Hello Suspension Junkies..
What would be a nice set up for an 04 wagon with Prodrive P7 wheels (17in)with Bridgestone RE070 225/17/45

i would like something not too low, bouncy, as i would have to have my baby ride in the back in the future...i already took the car to test for rubbing issues like driving hard on turns around 45-50mph, and the rear tires did not have any rubbing(does that mean even if i lower it, it won't rub at all with 225's) a lot have said that i should use 215 for the wagon if i plan on lowering it, but i really like the wideness of the tires and it grips well too...

so...should i get a set of springs, and if so which kind out there??

remember i don't really race or anything, just some spirited driving..not really looking into spending a lot for coilovers, just want something to lower the car a bit...will be getting some strut bars as well and a rear sway bar

Thanks for the help guys

 

BUMP

 

Well we know the 04s are of a different design than the '02-'03s. Something was changed. Exactly what? I don't know. (I have an e-mail in to a friend). It's just that Koni doesn't have an insert for it... so it definitely changed someplace. Could just be the diameter of the strut housing. Doubt it's the length of the strut or the mounting point.

Springs are made to generally lower the car. But since you use the stock strut/spring perch, the rubbing wouldn't occur on the strut side of the wheel because the wheel is under the bottom perch. Only going to coil-overs you need to be concerned with strut/spring rubbing.

So the obvious answer is the lip of the wheel well is where it MAY rub if you lower the car. Simple solution: roll the fenders.

As to what springs... no idea, but most of the ones there are the same or just a few pounds stronger over stock because they're made to work with the stock valving of your struts... so they cannot be too far off or you WILL get bouncing as the rebound damping cannot keep up with the quickness of the spring. They're made just to lower the car a little to give a little better balance to the car.

Also... save the money from a front strut tower bar...the strut towers are close enough and partially attached to the fire wall and above lip so that acts as a strut tower brace in a sense. (Look at the difference between a BMW 3-series and any impreza and you'll see what I'm talking about) the back is definitely an improvement tho in the wagon as the sedan has the rear seat brace... same philosophy applies.

Sway bar... something adjustable so you can tune it for your springs. 20 through 24... whiteline likes to rust... but I believe hotchkiss makes a decent one.

 

thanks for the info Kc, and i apologize for any wrong i may have done you...again sorry and thanks for the help

drive safe and take care bro
cheers!

 

i have an 04 wagon. that things wiggles. it's scary.
if you've ever taken turns @ high speeds you'll know. and when you're braking hard into a turn, you'll feel it again.

to deal with this prob... i'm going to get some springs to lower the car and some endlinks. that should do the trick.

 

No offense... but did DMS or your retailer you bought them from tell you there's a maintenance schedule for your DMS street suspension?

There shouldn't be a maintenance schedule for street struts. Race struts, sure... but not DMS 40s. If they didn't tell you one was needed... you may want to contact them.

I had major problems with my DMSs as did others.... I would not go with them. Mine are still sitting in the basement for just about a year now. Not going to pay the few hundred it'll take for them to be shipped and serviced. (Rediculous for STREET struts.)

Hope you kept your stock ones for when the DMSs need to be serviced.