I would get some S0-3s first, then spring for a set of STi V8 Take-offs w/ or w/out the pink springs. What you do for the top mount, w/ or w/out negative camber and caster adjustments, is up to you.

There is a set of coilovers that works great on backroads, but they're expensive ($2500)

TEIN HG

Stratos did a review of them in the reviews section

 

Hoche, you've given one of the best advice posts i've read on the internet period. Thanks a bunch.



everything's stock. I'm just doing a bunch of thought expriments involving corvettes, 20G's, 2.5L blocks, and STI trannies since (as I posted in another thread) I'm about to make an crapload of money that I don't really want to invest or save or anything. Driving: the occasional track days, but mainly spirited driving.

the prime issues right now is understeer and grip. When I make sharp turns (in a safe environment of course, I learned my lesson almost killing myself in my first RWD car) I find the understeer to be intolerable and find myself pulling the ebrake or tapping the brake suddenly to avoid understeering and plowing into an obstacle.

I guess it's grip too since I have stock tires, lol.

I don't know about bodyroll because I haven't really driven many other high performance cars.

[QUOTE]

I remember the Motortrend, or C&D, test WRX wore falken azenis, and they remarked that it had bad treadlife. What can I except out of these compared to S03's?

 

Falken Azenis for stock wheels will be 205/55VR16, correct?

 

get the S-03's first. they will make a world of a difference, especially if you're on re92's right now. suspension is important, but you should at least eliminate the weakest link in your system right now, which are obviously the tires if you're on re92's or even kuhmo 712's.

 

S0-3s wear quickly too. I'm not sure if they wear as fast, but they do wear fast.

It's worth it though, knowing that you're that much safer though, with all the traction the S0-3s afford you.

 

Yeah, for understeer and grip, I'd definitely start with new tires, and maybe a slightly more aggressive alignment. See how that goes, and then consider upgrading your rear swaybar to a slightly stiffer one, say a 20-24 adjustable set to the softest. You can always dial it up later. Just do one thing at a time.

As for tire wear, the sticker the tire, the shorter its lifespan! ...and having a radical alignment contributes a lot. For instance, my Miata is set to -2 degrees of camber all around, and when I was still driving it a lot on the street I'd hafta throw out tires every six months or because the inside edges would wear out.

 

new (and better) tires are the best thing you could do for your car. its the only thing touching the ground!!! your suspension is as good as its weakest link. wouldnt you want the only thing touching the ground to be the best you could get? dont skimp on tires!

 

I had my S-03's last about 18,000 miles. That's a few thousand miles higher than most of my buddies make them last, but while they were on my car, they were excellent tires. Superb handling in the rain, and pretty good in the dry as well. That's why I got them because they have great characteristics in both the wet and dry.

 

I would say get struts or springs. Or just get the springs and put it on the stock struts. This way you can maybe get the better tire cheers&ENJOY!! have fun

 

I love my S0-3's just get a good alignment - my first set wore down in 10K miles due to poor alignment. My second set went 21K and now on my 3rd set.

These things kick butt rain or shine!

I also have V7 suspension on my '03 wagon. I like it MUCH better than stock - it is an excellent comprimise in ride softness vs control. It is a little stiff for a rough road, but at speed I can corner way better than stock and on the freeway it is smooth, not bouncy at all.

If I could only do one, I'd do the tires because it makes the biggest difference and increases both handling and decreases stopping distance.

 

1. Tires
2. Track time (HPDE Event of some sort)

 

I have a question, sorry for the hijack..but are "struts" also called "shocks"? I thikn the struts are the things that the springs go over right?

 

youre kidding right?

anyway yes, struts = shocks.

 

Yes,

Struts=Shocks=Dampers - all the same thing.

 

Well only very loosly. The strut is a suspension component that includes a shock absorber. Most suspension designs include shock absorbers but they do not all include struts. Technically the strut also includes the spring.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacPherson_strut

The WRX has struts in front and back and the springs on these struts can be changed for springs with different characteristics.

"Coilover" generally refers to a spring assembly that replaces the spring on the strut and allows the ride height to be adjusted. It is also used to refer to struts with adjustable ride height.