Introduction:
Many things in life are a compromise and this upgrade is no exception… Handling has been improved at the expense of comfort and cornering confidence.

My list of suspension mods so far:
18” Speedline GT1 wheels
225/40/18” Toyo Proxis T1-S tires
Whiteline low springs
Cusco 22mm rear sway bar

Installation:
The installation was very straightforward with no surprises. I read some posts about guys breaking the bolts on the strut tops by over torque them, but I didn't have a problem with that.

Appearance:
I think the car looks great. Most of the pictures I have seen tend to over exaggerate the fender gap issue. The front gap is still present, but I do not feel that it is in anyway offensive. To me it looks like it should have from the factory.

Handling:
First, please note that I didn’t cut the stock bumpstops and this may be having an affect on the handling. I know I should have checked before I installed the springs, but I didn’t. I have an email in with Jim at Whiteline and I’ll post an update when I hear back from him.

Turn-in has been greatly improved but is certainly not up to Tony Kart standards. The car is much flatter then it was before while dive and squat have been greatly reduced. However, there is a catch, read on…

My opinion of a well-sorted car is one that exhibits very little body movement over uneven road surfaces. It should be able to soak up many of the imperfections in the road surface without upsetting the balance of the car. After fitting the springs the car does not like bumps, big or small. Over even small/medium bumps in the road I tend to pop-up in my seat. The freeway off ramp that I take everyday has a large dip in the middle of it. Before installing the springs, the car would soak the dip up pretty well and it was mostly uneventful. The car demonstrated quite a bit of roll, but it was all fairly friendly. However, now the balance of the car is badly upset by this dip and as a result, my confidence level has been decreased. Much of this may be because the struts are bottoming on the bumpstops but that does not explain the pop over small bumps. (Any experts care to comment?) My wife joked that she will need to wear a sport bra while riding in the car now but that’s an entirely different forum… :)

Ride quality:
Ride quality is not terrible around town, but there is a serious decrease in comfort/plushness. I think a bit of that will be corrected by fitting quality/matched struts to the springs when they become available. Before I installed the springs I had no problem taking my boss to lunch in the car, but now it just feels a bit to “high schoolish” to transport adults. In case it makes a difference, I am a 29-year-old Information Technology Supervisor. The car also tends to porpoise over bumps as the struts do not appear to be able to cope with the increased spring rate.

Summary:
I am about the worse person to judge suspension upgrades because I want my cake and I want to eat it too. I want kart like handling but I also want the car to be stable and poised. I don’t mind the ride being stiff and I love to feel the road, but I also want to drive on long trips without needing a nap when I arrive. Bottom line, if I had to do it again, I would probably wait until WRX-specific struts were available or I would purchase a quality set of coilovers (DMS) and hope that the glowing praise that everyone gives them is warranted.

Before:

http://www.moylan.net/images/WRX/side.jpg

After:
http://www.moylan.net/images/WRX-Whiteline-side.jpg

More pictures of the before configuration:
http://www.moylan.net

Comments please,
Scooby Don't

i didn't know which to post on so I'll do both..
hey, thanks for putting up that review. I don't know what it means to cut the stock bump stocks and the effect it may or may not have and I have also been wondering about the issue of new struts and why u need them w/ new springs. After your review however, I am confused as to what to do. I was settled w/ either the whiteline or the sti's. Now I don't know if the whitelines are what I want and if the sti's are as low as they can be. It's really hard to see on the other pictures. Is it possible that your just not used to the ride yet? I remember driving my uncles 300zx twin turbo and at the time my dad couldn't stand the suspension cause it was just to harsh, but I loved it. I definatly don't want them if bumps cant be soaked up at all though. Hmmm... Well thanks for your input. Now I have some thinking to do..hehe

if the car is lowered by springs only, that means the stock shocks/struts are not at optimum level of operation.

stock set up =
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stock shock with lower springs (exagerated to show the point) =
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(in order to fit the short springs on to the long stock shocks, you'll have to compess the shocks, and springs are for compressing, not stretching, so you compress the shocks to fit the springs)

that means your stock shocks are semi compressed when the car is level, meaning it has less dampering and more rebound when you hit the same dip as before.

TerenceT,
Thanks for the explanation.

Does anyone know if the KYB AGX, or any other strut for that matter, is designed to work at a lower position?

Also, what advantages/disadvantages do inverted struts, such as the STI units, offer?

Thanks,
Scooby Don't

The KYB's will probably cause your car to be lifted a little bit more than it is now. It will not be quite as low but definitely better handling and performance.

I just had my Whitelines installed and I'm still using OEM shocks. I have zero complaints; looks and rides awesome. I think they provided just the right amount of drop; low, but not slammed.

I have had them on for 1 week now... is that enough time from them to settle? If so, I think it looks great.

I have had no rubbing issues and I have a steep and rocky driveway and have encountered no scraping.

Scooby-Don't: Yo man, the 18" rims probably aren't helpin out your 'highschool' image man. I'm running 17"x7.5" Rota Attacks, combined with the Whitelines, they look perfect. Meaty Falkens Azenies tires really fill out the wheel well now.

I'm sure better shocks or coilovers would be better, but for 200 bucks + $150 install, I have zero complaints.

Thats my $.02

-Chewy

I just installed a set of Whiteline Control Springs (not the low ones), and I absolutely LOVE THEM!! :banana: :banana: I was concerned that the ride would stiffen up too much, but they are nice and soft on the top 10%, and then they stiffen up quite nicely. It is still winter here, so I haven't been able to slam the car around, but so far they handle great. I have had no bumps, rubs or clanks.

As for look - you can't beat them. The car is dropped about 1.5 inches and looks totally agressive, but not too ricey. The gaps are gone, and there is still room for wider tires. I am putting on 18x8 PFF7's this weekend, and will post if I scape.

B WReX, you have any pics of your car with the Control springs?