|
Brakes & Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
02-03-2004, 02:20 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
'02 WRX wagon: lower front only?
The fender gap on my 02 WRX wagon is 1.5" higher in front than back. Eibach says that its '02 wagon ProKit drops 1.1" front and back, so I'm considering installing them in front only. If it really drops my car 1.1" in front as Eibach claims, I'd be stoked.
What do you guys think - Is it gonna work? What's the worst case scenario?
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
02-03-2004, 03:13 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 25294
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Downers
Vehicle:2003 LR Infiniti G35 WRB WRX Wagon (Sold) |
I've recently been doing a lot of research here, and else where on this exact subject.
The first thing I would say, and this is more from a common sense point of view then a factual view, is that I think it would be really really bad to have aftermarket springs in the front and stock springs in the back. I know plenty of people run different spring rates front to back, but I think those are on more custom vehicles and I think the springs and rates were carefully selected for a dialed in competition setup. With that said, I have discovered that Tein makes a set of s-tech springs for the wagon that drops the front 1.7 and the rear .5. Tein has a picture of a white wagon on their site with I think 17" wheels and those springs level the wheel well gaps quite nicely, while at the same time maintaining the consistency of a matched set of springs at all four corners. I have also learned through my research that most aftermarket spring kits are stiffer than stock to varying degrees. Since the stock strut rebound and dampening settings are matched to the stock spring rates, if you put stiffer springs on, you instantly have struts that are underdampened, and my guess is that the car will bounce a lot on the street, and you'll wear out the stock struts really quickly. I see lowered cars all the time that bounce really bad, and I always wondered why. Now I know: stiffer aftermarket springs with stock struts. With all of *that* said, I am currently investigating the possibility of either a) buying KYB AGX adjustable struts and modifying them for my wagon (they were designed for the sedan which has a wider track, so the bolt holes need to be tweaked to maintain stock camber settings) b) buying the Koni inserts, dismantling my stock strut housings, and adding the inserts. This way I know without a doubt that I will be able to dial in stock camber settings, but still have adjustable dampening to match the new springs and my driving style. I am going the strut/spring route instead of the coil-over route because I want an agressive street setup, not a track setup. If anyone else wants to confirm or deny my findings, please comment. |
02-03-2004, 03:44 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43996
Join Date: Sep 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Broketown
Vehicle:The Aggressive (tm) You don't know about it.. |
You will screw up the weight balance of the car, and you'll induce a LOT of understeer with the stiffer front end (I think?).
Just lower the whole car all at the same time. |
02-03-2004, 04:50 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 3841
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon UTEC+VF22+WI |
I think you'll be fine with this setup. Reducing body roll up front with stiffer springs helps keep the front tires at a happy angle to the road and will usually make an otherwise stock WRX understeer less. When you talk about tuning you have to look at the whole car not just one component.
The difference between pro-kit and stock spring rates is so minimal anyways |
02-03-2004, 04:50 PM | #5 | |||
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Thanks for the thoughtful replies A few thoughts...
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
|||
02-03-2004, 04:54 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 14427
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Cary NC
Vehicle:2002 09 Mazdaspeed 3 Grey |
Have you looked into the Prodrive springs.
Jeremy |
02-03-2004, 05:07 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 05:28 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 15443
Join Date: Feb 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Northern NJ
Vehicle:2002 clownshoe |
Not really, I have Prodrives in my wagon and the gaps are sorta even.
|
02-03-2004, 05:52 PM | #9 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 20254
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Vehicle:2010 VW GTI 2013 Outback 3.6R |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 06:03 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 32604
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Chatsworth, CA
Vehicle:2003 Impreza WRX Wgn Silver |
Feel free to PM me for pics of a wagon on Prodrives...
They give a very mild drop and even out the fender gaps nicely. They are a bit stiffer than stock, but not enough to kill your struts too quickly.... in fact, they were designed to be used with the stock struts.... Matt- |
02-03-2004, 06:38 PM | #11 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 06:41 PM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 15443
Join Date: Feb 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Northern NJ
Vehicle:2002 clownshoe |
Here's a pic of mine (ignore the front, its turned a bit):
|
02-03-2004, 06:49 PM | #13 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Nice!
