new suspension for the wagon.

[wagonmafia]

ok so my car has started creaking when i go over bumps so i thinks its a good time to giv the old girls suspension the once over.
i just got some tokico d-spec struts. but what springs do i get. i own a set of s tech and are 3 years old. are they too old with 28000miles. i like how low it is now and would like to keep it that way come summer time.
any recommendations?

Also looking at upgrading the bushings front and rear(trickydick will be getting a call soon) so if you have an idea let me hear it. Also looking at swaybars and endlinks. im onto a set of sti control arms so ill wait till i get those to buy a front sway bar and links. the rear of the wagon is where i have the biggest problem if you dont feather taht ***** in turns she will step out and on the snow or ice(duh) it way worse. what can i d with that. im guessing that has to do with body roll. wagon has alot of ass and that is where the extra 90pounds is.

sorry for all the edits.
thanks guys
Brandon

[Bu11dogg2]

The Springs should be fine.

S-techs are quite low...

[wagonmafia]

im going back with 18 in the summer. so i want it low and flush.vw style lol. getting all the corners rolled and pulled to fit my rim and tires. with the s techs and stock struts 18x8 rubbed a little in the rear. so hopefully the with the roll and pull the 18x9 will fit. fingers crossed

[Murphy2012]

I know this is lame, but list:

1. What you want from the suspension? ie. DD/Track, Track, Drag, etc.
2. How stiff you do or dont mind it being? I know youre not the only one that drives the car.
3. Will they be swapped out for the winter with stockers?

Answer those and I can find something good for you. :)

[wagonmafia]

I want to drive it daiy with some autocrass next year.
wife doesnt mind how stiff, as long as i dont put the bouncy STI seats back in the car.
They will be swapped for winters. just struts and springs though. dont wanna mess with sways and endlinks each time. heard they are a "misrable female" to deal with.

Also the big wheels will be for dd only. using 16 with good rubber for the fun days.

[Murphy2012]

Front swaybars suck to deal with. Here (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=plg1Ea3xR9HfIsfeL_KhwEw&gid=1) is the google spreadsheet with spring rates/drops for most major springs. I always will suggest the RCE springs for anyone. They even make wagon version springs for no saggy bum bum. :) S Techs are ok, but you dont want them for autoxing. I wouldnt suggest anything besides a Tein coilover for that. Keep asking questions!


BTW, I have D specs with RCE Yellows, and love the setup. You can drive my car anytime to get a feel.

[Murphy2012]

Check this (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1422286&highlight=RCE+wagon) out too, its a wagon with the same setup you would be running. Looks great, IMO, and thats with stock wheels!

[wagonmafia]

thanks murphy, ill check out them sites as soon as the little one goes to bed.

[Murphy2012]

Its safe for kids. ;)

[wagonmafia]

lol, looking now.

[Murphy2012]

So, what are you thinking Brandon? Any more help I can give ya?

[wagonmafia]

so far im not sure what springs to get?

what bout tophats? should i use my stock ones or get the group n ones?
if i change tophats i could use an 04/05 spring set with top hats. if i do that it seems as if i have way more choices to change them out with.

[Murphy2012]

Ya, I would just look for some STi used tophats man. Dungelman got some for like 40 bucks or something, good way to go and a big upgrade. Gruppe N is nice, but pricey.

My honest and pure suggestion (not only because I have them) would be the RCE Wagon springs..... If you dont want as stiff, and a nice drop; Prodrive, Swift, Tanabe Springs are also good choices.

[Kevin]

+1 for rce

[kgj996]

Why don't you put those extra stock struts you have to good use, and get a set of koni inserts? :devil:

[wagonmafia]

i bought the tokico struts dirt cheap. so ill use them. what springs do you have and what sways. i like the way your car handles.

[-=The Boss=-]

Stay stock stay happy :)

[Murphy2012]

Kevins got the Tanabe GF210 IIRC. I think he has the same perrin sways that I do. I have a big issue with my perrin sways though, and I personally wouldnt recommend them.

[wagonmafia]

not happy now man, all that creaking is driving me insane. my left rear has finally blown so fast right turns are scary.lol

murphy what is wrong with the perrin sways?

[Murphy2012]

My rear perrin sway actually rubs the crap out of my rear endlinks. They knock like crazy and have rubbed about a 3/8" mark into my billet hotchkis endlinks. The front, didnt seem to fit right on installation and took me a while to get to work. I can only have it on the softer setting without breaking endlinks. Maybe I got a poorly made one, not sure. The front was brandy new when I got it, and the rear was barely used from Morbid gorilla on the same model/year car.

[wagonmafia]

damn that sucks.

