Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras - View Single Post

ddub · 2007-07-27, 06:57 PM

I need some suspension advice. I have been searching all kinds of different fourms, but can't decide what to do.
Current Set-up: Megan Racing Coilovers 8kg/mm(448lb/in) front, 6kg/mm(336lb/in) rear. ride height: about 13in, wheel hub to fender lip all around. Had this setup for about a year and a half now. I know its lower than I should be, but corners great and keeps up with Evo's and Sti's on the spagetti bowl.

Had King springs installed before the coilovers. I don't know what the spring rates were, but steering response wasn't the greatest.

Problem: I'm getting tired of the bounciness on small bumps, especially on long trips and on wash board snow conditions. I've tried adjusting the dampening from very hard to soft, but it doesn't help. (I actually learned about this in Systems Engineering, If the spring rates are to high, you can never get the small oscillations to go away over small frequencies, no matter how much damping there is.) Now I'm experiencing it first hand.

I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but am willing to if it comes to that, $2000

Here are my choices with questions:
1: I have been talking with the megan racing rep. Supposedly the dampeners were designed with a tolerance of plus or minus 2kg/mm. He said I could buy any 2.5 inch spring from Eibach, 180mm front free length and 200mm rear. I am thinking about buying a set of 6kg/mm for the front and 4-5kg/mm for the rear. I think this might help the bounciness and soften the ride a little, but I am worried about bottoming out the struts. If I do this, should I get a slightly longer free length spring and put a slight preload on it when it is installed? Do you think that spring rate combo would help?

2: Go with a softer spring rate coilover setup. I was looking at Tein SS-P, Whiteline G4’s (not made for 2004 wrx anymore), or something similar. Anyone know how the Tein SS-P’s ride?

3: Get a spring and strut combo with front and rear swaybar setup. I was looking at Eibach Sportline’s, Crucial racing, and Prodrives with KYB struts. Don’t know what swaybar to get. There isn’t a lot of info on the Sportlines, but they are progressive with drops of 1.7 f and 1.2 r. Anyone know about these?

4: Raise up my car now to recommended ride heights and see if that helps. If I do this, I will need to get an alignment. I don’t know if this will help with the high spring rates. I will raise my car up if I get the softer spring rates on the megans anyway.

Sorry if this is a long post, I have been thinking about this for a while and can’t decide on what to do. I know I want something softer that handles well and isn't bouncy on small bumps. It seems like there are so many choices. Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

2007-07-27, 06:57 PM	#1
ddub EJ22 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 110 Car: 04 wrx, bunch of mods	Suspension Advice I need some suspension advice. I have been searching all kinds of different fourms, but can't decide what to do. Current Set-up: Megan Racing Coilovers 8kg/mm(448lb/in) front, 6kg/mm(336lb/in) rear. ride height: about 13in, wheel hub to fender lip all around. Had this setup for about a year and a half now. I know its lower than I should be, but corners great and keeps up with Evo's and Sti's on the spagetti bowl. Had King springs installed before the coilovers. I don't know what the spring rates were, but steering response wasn't the greatest. Problem: I'm getting tired of the bounciness on small bumps, especially on long trips and on wash board snow conditions. I've tried adjusting the dampening from very hard to soft, but it doesn't help. (I actually learned about this in Systems Engineering, If the spring rates are to high, you can never get the small oscillations to go away over small frequencies, no matter how much damping there is.) Now I'm experiencing it first hand. I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but am willing to if it comes to that, $2000 Here are my choices with questions: 1: I have been talking with the megan racing rep. Supposedly the dampeners were designed with a tolerance of plus or minus 2kg/mm. He said I could buy any 2.5 inch spring from Eibach, 180mm front free length and 200mm rear. I am thinking about buying a set of 6kg/mm for the front and 4-5kg/mm for the rear. I think this might help the bounciness and soften the ride a little, but I am worried about bottoming out the struts. If I do this, should I get a slightly longer free length spring and put a slight preload on it when it is installed? Do you think that spring rate combo would help? 2: Go with a softer spring rate coilover setup. I was looking at Tein SS-P, Whiteline G4’s (not made for 2004 wrx anymore), or something similar. Anyone know how the Tein SS-P’s ride? 3: Get a spring and strut combo with front and rear swaybar setup. I was looking at Eibach Sportline’s, Crucial racing, and Prodrives with KYB struts. Don’t know what swaybar to get. There isn’t a lot of info on the Sportlines, but they are progressive with drops of 1.7 f and 1.2 r. Anyone know about these? 4: Raise up my car now to recommended ride heights and see if that helps. If I do this, I will need to get an alignment. I don’t know if this will help with the high spring rates. I will raise my car up if I get the softer spring rates on the megans anyway. Sorry if this is a long post, I have been thinking about this for a while and can’t decide on what to do. I know I want something softer that handles well and isn't bouncy on small bumps. It seems like there are so many choices. Suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave