Hawkeye spring replacement

[jimmytheone]

Hi all, I've got a 55-plate WRX Wagon (SL), failed MOT with a cracked NSR spring - these were the Prodrive blue springs but i dont think they're available any more. I think these were a 10mm drop in height over standard.

Can anyone recommend a replacement set?
If one has gone the rest are on their way right?

The car is a daily so ideally i don't want it lowered/ crashy which is what most of the kits claim (up to 30mm), and i dont really feel like chucking a grand+ on coilovers.
Options from Whiteline, Pedders, Eibach....?
ICP dont seem to offer anything which is annoying as ive used them in the past and they were great.
Thanks!

[scoobydog]

I had a similar problem last year as my Prodrive blue springs had got corroded to the point of possible failure so fitted a set of Whiteline bugeye springs as in this thread with the bugeye top mounts. Really pleased with the results.

https://www.scoobynet.com/suspension-12/1067851-pr...

Hope this helps

[TEKNOPUG]

The PCA Blues are way more than 10mm drop. More like 25-30mm*I have a set on my Blob wagon (that were previously on my Bug Wagon). I'm planning on swapping them out as I want to try a softer shock than the Koni inserts I currently have fitted.

• There maybe a difference in drop between Bug, Blob & Hawk. PCA Blues were designed for the Hawk with inverted shocks.

[scoobydog]

TEKNOPUG said:

The PCA Blues are way more than 10mm drop. More like 25-30mm*I have a set on my Blob wagon (that were previously on my Bug Wagon). I'm planning on swapping them out as I want to try a softer shock than the Koni inserts I currently have fitted.

• There maybe a difference in drop between Bug, Blob & Hawk. PCA Blues were designed for the Hawk with inverted shocks.

Yes agree the Prodrive Blues were the same spec as the PCA Blues with both having around 25mm drop. The Whiteline springs I've got on now (with KYB non-inverted shocks) with 30mm drop are about the same ride height as the prodrives although the latter had most likely sagged a bit over the years.

I had the prodrive blues on my blob when I had it new and then some on the hawkeye I've currently got and from memory they were the same spring part no across both but with different bump stops for the inverted shock models. Bugs have different rear top mounts so are different to the blob/hawk (but may be the same for the fronts?)

Edited by scoobydog on Thursday 8th February 12:12

[TEKNOPUG]

scoobydog said:

TEKNOPUG said:

The PCA Blues are way more than 10mm drop. More like 25-30mm*I have a set on my Blob wagon (that were previously on my Bug Wagon). I'm planning on swapping them out as I want to try a softer shock than the Koni inserts I currently have fitted.

• There maybe a difference in drop between Bug, Blob & Hawk. PCA Blues were designed for the Hawk with inverted shocks.

Yes agree the Prodrive Blues were the same spec as the PCA Blues with both having around 25mm drop. The Whiteline springs I've got on now (with KYB non-inverted shocks) with 30mm drop are about the same ride height as the prodrives although the latter had most likely sagged a bit over the years.

I had the prodrive blues on my blob when I had it new and then some on the hawkeye I've currently got and from memory they were the same spring part no across both but with different bump stops for the inverted shock models. Bugs have different rear top mounts so are different to the blob/hawk (but may be the same for the fronts?)

Edited by scoobydog on Thursday 8th February 12:12

The fronts are the same. The Bug has different rear mounts as you say, so you have to fit Bug mounts with Bug springs. Both the Bug and later Blob/Hawk rear mounts fit across all cars. So you just need to match the springs to the mounts, not the car. ****

Which KYB shocks did you fit? I initially ran Excel Gs with the PCA Blues and although they worked well, it was obvious that the springs were too stiff, as the shocks were worn out after 20-30k. Hence why I then moved to Koni Inserts.

However, even on the softest setting, they are still a little too busy for daily driving. Great when pressing on, less so when the missus is doing the school run

So I plan to try the Whiteline springs you have, as I believe they are softer than the PCAs @ ~20% uprated over stock. Which is better suited to Excel Gs which also are ~20% uprated, so they shouldn't have to work so hard.

I'd be interested in any feedback you have compared to your previous PCA setup.

My only concern is with the quality of Whiteline products - they do like to rust!

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 14:09

• ** Just to add, that you can fit Bug shocks to Blob/Hawk springs and rear mounts using a spacer. The hole that the shock passes through in the top mount is smaller on the Bug mounts. So like diesel/petrol pumps, a Bug shock will fit through a Blob/Hawk top mount (spacer required) but not vice versa, as the Blob/Hawk shocks won't physically fit.

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 15:22

[scoobydog]

I'm also running the Excel Gs and they are a bit soft - had to change the rears at around 30k as well although the fronts have lasted longer for some reason - did put some new ones on though when I put the new springs on.

