simplespirit

I've been gathering a bunch of info on Forester specific suspension options (just springs and struts at the moment) which I have spread out in several posts so I'm consolidating it here with a better subject title.

SPRINGS
******OE Springs (according to King) 175 lbs/in F and 145 lbs/in R
******OE Springs (according to Peaty/Northwest Tan) 157 lbs/in F and 118 lbs/in R

STI springs for the FXT -1.0F/-1.0R 194 lbs/in F and 165 lbs/in R
STI springs for the JDM FSTI -.8F/-.8R 205 lbs/in F and 195 lbs/in R (pretty sure the drop would be over that of the STI which I believe is .4" lower than the US Forester so about 1.2" total)
STI springs for the JDM CrossSports -.8F/-.8R 182 lbs/in F and 171 lbs/R (these could be lower overall but I don't know if the CrossSports sits lower than the US FXT or not)
Swift springs -1.6F/-1.2R 179 lbs/in F and 111-185 lbs/in R
Tein S-Tech springs -2.2F/-2.2R 168 lbs/in F and 99-202 lbs/in R
Tein H-Tech springs -1.2F/-1.0R 151 lbs/in F and 112-185 lbs/in R
Whiteline Control springs -1.6F/-1.45R 200 lbs/in F and 110-175 lbs/in R
Whiteline Flatout springs -2.4F/-1.85R 200 lbs/in F and 110-175 lbs/in R
King STD springs +.4F/+.4R 230 lbs/in F and 180 lbs/in R (approximate)
King lifted springs +1.2F/+1.2R 230 lbs/in F and 180 lbs/in R (approximate)

SHOCKS/STRUTS
STI pink forester struts - 1820N/540N~2330N/590N(R/C @ 0.3 m/sec) F and 1490N/540N~1830N/580N(R/C @ 0.3 m/sec) R - 4 clicks
KYB GR-2 struts - +15% dampened over stock

COMBOS
FSTI take-offs - -.4F/-.4R (per Peaty) 182 lbs/in F and 177 lbs/in R (per Peaty/Northwest Tan)
STI Sport Suspension Kit -
****1" drop all around using STI FXT springs. Struts are fixed at 1960N/490N(R/C @ 0.3 m/sec) F and 1370N/440N(R/C @ 0.3 m/sec) R

COILOVERS
Megan Racing Coilovers - springs are 448 lbs/in F and 336 lbs/in R - 32 clicks
D2 Racing Sports RS Coilovers - springs are 392 lbs/in F and 280 lbs/in R - 36 clicks
Tein Basic Wagon Coilovers - springs are 224 lbs/in F and R - no dampening adjustment
Tein Super Wagon Coilovers - springs are 224 lbs/in F and R - 16 clicks
Tein Basic Flex Wagon Coilovers - springs are 336 lbs/in F and 280 lbs/in R - no dampening adjustment
Tein Super Flex Wagon Coilovers - springs are 336 lbs/in F and 280 lbs/in R - 16 clicks
Cusco Zero-Wagon Coilovers - need info on spring rates - no dampening adjustment
Enduratech Coilovers - springs are 392 lbs/in F and 448 lbs/in R - 10 clicks rebound only
Ksport Kontrol Pro - springs are 504 lbs/in F and 280 lbs/in R - 36 clicks
Ksport GT Pro - springs are 504 lbs/in F and 252 lbs/in R - 36 clicks and inverted

SWAY BARS
***FSBs are not Forester specific
Cobb Std RSB
Cobb Adj RSB
Perrin 22mm Adj RSB
Perrin 25mm Adj RSB
Whiteline heavy duty
Whiteline extra heavy duty
Whiteline heavy duty Adj
Whiteline extra heavy duty Adj
Cusco 19mm

MISC
STI lateral link
STI trailing link
Whiteline lateral link (adj toe and camber)
Whiteline lateral link (adj toe only)


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FWIW - I've been researching Rally suspensions and from what I can find a typical gravel setup with Forester length springs runs around 215 lbs/in F and 190 lbs/in R. Typical tarmac setups start around 370 lbs/in F and 340 lbs/in R.
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ForesterSuspensionv1.xls

 

teiva-boy

If you get a chance, please also put in swaybar compatibility, as well as bracing that is compatible. That is always something I struggle with in terms of what sedan/sti/wagon pieces work with our car.

