Classic Suspension Mods....
 

Hey folks,

Car failed its Mot today, due to the spring on one of the (standard) wrx shocks being broken in two places.:(

Haven't driven the car in what seems an eternity, due to house purchase, or spent much on it lately, so I'm after some advice/links on replacing the whole lot....

From speaking to members of the welsh section,(thanks Ty, Ian) and anfair bit of searching on here, it looks to me that the best setup for me would be KYB AGX shocks, accompanied by Eibach lowering springs. I'd like a setup for fast road, not really into track days (cos I can't afford it mainly) so would this setup be pretty much best for me? I also had advisory on the front drop links having a fair amount of play, so was thinking to replace these along with the front arb, and the rear arb and drop links at the same time.

I think the recommended rear is 22mm? And the front 19/20mm?
Also would like all new parts to be poly bushed.

I've read that the whitelne arbs rust pretty fast, so if other manufacturers (I think Cdf racing?) are recommend I'd be happy enough to use as long as they don't break the bank!

So basically what I want to know is if anybody had an idea in how much I'd expect a garage to supply and install this 'package' and if there is anything else (other than a geo setup) should consider addressing. Would an anti lift kit be advisable or is this a bit ott?


As always, thanks in advance for any advice, suspension (as I'm sure you've guessed by now) is not my forte but am keen to learn.

Regards
Rob


Just to add, cars a 1997 wrx

Hi Rob

Depends on yours budget and from this I would go.New KYB AGX are expensive than Bilstein used on classic and this can be yours second option

Springs not sure,we are run only PI springs which has been OK,but many people recommend Eibach I've tried them only once on the classic and has been OK for me

Droplinks have look on solid droplinks,WhiteLine seems are best option,although they're rusting quickly,if they rust I would them spray/paint with the Hammerite

ARB same as above WhiteLine(agreed on paint quality of the WL,but its only paint and really this not affecting strength/functionality of the ARB),we are running Eibach ARB which are still like new when we are bought them

Speak to Ryan or Adam@Indigo GT about the best prices on this or Alyn@AS Performance,I'm sure both of them will sort you out with good deals


Jura

Thanks Jura for a detailed response.

I haven't seen much on the Bilstein's, would the ones your referring to be Coilovers or normal shocks with springs?

I'll give the lads at indigo a call later and see what they say, whichever way it's not going to be cheap I don't think!

Thanks again

When my shocks were changed (the rear ones were a tad useless) I wen to Bilsteins shocks and standard Type R springs,now going for 24mm rear ARB,rear droplinks,ALK.

Would say changing the steering rack bush was one of the best mods that I've had done on both my Imprezas and iot's quite cheap and relatively easy to do.

The new suspension alone was £600 and will be getting the bill this Friday for the the rest of the iotems fitted.

Thanks for that info mate, looks like I'll be going down the Kyb route, with Eibach springs, then as you've done white line arbs and drop links. Not cheap this suspension malarkey, but well worth it I think.

Cheers for the heads up on the steering Rack bush, I'll look into that.

Rob

I might be selling my prodrive bilstein sti struts with eibach springs in the next few weeks, which are regarded as the best setup for a road classic.

I think there is a risk you may be disappointed in the strut/spring combo, down to the Eibach's. They are quite soft and lower the car a little too much spoiling the handling, leading onto understeer and less overall grip levels, mainly down to roll centre migration and dynamic camber change. Other big issue is crashing onto the bump stops when pushing on. Compressions and mid corner bumps will be painfully felt.

The Bilstein is a fine damper, in fact the best for a classic on UK roads, but the Eibach's will reduce the amount of useful damper travel due to the amount of lowering, so really they spoil a fine damper.

You're in Brecon, which really is God's country for a Impreza owner. A P1 spring fitted to the Bilstein would be better, in fact the perfect partner for the Billie's, and a classic Scooby. The P1's are a little hard to find (you would need to source used, or maybe able to find a new set) and this may take a while. Maybe the best way to get yourself up & running again as your spring has broken would be to fit the Eibach's while you source the P1's...?

I know prodrive did the handling pack consisting of bilsteins struts and eibach springs and they offered two sets one was stupid hard and the other softer for road, are you referring to eibach lowering springs as found on eBay or the eibachs that came with the bilstein struts as part of the ppp handling pack?
I had prodrives in my last classic and I didn't over lower the car by any means.

