WRX Suspension refresh.

[texaxile]

Hi,
My WRX has clicked over to 105k this week, and my next job is going to be a suspension refresh.Basically I will be keeping it standard, or as close as possible, and have decided to use KYB Excel - G shocks, Eibach springs and replace the top mounts, bump stops and dust covers etc and also use new bolts all round. It'll be all 4 getting replaced.

My question is are KYB a decent brand and a good replacement option?.

Bushes will also be done when the cambelt is due next year, full replacement with standard, it's my daily driver and it is also too old to be put on the track, so no whiteline bits or upgrades etc, just as close to factory as it can be. I intend to keep the car, and use it daily. I do 5k a year, and as a buddy at work has a blob on 165k then I think mine should have a bit of life left in it, plus the addition of a weekend toy in the shape of an M4C might be looming so potentially even fewer miles.

The reliability (touch wood) with regular servicing, being sensible and generally looking after it has really brought home how reliable and good these cars are. I think that if you manage to bag one which has been cared for, and continue looking after it, they pretty much go on forever.

[scoobydog]

I did mine (2007 hawkeye WRX) with new KYB Excels about 4 years ago and they've been fine although as well as not much driving with Covid it was off the road for most of the year before having the rest of the suspension refurbished so hasn't clocked up a massive mileage (maybe 15k) since they were fitted.

I think KYB make the OEM parts. I fitted the standard non inverted shocks as replacement for the OEM inverted ones so also fitted the different bump stops to match.

List of parts refurbed/replaced:

New shocks all round
New top mounts all round
Fully re-bushed rear suspension
Fully re-bushed rear diff mountings
Whiteline steering rack bushes
Stainless steel custom exhaust
Superpro front lower control arms, new ball joints and drop links
New clutch
New brake flex hoses
Dinitrol/Bilt Hamber wax all round

Other than the non OEM parts above the car is standard other than Prodrive springs, prodrive alloys and whiteline ARBs front and rear.

Just one thing that may be worth mentioning as something to check which nearly caught me out was that despite looking after the car with regular maintenance etc, one thing that was found when all the rear suspension work was done was that the factory underseal at the top of the suspension turrets and the rear of the arches had worn through over time from road debris and some rust had crept in - thankfully I caught it in time and only needed two small plates welding in the rear arches, however if I'd have left it another year or two it would have got quite a bit worse.

Now it's done I'm sure the car handles better than even when I first had it back in 2007 with 3k on the clock although some of that could be down to the new front lower control arms which have anti lift and increased caster. All in all whilst a bit expensive have to say that it was totally worth it and has made me love the car even more than I did

Hope this helps

Edited by scoobydog on Sunday 27th June 20:53

[TEKNOPUG]

Consider these if you haven't bought anything yet. Best WRX setup for daily driving IMHO.

https://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-parts-451/1064588...

[texaxile]

TEKNOPUG said:

Consider these if you haven't bought anything yet. Best WRX setup for daily driving IMHO.

https://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-parts-451/1064588...

Awesome, thanks teknopug, I do have a scoobynet account and will give it some thought, might ping him over the weekend. That seems like a decent deal, but the only thing that puts me off a bit is the fact they’ve been on 2 cars already. Then again, it will give me time to get them blasted and repainted if needed.

Also thanks @scoobydog, for the great info, I’ll get a set of new top mounts as well, and will also replace the bump stops etc, and a good point about the diff mountings, at the same time I’ll get the rear subframe off and repainted ‘ stone chipped.

[TEKNOPUG]

I've had the same KYB struts for 7 years across 2 cars. I changed the top mounts last month and took the opportunity to clean up the rust with a Dremel and then gave them 3 coats of black Hammerite. That's all they need. Powder coating is a waste when you never see them and I doubt the internal valving will appreciate being cooked at 200c.

[texaxile]

TEKNOPUG said:

I've had the same KYB struts for 7 years across 2 cars. I changed the top mounts last month and took the opportunity to clean up the rust with a Dremel and then gave them 3 coats of black Hammerite. That's all they need. Powder coating is a waste when you never see them and I doubt the internal valving will appreciate being cooked at 200c.

Ok, good info. Yep, I doubt baking them at that kind of temp will do much good. Just a case of running over them with a wire brush and a rattle can. I finally managed to log into scoobynet, so will ping him a message in due course. Thanks again chap

[Evil.soup]

I am due a refresh for my 2006 WRX and will be going with the Excel G, they are the OEM standard units.

Scoobyclinic supply them for just over £200 a pair if you were planning on new ones as below:

http://shop.scoobyclinic.com/index.php?route=produ...