__________________
This information is provided "as-is".

simplespirit

I'll start working on that. I think I've mostly exhausted the current spring and strut options.

Endura-Tech

Thought I would pass this informatin along for an update.
The Endura-Tech Forester coilovers offer a 10-way rebound adjustable shock with pillow ball upper mount and adjustable camber plates.

__________________
Justin
www.endura-tech.com
Myspace: Enduratech

simplespirit

Thanks for the info. Do I have the rates reversed? It seems odd that your coilover has a higher rate in the back versus the front when compared to all the other Subaru setups on the market.

deparko

how about endlinks and trailing arms..etc

wagn

A+ for your efforts. Thanks

Sure would be nice to detail ride heights in both the springs and Coil Overs. I worked with MR to extend there strut body four inches for near stock ride height. Most of your CO list would have bigtime drop and should be indicated as such. For most, like the Tien that is a selling point and I don't bring this up as a problem, just an opportunity for clairafication. Any CO for the WRX will fit... is that SF/SG specific, no.

And don't forget the Strano 32mm hollow FSB. Fits fine, lasts long time (until it breaks your control arm attachment point).

Again Thanks

__________________
Jeff 06'FXT

simplespirit

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm going to try to put everything in to a spreadsheet with more detail but I'm trying to limit the list to stuff designed specifically for the Forester. If I open it up to just stuff that fits it'd be a huge list.

simplespirit

Added the start of a spreadsheet to original post

teiva-boy

It's going to be a very short list if you do that.

__________________
This information is provided "as-is".

simplespirit

Everything I've listed so far is Forester specific and it's not a huge list but I wouldn't call it short either.

El Sid

Thank you.

Suspension is my next mod and I want very firm but keep some decent ride height.
Your list will help me sort out the playahs....

There is also some great info already on the suspention and tire sections...

El Sid

groge

That is a great list, but I have one to add.

I'm running KW Variant 3's coilovers, they have adjustable re-bound/compression.
For sway bars I'm using 05 STI F/R swaybars.

Before I put the sway bars in several people commented that my ride was a tiny bit stiffer than a stock sti.

When I added the rear sway bar and things got quite a bit stiffer, without the rear swaybar, the limit, I believe I was lifting a front wheel under hard corning and acceleration. On a long tight corner (120 degrees) it seemed like the factory rear sway bar would just give up about 2/3's the way around the corner.

After adding the rear sway, I had my first track day, it was a blast, but I was experiencing something similar, this time the front bar would just give up, all the weight would shift to the outside wheel and massive understeer -- only on the long corners..... I think.

Recently I have added the sti front sway bar and things are a little stiffer again but turnin is much improved. On 120 degree corners the car is on rails. I have not tracked it yet with this config. For understeer adding a stiffer front is the wrong thing to do, but in this case .... ??

Next tuesday I'm out with the BMW's. Should be interesting, since my previous sessions with the BMWs , the front bar has been added, as well as sti turbo/IC, CAI intake, RR downpipe, fuel pump, STI Cat back and a wicked RocketRally Tune on 94 octain (Canadian Gas). I'm running the equivalent of ~360HP and ~370 tq.

If anyone has done a STI Steering rack swap with a 2008 Forester can you please contact me.... cheers.

navin_sti

do you know if the 2002 wrx (bugeye model) springs would fit on the SG foresters???

want to lower my ride abt 1inch or a little more and got a set from a friend for free

Porter

You may want to add the JIC FLTA2s for the SG9 Forester.

__________________
-Porter-
'04 F-XT Silver
I love the smell of brake pads in the morning. Smells like... victory.