stv555

Would like to carry out a programme of suspension mods. Use mine daily and as family car, can't go too mad yet. Saving that for when the wife get's her own Wagon and I can do my own thing.

Labour costs not an issue, do my own work.

Any one suggest a decent set of springs to go on the standard struts ?

Is it worth considering the MRT anti-lift kit for MY99 or have the these changes been incorporated into the later vehicle ?

sunilp

STV

I have heard many times that it is not advisable to use std shockers with uprated springs.

If this was not the case then i have alwasy been very impressed by Eibach springs on previous cars

Regards

stv555

I agree in principle to this having dealt with fastroad and track cars for some 10years.

A number of points should be made clear:

1. Factory suspension for Scoobys can hardly be called 'standard' with regard to the performance of the vehicle. Thus you must consider that this is not a 1.8GL that we want to alter.

2. In many cases spring changes are done on vehicles which have done reasonable mileage, probably 30 - 40k, a point past the dampers prime. Also imagine the piston rod moving up and done around standard ride-height zone, then you lower the car, now the worn piston has live in a new zone which puts the damper under considerable loading probably for another 30k....complete madness.

3. Dropping a vehicle drastically can also cause the damper to bottom out where the piston travels further into the assembly...this is a catastrophic situation which will destroy the damper. Worse still this can cause the suspension to go solid on one corner lifting the opposite wheel/s to lift off the ground.

4. Reduction in ride height using standard or near-standard dampers has been used successfully in many forms of motor sport especially in road-saloon series, provided you follow guidelines.

5. I agree totally with the view that a matched spring/damper combination is the way to go, but there is also a commercial aspect to this argument regarding the development and selling of these products for commercial gain. This was my main reason for pulling out of the business some three years ago when I detected that enthusiasts interests were not being held at heart.

Interestingly, MRT list a number of spring sets for Subarus of all flavours, are we saying that this marketing is potentially flawed ??????


In the absence of factual evidence from enthusiasts and my past experiences, I am prepared to do some ground work. My vehicle is not going to be the serious track car I would like it to be until I invest in a second one as a big-boys toy.

Let the debate continue....

...and yes the Eibachs have always been top of my list.

Andy Banks

Which model Tein do you have? RA?

Are they height adjustable?

I feel my STi4 has too much body roll, and was considering this make (many places selling Tein in HK)

But Bilstein was recommended to me by several people....

Type RA's racing in Zhuhai last year used Apex

malique

stv

I'm trying Tein progressive rate medium springs that lower the car by 30mm on my car. Initial feel is that there is inadequeate damping at high speeds but the ride is excellent at 'civilian' speeds. I intend to chop off an inch of the bump stops from the shockers and will revert to you. Then I will try the Tein NA dampers when my budget permits.

Car looks mean though.

stv555

Malique

Have you got any info. on the Tein products..don't think I have come across them.

As to you bump stops, don't be tempted to take too much off since if the damper is bottoming out then the bump stop, while taking all the load may fail/split and drop off the rod. If this happens then this indicates that the spring is not suitable for the damper.

Chewy

Me and Simon just got back form MIRA and he was flying. Tons of oversteer. He just had Koni's fitted. They seemed pretty good to me, and by the grin's on eveyone's face's when they got out of Simon's car for a ride around the track.

stv555

Andy

Body-roll should be controlled by anti-roll bars not by the damper/spring assy.

By trying to stiffen the strut assy. you succeed in making the ride less compliant and very stiff. If the strut is too hard then the wheel will not move up and down to absorb bumps in the road and the shock will be transmitted through the strut tower i.e the shell.

Beware !!!!!

Andrew Dixon

... but stiffer anti-roll bars can have an adverse effect on wet weather handling due to less weight transfer onto the outside tyres.

And they can also have an adverse effect on ride. Although they have no effect on the compliance of the suspension when opposite sides are moving together they do effectively reduce the independance of each side of the car.

I think the choice between stiffer springs & stiffer roll-bars is probably down to personal preference.

A.

malique

stv555:
Tein are a well known suspension specialist. I have posted this before but here it is again: