sunday night so the guy/girl can get to work the next morning.


- drew

 

You might not need coilovers. One set-up we absolutely love (and introduced the American STi market to) are Ohlins fixed perch struts. Very wide range of adjustment, use these with stock springs or any aftermarket spring. Amazing ride quality....car feels very M3 like....only better. Can be stiffened up considerably for the track. We like them with JDM Pinks, Prodrives, Swifts, and of course our newly designed Racecomp Springs.

Front and rear swaybars + an ALK would definitely complete the set-up. Coilovers are great too, but the Ohlins fixed perch set-up is a very easy to deal with and great riding set-up.


- drew