new shocks & springs or coilovers

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12 April 2008, 02:10 PM

powerwrx

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new shocks & springs or coilovers

hi all,im in need of some new suspension.ive been told that my shocks are knackered (and told they are ok) but for piece of mind im gonna replace them anyway. i was just wondering if i should just replace with new shocks and some ebach springs or go for coilovers.im not looking at doing any track days so i was wondering if coilovers would be worth it

any help would be great

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12 April 2008, 03:47 PM

NUTTYNICK

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I'm guessing it depends on what you are after?

If you are after ride height adjustabillity, the potential for more camber and/or castor then coilovers would be the ones to go for.
If you are after a fit and forget option, then conventional struts with springs will be better.

You can get both that offer adjustabillity in damping/rebound but again, will you use this feature?

Coilovers may offer a better spring selection, and you can get non damping adjustable items slightly cheaper.

On other cars I had, I went the coilover route as the car was regularly tracked. They offered me full damping/rebound and camber/castor settings for different tracks/conditions. Ride height remained the same once set though but I did play with spring rates for a while, again they stayed the same once a happy medium was found.

TBH I think most people that have adjustable suspension on a predominantely road going vehicle, rarely change settings once they find one they can live with all the time. You're not going to keep stopping to adjust the damping every few hundred metres to cater for differing road surfaces.

For me when the time comes, I will be going uprated conventional struts with some lowering springs. My days of constant tweaking are over.

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12 April 2008, 03:55 PM

powerwrx

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cheers mate, as youve said im sure if i had coilovers once they were set ide just leave them set therefore i may aswell buy shocks and springs.

im toying with the idea of STI shocks and ebach springs.

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12 April 2008, 04:03 PM

NUTTYNICK

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From what I've read, those shocks are very good. The springs are certainly good as I run with them and have always advocated their use on other cars. They may not drop the ride height very much though. If this is your thing, there are other makes out there.

For performance and comfort though, the Eibachs are hard to beat imo.

As for the coilovers I had, I had to make an effort to oil and turn the adjuster fully around so that it didn't sieze before resetting it back to the 'set' position. More of a pain than anything else. Coilys do have their place though and many swear by them, but again depends what your are after else you could be paying over the odds for features not used.

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12 April 2008, 05:34 PM

bugeyeandy

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I've just replaced the fronts with standard replacement KYB's from Camskill.
Mine's a MY01 with 65k on the clock and the difference is amazing especially under braking.
It's definitely the cheapest option @£170 for the pair.
I could push the shock piston in with light hand pressure full travel on the old ones when I got them out!!

If you're doing them yourself i'd suggest disconnecting the anti-roll bar drop link - makes life so much easier

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12 April 2008, 05:36 PM

powerwrx

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bugeyeandy

cheers mate, ive just been looking at kyb's

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12 April 2008, 07:21 PM

NUTTYNICK

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bugeyeandy

I've just replaced the fronts with standard replacement KYB's from Camskill.

Don't want to hijack (I hate that), but any more feedback? What springs have you fitted?

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12 April 2008, 10:46 PM

Dr B

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i have a street car , occasional solodex, i have im my experience prefer coilovers , as the car feels different from a standard suspension set up . At high speed and cornering the car feels as if its glued to the road , no body roll, even the whole stance of the car is different . At high speed , no drifting , very stable ,can let go the steer , and the car just sits .
I have the HOTBITS DT1 street package , comes with 40 way adjustable dampering and rebound .They are totally rebuilable .Build to wrc specs .
Not saying these are what u may want , but i can testify they are far better than any standard set up. IMHO coilovers only for our high performance machines . On a rough road or gravel surface , these coilovers feel as if u are on a tarmac , very smooth . It has a separate oil reservoir . Just my 2 cents , another view .

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13 April 2008, 07:24 AM

bugeyeandy

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Quote:

Don't want to hijack (I hate that), but any more feedback? What springs have you fitted?

Just kept the standard springs , the KYB's I fitted are apparently the same standard shocks Subaru will get you but half the price.
I looked through all the options but for my mostly road use and occasional track days the standard setup in good shape is the way to go for me. After 65k the front shocks were shot and causing all sorts of braking problems over uneven ground.
New ones feel great, like a new car all over again

I'm going to whip the back ones off and check them out this week and if they're shot i'll be getting some more from Camskill.

If it's uprated springs you're after , absolutely everywhere i've read recommends the Eibach springs. I'd go down this route myself but my front splitter already grounds out on car park ramps, I think it'd be just too low with the Eibachs on for it to survive