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Old 08-02-2006, 12:40 PM   #1
peterex
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2015 WRX

Thumbs up Ion Performance Sport Spec Springs

Introduction

I've been running Ion Performance Sport Spec springs on my '02 WRX for about six weeks now, and I am *very* happy with them. I've previously run Prodrive springs and V7 STi RA springs, and Ion's Sport Spec springs are my favorite spring set thus far.

The Sport Spec springs are available in both '02-03 and '04+ fitments, so for those of you guys with money invested in '02-03 struts/springs/tops, you finally have a spring option stiffer than most of the other V7 spring offerings (i.e. JDM STi pink territory)!!!

The Sport Specs are available from Ion in limited production runs (I had to wait a couple of months, but Jack over at Ion may have more on hand, so send him an email: [email protected]). Ion also has Race Spec and Road Race Spec springs available, which have even stiffer rates and offer greater lowering.


Specifications

Lowering: 1.2" front / 1.0" rear

Spring rates (progressive):
Front: @1" -> 215lb/in, @2" -> 257lb/in
Rear: @1" -> 190lb/in, @2" -> 224lb/in


Detailed Impressions

Aesthetics:

These springs lower the car a reasonable amount, leaving sufficient suspension travel, as well as an adequate amount of clearance for driveways, parking curbs, and the like. I have yet to scrape anything in over six weeks of driving. The unsightly wheel gaps (which are largely an optical illusion anyway, due to how our wheel arches are cut) are greatly reduced, but these springs do not provide the pronounced forward rake seen with other kinds of springs. While that may look cool, placing more weight at the front of an already front-heavy car is probably not the best for performance. The Sport Specs manage to pull off a nice balance, evening out the wheel gaps nicely, but not destroying the balance of the car (like S-Techs, aka "Rice-Techs"). There's still a bit more wheel gap in the front than there is in the rear, but if you look at the car carefully, avoiding the wheel arches illusion, you'll see that the car is almost perfectly level.

Behind the wheel:

The progressive rates offer a relatively comfortable ride around town, but when you hit large potholes or take fast turns, you'll know that you have some pretty stiff springs on the car (think JDM STi pinks, with a touch more spring rate in the rear). Along with the Sport Specs, I installed Koni yellows, which are dialed in at about 1/3 from soft in the front, and 1/4 from soft in the rear. I find that these are great settings for daily driving, providing good handling balance with a reasonably comfortable ride.

I'm relatively young with an intact back, and these springs are probably the stiffest I would want to run on a daily driver on pothole-ridden Chicago roads. Maybe I'm a wimp, but there are roads in this area that rival those in some third-world countries when it comes to choppiness.

As for performance, the car turns in crisply, rotates nicely, and stays flat in the corners. There is a noticeable performance increase over the V7 STi RA springs I replaced. I'm taking corners faster, flatter, and with less tire squeal. Since I have yet to autocross or track on these springs, my admittedly unscientific testing is limited to cloverleafs and such, but I will update my thread when I do get the chance to hit the track later this summer.


Pictures

Coming soon!
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Last edited by peterex; 08-02-2006 at 01:46 PM.
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Old 08-02-2006, 09:22 PM   #2
totalburnout
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MSRP?

Actual price..?
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Old 08-02-2006, 10:09 PM   #3
WRBWRXWAG
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totalburnout - Funny thing you ask those questions. My cousin had just gotten some info. The MSRP is $499US + shipping. As a NASIOC member ION Performance gives discounts. The actual price you'd individually pay would probably be related to where you actually live, as I'm sure shipping is different from place to place. In the email it does mention that the NASIOC member price is $399US + shipping for payment by bank check or money order.
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Old 08-03-2006, 01:17 AM   #4
peterex
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Mine were $349 shipped (from Canada to Illinois), payable via int'l money order. Not bad, considering that A) these are really the only option right now in V7 fitment if you want stiffer rates than the standard fare, and B) these are a limited production run.

EDIT: Also wanted to remind everyone that this price may fluctuate from time to time depending on the Canada/U.S. exchange rate. My purchase was made about five months ago, so the price may be different now.

Last edited by peterex; 08-03-2006 at 01:56 AM.
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Old 08-04-2006, 09:25 AM   #5
MyRuRex
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Similar specs to the Crucials... progressive also, but I don't know the starting point. They advertise 257f/217r...
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Old 08-05-2006, 03:50 AM   #6
Psydotek
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Nice, i may have to try these out sometime or at the very least put the on the list of springs to consider. I have Prodrives + AGXs right now and they're pretty good but i've always been looking at soemthing even stiffer without having to resort to coilovers. I've had my eye on the Crucial springs though these provide another good looking alternative.
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Old 08-05-2006, 01:50 PM   #7
peterex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Psydotek
I've had my eye on the Crucial springs though these provide another good looking alternative.
The Sport Specs are an especially good option if you are stuck in the rut of having a lot invested in a V7 strut/tops setup and you don't want to change over to the new rear design. Actually, I don't know of any stiffer V7-style springs other than the ones sold by Ion (and keep in mind that Ion has two other models available, both of which are even stiffer than the Sport Specs - see link .)
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