Lifting my STi... help!

[moorex]

I am new to altering anything with my suspension and know what I want my end result to be, but I could really use some help from some of you Gurus getting there...

I'm trying to put a lift on my 04 STi similar to the famous white STi seen here: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1014788

Trouble is, I can't find much information on lifting an STi and unfortunately I haven't been able to get ahold of the owner of the white STi on Nasioc, but I've been searching the forums for as much information as I can find, and working with Mark at GC but there's a couple unknown variables that I'm trying to get worked out before I can place my order rather than having Mark guesstimate if I decide to just use the GC conversion kit on stock struts.

Mark doesn't know if the guy with the white STi had stock dampers on his car, but he's assuming they were different because he sent him welding rings with his order. And we're trying to get the length of my springs right and without knowing this he's going to have to guesstimate.

So I'm trying to get some advice here if anyone can give me an idea if I should go with the same spring length the white STi had... 9" front, 10" rear or if it should be different.

Someone in this thread recommends 10-12" spings to get a +1-2" lift in height: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1216901
Which is what I want... I want to be able to adjust from stock height up to approx. 2"s.
And I know I can't fit 12" springs without changing to different struts, right? But can I fit a 10" in the front on stock struts without modification? And will that give me the height I want?

Or should I change struts period so I can fit 12"s??
The guy who used 9" front and 10" rear looked like he got plenty of lift, so what would I gain from changing struts and more length in the spring? More travel and more height?

Like I said, I'm new to this, so I don't know if it would be better to stay with the stock struts and add the GC coilovers with the shorter 9"/10" springs, or change to Tokico D-specs with 12" springs? The guy in the 2nd link is selling his setup and is asking $700... does that sound reasonable for used D-specs fitted with the GC conversion kit? He says they have about 7k miles on them, but are in good shape.


Also, the guy with the white STi says he used 250 front/300 rear on 9" f/10" r and Mark is recommending (on stock struts) I do 280 front/250 rear on 9" f/10" r; while the guy with D-specs is suggestion 250 front/200 rear on 12" f/r.

Keep in mind my car is not a track car, it is mainly my daily driver, but I want it to be my occasional off-road and deep snow fun buddy.


Sorry for the uber long post, but I'm confused and totally need some help from some people with some experience with this.
If anyone has suggestions for me with about whether or not I should change my struts to do this, and what spring length and rate to accomplish what I want with that lift above stock height, I'd really like to hear.

Also, if there are any other modifications you think I should consider making to do this lift, or please let me know if you think I should consider a totally different strut or coilover options than I've mentioned here.

Thanks for any help.

[409industries]

I think equally as famous is westy2005's lifted red GD. He has since removed the lift, but iirc it was forester springs on WRX or STi struts. Its a pretty big lift, even bigger than that white suby!

UP2MTNS has the springs rates on GD imprezas on lock, hopefully he will see this and post up what he thinks...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m259/westy05/STiandChusForester019.jpg

I believe you can find more information in this thread:

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1628

[moorex]

Thanks, I've actually seen westy2005s rex. I think that's a bit taller than I want to go. Really, the white STi height is about what I'd like to accomplish, that should give me plenty of clearance and it doesn't look so tall. But as long as I could adjust the height down, that'd be fine...

[greddy]

I'm not sure but I think the white STi and the red rex have the same setup.
Don't forget the STi is on 17'' and seems to have thicker tire than the wrx have. That's why the gap in the fender look bigger on the wrx.

[carl]

i lifted my 04 sti slightly

ksport gravel spec gr coilovers

http://carl-s.smugmug.com/photos/240438044_GGcsW-O.jpg

[strat]

westy was on kyb agx's with the forester springs. i remember him saying it sat a bit too high for rallyx (a bit top heavy)

[moorex]

i lifted my 04 sti slightly

ksport gravel spec gr coilovers

http://carl-s.smugmug.com/photos/240438044_GGcsW-O.jpg

That looks fantastic.
What are your spring lengths/rates?
And where did you purchase the setup? How much?

[carl]

ksport gravel spec gr's purchased through importimage - price was something like 1.3k shipped (email or pm them on nasioc for exact price)

i installed these very hastily and did not measure the spring lengths (nor can i recall rates off the top of my head lol - i just wanted to get these on. i may get softer springs later on, these feel a bit stiff - it might be that i have too much preload on them though)

here is a comparison pic to my old bc's
http://carl-s.smugmug.com/photos/240431687_iR7sb-M.jpg

http://carl-s.smugmug.com/photos/240551794_8DXc5-M.jpg

[moorex]

Carl, thanks, I sent you a PM. I messaged them on nabisco, and I'm going to give them a call tomorrow.

[carl]

Carl, thanks, I sent you a PM. I messaged them on nabisco, and I'm going to give them a call tomorrow.
yep, josh (importimage) is a top notch guy to deal with

so far these coilovers have handled the abuses of ****ty mn roads and harsh temperature extremes well with minimal issues (can't get the frickin dampers dialed in for street comfort, ocassional clunk in the rears after taking a large bump (been there from day 1). only used on the ice and snow so far, we'll see how they take to the dirt and gravel once spring arrives