Lowering Springs

[B 4 You]

Well I will say that even though it's very stiff, it's still super comfy. I drove 2600 miles across the country in 4 days and I was just as comfortable as when it was stock! You will most likely need to roll and possibly pull your fenders, but I think you'd be set with the fender liners still there.

[david_12121]

Update:

Got some 05 STI struts with tein lowering springs, as I thought it was definitely an improvement, plus I got them for $150.
For some reason, the round part on top of the front struts would not fit the SVX one, so I decided to try putting the springs on the SVX struts. The front ones fit PERFECTLY.
The problem was that they were 2" drop for the STI and since we have more weight on the front, it dropped down to the bump stops. I'm not joking, it was literally on the bump stops.
I bought a spring spacing rubber piece from pepboys, put it on, and it lifted it close to an inch, and that is my travel.
The stiffness is much better and I don't bottom out too often. It rolls much less as well.
As far as the rears go, I put the springs from the same set onto my stock struts, but because they were shorter, yet much stiffer, I have the exact same height and stiffness...exactly the same as before. Also they do not fit perfectly on the back. I just made it stay to see how they work and how low it gets.

So overall, it was a failure, but it does the job for now, until I can get some coilovers. But I can tell you that STI front lowering springs fit. I believe if you get stock height for the STI, with 250lb/in ratio, it'll have a decent height and stiffness.

[Coan]

Originally Posted by david_12121

Update:

Got some 05 STI struts with tein lowering springs, as I thought it was definitely an improvement, plus I got them for $150.
For some reason, the round part on top of the front struts would not fit the SVX one, so I decided to try putting the springs on the SVX struts. The front ones fit PERFECTLY.
The problem was that they were 2" drop for the STI and since we have more weight on the front, it dropped down to the bump stops. I'm not joking, it was literally on the bump stops.
I bought a spring spacing rubber piece from pepboys, put it on, and it lifted it close to an inch, and that is my travel.
The stiffness is much better and I don't bottom out too often. It rolls much less as well.
As far as the rears go, I put the springs from the same set onto my stock struts, but because they were shorter, yet much stiffer, I have the exact same height and stiffness...exactly the same as before. Also they do not fit perfectly on the back. I just made it stay to see how they work and how low it gets.

So overall, it was a failure, but it does the job for now, until I can get some coilovers. But I can tell you that STI front lowering springs fit. I believe if you get stock height for the STI, with 250lb/in ratio, it'll have a decent height and stiffness.

How far off is the fitment for the rears? Was it the strut perch or the top mount (or both) that had the fitment issues?

I have a set of stock '03 WRX springs in my garage. The spring rates are very similar to the SVX springs, and may actually be a good fit if the rears aren't too far off. I think these should be about 3" higher than the Tein springs you have, which might be perfect to drop the SVX a little from stock...

[david_12121]

Originally Posted by Coan

How far off is the fitment for the rears? Was it the strut perch or the top mount (or both) that had the fitment issues?

I have a set of stock '03 WRX springs in my garage. The spring rates are very similar to the SVX springs, and may actually be a good fit if the rears aren't too far off. I think these should be about 3" higher than the Tein springs you have, which might be perfect to drop the SVX a little from stock...

The perch fit nicely, for the top mount, I used the SVX one because the whole spring was spaced out towards the bottom for some reason, and if I used the sti top it would have sat 2" higher.
The fitment is not awful, it needs 1" of spacing on one side but I've had it on the car for a month now and it has not moved. I've had some hard cornering in that time as well.
The teins I have were close to 5" shorter on the back but because of the higher rate, they sat higher. If you know the spring constant, I would actually be able to calculate the drop. I have a large sub in the back, and I'll be relocating the battery soon for the additional weight in the back.
As of now, both the front and the back are tucking, but since the rear fender is flat on the bottom, I'm raking quite hard If wanna balance it out, my rim will be flush with my fender!

By the way I just purchased four 255/35/18's. A bit larger than stock (edit: I mean outer diameter) but I don't think it'll be that bad. I'll be struggling to make them fit. Will that be the largest tire anyone runs on the SVX?

['E']

No not the largest I'm running 275/30 on 19x8.5

[david_12121]

Originally Posted by 'E'

No not the largest I'm running 275/30 on 19x8.5

You're Australian...you guys are too awesome for us
How much does it rub? How low are you? Can you post/send me a couple of pictures?

