I' m likely going to be doing suspention, brakes, rims and tires for my senior project on my '02 2.5 and I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on COBB coilovers, camber kits, strut bars, sway bars, brake disks and calipers, and rims. They are all obviously sold on COBB's website and look to be fairly quality, but I'd like the real scoop. Thanks in advance guys.

TVA

 

Cobb is good, if you have the money get it. Senior project?

 

Cobb is good yes, but you can find better prices on simular products elsewhere (exept theyre intake and cams perhaps)

 

Well luckily I only have to worry about suspention bits, rather than engine right now. What do you guys feel would be the best "bang for the buck" regarding the aforementioned pieces? And Ban, yeah senior project, I'm still in high school but I figure that this is one of the better ways to kill two birds with one stone. Thanks for your information guys.

TVA

 

Weel, yeah, High School, DUH, lol but I was wondering how come I missed the part where modding a kick *** car was actually worth credit. For suspension, top of the list is tires. Chuck the RE92s if you already havn't. Then get a rear sway bar and endlinks. Short shifter is nice too. After that, you can get Eibach springs and KYB AGX struts for about $600 total, shipped. All that adds up to a decent car for less than $1000, and you can do it piece by piece.

 

Well luckily the RE92's are long gone and to take they're place are a set of fairly decent Yokohama Avant Decibels. As long as it isn't exorbanant price isn't to much of an issue so do you believe that that setup would be the best that I could do for myself? I'd like to have something that's really going to stand up. Also included in my list of mods for the project are a brake kit and rims, so what would you suggest for those? Thanks again for the quick replies!

TVA

 

Which setup? Cobb or the one I mentioned? Rule of thumb with Subaru aftermarket parts is, you get what you pay for. But the setup I described is very similar to what Kostamojen is running (he has Ground Control Coilovers on AGXs) and his 65 wheel horwepower torque monster L is competitive in ST-X. He's faster than me in my lightly modded RS.

Unless you get open track time, or run down some serious mountain roads, all you need brake-wise are SS lines ($106 shipped from www.subaruwrxparts.com) and some pads. I recommend Mintax pads, see www.spdusa.com for why. Good fluid is a good idea since you are draining it to do the lines anyway. Slotted rotors are nice to have too, but not essential for a street/autocross car. As far as wheels, just make sure you get something somebody else already has and has said they like. Rotas on a budget, or TE37s, Prodrive P1 or P7 if you want to go all the way. Subaru uses a totaly unique offset with this bolt pattern, so wheels that fit any other make of car won't fit yours. Well, unless you know how to get Peugot wheels, they are the same.

 

The COBB setup, but you believe that the one that you mentioned would be comparable? If there is a slight gain in performance with the COBB setup is it worth the money? The brakes will be both for asthetics and usefullness so which would you go for if you were to be buying one? Do you feel the the Prodrive rims are of a higher quality than the COBB rims? Where do you believe that I should source my strut and sway bars from? If I were to go with the kit that you mentioned is a camber kit a good idea? If so where should that come from? Thanks for putting up with me Ban, you've been a great deal of help.

TVA

 

Cobb is good stuff. The Eibach/KYB setup is pretty good, but it's the budget way. The thing about the Cobb is, it takes care of a lot of details... but until you get pretty hardcore, you won't necesarily pick up on how good it is. Strictly on potential, the Cobb or Prodrive stuff is top-shelf, but you have to be pretty good behind the wheel before you can really reach teh limits it has. If you can do that, or will be able to later, it is worth it.

Asthetics eh? I think the Gold Brembos are pretty, but the Red painted Stoptechs are the what folks round here really covet. They also happen to be extremely effective, very good quality stuff. Go with those and slotted (not drilled) rotors if you want some bling with your swing.

Cobb wheels are Prodrive wheels, basically. Cobb doesn't manufacture much themselves- mostly they just design the specs, and outsource it, or they license other stuff. Most vendors who do this are not real great, but Cobb takes a lot of pride in their products, and if Trey Cobb puts his name on it, it's good stuff. They have a tremendous product testing and development department though, and they design to a goal, rather than just the sake of creating a part.

Sway bars, I personally have a 20mm FHI bar, and I think it's perfect. (So does Subaru- it's OE on V5/6/7 STi) If you really want adjustability, go with a 20-22 Cobb or Whiteline bar. As for braces, to be honest, you can get away with anything here. I haev an eBay front brace and Whiteline rear brace. Got the Whiteline basically so I could put the sticker on the underside of my trunk with the others, so my monkey can learn to read.

Camber kits aren't essential, but can help. For the money, go for it. Eibachs camber bolts are fine.