The combination of the Whiteline springs (which I think are progressive as opposed to linear Prodrive?) and Excel Gs while still firm does seem to soften some of the ridges that had the Prodrives crashing - although the Prodrives were pretty worn by the time I took them off so not really a fair comparison. I also fitted certain bump stops as advised on Scoobynet (options being front either Optimal F8-7662 or Febi 27848 both fitted dome side up and rear either Febi 13063 or Optimal AK-735036) although they were a bit difficult to track down. All in all though I'm very pleased with the result as I was worried that it would be too low/harsh etc but as it stands I prefer them to the admittedly worn Prodrives. Was also concerned about rust but will see how that goes after a while

Also I fitted the bug springs as in the Scoobynet thread as I think they're closer to the Prodrive spring rate so had to fit the bug top mounts. I noticed that the springs for the blob/hawk were quite a bit softer at the rear than the bug ones - not quite sure why and given unlimited budget would be nice to try both but I guess either option would be good

Edited by scoobydog on Thursday 8th February 13:27

Edited by scoobydog on Thursday 8th February 13:36

Edited by scoobydog on Thursday 8th February 13:44

[jimmytheone]

Many thanks for your help guys - does this look right?
https://scoobyparts.com/subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-coi...

I'm ok with it being a bit softer at the back - the above kit reckons 157lb/in rears, I'm also running Excel G's
Says lifetime warranty, i'm assuming that doesnt cover the paint

[TEKNOPUG]

scoobydog said:

Also I fitted the bug springs as in the Scoobynet thread as I think they're closer to the Prodrive spring rate so had to fit the bug top mounts. I noticed that the springs for the blob/hawk were quite a bit softer at the rear than the bug ones - not quite sure why and given unlimited budget would be nice to try both but I guess either option would be good

Softer and shorter

[TEKNOPUG]

jimmytheone said:

Many thanks for your help guys - does this look right?
https://scoobyparts.com/subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-coi...

I'm ok with it being a bit softer at the back - the above kit reckons 157lb/in rears, I'm also running Excel G's
Says lifetime warranty, i'm assuming that doesnt cover the paint

Yes they will fit. However, they appear to drop the rear lower than is optimal. You may want to consider fitting these also https://www.paranoidfabrications.com/collections/s...

[jimmytheone]

TEKNOPUG said:

jimmytheone said:

Many thanks for your help guys - does this look right?
https://scoobyparts.com/subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-coi...

I'm ok with it being a bit softer at the back - the above kit reckons 157lb/in rears, I'm also running Excel G's
Says lifetime warranty, i'm assuming that doesnt cover the paint

Yes they will fit. However, they appear to drop the rear lower than is optimal. You may want to consider fitting these also https://www.paranoidfabrications.com/collections/s...

Having spoken with my mech he's suggesting doing all 4 springs (the other were noted on MOT for corrosion but not yet snapped!) so will i still need these?

[TEKNOPUG]

jimmytheone said:

TEKNOPUG said:

jimmytheone said:

Many thanks for your help guys - does this look right?
https://scoobyparts.com/subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-coi...

I'm ok with it being a bit softer at the back - the above kit reckons 157lb/in rears, I'm also running Excel G's
Says lifetime warranty, i'm assuming that doesnt cover the paint

Yes they will fit. However, they appear to drop the rear lower than is optimal. You may want to consider fitting these also https://www.paranoidfabrications.com/collections/s...

Having spoken with my mech he's suggesting doing all 4 springs (the other were noted on MOT for corrosion but not yet snapped!) so will i still need these?

Couldn't say for definite. You'd have to wait until all fitted and has settled. Might be worth fitting anyway as better to be a touch too high than too low.

However, I do have a set of unopened KYB Excel G rear shock absorbers for Blob/Hawk Wagon that I no longer need as I intend to fit the Bug springs. I think that I have unused rear top mounts also (maybe). I can do you a deal on these if you want to refresh all the suspension whilst it's apart and you are paying the labour costs?

I have an unused set of these offset front mounts also: https://pedders.co.uk/pedders-multi-position-offse...

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 15:35

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 15:37

[jimmytheone]

TEKNOPUG said:

Couldn't say for definite. You'd have to wait until all fitted and has settled. Might be worth fitting anyway as better to be a touch too high than too low.

However, I do have a set of unopened KYB Excel G rear shock absorbers for Blob/Hawk Wagon that I no longer need as I intend to fit the Bug springs. I think that I have unused rear top mounts also (maybe). I can do you a deal on these if you want to refresh all the suspension whilst it's apart and you are paying the labour costs?

I have an unused set of these offset front mounts also: https://pedders.co.uk/pedders-multi-position-offse...

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 15:35

Edited by TEKNOPUG on Thursday 8th February 15:37

Thanks, I think i'll try the whiteline and see how i get on.
Also, the rear spacers ship from San Diego so will take forever to get here, and i kinda need my car back on the road (although i'm enjoying the fabia loan car, all 70bhp of it)

[scoobydog]

If you go for these bug ones like I did with some new bug top mounts to replace the blob/hawk ones you'll get a bit more lift at the back. The Prodrives had a positive rake so the Whiteline bug springs should be more like them than the Whiteline blob/hawk ones (not that I'm an expert at this by any means )

https://ukwhitelineperformance.com/collections/all...

[WickedWizzzard]

I also have a 05 wrx sl wagon. And last year replaced the shocks and springs for KYB excel-g and Whiteline lowering springs.The ride height and firmness are just right. Brilliant combination in my opinion. And very good value for money, I find, vs some alternatives including Pedders.

Edited by WickedWizzzard on Friday 9th February 06:59