suspension ?'s

[02blubru]

I have an 02 wrx with KYB AGX struts with blue prodrive springs. I used to live in the twin cities of MN, but now live in rural MN. I would like to have more ground clearance in the winter to make it through drifts and such without worrying about getting hung up. What do you guys suggest?

1. I heard forester suspension bolts in and would give me some more ground clearance. but I have to swap it out twice a year.

2. coil overs. if coil overs which ones?

[UP2MTNS]

there are other's here with forrester swaps that'll post up about that...I know nothing there.

with the KYB struts, can you use coilover springs? If you can, I suggest keeping your kyb strust with some custom Eibach springs.

[BlackParis]

On the AGX I guess you have to grind a little bit of the collar down to get the perch on right....

This is prolly your best bet ;)

http://www.eshocks.com/hyp_make.asp?Manf=Bilstein

[Team Illuminata]

I'm using the AGX with Ground Control coilovers on our rallycross car and am very happy with them. You do have to file down the collar a little to get the sleeve over but it only takes about 5 minutes per strut though you have to be very careful not to nick the strut shaft or they will leak. I took off the spring perch too but you can leave it on so you can go back to stock if you want.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./Racing/coilovers.jpg

One great advantage of this setup is that you can easily change to different rate or height springs later if circumstance change.

Of course, we can get you some if you want.

[JacksonRally]

I'm using the AGX with Ground Control coilovers on our rallycross car and am very happy with them. You do have to file down the collar a little to get the sleeve over but it only takes about 5 minutes per strut though you have to be very careful not to nick the strut shaft or they will leak. I took off the spring perch too but you can leave it on so you can go back to stock if you want.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./Racing/coilovers.jpg

One great advantage of this setup is that you can easily change to different rate of height springs later if circumstance change.

Of course, we can get you some if you want.

Pics?

[Team Illuminata]

It's back. It was there earlier I swear. Someone must have stole it off my server.

[JacksonRally]

Cool thats what I figured it looked like. Whats something like that cost to do to the AGX's?

[Team Illuminata]

Ussually runs about $400 plus shipping, a little less depending on specifics. Includes 4 Eibach springs, coilover perch and threaded collar and is specific to the strut you specify. Spring length and rates are up to you.

[JacksonRally]

Ussually runs about $400 plus shipping, a little less depending on specifics. Includes 4 Eibach springs, coilover perch and threaded collar and is specific to the strut you specify. Spring length and rates are up to you.


Thanks Paul. Is this something you offer? Do you also sell the struts?

Thanks again.

[Team Illuminata]

We don't stock them but can easily get them.

Struts are $175 each for 02-03 Imprezas. They probably fit other model years too but are only listed for these. The ones on my 97 Legacy Outback are listed for a 95 Legacy.

[02blubru]

so 400 gets me everything to take my kyb AGX struts from struts to coil overs huh???
A few questions for Team illuminata:
1. What spring rate/ height do you recommend?
2. Is it easy to go from (for lack of a better word) lifted to lowered?
3. I know alignments will be need when I do so, but I am hoping to have the height for the winter, and the lowered for the summer.
4. How do they ride? bouncy? smooth? stiff?

I have never owned coil overs so I am just trying to learn as much as I can before I spend the money.

Thanks for the info..

[Team Illuminata]

[quote=02blubru;25114]so 400 gets me everything to take my kyb AGX struts from struts to coil overs huh???
A few questions for Team illuminata:
1. What spring rate/ height do you recommend?
2. Is it easy to go from (for lack of a better word) lifted to lowered?
3. I know alignments will be need when I do so, but I am hoping to have the height for the winter, and the lowered for the summer.
4. How do they ride? bouncy? smooth? stiff?

quote]

1. Spring rates depend on your intended use. If you are happy with the Prodrive blue you might want to duplicate their rates.
2. Yes, fairly easy to raise or lower them especially if you keep everything lubricated. The screws that clamps the perches can seize up easily.
3. I have read about some alignment specs for WRX that are suitable for raised or lowered with very little compromise. Maybe it was used for that air suspension setup that never got anywhere. Was it Praxis?
4. The ride will depend on your struts and on the spring rate. How do your prodrive ride?

Hope this helps.

[I Like It Sideways]

Paul and I are running the same setup, except I think I have longer springs. This is what they look like without the perches cut off.

http://x2f.xanga.com/d4ea94700113383706214/m57377280.jpg

I have 225lbs springs in the front and 200lbs in the rear. I did some research on nasioc, special stage, and rs25 about spring rates that people use for rally and rallycross, and I found anywhere from 180-250lbs is common. They are great for rallycross, not too stiff. If I have them raised they are excellent on the road, but once I lower them, and decrease the preload, body roll becomes a bit more noticeable. If you will have these on for only winter, I would suggest soft spring rates anyways.

