Springs & Shocks: Which to Buy?
 

Please forgive me if this is a repost, searched the forum, couldn't find what I was looking for.

I want to improve the looks and handling of the car and understand coilovers are optimal but seeing as how money is a little tight I decided to go with a spring and shock combo, springs now, shocks to follow in a few months. Most of my driving is weekend mountain fun and daily commute. Would like to track the car for fun sometime but definitely by no means doing it often or setting up my car to race. Not concerned with comfort. What set up do you guys recommend? Will the new set up improve the handling really or will it have a negative effect? I appreciate any advice and input. Thanks guys.

You really don't need to waste your money on shocks at this point, assuming your car doesn't have too many miles. I went with Eibach Sportlines on stock shocks and couldn't be happier. Installed em by myself in about 3 hours with no power tools, only rented strut spring compressors from Napa. 1000+ miles later and not a single squeak or problem. (I personally find coils to be a waste of money unless you're 1) Stancing a car and need static or 2) tracking the car weekly.)

Thanks for the feedback! Did you have to get an alignment? How'd they effect the cars handling?

OP: your name is amazing.

And can anyone chime in on a set of springs/shocks to keep the ride comfortable but with a slight drop (less than an inch) that will refine the handling a bit? I want extreme function, don't really care much for form. I'd actually like to make the car behave a little more neutrally, get rid of some of the oversteer.

Also, is there a big difference between say H&R, Eibach, and Teins?

I highly recommend the Racecomp Engineering Yellow springs. They are matched to work with the stock struts, and they still give you a nice drop.

Eibach is track proven for years and years.

Get Race Comp Engineering springs if the handling is higher priority than the bigger drop (only .75 I think). Then when money allows, get Koni Sport shocks.

Eibach is a good set that most of the forum guys tend to go with. Adding springs will eventually wear our your stock shocks/struts faster than they would with stock springs of course. At that point when they wear out, I would typically add coilovers, or go with a good set of shocks.

Or if you're like me, trade them out with KW V3's with less than 2000 miles on the stockers :D :D

False if you use springs that are matched to the stock struts. It's true if you use garbage springs that drop the car too much.

It's true for any spring that lowers a car, including Eibach, doesn't necessarily have to be garbage for it not to wear our stock shocks/struts. Depending on how low it goes and how much the shock/strut is limited in movement really determines how quickly they will wear out. Talk to any mechanical engineer with a hand in making shocks/struts as I have, several times in the past, they all say the same. :thumbsup:

RCE's and yes you should get shocks. Either Konis or call Odi at Feal about having the stock ones rebuilt to match the springs.

I am not getting into a pissing match with the "experts" on here, but for longevity reasons and to save you money in the future, do it right the first time

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Please explain STi pinks blowing out stock shocks on 08+ WRX's. You maybe correct most of the time, but again it's better to play it safe

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Do you guys recommend an alignment after installing the springs?