[subarude]

another thing to help with stability on your car were it's a wagon is a rear strut bar.my hatch use to make some noise until i installed one.with my 02 wagon i run gr2's with eibach prokit wagon spec. springs,cusco rear sway bar with hotchkis rear endlinks,stock front sway with kartboy endlinks,whiteline rear strut bar and apr front strut bar.i have no creeks or groans from this set up and i have run it for over 20,000 miles now

[-=The Boss=-]

sounds like 99% of perrins stuff....looks good doesn't fit right :(

[wagonmafia]

how long to swith out a complete strut with springs? im gonna put in stock struts and springs for the winter. i need to do it asap.

tokico and group n mounts are a go, still undecided on springs. Gonna order all the bushings and stuff on monday.

[Murphy2012]

Doesnt take too long at all to do the whole assembly. If the springs are already mounted on the struts, maybea 45 minutes?

[wagonmafia]

45 all way round or each?

[kgj996]

I'd say each. The rear tops are a mission to get to.

[Murphy2012]

Theyre not that bad. I am used to working with all power tools and lifts, so I am kind of spoiled and get things done a little quicker than most. Also, I have usally Mikes and my dads hands with me, which helps a ton.

[kgj996]

Power tools are sweet!! I love my GF210s though. They don't bounce the crap out of you on the daily commute, but handle very nicely at the track.

[Murphy2012]

Ya, thought thats what you had. I hear good things about the STi versions.

[Seraphinwolf]

I'd say each. The rear tops are a mission to get to.
Not in wagons! :D Especially GF's. Kevin go take a look sometime are your girl's.
-Gaddis

[subarude]

ya it shouldn't take more than an hour to change the whole susp. in a wagon very easy access

[Kevin]

brandon what springs you end up going with?

[wagonmafia]

im gonna go with the RCE springs. Bunch of people recommended them..

[mdungelman]

RCE springs + Tokico= Goodness!

Good choice.

[LordBass]

Let us know how you like the setup. I'm considering making the move to new struts/springs since the stock stuff is at 95k miles. Tokico struts & RCE springs & Gp-N tops may be just what the doctor ordered.

[Bu11dogg2]

is it on yet?

[wagonmafia]

all the new suspension bits go on in the spring. just gonna hord stuff till then. stock springs and struts till then ftl.

[mdungelman]

I'm in the same boat. I'll be putting my setup on once the snow is melting.

[Murphy2012]

Along with a hundred other items, Mike! I say send it all back and buy a snaily looking thing! :) Cant wait for all the spring (season) installs!

[mdungelman]

Dude, there are like 5 things to install.:D

[wagonmafia]

we should make it a suspension mega day at your shop.lol

[Murphy2012]

Yea, we can do that. I have bushings and some other goodies to install, dungelmans got a set of tokico/jdm pinks to do and a bunch of other things, what else do you have?

[wagonmafia]

springs/struts. swaybars/endlinks. and a bunch of bushings. lol. may be a two day event.lol

[Murphy2012]

Depending on the amount we have to do on other cars, it shouldn't take that long. Mike and I typically get a strut/spring swap together in less than 2 hours, and thats working at a regular pace. If you have a full spring/strut combo you are just going to be swapping out for the current setup, its even easier. Rear sway takes 20 minutes, front is a ***** but sometimes goes smoothly. What bushings did ya get?

[wagonmafia]

steering rack and im waiting on a bunch of stuff from whiteline for the rear.

[Murphy2012]

The steering rack bushing install isnt that hard, takes a bit of time. What other whiteline stuff you getting? I'll have: STi rear diffuser, new rear sway, TiC tranny mount bushings, walbro FP, PSRS, going to get a 3" pipe made up for my cat delete on my stealthback, and whatever else I decide to get for bushings. Everything else is getting done here and there this winter when I have time to get to the shop.

[wagonmafia]

rear diff bushings, rear camber bolts and all the swaybar bushings and mounts( buying used sways)
thats whats on it s way now. Might add a little or not use it all. all depends on what i learn. doing alot of reading on suspensios and stuff. looks like you could fix alot off the problems im having with tire pressures and really good tires.

[Murphy2012]

Yup...you gonna autox this year?

[wagonmafia]

gonna try atleast.. just get my feet wet and take it from there.

[kgj996]

Let men know when your parts come in, we can use a lift at the ship yard if you want.

[Seraphinwolf]

Let men know when your parts come in, we can use a lift at the ship yard if you want.
Strange men with candy in dark alleys in the back of vans?:wtf:
-Gaddis

[kgj996]

Strange men with candy in dark alleys in the back of vans?:wtf:
-Gaddis

I use the portsmouth shipyards auto hobby shop to do my big mods that require a lift. They charge $6/hour, but you need a mil ID to get in.

[Bu11dogg2]

Can you rent tools?

[kgj996]

They are included. Plus waste disposal like oil and anti-freeze. :D