I'm doing some research on what setup I want to get for my loyale. It'll be daily driven, but I'm willing to sacrfice alot of comfort for performance. I want it for AutoX primarily... up until recently, the options where pretty limited, but someone recently discovered that any coilover that fits an '05+ legacy will work pretty easily on a 5-lug swapped EA82 car. and I'm using front suspension from a '92 legacy, so I can use anything that'll fit for that application. I don't want to use front calipers too big, since there isn't an upgrade for the rear. but I've heard WRX 2-pots work well with the stock rear single pots. if that application won't work with the legacy knuckles, I can use imp/wrx knuckles just as easily, but I've already got the legacy stuff, so if I can use it... I'd really like to use the Tein Flex with EDFC....but what other options are there? I would really like something adjustable, so I can soften it up for the street, but not sacrifice the performance.
So are you saying anything from a '92 Legacy will work, or '05 Legacy? Adjustability is a misnomer, per say. Spring rates matter a lot more than how "adjustable" your dampning is. With that said, dampning follows your spring choice. Some companies have adjustable dampners due to the fact they do not engineer them for the vehicle. They can use a generic dampner that is adjustable so they will work for a multitude of applications thus making their suspension endevours much more profitable. I say choose your spring rates for what you want to do with your car. No amount of dampning adjustment will make stiff springs ride softer. Well matched dampning will keep bump and rebound in check, while allowing the springs to do what they are supposed to which is absorb bumps/weight transfer. It all comes down to what your goals are for your car. I should give you a ride before I put my leg down, which will be Monday. My H&R coilovers are pretty stiff, but tolerable. The dampning isn't adjustable, but very well matched for the spring rates. These have the added plus of not needing rebuilds every year. Inverted monotube ftw.
'05 legacy for the rear suspension. the connection at the front knuckles are the same. and I'll be using the '92 legacy tophats, or camber plates, haven't decided which, probably camber plates. and yea, the adjustable shocks will be more useful since the loyale weighs more than a bit less than an 05 legacy. the front knuckles will be from the '92 legacy, as long as it doesn't limit my brake options. otherwise, I can use pretty much any front knuckle.
Where do you get this information? The damping and spring rate are a system. I suggest you go try adjusting the damping on someone's setup that has that option. You WILL notice a change in ride quality. The damping affects the struts 'resistance to change'. If you change the 'resistance to change', it will react accordingly. Why do you think I go 2 clicks softer in the rain all around? It isn't because I am using the coilovers on a different car! Springs are, theoretically, undamped components, the strut is what 'absorbs' the bump. Without a damper of some sort, the spring will just react by oscillating indefinitely, it will not damp anything. With that being said, there is a limit on reason. I happen to change my settings for my trips to/from AutoX by making them 2 clicks softer (same as my rain settings), but if I go too much more it will get bouncy do to underdamping with the springs I run. As for you statement about making the struts universal....that may be true for typical off the shelf components, but what about my custom valved setup? I use the settings to change the rotation of the car, among other things, and it takes just one click for it to go from understeering to neutral and another to get oversteer. In addition, I have multiple spring rates and the adjustability allows me to fine tune to other rates..... Anyway, I don't really have any feedback on a good compromise, most of my research has been focused on performance-only parts...If you want a hardcore setup, I can advise, but that will cost your kidneys and your wallet!
Iwas a bit vague and you made some good points. I was really just trying to say do ALOT of research before settling on a suspension. I understand how springs and dampners interact as a system. The Formula SAE suspension I designed was no exception. A major thing we learned was no amount of dampning would make up for too soft of springs. We knew our ride height and how much travel we needed. There was leway since it was an inboard setup and we could change the leverage ratio on the rocker arm. Adjustable dampners were needed due to all the variables in the equation. We designed around rear mountain bike spring/dampner setups because of packaging constraints, and were looking into custom units(it nice when your prof. has lots of connections). I agree that dampning can and does change ride quality to an extent. Obviously springs are underdamped. How many times have we seen an old buick or something bounce up and down the freeway? Changes in bump will make the suspension feel stiffer, but there is a limit as to how far you should go. Properly selected spring rates won't need as much low-speed bump dampning as you would with springs that are too soft and are trying to make them stiffer with dampning, thus over working them. God knows I would love a nice Moton setup with multiple sets of springs, but my wallet doesn't agree with me at the moment:emo:
why? from what I've seen, they'll give me almost exactly what I want, the major downside being that they'll be very stiff on the street. I understand that I need to do the research, but I honestly don't know of any other good options. since they HAVE to be coilovers (regular springs won't fit in the wheel well in the rear).
IIRC tein doesnt use stainless on most of there stuff. so umm... winter? look into ground control, i hear they will make springs in waht ever rates you want. have you looked at megan? they are relatively cheap coilovers (~$800 IIRC) and tons of people on rs25 like them. there are many more options then just tien, and i am sure most of them have somthing to suit our purpose (if not how are they competeing in the suspension market??)
If you want, i have two reman front calipers and rotors off my L 50 bucks and they are yours...they both have less then 5K miles on them...i upgraded to wrx front brakes
WRX or RS calipers are the same thing and both will work with your Legacy knuckles. They complement the rear single pots fairly well, and any balance adjustments can be made through mixing of brake pads. All you need are the calipers, brakets, and rotors to match the brakets. As for coilovers- Tein, Megan, ZZXYZ, DMS, Helix, Tokico D-spec. Pick the ones that suit your needs the best and match the spring rates you want, and get them. I run DMS 40mm's and love them.
Teins seem to need regular rebuilds. Are you prepared for that kind of maintenance? There are lots of options out there, so don't settle on what's right there within easy reach. It sounds like you're gonna need a mishmash of parts. Talk to different manufacturers and see what they can do for you. Make them earn your business.
ok, from the list that speedyham just mentioned (thanks again). only Tein, Megan, and maybe ZZYZX offer an application for the legacy. tein offers both the basic, and flex systems megan, only the street version (similar spring rates to the tein basic). tein has 16 levels of damping force adjustment megan....32 teins use 6/7k front rear springs for basic, and 8/9k for flex megan .... 6/8k I'm not sure what I think of the larger gap in spring rates between the front and rear. I'm already running the slightly stiffer springs in the front, and like the balance so far, but haven't really had a chance to push it right to the edge. teins are listed @ almost $500 more expensive. not including the EDFC and teins are teflon coated to prevent rust.... I sent ZZYZX an email, we'll see what they have to say.
