your experiences with newage STI suspension?? bouncy?

17 April 2008, 14:01

Ok having had my 03 STi for a few days now got the chance to go for a proper drive and have made the following observations regarding the suspension.

"Bouncy", Now i was expecting a firm/hard suspension but not bouncy. at dual carriage way speeds the car is very bouncy and reminds me of my old ibiza cupra when it was disasterously slammed on -60mm springs on standard shocks!

Is this a general characteristic of 03 STi suspension? my classic STi was firm/hard but not at all bouncy neither was my classic WRX on KYB shocks and eibach springs.

thoughts?

20 April 2008, 13:19

Has someone changed the springs ?

Bouncy usually means under-damped + over-stiff springs....

Meaning possibly lowered, stiffened set fitted.

IMHO

DunxC

P.S. is it on 17" wheels and tyres or 18"+ and low profile tyres ?

21 April 2008, 10:29

The car looks to be normal ride height, the only mod is PPP.

The car is on 18`s with 40 profile tyres.

It definately exhibited symptoms of my old ibiza cupra that the previous owner lowered 50/60mm on standard shocks!

You dont think its a defective shock? or worn springs? car has only done 30k.

21 April 2008, 11:46

could be the infamous rear shock problem

21 April 2008, 11:49

I found mine to be extremely bad with the speed of the rebound damping on small low speed bumps, giving the feeling that your pogoing down the road. I also found the standard setup to be far too soft when entering low or medium speed bends, too much body roll and weight transfer to the outside wheels.

On the way to sorting it out now though

21 April 2008, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd5217

could be the infamous rear shock problem

which is?

i have done a search and couldnt find anything.

thanks.

21 April 2008, 17:18

The standard springs and dampers of a MY03 STI are not a very good match -Yes i would call the ride bouncy

Fit the Prodrive springs - they are slightly softer than standard and improve the comfort no end ( they also lower it 25mm)

23 April 2008, 12:30

Thanks for all your help guys.

24 April 2008, 13:12

Check the rear shock absorbers have not seized (known problem).

Matt

24 April 2008, 22:10

As standard, I found the ride of my 03 STi unacceptable. Certain sections of the M25, for instance, caused a bouncing motion which brought scathing comments from the wife - she had to support certain parts of her anatomy! The Prodrive springs were one of the only mods she gave her approval to!
One of the problems is the strut top rubber mount. Group A top mounts provide a big improvement, but you could not live with the extra noise!
JohnD

25 April 2008, 13:19

The stock dampers are mono tube type, which are ultimately superior to the more common (and cheaper) twin tubes, but they do suffer in low impact/low movement type situations. i.e. driving on rippled surfaces.

If you see a mono vs. twin on a damper dyno you'll see what I mean, it takes a large force to get the mono tube moving, but is very consistant from there on.

This is part of the reason why expensive competition dampers like the Bilstein PSS9 gets poor press over lesser capable twin tube KW's. In road situations that is.

04 May 2008, 08:39

I think it is very much down to the road and speed you are travelling at. Certain motorways seem to have gentle undulations in surface (I think it's down to the modern tarmac laying machines) which at about 70mph seem to be at a frequency which is picked up and magnified by the newage suspension.

07 May 2008, 08:23

The 03sti has the spec c springs as std and they are a perfect match for the shocks, it's just the fact that the whole set-up is rather stiff.
My wifes focus st170 does the same and that set-up is regarded as rather good.

12 May 2008, 13:03

Has anyone matched the Prodrive springs to WRX dampers or is this just a disaster waiting to happen ?

14 May 2008, 10:38

Appreciate all the input on this thread, Am going to try prodrive springs intially with all the perrin stuff im fitting. If im still not happy might try the AST route later in the year.

08 July 2008, 13:32

Did the Prodrive springs improve things?

I've recently picked up a '53 STi and I'm experiencing exactly the same thing.

Does anybody know if the Eibach springs improve this 'bounce'?

Thanks

09 July 2008, 21:58

My 2005 Sti has been lowered with Eibach spings and I hate it. Its soo bouncy even on remarkably good roads !!!!! My old Uk wagon drives much much nicer. Currently considering which full suspension setup I'm going to go with and at the minute it looks like EXE-TC, as I have already tried AST's on my last car. Anyone interested in an EXE-TC group buy please show your interest in the group buy forum.

Cheers !

Ricky !

10 July 2008, 19:21

lol i noticed this the other day in my 03 sti, usally fine but on the motorway totally horrible, i was thinking to myself, why the hell are u doing this your suppose to be better than my mazda, which had fk coilovers and bounced everywhere. i also have a rear knocking. so the shocks defo gone.

im in such a puzzel about supension, so many diffrent opions, im cool with a hard ride, but if it bounces (like most coilovers do) i'll be pissed off.

15 July 2008, 02:37

I read somewhere the prodrive springs are actually eibach. does anyone know if this is the case?

Cheers,

Doug

15 July 2008, 09:49

The newage sti prodrive springs are made by Eibach but they are custom made for prodrive as a