babber

You may have already read in another thread, but I need new suspension for my MY99 RB5. I do about £30 miles a week (tops) at the moment but the MOT has expired On top of this drama my brakes have had it.

Currently I have AVO coilovers (that are wanked)
Droplinks (front and rear)
Whilteline ARB
A Brace of strut braces (STi front / Powerstation supplied rear)
Powerstation alignment, bumpsteer and camber bolts

The coilovers are leaking fluid and springs are shagged (gone weak) Can these be repaired? Is it worth it?

Powerstation have a group buy on at the moment, which I must say looks attractive. But can I justify the expense?

Should I fit standard type suspension?

I’ve discussed this with a few friends and they’ve seem to think that buying coilovers for my car is really a daft idea, as I don’t need to adjust damping rate and I don’t need to alter the ride height. I’m not going to get them serviced every few years, and they considerably more expensive.

I can get the standard suspension replaced with KYB dampers for around £200. Are they any good? Good or bad experiences? I’m guessing some decent springs (Eibachs are these any good?) possibly £120. And a re-alignment at Powerstation £100 (is that about right?) Some Poly bushes for the front (say £60) and the car should be great again.

The other option I have is been offered a set of new Ohlin coilovers for £750, but as a mate has pointed out, they’ll need to be revalved or the car will fall apart. They look the business, but do I really need them?

I’ve had Impreza since Jan 2000 and have spent ****e loads of money on them, just wondering what you’d do given the above options?

Remember to bear in mind my brakes are shagged as well. Can get OEM complete setup (disks and up-rated pads) for about £200 that’ll get me back on the road, or up-rated ones thousands.

Thanks Phill

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Hi Phil

If I were you I'd get some KYB shocks and eibachs. I wouldn't get polybushes as they can get noisey when they dry out. Re-align and job done.

F

babber

At last someone is talking sensibly. I think I've decided that already, just needed someone to confirm it's a good option.

Thanks Floyd, what you driving now BTW

STI_V2

Hi Phil,

I have got an STi V2 and next week I am having the suspension changed to KYBs with Eibachs. The standard suspension and springs are in very good condition as the car was imported two years ago. If you want you can have it at a reasonable price until you decide for something more expensive later on.

I do not know if the fit your car but if you are intersted let me know.

I am taking the car at APi on the 4th of March so as soon as David puts the KYBs on the others are available.

Thanks Stathis.

PeteT

Hi Phil,
as a possible alternative spring, you might consider standard P1 springs. They are similar rates to Eibachs but considerably cheaper and available from your friendly local dealer. I can't say wether they are better or worse than Eibachs as I haven't driven an Eibach car, but combined with KYB AGX struts, I'm happy with my setup.
Let me know if you want part numbers.

babber

Not sure if it'll fit my RB5 either, but thanks for the offer anyway. I think I'll bite the bullet and get the KYBs and consider the springs for the meanwhile. P1 springs are another option, but I'm sure they'd be loads at the dealers (Tileys of Bristol) ?

Now I guess I need to consider how much to lower the car before I order the springs. Does anyone know how much lower a P1 was than standard MY2000? My RB5 is very low at the moment due to my shagged AVO coilovers (utter pants) but am looking forward to raising the car up a bit

Thanks Phill

PeteT

Phil,
YHPM

RB5 69

iTrader: (1)

Hi Phill,

The P1 springs dont lower the car that much .... but they are gooooood!!

Havent got a measurement, but my RB5 has P1 springs and shocks ....



Norm. (www.RB5OC.co.uk)

911

69:

Very nice stance on your car.
Could you do me a big favour and measure the wheel arch heights from the road surface to the peak of the Fr and Rr arches?
Are the wheels 17's or 18's?

Agree the AVO's are rubbish, I now have the great fortune to be sitting on AST's. Quality.

I'm sure I've read the P1 springs are very good, but some of the praise must be down to the damping of the springs too, so P1's are great as a package, but maybe not as separate components? Just a thought.
AST's:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=oibvwp
Car:
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=oibxnn

Graham.

RB5 69

iTrader: (1)

No bother Graham, i'll do that this morning!

I think youre probably right about the P1 springs in that they're rate will be matched to the dampers .... for normal road use, its a cracking set up though. The car drops a bit on these but not a ridiculous amount!

Norm. (www.RB5OC.co.uk)

PS the cars on 18's!!

RB5 69

iTrader: (1)

610mm front and 635mm rear .... on 18's with 215/35 tyres (brand new)

Wheels were put back on yesterday, and car hasnt been used since, so these figures will maybe drop slightly after the suspensions settled!

babber

Don't suppose anyone has got a part number for the springs? Tileys of Bristol told me they needed a chassis number to quote. I pointed out I could give them a RB5 chassis number, but not a P1 chassis number. At this point he got confused

Thanks Phill

RB5 69

iTrader: (1)

Have a look at .... http://www.rb5oc.com/stephanp1.asp

Are you not a member of the club??

911

69: Thank you very much!
Graham

justanotherperson

[quote=RB5 69]Hi Phill,

The P1 springs dont lower the car that much .... but they are gooooood!!

Havent got a measurement, but my RB5 has P1 springs and shocks ....



That Car looks the Dogs...i like alot

babber

I've registered my car number 411, but no not joined the RB5 owners club. Just looked on the link and there's the part numbers......Great, thanks for that

Cheers Phill