[Team Illuminata]

What length springs are they?

Mine were selected for street use way before the car saw competition. Now they are a compromise between rallycross and autocross but next year I may get two different setups. Currently my rates are "a bit stiffer than stock" but I could do with longer rears and shorter fronts.

[02blubru]

so 400 gets me everything to take my kyb AGX struts from struts to coil overs huh???
A few questions for Team illuminata:
1. What spring rate/ height do you recommend?
2. Is it easy to go from (for lack of a better word) lifted to lowered?
3. I know alignments will be need when I do so, but I am hoping to have the height for the winter, and the lowered for the summer.
4. How do they ride? bouncy? smooth? stiff?



1. Spring rates depend on your intended use. If you are happy with the Prodrive blue you might want to duplicate their rates.
2. Yes, fairly easy to raise or lower them especially if you keep everything lubricated. The screws that clamps the perches can seize up easily.
3. I have read about some alignment specs for WRX that are suitable for raised or lowered with very little compromise. Maybe it was used for that air suspension setup that never got anywhere. Was it Praxis?
4. The ride will depend on your struts and on the spring rate. How do your prodrive ride?

Hope this helps.all the above is what I wanted to hear.

I love how my prodrives ride. do you happen to know what rate the blue ones are at? Will the ride be the same weather I have it lifted or lowered? I would think it would be stiffer when lowered.

Thanks for all the help and input. when I do decide to go with this, you WILL get the sale.

[Team Illuminata]

I think it will be the same at any height not withstanding the greater tendency for it to roll and pitch when higher.

I am not too familar with the Prodrive springs but if they are the P1 then they seem to be 215F/195R

[02blubru]

I believe they are the p1's. the 215f/195r is the sprig rate right?

how does spring length effect everything? Or does the rate determaine the length?

How much for an 02 wrx with kyb AGX struts?

[BlackParis]

I believe they are the p1's. the 215f/195r is the sprig rate right?

how does spring length effect everything? Or does the rate determaine the length?

How much for an 02 wrx with kyb AGX struts?


rate = how much weight is required to compress the spring 1inch (normally given as lbs/in ... or can be in metric... kg/mm )

therefore 215 lbs push the spring down one inch in the front...a wrx has about 600-800 lbs per corner so the spring is compressed 3-4 inches by just the wieght of the car....

Spring length determine how high the car will sit.. So a 215lb 8inch spring would be almost half compressed (about 4inches left) with just the vehicle weight... where as a 12inch spring with the same rate would still have around 8inches of compression left, and sit 4inches higher than the 8inch spring....

just a quick idea of how it works.. there are formulas/calculators to come up with the spring rates/lengths you need...

[02blubru]

thanks for the heads up blackparis.

What would you suggest then?

[BlackParis]

Personally... I would suggest 2 sets of springs one for winter use and one for summer use ;) like maybe swap back to your stocks for the winter and save the 200$ of buying new springs ;)

FROM what I have seen in the north east... If you drive through a winter with coilovers.. the Perches ARE going to corrode and seize up where ever you have them set... So raising/lowering a car with the seasons becomes a pita... Alot of people gotaa take the strut out anyways, and heat it up a bit and soak it with oil to break them free...

PLUSS.. to do coilovers right, you really need to get then corner balanced after every adjustment (big money, unless you have your own scales)

and EITHER way, your looking @ an alignment after raising/lowering

[02blubru]

I probably would just put my stock springs back in if I ever had them. My car came with prodrives on it..

Thanks for the input

[T-Heineken]

...a wrx has about 600-800 lbs per corner so the spring is compressed 3-4 inches by just the wieght of the car...

Any idea how much weight is on the rear struts of a wagon? I assume the fronts probably bear the same weight....

Also, for the stock WRX, what are the specs of the stock springs (to ensure the new springs maintain the same ride height)?

[BlackParis]

not 100% sure on stock rates.. my 05 RS was 145lb/in front 125lb/in rear... Not sure if the WRX was stiffer or not.. the STi was like around 200-185? i think..

the wagons were ~100lbs heavier and thats just rear weight I would think... Not sure of exact wieght biasing values, but it also is very Dependant what your new ride heights will be... they made calculators to determine what spring lengths etc you need ;)