Hi everyone

I have a WRX Hawkeye here running 350BHP/390lb-ft.

Sadly, having put some Tein springs on 3000 miles ago the rear shocks have predictably failed.

As opposed to putting OEM on, I am going to invest in a good suspension setup, new bushes and ARB.

The question is - what to buy?

I don't particularly need adjustable top mounts, but I would prefer a slightly harder ride as I do enjoy the odd track day and twisty B road.

I have loved the tein springs - the ride height (I am running 18" OZ ultraleggras) is spot on and the reduced body roll makes the car feel tighter all round.

Budget - tops of £2000 and not a penny more!

Your advice is very much welcome

Thanks

Lee

 

I just got Eibach coilovers for £940 for my 03 WRX. Superb they are.
Right nearer you than me as well at Revolution Motorstore.
Cars awesome on them and this is coming off Eibach springs and oem shocks having done 91k miles. I also had a 22mm rear arb fitted.

 

£2000k you competing in the Time attack??

Don't bother spending that much dude it will be a waste, When my Spec C shocks went I went for BC coilovers, cheap and chearful.

I was ready to go for an AST set up from Litchfields £1500 at the time but when found out that you only get a 1 year warrenty with them(same as all coilovers) I thought whats the point of spending all that money.

I had read plently of stories on here of them failing and stuff and with living on the outskirts of London with Humps, bumps and potholes to deal with that was only going to be a matter of time.

It was the same story with Teins and there was a thread specifically on here about people experiences with them leaking and waiting 6 weeks for replacements while the cars were sat on axel stands.

With the BC's (on the Group buy) i got fully adjustable top mounts included as well as adjustable dampers all round, on the flat they are ok firm setting is very firm, and soft setting is ok for normal driving (not like WRX soft thou) and they are do work well on the road and track

Most of (if not all) the guys (about 10 cars ) on the MSOC are running them and only 1 of us so far has had a problem which was replaced by Apex next day delivery.

In my opinion for the money you can't really go wrong and if after the warrenty period (i.e over 1 year) one them does go wrong you can buy them indivdually and won't cost a fortune (£100) max.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks for this - I assume you bought the Pro-Street S ?

How are the going to far? I prefer a hard ride but not wanting to compromise everyday driving due to this being my commuter car (!).

 

I've heard mixed reviews about BC stuff - people raving about them and people wishing they'd never invested!

How are yours?

I hear what you're saying, it is just suspension at the end of the day. I was going to uprate all of the bushes, ARB front and back, strut braces and coilovers as part of the budget though

 

I find it hard but livable. I drive mine every day as my only car with commuting a big part of that driving. Of course when I do blat it they are superb. I ain't good enough to find a fault with em. Pro street S they are yes. If u like a hard ride they should be ok but if it was just to replace worn oem then I wouldn't buy coilovers.

 

I have had BC's on my Hawkeye wagon for about 5 months now and cant fault them, I went for the 5/4 spring rate as I didnt want a really hard ride. With these springs and the dampers set at 18 front and 16 rear I find the ride firm but not crashy at all, I would say the ride feels similar to running uprated springs. 90% of my driving is bumpy B roads, car feels nicely planted and has never skipped on me.

Hope this helps, Arthur.

 

Haven't had a problem went for 5/4 spring rate bit hard bit mine is a Spec C, you can go 6/5 for abit softer ride. If you think about it brand new you could do the ARB £300, suspension BC £650 strut bars £300-400 Max, geo £90 Max all in £1500 tops

 

I think the lower the number the softer the ride, on the group buy 5/4 was sold as close to standard ride but 6/5 for stiffer one (oooer!)

 

As it's the spring rate in Kg.mm a higher number is stiffer as stated.

Lee, FroSTI has BC's on, Bez has AST, I have Tein Superstreets....

dunx

 

My BC's on my Spec C were awesome.

(BC BR, 6/4 springs, a lot of neg camber)

 

tein super street for me

 

I spent £2000 on Exe-tc for my wrx hawkeye 360 bhp /387 and never regreted it one bit cheap isnt always cheerfull

 

I had ASTs 3 way ads fitted, front and rear ant role bars, solid drop links anti lift kit poly bushes all over the place, Geo set up corner weights done. when all fitted and set up it came to around £5,000.00,
My mate got BC on his, fitted them him self, that cost him about £700.00 in all.
When I have been out in his car it feels just like mine,
But when we have been on the track Mine is a lot better through the corners.
I am not trying to brag.

I do think the BCs for fast road use and the odd track day are the best value for money by far.
My mate has had his BCs on for 2 year now and there fine.

Bez

 

Had BC's on my 03 sti for over a year now, 6-4 springs and they are great!
Easy fit with all the correct lugs/brake line brackets and better than oem ride and of course handling

dipster

 

i can vouch for your setup Bez
donny last year

 

Yes Budgie. I remember it well.
It was a very good day at donny. Got mine on the rollers after and only running 276 bhp 355 t. so was happy with the pace.
Very close as well, a good 4 or 5" between us.
Cars do look closer in mirrors.

Best mods you can do to your cars are Brakes and suspension I think.

Your getting in the mags a bit, your car is looking good.

Bez

 

Sounds like what I am after.

Thanks to everyone so far for the input - most appreciated!

 

Hi Dunx

Where are you based?

 

thanks Bez
it wasnt the mirror effect mate, it was only inches
as for the mags, have you seen japfest website
not even a free ticket

 

Yep bud, seen the website.
not even a free ticket,
Have they bought the rights to your picture, or just taken it.

I bet you as Chuft as punch. your car in the mags and website. well done.
I had a look at your thead on track date, when I get car back and dates for scoobysprint I might look at joining you on 1


Lee, Dunxs is not far from you, I sure if you want to meet up with us all at our meet, we will all be willing to take you out in the cars so you can see the difference.

https://www.scoobynet.com/clubs.php?club=3

Bez

 

Many thanks to Dunx for the demo of his car today

Have confirmed my order with Revolution now for the Tein Superstreets with the hard top mounts. Should be here on Tuesday!!

Just need to find somewhere that has the whiteline 24mm ARB and strutbraces in stock now so I can get it all done before the Geo setup.

Cheers all for your input.

Lee

 

Was a pleasure to met you Lee, nice motor....

Contact cusco kid on here for the ARB £160....

You can do the geo. before the ARB if necessary....

dunx

P.S. Strut braces aren't THAT important IMHO, consider a four point lower brace at the front though. Yes mine does have Tein braces on I admit LOL

 

LeeP, I never managed to let you get a look at my whiteline brace. Its fitted now and i should be around during the day tomorrow if you want a quick look.

Would be good to see what effects your failing struts are showing so i can gauge how far gone mine are.

 

Very true the brace effect is not that great i just think all the little bits will add up to a better feeling car in the corners.

i fitted my ARB at home was a bit of a fiddle but better than paying for what is essentially 8 bolts

 

So Lofty was that you I spotted a week or so ago ?

Lee is busy fitting gauges at work, have txt'd him but he must be busy.

dunx

 

could have been i'm mostly in Leeds/Normanton/Lofthouse/Outwood/BP East Ardsley

 

I have my laptop here though reading all the help on gauges!

Lofty - if you are around I'll happily meet up too - I'll take you over some bumps in my car so you can feel the 'kick in the ****' you get with totally crushed struts

 

Yep, on the run South of Middleton I was heading towards East Ardsley in a black bug-eye...

dunx

 

Could well have been me, although for the last few week i have been concentrating on the location of nocks and clunks so was probably oblivious to you.

you should come out tomorrow if i meet up with LeeP and maybe try and convert me to the Tein's also