Yup, the Prodrive 'P1' spring (made by Eibach) are the ones to get, which came on the WR, and were an available upgrade, not the terrible Pro R etc readily available now. The P1 spring lowers by just 25mm which is fine

But aren't the P1 springs red and the ppp pack eibach springs blue? And the wr sport handling pack is the bilstein eibach combo which is what I had on my old car, I know the pro r ones are not so good. And I thought the P1 springs were only fitted to the P1 as the wr upgrades were available before the P1 was released no?

The P1 springs I mean are the reds yes.

Here's a pic of mine

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/P1000980.JPG

Interesting read there Bonesetter, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Although as you say I'm very fortunate to live in 'god's country', and have some of the uk's greatest roads (IMO) within 5mins drive from my home, the council here are not the best at patching any pot holes etc in the roads, so what you've said about the eibachs possibly spoiling hard cornering completely makes sense and is a Bit of a concern if I'm honest, don't want to be loosing the car mid corner becaus the suspension's too stiff an cant take the abuse of a mid corner pot hole!

Any idea what sort of price I'd be looking at for the Bilsteins new? And if I couldn't source the p1 springs what would you suggest be the next best alternative?

As you've said, I think I'll source a replacement spring for now, just to get her through. That will then enable me to have a shop around (obviously not nailing the car cos it'll be all over the shop!) for prices on repairing the early stages of rear arch rot , and a new suspension setup at the same time. I'll then have to reach a decision on whether its worth all the expense of all that in a 16 year old car, or part company with it. It would be a shame as we've had some good times together over the last 6 years and have embarrassed some far superior cars on these roads! Decisions decisions,,!

Thanks again

Rob

Hmmm... it that case why not pick up a set of low mileage red V5/6 dampers and STi springs? They are a very cheap option. The inverted monotubed dampers do a decent job, and the springs are just about OK. They will give full travel to the damper, the fronts are too firm though and usually cause the front to push wide on bumpy bends. Not a great problem, and only pushing hard and then you can allow for it.

The Eibach's wont make the car suddenly let go, what happens is the outside corner bump stop is engaged mid bend so any bump encountered will have to be absorbed throught the car. This is felt as a painful & fairly unpleasant sounding bang. If you do use the Eibachs you can trim an inch off the bumpstop when fitting. This will help.

Brand new Billies for the classic... aah, if only. Sets come up both new & used. I bought a set Prodrive had sold off cheap years ago from a guy who bought lots of them, but you do see used sets come up. Use them or have them refurbed.

Very useful info there, thank you. If the rust issues are not going to cost the earth then ill probably end up going for the kyb's and the eibachs, and as you've suggested taking some off the spring. I'm a bit lazy with the car on times if I'm honest, and would probably just want a "fit and forget" solution (if such a thing exists!) rather than swapping and changing about as I dont really have the time or space to do it.

I must have searched every auction site., Subaru site and clubs this afternoon for what you have suggested., think its fair to say you we're in the right place at the right time getting yours cos they seem to be like rocking horse ****!

Thanks again

trim the bumpstop you mean ;)

Naah the spring mun, lower the car a bit more innit bluuud!!:lol1:

:thumb:

My total suspension upgrade/replacement has been :

Sept 2012
Bilstein (using original springs) £600
Rear droplinks £86 (needed replacing after inspection as the rubber was knackered)
Track control bushes £107 (needed replacing after inspection as rubber was knackered)
Steering rack bushes £27

Today
ALK £137
24mm ARB £148
Labour time was about 4 hours in total and VAT needs to be added

The ARB and ALK are highly worth it as I've tested the affect of these 2 items today ;)

Personally I would take it to a Subaru specialist get them to have a look over (or under in this case) as to what extra can be done therefore saving labour costs and time :)

I'm not sure what Eibach's you refer to, but the Pro-Kit that has been around for years actually sits about 7mm higher on the rear compared to the P1 Red's and the front ride height is identical (within measurable/tape measure tolerance on my level garage floor).
The Eibach Pro-Kit spring rates are softer though from what I have read and felt.

If P1 red's are not available and you want to retain close to the P1 Red ride height then the Eibach Pro-Kit is probably as close as you'll get.

I'm not sure what Pro-R are offering though !!!!!