2.5rs struts and springs + turbo swaybar
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:57 am
Well, i didn't want to write anything up until i really had given the setup a good working over. I've had it for a month and a half now and have autoxed it 1x.
this is on a 90 sedan, new 2000 impreza 2.5rs struts and springs, 18mm rear swaybar, wrx rims with re-92s (what a surprise!), new rubber bits and rear topmounts.
ride- definately stiffer than stock, i get surprised finding dips in the freeway i didnt know about before. About as stiff as a wrx, but since our stock seats are softer, it seems like a softer ride than it is. I don't mind it at all and i people who dont know i changed it haven't noticed.
Appearance- lowered about 1/2 inch, it looks like a normal car. The nose still has the larger clearance to the fender that it used to. I wouldn't mind if it was gone. Wrx rims look funny with stock brakes. I'd say it looks fine, but i dont really pay much attention.
handling- much better than stock. It understeers, and the on-throttle oversteer could be better, but for my use- mostly fast mountain driving, that's how i wanted it. Coasting through a turn breakaway is pretty neutral. As a result, roadholding is quite good. I think it would be a lot more fun with more power. Where i've noticed the biggest difference is in the braking. The nose doesn't dive like it used to and stack the weight up on the front wheels.
Verdict- I'm pretty happy with this, it's a good compromise for a daily driven vehicle that sees some turns. I would want something stiffer and less forgiving if i was all about the racing. Getting the car converted to the later style suspension was a PITA.
Notes- To do this swap to a 90-91, i had to replace both the rear top mounts and the front spring perches. The top mounts are a good idea to get new, but the spring perches will save you a lot of money if you can get them off a wreck. The suspension has afforded me a lot more room for plus-sized rims and tires. My rear struts baaaarely cleared the tires on the stock struts (i didnt run with the wrx rims on the stockers long enough to tell if they rubbed during hard cornering). This suspension set up tends to bottom out a lot more easily than my original stuff. I'm not sure why.
I've tried pretty much every variation of the stuff i have and would be happy to talk about it.
this is on a 90 sedan, new 2000 impreza 2.5rs struts and springs, 18mm rear swaybar, wrx rims with re-92s (what a surprise!), new rubber bits and rear topmounts.
ride- definately stiffer than stock, i get surprised finding dips in the freeway i didnt know about before. About as stiff as a wrx, but since our stock seats are softer, it seems like a softer ride than it is. I don't mind it at all and i people who dont know i changed it haven't noticed.
Appearance- lowered about 1/2 inch, it looks like a normal car. The nose still has the larger clearance to the fender that it used to. I wouldn't mind if it was gone. Wrx rims look funny with stock brakes. I'd say it looks fine, but i dont really pay much attention.
handling- much better than stock. It understeers, and the on-throttle oversteer could be better, but for my use- mostly fast mountain driving, that's how i wanted it. Coasting through a turn breakaway is pretty neutral. As a result, roadholding is quite good. I think it would be a lot more fun with more power. Where i've noticed the biggest difference is in the braking. The nose doesn't dive like it used to and stack the weight up on the front wheels.
Verdict- I'm pretty happy with this, it's a good compromise for a daily driven vehicle that sees some turns. I would want something stiffer and less forgiving if i was all about the racing. Getting the car converted to the later style suspension was a PITA.
Notes- To do this swap to a 90-91, i had to replace both the rear top mounts and the front spring perches. The top mounts are a good idea to get new, but the spring perches will save you a lot of money if you can get them off a wreck. The suspension has afforded me a lot more room for plus-sized rims and tires. My rear struts baaaarely cleared the tires on the stock struts (i didnt run with the wrx rims on the stockers long enough to tell if they rubbed during hard cornering). This suspension set up tends to bottom out a lot more easily than my original stuff. I'm not sure why.
I've tried pretty much every variation of the stuff i have and would be happy to talk about it.