So I'm due for new struts...going with gr-2's, as I don't plan on tinkering a whole lot with adjustables...want a set and forget set up, and was fairly happy with the stockers when they were still good (rides like a lumber waggon right now). So I have been pondering getting prodrive springs (I drive a bugeye wrx), but I'm not so sure I want to lower my car, as I sometimes like to drive on surfaces that can barely be called roads...however 95% of the time, I'm driving on paved surfaces. Since I'm doing struts anyway, it would make sense to do the springs too, if I'm going to do them, or should I skip springs and get some nice sways instead? Don't race (any sort) I love to push the limits of my car on corners. So then, springs or sways, or both? I'm guessing this has been asked before, but a search didn't show this specific Q...
i just got a cusco rear swaybar and i wish i would've done it sooner. 50mph clover leafs! my tire sidewalls are the weak point now. when i got my tax returns i splurged and bought a rsb, prodrive springs, and a h-brace.
I have a set of prodrives that I am about to put on my car, I have to say that I am a little aprehensive, if I could get them in a non-lowering version I would go that way. Suspension travel is one of the reasons I went with a WRX versus a Evo. it is dissapointing that everyone wants to lower their car. I tend to drive some pretty rough roads (and I like to go fast), I am from not to far away from Siren (Cumberland) and I could see why you would want a little more travel also. I wonder if spacers would be a good option? Frogy
The only bad thing I've heard about them is a lack of droop travel in the front... otherwise, its all been positive, far as I can remember.
Yeah, I was wondering also why no upgraded, same ride height springs. I guess there is always air suspension:hsugh:
the SPT pinks (NOT the blues), or STI takeoff springs would fit that bill (for a wrx/rs/2.5i) .. not a lot of drop, a good bit stiffer.
?! droop travel will remain the same unless you put on shorter struts. increased spring rate will always decrease travel. that's the whole point. if you're really just concerned about your ground clearance. if nothing else, you can always get some Ground Control coilover sleeves in a higher spring rate than stock. and then adjust them so you're static ride height is the same.
Q: Many (legit) sources cite that lowering a WRX has a negative effect on the overall handling potential. So, why does every freakin' aftermarket spring lower the car? W, T to the F? I'm starting with new RSB, links and ALK on my 07 wagon. Trying to avoid an upgradeitus infection. I drive about 40k annually and I'm not interested in Federal Pound Me in the Arse Prison.
Perhaps I worded it wrong... anywho, what I'd read was something about the spring being short and clattering around on the perches (unseating). Wouldn't really apply for a street car, unless you're hitting car-eating potholes. :hsugh: Either way, I could very well be wrong, and I can't seem to find where I'd read that either.
Anyone try the Maddad springs? http://www.daddysscp.com/dcart4/product.php?productid=90&cat=12&page=1 Supposed to be similar to the sti pinks. I searched around for pinks for my 02' sedan, but they are a little spendy, most I've seen were around $400, or am I looking in the wrong places?
I put Prodrives on my wagon. LOVE them. nice even drop, but not too low. Great firm but smooth ride, not bouncy at all. Stock struts. Felt great, and handled much better. I never go off road, though. I'd want skid plates if I did. Then, a week later, installed front and rear sways (22/20-22-24), endlinks, and rear brackets, rear strut bar. It made it really handle like a totally different car. Handles fantastic now. I highly recommend doing both sways and springs if handling is what you're after.
if you want some better performance and dont want to loose ground clearance. Ground Control makes or can make springs that are factory length in a stiffer spring rate. I also have to agree with 3rik, in that swaybars will make a great difference in handling than springs. especially a nice rear sway bar.
If you lower it TOO FAR it will greatly decrease the handling due to Subaru's Gravel-Oriented suspension setup. From what I've heard, most people say about 1" to 1.7" is about as low as you want to go to keep the handling in the sweet spot. Of course, the lower you go the higher springrates you want to have to keep from going over the limit. The first thing I would do is get a good alignment (MORE NEG CAMBER) and then struts and sways. Possibly even get new camber bolts in the front so you can get more than -1.5 deg of camber. I have mine set at -1.7 front and rear, with 0 toe and it really did help on the cloverleafs. I plan on going a little more with that in the front, and getting new sways this summer.
To follow that up, the "ideal" drop on the STI has a distance of 14" front, 13.5" rear, when measured from the center of the wheel to the fender. This should also hold true for the WRX. More specifically, the GD Impreza chassis gains positive camber with body roll. Lowering the car without changing the suspension geometry increases that effect. That's why a lot of guys put on the Whiteline RCA/6gun ball joint extender kits.
