Lowering a MY99 WRX

[DrNick]

Hey all.... I'm thinking about getting a MY99 WRX. My question is, what are they like when lowered 30-40mm with spings only???

Thanks

S

[coyote]

Lower.

[DrNick]

Originally posted by coyote
Lower.

:D

I mean ride wise...

[old baggins]

choppy & harsh....... but not too bad on smooth roads. :rolleyes:

I have a lowered 00, springs only, it has developed creaks and rattles over time that I am sure would not be there if I hadn't put the springs in.

The car runs a camber kit, front and rear swaybars, an ALK (the jury is still out on this) so if your after better handling just stick with these, but if you are after looks as well go with the springs but I would seriously look at matching them with some properly valved shocks as well, I know I am now. It means going into a different class in sprinting, but the VF28 and zaust will take care of that anyway. :p

[trent from punchy]

pretty rough
the stock shocks dont cope with it well.

ride isnt too bad, but handling is worse.

[DrNick]

What about the King coilover setup?

[coyote]

The above answers are pretty spot on in my opinion. Standard damping rates are very well matched to standard spring rates. Increase spring rates by 50% and your damping rates will be up to shit. Then throw in the issues involved with reduced travel and you've got a car that is far less capable although it may "feel" more like a go cart.

The Kings Prosports are a good economical option (although a big step up from wanting to do just springs and no inserts?). Find yourself a good suspension place that can build them up using the platforms and collars with adjustable inserts. Then you'll be away! Otherwise find yourself someone who can modify and revalve your standard struts to match the new springs. Otherwise find yourself someone who can supply some new inserts. Otherwise.... you get the picture. What do you want to acheive and how much do you want to spend?


Baggins,
That may just be the bar bushes causing that noise. I'm having the same problem with mine at the moment. It's caused by the change in angles with the car being lower.

[old baggins]

coyote

cheers mate, but I am referrring to the dash, door surrounds, roof lining, rear hatch etc etc just the punishment the car takes on a day to day basis with stiffer springs, the car just squeaks and rattles when going over a coke bottle top :p it never used to worry me however it does get to you after a while, it cannot be good for the car. That is why I am looking at shocks to match my springs now, the rest of the cars setup is spot on.

It basically comes down to that the standard struts have inadequate travel when lowered. I have cut my bump stops and it has helped a little, however when I do run out of travel it is a mighty big crash, and this is with 30mm lowered springs. I haven't measured from the centre of the rim to the wheel-arch for a couple of months now, however when I did measure from the time of ftting to 6 months of driving the springs haven't dropped/settled at all since fitting them or after I cut the bump stops which is good.

[coyote]

Is it a wagon? If so, get a rear strut brace. My old postie van used to flex so much that all the plastic trim from B pillars back used to pop off when cornering (err... hard). A brace not only made it corner better, but stopped the trim from coming loose and a whole bunch of nastry groaning noises disappeared!

[old baggins]

yep "she's a wagon" hehehe ah just mades myself giggle, still remember that line from Raising Arizona :p

Yeah that is definitely on the shopping list, I have one for the front, I really need one that is quickly detachable for the rear as we have a bub and one of the rear seats is folded and the blind mechanism is taken out a fair bit to fit pram et all etc, so I am not sure how effective a strut brace that is easily detachable would be. But the sounds I am getting from the hatch is definitely the sound of something that has come loose in the lining somewhere.... buggered if I can find where it is coming from! Due to the suspension modifications, according to SA warranty......

sorry for hi-jacking your thread Dr Nick :eek:

[DrNick]

Na, all good. I think the time frame has been pushed out a little for one tho :(

Oh well...

[old baggins]

what do you mean?

Are you going to hold off on the purchase?

[DrNick]

Originally posted by baggins
what do you mean?

Are you going to hold off on the purchase?

Comes back to money, I just brought a unit and need to sort my funds out... Early next year now :(

[crusey]

Hi Folks,

Not sure about the 99 but I have Whiteline "Lows" on my 01 Hatch and they are great.

It has lowered the car by about an inch. I tried the "Superlows" first and didnt like them at all.

I have the full Whiteline arsenal (Sways and Mounts, Strut Braces, ALK, Rear Camber Bolts) and I love the ride.

I am expecting increased wear on the stock shocks but so far so good (25,000kms to date).

Cheers,

Scott

[krisko]

I was thinking of dropping mine by 30-40mm also.

By the sounds of this I will hold off until the standard shocks are weak then get new shocks and lowered springs.

I just don't want to compromise on the decent standard setup.