When I was on the bumps I would rub with the slightest bit of turning, even though I was stretching 225's on my 8.5". It still rubs at turns but way less. Not sure how it'll be with the 255's.

[SVXRide]

OT's FP-class SVX RaceCar is now running 17x9 Mustang rims with Hoosier 295 A6 tires.

My FP-class SVX RacerX will be running 17x10 Mustang rims with Hoosier and Kumho 315s this coming season.

Significant body mods are required in both cases. My 17x10 rims have +20 offset, so they do have some "dish".

Bill

[david_12121]

I believe at that point the traction gain is not worth the unsprung mass and the rotational inertia...but you guys actually race them and definitely know better.

I might go up to 285's after I get coils. We'll see.

[Tireiron]

I'm running 265/35/18 on 18x9.5 with coilovers with about a 1/2 inch drop (these cars already sit on the ground, I don't know how it would even be driveable lowered)

[david_12121]

Originally Posted by Tireiron

I'm running 265/35/18 on 18x9.5 with coilovers with about a 1/2 inch drop (these cars already sit on the ground, I don't know how it would even be driveable lowered)

They are quite high if you ask me, and more so in the front. The rear is acceptable with a large sub in the trunk.
As of now, I'm what you call too low. I can't get into any driveway if I don't go sideways, and I cannot possibly go over the crazy speed bump. I believe my A-arm mounting points are the lowest point, which are roughly 2" off the ground. Luckily the oil pan is way up there.
But it is certainly drivable if the roads you have to drive on don't contain gigantic speed bumps.
If you have height adjusting coils and don't mind going sideways everywhere, I suggest trying to go an inch lower. They look awfully sexy, especially if you run big rims.

img
This is how my car sits at the moment. The tires look pathetic with that stretch but the 255's will fix that. I also need some spacing, which you guys' offsets help me find.

['E']

I want to raise the rear a little and drop the front a little

Attached is a rear pic of an 19x8.5 275/30 with 22mm offset

[Tireiron]

That looks like a great fit E. I can't wait till the spring when I get the brakes on and put the wheels on so I can get a couple of pictures. Right now I'm sitting on the OEM for the winter while it sits in the garage. Might as well not flat spot the good wheels heh.

[SVXRide]

Just as an FYI. Yes, we're racing in FP class in SCCA autocross. As a reference point, Camaros/Firebirds/Mustangs in ESP are all running 315s. I've run 245s (GS) and 275s (ESP) in the past and run out of traction with both. As far as unsprung mass, I agree that less is better. Unfortunately, the rims I'd really like to run are $200+ each (!). The Mustang rims are much more affordable and weigh roughly the same as our stock SVX rims.

Bill

[david_12121]

E, I don't know how low you are on the fronts but I have the same amount of tuck front and rear and I'm raking hard! If you're going for that it'll rake.
But yeah, yours is way higher than mine, so I'm pretty sure I can't fit that much. But there is only one way to find out. Also you have just the perfect offset. I'd need 13mm of spacing in the rear to have the same, since my offset is 35, on same size rims. I'll probably go with a 15mm one.
Thanks for the pic.

SVXride thanks for the info. Is there any videos I can watch? It'd be awesome to see a well done svx...maybe I can start moving towards that.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Tapani

I think the springs from Dayle have app 50% more spring rate (than stock). I installed a set this summer and they made a huge difference compared to stock. Personally I would not go any stiffer in a daily driver - but of course this a personal matter . So far I've only been to a track day once, but the difference is very noticeable - it doesn't feel quite the barge it used to . Nice to see how they behave when the snow comes...... softer is usually better on ice tracks.

I run 245/45-17 summer tires on STi wheels and 215/60-16 winter tires (studded Nokian Hakka 7) on stock wheels. So far no rubs with either.

/T

Tapani, I know that you have a turbocharged SVX,
(LAN reminded me)
so that tells me that you are an intelligent guy.
But I have to take exception to your 50% claim.
The stock SVX rear springs have a wire diameter of 13.3mm diameter.
Motorsports rear springs have a diameter of 14.4mm.
If you do the math,
there is/that is only a 17% increase in wire diameter.
NASA Bill recently sent me a formula for interpeting the inch/pound strength of a similar design coil spring.
If stock springs are 160/130 inch/pounds, while the MotorSport springs are an improvement, it is no where near 50%.


In my "normal upgrade" I install 400 inch pound/300 inch pound springs,
more for serious Racers.
Just trying to be clear here, not trying to be a Jagoff!
I hope that we are still friends.