Quote:
That's more than 20mm drop in front though, right? Looks like ~40mm in front & ~10mm in back to me. You didn't measure the drop front & back by any chance did ya? |
|
02-03-2004, 06:55 PM | #14 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43996
Join Date: Sep 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Broketown
Vehicle:The Aggressive (tm) You don't know about it.. |
Quote:
When you lower the front of the car, the whole car is tilting forward. More weight over the front end. Balancing the front to the rear by adding stiffer springs is putting a bandaid on the problem. Also note: When attacking bumps, the stiffer front will feel harsh while the soft rear may bounce. Roll stiffness in the rear will be increased by the rear sways, but a sway bar is no substitute for stiffer springs. The front will act much stiffer, and I wouldn't be surprised if you had a fairly large increase in understeer. Which would you rather have? Understeer or Oversteer? Exactly. Part 2: I doub't you'll rub by dropping less than 1". The tire will tuck underneath the fender as the suspension arcs through it's travel. |
|
02-03-2004, 07:16 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 07:26 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 45043
Join Date: Oct 2003
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: StudioCity/Woodlandhills/SanJo
Vehicle:2004 WRX |
Im actually riding on tein H.techs on the front and stock springs on the back...this is only because our breaker bar broke while trying to take off the rear strut bolts, but will be finishing it up on friday. WIth stockers in back I get serious understeer, my front end would screech loud if I turned too fast....as I did while trying to get onto the onramp. Plus there is an uneven bounce to the car when going over bumps. Firm and stiff up front, soft and bouncy in back. Can't wait to get the rear springs installed.
|
02-03-2004, 07:29 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 15443
Join Date: Feb 2002
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Northern NJ
Vehicle:2002 clownshoe |
Sorry, didn't get to measure the drop
All I know is the gaps are even and the car shoulda came like this stock. The stock gaps were insane |
02-03-2004, 07:34 PM | #18 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43996
Join Date: Sep 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Broketown
Vehicle:The Aggressive (tm) You don't know about it.. |
Quote:
But IF you had to choose, Oversteer is much more favorable. "Oversteer is where the passenger is scared. Understeer is when the driver is scared." |
|
02-03-2004, 07:52 PM | #19 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 08:13 PM | #20 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1725
Join Date: Jun 2000
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Germany
Vehicle:2002 Subaru Forester SG silver |
Not a good idea
Here's an example of what happens when you put on a TEIN Wagon S-Tech spring in the front and stock WRX Wagon spring in the rear. This is makofoto's car when he was having rubbing problems with his 225/45-17 S03's. he tried putting on the stock rear springs to get some height back. As you can see, not only is it higher in the rear, the much lower front actually pulls the rear spring up a bit making it even higher than stock.
Get a matched set like the Prodrives or Eibachs and you should be fine till your struts wear. |
02-03-2004, 08:16 PM | #21 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1725
Join Date: Jun 2000
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Germany
Vehicle:2002 Subaru Forester SG silver |
And here is Slvrwgn's Wagon on Prodrive's with stock struts:
Edit: I meant struts not springs. d'oh! Last edited by Arnie; 02-04-2004 at 12:28 PM. |
02-03-2004, 08:19 PM | #22 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1725
Join Date: Jun 2000
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Germany
Vehicle:2002 Subaru Forester SG silver |
And here's mine with STi Genome suspension (3/4" drop all around):
|
02-03-2004, 08:45 PM | #23 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 33262
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Austin
Vehicle:E36 M3 93 notch, X3 |
Quote:
edit: sti pinks springs lower the same front and rear and those are though of being some of the best out there. Also just opnions. Justin C |
|
02-03-2004, 10:31 PM | #24 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 32604
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Chatsworth, CA
Vehicle:2003 Impreza WRX Wgn Silver |
Quote:
|
|
02-03-2004, 11:42 PM | #25 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 27665
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NoCal
Vehicle:'02 WRX wagon WR blue |
Cool, thanks guys. Lots of good pics of Prodrive setups. Any pics of Eibach kits out there?
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Needed: '02 WRX Passenger side front Axel | Rallyx38 | Private 'Wanted' Classifieds | 0 | 03-30-2006 12:25 AM |
Looking for '02 WRX wagon lowering springs | mr soul | Private 'Wanted' Classifieds | 4 | 05-11-2005 12:00 PM |
IL: '02 WRX parts - mounts, front sway, axleback | peterex | Private 'For Sale' Classifieds | 14 | 01-20-2005 03:30 PM |
'02 WRX Eibach Lowering Springs | Subystud | Private 'Wanted' Classifieds | 1 | 12-12-2004 04:45 PM |
'98 L wagon: Lowering Front Only? | TractionLimit | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 4 | 01-08-2004 09:24 AM |