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Brakes & Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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10-28-2005, 02:52 PM | #1 |
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Optimum weekend warrior suspension set up?
Hi guys, before you say SEARCH, I did on "jdm sti pink springs" etc. But I get a lot of threads with like jdm pink injectors and sti springs. Maybe I'm not using the right key words for the search or something, but it's hard to find a thread with the answers I'm looking for.
So, my question is what is a good comfortable suspension set up for daily driving that can double as a weekend warrior set up for MY05STi (go down for what I think I might be looking for)? What are the differences between the USDM 04STi and USDM 05STi suspensions since I see some parts for 04STi ONLY? Also, what are the differences between USDM STi, JDM version 7, JDM version 8, spec C, type RA struts? What the differences between the USDM springs, JDM pink springs, arai springs, prodrive springs? Why do people with ver X struts, pink springs use group N top hats instead of something like cusco camber plates where the camber can be adjusted? What is a good sway bar that remains relatively neutral, but can be dialed for slight oversteer? Is adjustable better than a well sized sway bar? Personally I don't care about noise but I can't stand the harshness. Right now I'm looking to just get better matched springs just because the STi is overdampened from the factory. It made my 4 hour drive to Iowa hell, I kept bouncing around and it felt like my stomach was up in my throat. Are the USDM STi struts a good base to work off of? From what I know, I was thinking of USDM STi struts, JDM pink springs, Cusco camber plates, Cusco front static and rear adjustable sway bars (should I also get aftermarket endlinks?) and Cusco H brace (just to shed some weight, does anyone with the H brace feel, notice the difference when driving?). I'm not planning on changing the suspension until next season after I learn to drive the car a little more and feel for what I want. Personally I'd like to keep the handling characteristics neutral with a bit of oversteer on demand, have good feedback from the car, and be able to tell when its limits are being approached gradually. Sorry for the long post with lots of noob questions, but any and all help will be greatly appreciated. I'd like to know what I'm paying for instead of pissing away a few thousand dollars worth of parts.
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10-28-2005, 11:47 PM | #2 |
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anyone? sorry for the long post, should i just break them up into different threads?
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10-29-2005, 09:05 PM | #3 | |
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Quote:
Maybe this will help. BTW, you're asking a lot of questions at once - questions that, for the most part, have been answered in the past. Most of the people on this board have jobs, families, etc. I think it would take me about 4-5 hours to answer every question in your post. |
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10-29-2005, 09:10 PM | #4 |
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try searching on google. seriously: use quotes for phrases (e.g., "sti springs"), and throw in site:nasioc.com at the end of your search string to restrict it to searching here.
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10-29-2005, 10:43 PM | #5 |
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Yeah, sorry about that, it's just that when I tried searching on here, there would be too many results for me to go through. I figured I was asking too many things at once.
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10-29-2005, 11:34 PM | #6 | |||
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I'll answer what I can.
Quote:
Quote:
"No changes to the mounting positions for 05 vs 04, but they have aluminum rear arms with a wider track width. Also the front hubs are all new for 05 with larger bearings, and a larger struts mount. 114.3 bolt pattern is adopted in 05." Quote:
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10-30-2005, 09:25 AM | #7 |
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Thanks, I do spend 99% of my time commuting, with me doing 1 hour + trips at least once a month. I don't honestly care about noise levels, but the way my car bounces on the highway is just ridiculous. The car in stock form is definately overdampened, so will the car ride benefit with stiffer springs?
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10-30-2005, 10:05 AM | #8 |
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10-30-2005, 11:03 AM | #9 |
NASIOC Vendor
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MAIC
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Vehicle:ASK ABOUT NEW RCE SWAY BARS FOR STI |
Ok, I am still confused a little. Your avatar thing or whatever says 2005 IMPREZA,.noit STi , yet you say what would blah, blah, blah for MY05 STi. Are you saying you have a 2005 STI, or what will WORK on a MY 2005 STi????
