Suspension and $$$

[pilfflip]

I know that this is going to be a real broad question but it would be nice to have a multitude of opinions and outlooks on it.

An intake, exhaust, and cat removal later I am starting to think about making my car stick to the road before i make it go any faster and since i have forced induction well on its way (slowly but surely), i think it's about time to start thinking about stick.

What kind of handeling gains can i get from sway bars, strut braces, bushings, etc? AND...what has the most benefit or bang for buck? I want to hear what people have to say about things, i've never done anything involving suspension...EVER so i have no idea where to begin.


~Mike

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[fibuz]

large rear swaybar, good set of tires/wider rims, and coilovers or a good strut/spring setup and you should be good to go.

fibuz

[subiekid]

Save the stock sway bar for winter driving. Coilovers are nice, but a set of AGX struts and eibach springs would work too. Look into new bushing kits as well.

You should upgrade your brakes before anything.

[Tizzle]

What subiekid said

I have a spo adjustable rear sway bar. This is your best handling upgrade, and you can adjust it back down for winter driving.

[Gator GT]

Mike, I'm headed down the same road you are (hopefully). I'm collecting pieces and parts for a total project package. I have an adj sway from the prev owner, harder end links and a stiffer shifter and bushing kit.

Already in storage:
STi hardened strut tops
Whiteline Steering rack bushings
Cusco front** and rear STB (hopefully front will allow the TMIC...we'll see...TMIC WILL win!)
Subaru 4 pot front brakes (CarboTech pads)
LGT rear 1 pot vented setup (looking for CarboTech pads)**
Cobb SS brake lines**
STi hardened engine and tranny mounts**
Whiteline ALK
Cusco rear lower arm bar
DIY rear diff bushing hardner (el cheapo DIY thread on here someplace, worth $12 to try)
2005 LGT rims (undecided summer sneaks)**
2001 RS rims (currently have Gislaveds on them....may change this winter)

** = items that are already on car, and will stay for the project.

haven't decided on the bigger pieces of suspension (struts/springs)yet....waiting for some other things to come together first.

And thats just the suspension/handling list.

First 3 items on my "if I had to start from scratch do-over" list:
- sticker tires (to help the following 2 items work better)
- rear sway (to tighten up the rear)
- ss brake lines (to help learn how to modulate brake feel)

GGT

[EJ20TT]

Originally Posted by pilfflip

What kind of handeling gains can i get from sway bars, strut braces, bushings, etc? AND...what has the most benefit or bang for buck? I want to hear what people have to say about things, i've never done anything involving suspension...EVER so i have no idea where to begin.
~Mike

Personally i have been (and still) down this road with a 94 Legacy - mods so far.

Whiteline Heavy Duty Steering Rack bushings
Dunlop DZ101 215/45/17 W
17" x 7" Versus Sesto Turismo rims
FHI 20mm Front Swaybar + polyurethane bushings
Whiteline 20mm ADJ Rear Swaybar + polyurethane bushings
Kings lowering springs
Whiteline Heavy Duty Front Gold Alloy Endlinks
Whiteline Heavy Duty Rear Gold Alloy Endlinks
Cusco Front Strut brace
Cusco Lower Arm brace


ADJ Rear swaybar is truely the best bang for buck mod - i use a whiteline BSR19XZ. Really flattens the car out in the corners - onset of understeer much later.

I did find a front cusco strut brace to improve turn in a little. But only at speed.

2 Cusco point underbrace - a great mod for everyday driving - really reduces the slop in the steering. Tightens the front end up.

Front swaybar - i tht was a general improvement again but nothing special - then again i am only using a 20mm front at present

Bushings - well u need to have these replaced if you move to bigger swaybars anyway.

Recently installed steering rack bushings - minor gain in steering but pretty cheap and easy to do.

Alloy endlinks - makes your swaybars work earlier and harder. Makes the car a touch flater helps with intial turn in.

Moved from 205/60/15 to 215/45/17 - lower profile tyres really help but of course they are not cheap.

Ranking on an effectiveness for $$$ spent.

I would do in this order Rear Sway, underbrace, front tower brace, front swaybar, endlinks, steering rack bushings. 17"s

I haven't mentioned the whiteline ALK - but that is rated very highly.

I have a few longer reviews on my website
As per usual your results may differ.

[pilfflip]

I asked this same question on the rallitek forums and I see one re-occuring idea on all the replys other than rims and tires, so i think that i am going to get some SS brake lines and a adj rear sway bar first then see if i am sitting better with money and get some gold Prodrives wrapped in perellis


~Mike