bonafyd

Hey guys i need some help from the suspension gurus..
My 99 S is crying for some new suspension so i figured i'd just buy a set of coilovers & be done with it..

My question is should i buy forster specific coilovers or buy a set for the impreza?
Is there a difference in applications between the 2 applications? I hear that most stuff swaps between both chassis but i'm not too sure which models so if you guys can help me out i'd appreciate it...
Thanks in advance.

bonafyd

Thread Starter

Thanks guys..

Wessneroo

It's been less than half a day since you posted your question and most of the forum has been at work during this time...

Anyways. Yes there is a difference. 04 STi, 02-03 WRX (depending on what top hat you want to run), and 04-07 WRX will fit. Forester-specific coilovers will fit your Forester.

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-Matt
'06 FXT Limited 4EAT CGM - "Roo II"

funkymonkey1002

You can use either, but forester specific will usually allow you to be closer to stock height while most impreza coilover will drop you at least 2.5-3".

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04FXT/4EAT Snorkus Free, WRX suspension, sti up, prodrive ypipe, rota/falken/racingbrake/hawk

urabusasnwonatas

check out k sport gravel coil overs, if got some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

hueyduey

What exactly are your goals? Whats your budget?

Coilovers aren't exactly cheap and depending on your budget you might be better off with new struts and springs.

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06' FXT - My Journal

bonafyd

Thread Starter

Thanks for all the replies

My bugdet for coilovers is $1000, i'd rather do coilovers since i can adjust the dampner & have various heights as well as camber plates... overall my goal is low & slow.

hueyduey

Entry level coilovers will ride pretty harsh IMO, but people find them tolerable. BC/Megan/Stance/ISC/Fortune Auto. They are similar in construction, but slightly different in valving. Most come with camber plates in the front and height adjustments separate from spring pre-load.

Slightly above the brands listed above there's the Feal 441s which are based off the coilovers above but with custom valving and Swift coilover springs. There are other companies out there that do this as well, but Feal is the more popular brand of these re-worked coilovers.

If I were to go the coilover route I'd consider suspension techniques speedtech coilovers. They're pretty much KW v1s that are galvanized steel instead of stainless steel. No damper adjustments and you'll have to buy your own camber plates / tophats.
Check out this reivew.

These are pretty much your options in the $1000-1500. Others might chime in with other brands they have success with, but this should narrow down most of the popular options.

Above $1500 you'll be going into JDM/EDM brands. It's hard to find reviews for these, especially on foresters, but there's a few members on here who have.

If you want to go low and slow with aggressive wheels. I would recommend coilovers for that extra clearance. But if you want a little bit of comfort too then you're gonna have to pay to play.

Duderotomy

If you'd like a coilover that rides comparably to STi suspension then check out DGR.
They're the essentially the same or similar construction to the many other Taiwan-built setups but they offer quality bushings, bearings and shock oil unlike their competitors.

They also offer Forester-specific versions. DGR Line

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07 XT - VF43'd
02 S
03 Outback H6
98 S - H6/Ver.8 swap
90 Nissan Skyline GTS-t

Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX

You'll never adjust the dampers.... (or very rarely)

You have to have an alignment (toe) after you adjust hight each time...(which is a MAJOR PITA in the first place)

Camber plates don't mean squat to "your" car, as all the "camber" you'll need will come with any set-up you'll get... Unless you have a highly modded suspension and/or are doing track days, totally not necessary..

They always used to call the KYB-AGX/Ground Control set-up "porsche killers" back when the WRX first came here...

I understand D-specs are better than AGX (if you want damper adjust)


Coilovers have a great factor, till you realize you never mess with them, unless of course are doing "other" things...

Foe slow and low, don't bother..

stan_t

AGX/Ground Control was ages ago when there were no other options in the same price range.

Nothing wrong with the good entry-level options listed above, BC Racing BR series, Feal, DGR should all work.

Stan

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Shocks > struts.

Sofakinglong

A $1000 budget for coilovers means you'll be looking at some low quality coils. Once you have them you'll either wish that you bought a better set or just spent the money on struts. A good strut setup for $1000 will out perform $1000 coilovers everytime.

If you want answers from the pros contact tic toc suspensions or racecomp engineering. They can set you up with the best setup.

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04 FXT vf39 deceased
08 FXT Sports vf43 294/320

Wessneroo

You can get the best of the best in struts, springs, and camber plates for $1000 or you can scratch the surface of budget coilovers. The only thing you want that you can't get in struts is height adjustability.

__________________
-Matt
'06 FXT Limited 4EAT CGM - "Roo II"

bonafyd

Thread Starter

Thanks guys.. I'm just getting coils for the height adjustability,I plan on getting a decent set of coils nothing crazy..
my other car is bagged so the foz is really a daily low & slow car with a hint of presence..

builtnotboughtauto

you might want to look at the spring rates before you make your decision.

I put WRX coils on my 05 SG5 and the rear springs (6k) were sloppy. I ended up running 10k's per BC recomendation.

also, higher rate Forester coilovers come with different valved struts to match the new rates.

Forester specific coilovers are alse physically longer then WRX Coilovers.

I did a post on it.

the tread got off topic but some usefull info still
why search when i can link