n00b question about suspension and best bang for buck

[PhatheadWRX]

So I am in love with the Tien coilovers and will hopefully have them one day when this college kid can afford the ~$1400 to put them on.

My question is what can I do until then? The stock wheel gap drives me crazy, but then again I do not want to go tooo low.

I've heard that you cannot just put springs on without dumping a whole lot of money to make sure everything is done right.

My delimma is why spend $400-500 on springs or hold out until I can safely spend all the cash on the coilovers.

Sorry I'm such a n00b
Here is a picture so you can see my ride and that UGLY gap I am referring too.

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[tdxflex]

well, if you want to go budget, buy eibach pro-kit and only install the fronts. it gets pretty even if you do that, and it's only lowering the front 1.3". but if you do that you've got a much stiffer spring in the front and a relatively soft one in the rear, not sure how that will handle. i guess those expensive springs you're referring to are prodrives and ground controls.

[PhatheadWRX]

Sorry guys I can do wonders with electronics and am very mechanicially inclined I just don't know anything about suspension...

I am looking at the Tien FLEX or Tien SS possibly even with the EDFC controller. They have an great ride feel, just the $$$ is the only setback.

My main question is isn't it bad to just put springs on. Don't you need to do a lot of other stuff to make sure you do not destroy stuff?

The Eibach Kit seems like it is just springs. Also why would I only install the front? So say the Eibach pro kit is ~$250 then the only other thing I would need is an alignment. Is that what you are saying?

Sorry in advance for being so stupid about suspension.

What are most of you guys using (I guess I should have asked this first)?

[Pat L.I.]

a quick hitting suspension upgrade would be to add the eibach prokit springs and a cusco adjustable rear swaybar. The car will completely change personalities for the better. These springs are designed to work on the factory struts so you will be fine. Yes it will shorten the life of the struts but you are saving money for coilovers anyway right?

i have this setup and it is by far the best combo of mods i have done to my car yet.
Pat

[XMEDIC]

I have yet to hear one bad thing about Prodrive springs, they solved my wheel gap and handling problems without being too harsh. I figured I wouldn't get coilovers until next year, so these springs were a good investment until then...

[PhatheadWRX]

Originally posted by Pat L.I.
Yes it will shorten the life of the struts but you are saving money for coilovers anyway right?

I am saving money just don't want my struts to fail me. I also really really want a UTEC..... decissions decissions

You think the struts would last a year or more on the Eibach springs?

[TubeDriver]

I put on Prodrives thinking it would hold me over till coilovers. My WRX is a daily driver that is autoX. Guess what, I think the Prodrives are a perfect match with the OEM dampers, forget coilovers. As for wear, the drop is moderate (1.5 front, .5 rear) and the spring rate increase moderate so I would not expect a large reduction in damper life.

[PhatheadWRX]

Where would be the best place to purchase these prodrive springs? Also about how much would I be looking at spending?

After I have the springs installed are there any necessary things to do? align?

[mr2guru]

Best bang for your buck is STi takeoffs w/tophats....hands down.

They go for $850 and up

Good Lord drop that car....

[TubeDriver]

I got them from from South Coast subaru for $300 (I almost never see them discounted). Yes, you will have to get an alignment with any lowering spring or coilovers you buy.

Originally posted by PhatheadWRX
Where would be the best place to purchase these prodrive springs? Also about how much would I be looking at spending?

After I have the springs installed are there any necessary things to do? align?

[tdxflex]

i thought you were only interested in looks becuase you mentioned how much you hated the wheel gap. the eibachs you still have a gap, prodrives level off the car in terms of the wheel well gap, but actually the front of the car is lower than the rear. subaru cut the front wheel well higher.

the thing to look for with springs is the spring rate relative to stock. springs and struts have to be within each other's recommended ranges or else most likely the strut will go bad. eibachs aren't much stiffer which is why most people like them. they're progressive rate so they give a better ride, but since they're progressive they dont' offer as much predictability as something like the prodrive. prodrive springs are also usually close to $100 more. ground controls you can pick your spring rates and have height adjustment, but are more expensive.

if you really want teins, just save up for them. i wouldn't buy springs/struts just because you don't have enough money right now. i've gone that route and in the end it sucks. sway bars and strut tower bars i would recommend, you can use them with any spring/strut combo and help significantly. strut tower bars everyone has their opinion on them if they're really necessary or not, but sways play a big role.

[PhatheadWRX]

Thank you for all the comments you guys....



even you MO$