Do I really Need Coilovers?

[alfa daley]

I have an 03 STi and it has started making a clonk from the rear passenger side suspension. I'm reliably told that this is the common strut failure. So my question is what's the best/cheapest fix: BC coilovers, AP Coilovers? I'm actually not too worried about lowering my car or having the adjustment, could I just get new dampers and springs?

I seem to recall someone on here recommending eiback springs and bilstein dampers. Are there specific models to go for?

Any advice appreciated, Thanks


Simon

[v8will]

Coilovers, unless you put a decent amount of money into them, are st.

Why? Cheap coilovers usually only offer height adjustment and the spring seats can seize up pretty quickly. They usually alter the ride quality - badly.

If your happy with the car as is then some decent dampers (Bilstein etc) and either standard or uprated springs (Eibach, H&R etc) is the way to go.

[mazdajason]

Do you use your car on track? If not, I would just stick with uprated struts and springs. Coilovers IMO are overkill on a road car but i can only speak about Aberdeen roads being full of potholes. If you have 600 odd quid to spend get lowered springs and struts and invest in an ALK.

[paulmoonraker]

Jack the offending corner up, pull up the damper cover, spray lashings of white lithium grease on. Get this from Halfords (blue tin, WD40 make it). Problem solved for 5K miles. I routinely do this and it sorts it every time.

-P

[Evil.soup]

paulmoonraker said:

Jack the offending corner up, pull up the damper cover, spray lashings of white lithium grease on. Get this from Halfords (blue tin, WD40 make it). Problem solved for 5K miles. I routinely do this and it sorts it every time.

-P

Is it really that simple then??

I had mine changed under warranty about 20k ago and im sure they are starting to play up again, although i am rather paranoid when it comes to cars and noises!

[paulmoonraker]

Yes. This has worked for me 3 times now.

Granted, its no long term fix, but I find it a nice 6 monthly car fiddle to do on a Sunday morning

[NorthDownsScooby]

If you are in or near Surrey give James @ GRD a call for some 2nd hand Subaru coilovers. !!

Edited by NorthDownsScooby on Friday 25th March 07:08

[Evil.soup]

paulmoonraker said:

Yes. This has worked for me 3 times now.

Granted, its no long term fix, but I find it a nice 6 monthly car fiddle to do on a Sunday morning

May be worth a play then!

[GTR Cook]

In short no, but they are nice to have!

If you like the way the car is and have no plans to drive beyond the limit of the standard kit then i would just stick with the original setup or uprate to dampers and springs that are matched together. Coilovers no matter how soft you set them will be stiff on UK roads unless you spend big on the higher end stuff like Ohlins etc.

Just to add, a mate had BC's on his Imprezza and said they were very good for the money, he seemed very impressed with them.

[MMTWRX]

Just fitted some Meisters to a Skyline (not mine) and they are very hard even on the softest settings.

[mgmrw2003]

alfa daley said:

I have an 03 STi and it has started making a clonk from the rear passenger side suspension. I'm reliably told that this is the common strut failure. So my question is what's the best/cheapest fix: BC coilovers, AP Coilovers? I'm actually not too worried about lowering my car or having the adjustment, could I just get new dampers and springs?

I seem to recall someone on here recommending eiback springs and bilstein dampers. Are there specific models to go for?

Any advice appreciated, Thanks


Simon

I had BC Coilovers on my 96 plate 200SX, worst move I ever made...... rode like a skateboard, even on the softest setting. 2 trips to a rally prep centre for full suspension and geomatry set-up and it still made it only "bearable" on anything other than coffee table smooth road.

With the benefit of hindsight, I should have put OE shocks on (new) and then eibach springs. Instead, I ran out of cash, so sold the car....

[p1doc]

stick with oem plus uprated arb-my ast coilovers on 03 sti were great but hard on non smooth roads
martin

[kayzee]

The guy I bought my Impreza off said he had to change the suspension three times because they kept failing... got annoyed in the end and replaced them with TEIN coilovers. I have to admit, they're awesome! As for different brands the only others I've had were Gaz on my R5, didn't like them too much...

[Quickben]

The general consensus here seems to be to get bilstein dampers and uprated springs, but I can't find any online retailer that sells just the dampers for my car (05 STI UK)all they seems to stock is the B14 PSS coil over set.

Anyone know where you can get the dampers by themselves for this model STI ?

Also, has anyone had any experience with Prodrive's replacement springs for the STI ? I believe they're only about £270 for the set.

Cheers,

PS sorry for the thread hijack . . . . .

Gary.

[Evil.soup]

Quickben said:

The general consensus here seems to be to get bilstein dampers and uprated springs, but I can't find any online retailer that sells just the dampers for my car (05 STI UK)all they seems to stock is the B14 PSS coil over set.

Anyone know where you can get the dampers by themselves for this model STI ?

Also, has anyone had any experience with Prodrive's replacement springs for the STI ? I believe they're only about £270 for the set.

Cheers,

PS sorry for the thread hijack . . . . .

Gary.

Im not sure where you can source the parts you are after but i believe the Prodrive springs are made by Eibach so you may be able to source the Eibach progressive springs for less money and get the same product;)

[Ian Jones]

with the bc i know you can get different spring rates for them, from hard for track use to softer springs for road.

i think the adjustment on them is for rebound