Suspension information 03 WRX

I have been looking for springs and struts for some time now (since I sold my prodrive springs). I am tossing around the idea of using prodrive 04 STI springs (still available) along with 02-03 KYB AGX and 04 group n tophats. I really would prefer no drop at all, does anyone have any thoughts on this, would it work, what would the drop be? Also is there another combo that would give me resonable stiffness with minimal or no loss of height?

Thanks in advance

 

I'm not sure on the stiffness, but if I recall correctly the drop on the STI Pink springs is minimal to none.

 

STI specific would lower you a good amount. Maybe check into RCE?

 

Ground controls. You can specify whatever you want as far as spring rate and height. Reasonably priced, too.

 

On my 03 wrx, i run with prodrive springs on kyb agx and group n mounts. Not overly dropped at all.

 

Have you looked into the SPT springs for the 04+ sedan? Minimal drop and great spring rates for the AGX.

 

Brian,

do you know anyone local with the spt's and agx's that might be willing to give me a test ride?

Frogy

 

STI, Prodrive and SPT springs will definitely give you a drop over stock WRX springs. You can avoid a drop by getting some ground control springs (as mentioned) or do Forester XT sport springs (Swift sport springs). You can also stick with stock WRX springs or go with expensive gravel coilovers.

JacksonRally on DirtyImpreza makes 1" strut spacers, which is quite huge but will allow you to stay flexible on strut/spring combinations.

~Dan

 

I don't know anyone running the AGX/SPT combo, but IIRC Derek Wagner is running the SPT/D-Specs on his wagon. That'd be another strut to take a look at, the D-Spec IMO is a better strut than the AGX as you've got much greater adjustment capability and the pricing difference isn't much at all. The SPT springs are a fairly minimal drop, less than the Prodrives from what I recall.

 

I have Illumina's on my Miata, and I have not been totaly happy with them it seems like all of the available settings are too stiff for most of roads that I end up on, have you been for a ride on them?

 

D-Spec is a better choice. Infinite adjustment versus 4 spread out points is a significant thing. The AGX strut can be great if it matches the spring really well, or mildly annoying if it doesn't.

As far as springs and drop. I'm not sure which Prodrive springs you have. The Blue WRX ones are mainly a drop (cosmetic) spring for the WRX. The red STI springs are more performance geared but in reality is a "soft" STI spring, i.e. slightly lower rates then a STI and more progressive. Stock STI or STI Pinks will ride higher too. There were two versions of the Prodrive STI spring, the ealier version rode a little lower then the newer version.

RCE springs also lower the car, at least as low as the Prodrives do.

A tall spring pretty much means sticking with stock or anything designed to stay close to stock height. A lot of aftermarket springs just don't do that.

Ground Control is a good route to step into custom settings. You have freedom over both spring rate and end ride height. Paired with a nice, adjustable strut like the Tokico D-Spec, you can fiddle around and make a suspension package that you really like. What that will be? I don't know. It depends on your goals and intent for the car.

I would be weary of blaming strut stiffness. Many times road harshness is less a damper rate or spring rate issue and more an issue of inadequate bump travel and frequency interaction with the bump stops. Make sure you blame what is really at fault. I say this because most of these struts don't have all that high of bump compression and will pretty readily soak up bumps. The problem more greatly becomes a matter of if you have enough travel (compliance) to actually soak up the bump without bottoming out and causing ride harshness.