At any rate, there is nothing wrong with all the questions you are asking. EXCEPT, you are not being realistic. There is NO one suspension for all my needs this side of a Bilstein PSS9 set up where the digressive valving plays a huge role. Better yet dont even worry about what I just said. Lets think simple. IF you have a 2005 STI. You need to accept the reality that you bought about the closest thing to a homologated group-n rally car as you can. MEANING.????????????????...ITs stiff, and its bouncy and it performs prob beyond what you are capable of right now. YES, driving is like SEX, we all think we are the best at it...( lol) . The stock car is very capable but its that way because of how the suspension is, so a bi-product of that is the firmness and bounce. AGAIN, IF you have a STi you need to start with the source,being the CAR. And maybe swap those springs for something that will work better than the satock springs with the struts. IF you dont have an 05 STI, but actually have what your signature/avatar says which is a 2005 WRX, or IMPREZA....then you are really in trouble as that car isnt hard at all. Some people put the softer ( SPT/STi USA made springs) on their cars and add HUGE sway bars to control roll and they are happy. I think that gives a false sense of handling ans as you get close to the limit the car gets NASTY. AS for all your other questions. I think they should have been in another thread as alot of it isnt relative to some degree because most of your hurdles will be with what YOU can handle or deal with in the car you have now. No worries, you are asking good questions, just all together, its kinda hard to deal with at once. But I could only imagine coming into this community with a nice car like that and trying to make sense of things,...has to be hard. Try some of the AMERICAN Sti brand pink springs ( lower spring rate than the JDM version that WE sell) and that should help you with the bounce only. It wil still be firm, but alot less bounce and alot less performance. So here is the meat and potatoes part of what I amtrying to get accross. There isnt a one suspension fits all my needs for this car. You either will have a suspension that is good for the road and not stiff, or something that rules on weekends and track days and pisses off the wife during the week. HINT in the right direction: Most of the european brands offer something fof your car. Their approach to suspensions is kinda what you are looking for, but even with that approach you have some trade offs. Hope I wasnt too hard on ya?..lol. LEt us know if you need any help. You can e-mail me direct. [email protected] Myles Williams www.racecompengineering.com www.gtworx.com 410-730-7223 |
10-30-2005, 11:09 AM | #10 | |
NASIOC Vendor
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Quote:
WE have been testing the SWIFT lowering springs lately and find them to be as good as the STI JDM PINK lowering springs, but cost less and are readily available. So maybe first if you establish what you are willing to deal with then we can effectively send you in the right direction. IF you can deal with firmer , just less bounce, then the STI JDM PINKS or SWIFT springs work wonders. You will be amazed. Coupled withthe STI GROUP-N top mouts, will be even better. WHY you ask?...the stock top hats get mushy and flexxy after about 5k. THAT in itself makes the ride get bouncier and boucier. We were the first to get the JDM pinks on a car( STI)in mid 2003 and found out very fast that you NEED the mounts. As if you increase the spring rate and not give it a firmer platform up top, you are adding fuel to the fire. Myles |
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10-30-2005, 11:28 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
I found out Jan 7th at 5pm when Subaru did the press release that we were getting the STi in the states. At that moment I started researching a ton of Japanese sites and forums etc for what works on these cars. I have a file form those 5 months we had to wait to get the car , thats 1 inch thick. So when I got my car knew I wanted 3 things. 1. JDM STI pink REVISION C sport springs. ( thats the full name of the "pinks") 2. JDM factory accessory front spoiler painted to match from the factory. 3. Ferodo DS2500 pads, Goodridge braided lines, and good fluid. WHY the brakes?...well I read a column that PAUL HANSEN writes in APEXJAPAN.com where he drove a STi with the brake parts and withouth the upgraded brake parts and withot them the car leaves alot to be desired. Dont quote me on those words. Yes the car needs pads bad. So those small things transforms this car into a terror on wheels. So with those things, I improved, handling, braking and looks. Yes I got white on gold..... Here is an old thread I started talking about the car. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486259 http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366180 SO that last one really goes into what it was like waiting for this car back in 2003. I now you didnt ask for it, but this may help you to understand why alot of us say the things we say and know what we know. Enjoy. |
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10-30-2005, 02:26 PM | #12 |
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Hey, you should check out the Crucial Racing springs. They have a very conservative drop, the same rates as the JDM STi pinks, and they are also progressive - which may improve ride quality in some situations. Oh, and they're over $100 cheaper as well. If I had an 04-05 style strut, I'd be all over those springs in a heartbeat - but I'm not a fan of the washer "fix".
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10-31-2005, 11:57 AM | #13 |
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Thanks Myles. Yeah, I don't mind the stiffness/vibrations (like the feeling of going over a rumble strip), but the car just seems to bounce and hop on the highway at higher speeds, which sort of gets me a bit nauscious. I am not looking for the perfect, DREAM set-up, I know there will always be a trade-off. What I meant is that since my car is a daily driver, I'd like to get rid of the bouncing for now. Other than a good spring choice I will leave the stock suspension unmolested as I am still trying to learn the car, and figure what I want out of my set-up. I just want to know which parts can help do what and such. And I do have an '05 STi, but I just put Impreza, because that's what it is, right? Right now I don't have time to read the information on the links, but will do so as time becomes available. So thanks again for the help.
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10-31-2005, 01:25 PM | #14 | |
NASIOC Vendor
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Quote:
I would say the Swift springs or Sti springs with group-n top hats. hands down and great upgrade and should solve 75% of your issues. We have specials on both options. Myles |
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11-02-2005, 10:02 PM | #15 | |
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Vehicle:'98 EJ20 Legacy w/ JDM RA tranny & '04 FXT |
Quote:
Jeremy www.crucialracing.com/products/springs.php |
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11-03-2005, 01:18 AM | #16 |
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Thanks for all the responses guys. Now the hard part... saving up money and deciding which spring. I see the numbers on the spring rates, but does anyone know a good range for the '05 STi strut? The Crucial spring is appealing as it is a conservative drop because I am debating on whether or not to get a lip later on and the Chicago weather+streets+my driveway+my laziness, I would probably keep scraping it.
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