Best Coilovers for Your Money (06 STi)

Hey guys my 06 STi had about 35,000 miles on it when i first noticed the strut clunk. I regreased them and the clunk went away for about 6,000 miles and now it is back. I want to switch over to coilovers but I'm not looking to spend more than $1,200. I am just looking for some better handling on the streets. I will not be bringing my car to the track. What are the best coilovers for the money. What do you guys think of Tein Basic Damper Coilovers? Also would it be smart to look for used ones? Thanks

 

If you're not going to track the car, I would highly recommend getting a good strut/spring combo instead. Tokico D-Specs and RCE black springs would be a good start if you want a better street setup.

 

^ I agree.

I would highly recommend not getting coilovers for "better handling" on the street. You're much better off with re-valved struts or aftermarket struts. $1200 would buy very poor handling coilovers for the street.

~Dan

 

I'd have to say BC racing coilovers...they're good for street/track driving.

 

Agreed. I went with Tokico D-Specs and the Eibach springs and I am in love with them.

 

Are the Tokico D-Specs inverted struts like the stock ones?

 

Also, where can you find these on the internet. I tried looking them up and I'm only seeing them on forums but not for sale. Thanks

 

i dont think they have them for the 05+ sti
wrx stuff works for the 04 sti though

if you want, look up feal suspension for rebuild of your stockers

 

H&R Street Performance coilovers. They use Bilstein dampers, and are well suited to street use.

 

Awesome, are coilovers generally always stiffer than the stock STi suspension even when on their softest setting?

 

you could also look into Hotbits if you really want coil overs. Davenport Racing in MN sells them, but they run a bit over 1200. i want to say 1300-1400 for an base set.

 

For less than $1200, yes. They will be much more harsh (stiffer feeling due to higher damper rate with a much stiffer spring) than a stock STI suspension.

~Dan

 

Thanks for all the input guys. The H&R Street Performance coilovers look like a decent coilover for the money? It would be nice to adjust the ride height in the winter/summer, but i still can't decide if i should just get aftermarket struts. Typically how much softer are aftermarket struts than coilovers?

 

I have Koni Adjustable struts with Prodive STi springs. The car rides slightly stiffer then stock(but not annoying) and handles awesome.

 

Well unless intend to spend +$2000 on a set, you're not going to get something good. If you want an affordable option, get springs, likely RCE, and have the stock struts revalved to match the springs and chassis mass. I know Feal does revalving, but I think there are quite a few other companies that will revalve them too.

Prodrive STI springs are softer than stock. They were designed to be more comfortable than stock and are actually both more progressive and softer than stock.

Feal is developing Hotbits based inserts that compete with the Koni inserts. They were developing a rally spec insert with good travel, durability (unlike Koni), and valving geared well for rally. I don't think there's an actual strut or coilover package for less than around $2000. The inserts that Feal is doing is south of $1000 though, so that might be viable if you didn't feel like revalving.

 

what about some rebuilt DMS50 coilovers?

 

I looked into feal revalving the stock struts and it looks like a pretty good deal for the money. Is there by chance someone that does this around here? Also would the prodrive springs have any more permormance over the stock springs? Thanks

 

Cheap coilovers FTL. A good spring strut combo is all 99% of anyone who drives will ever want/need. How often do you plan on changing ride height? Never? Then why bother with coilovers?

I say get a good strut like a Koni Yellow, Bilstein, or these Tokico D- Spec's that everyone loves on this site, then match it to a spring that meets your linking as far as spring rate and drop height.

I have a Bilstein/Swift spec R setup in my Evo and I love the ride. Stiff enough to Auto-x the piss out of it, yet smooth enough to where my wife doesn't even realize the car is lowered. Not sure how well that relates to the Subaru world, but I can imagine with the cars being relatively the same size, weight, etc, it probably wouldn't change a whole hell of a lot.

 

Since cheap coilovers aren't worth the money I am liking the feal revalve and prodrive springs. The feal revalving is supposed to get you a little more performance and a more comfortable ride and same with the prodrive springs from what i understand. I am just curious of the long term durability of the feal revalve.

 

you need to ride in my car
12k all around

 

What do you have done to your car?