Well, it has come time to replace the shock/Struts on my car. Also the lower control arms also need replacement, and maybe a few more parts.

I have been looking at the following items and trying to decide which ones are the best fit.

I drive a 2013 Subaru WRX Hatchback. It is a daily driver, it handles well, but I would like to get a little more out of it.

I don't want it to be a really harsh riding car, but tighten it up some.

Looking at the Bilstein B6, Koni Yellow Struts/Shock, or ISC Suspension Coilovers. They are around the same price give or take a couple hundred dollars.

Looking at replacing the lower control arms with the light weight alloy with Polyurethane bushings, there again an upgrade and not that much more the OEM. Looking at which ones are better. The Whiteline, SuperPro, or Racer X Fabrication.

Which set-up would you go with?

Looking at upgrading, tighter more precise steering, but still good for daily driving, not too harsh riding ( I know that just by going with the Polyurethane bushings will make it ride rougher ).

Thanks for your time and suggestions!


ARman

I replaced the shocks/struts in my Challenger R/T with the Koni's. The ride improvement was noticeably firmer than factory and IMO perfect for daily driving. I'm not an expert by any means, but I noticed no negatives with the ride after the install.

I can't comment on the control arms as the Koni's were the only swap I made with the OEM parts. I never messed with the settings on them and probably should have went with the orange over the yellow to save money. Either way I was very happy with them and wouldn't hesitate to purchase them again.

I've always had luck with Bilstein shocks on my pickup, but to be fair, it came with Bilstein shocks from the factory.

If you'd like to have it sit a little lower when you're done, Belltech makes quality suspension components designed for a better ride and handling.

replaced the stock shocks with Bilsteins on my F150 supercrew and it drastically improved the ride.

Can you just replace the bushings on your lower control arms with poly bushings, vs replacing the whole unit?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
replaced the stock shocks with Bilsteins on my F150 supercrew and it drastically improved the ride.

Can you just replace the bushings on your lower control arms with poly bushings, vs replacing the whole unit?

Well it need ball joints replaced on the lower control arms, so by time I paid for them, the bushings and pressing the ball joints out and in, I'm over the half way mark, and with the alloy lower control arms, I'll be losing unsprung weight, and more aliment adjustability. So, it's an upgrade all around.

The two shock/strut kits have new coil springs also, so that will simplify their installments.

I'm looking for the best set-up, Bilstein B6 or Koni Yellow, and which control arms will achieve the best ride/handling upgrade and at the most time and cost effectiveness.

ARman

Can't help on the shocks except to say don't get them too much stiffer. Even new stock will feel better, and a better quality sport model like a Koni or Bilstein is a good upgrade. Shocks are dampers, not the same as stiffer springs or sway bars.

I wouldn't put alloy suspension parts on a street car. You'll notice zero difference, until you wack something that a steel part wouldn't flinch at. They will bend or break at a much lower load unless significantly overbuilt and then you lose any unsprung weight advantage. They're a marketing item. Real race cars used steel for that job until ultra high performance (and expensive) carbon composites
came along.

Be sure to replace all the bushings & ball joints as you're doing and put on a 30-40% or larger diameter sway bar. That will give you the best roll stiffness increase vs harshness.

I’m a huge fan of Bilstein shocks. Those plus poly bushings will noticeably tighten up your suspension but still be usable on a daily basis.

Having had both Koni and Bilstein across multiple platforms I prefer Koni. They seem to hold up better and I prefer the ride they give.

Coilovers are the way to go but if the Coilovers are similar in price to the replacement Bilstein or Koni shocks you don’t want them.

If Coilovers are what you seek KW is likely where you want to look.

I’m on my phone so I don’t want to type a whole wall of text right now, but Konis or Bilsteins are both solid choices. I’d avoid inexpensive coilovers. They shock insert is where a lot of them save money. Tolerances and material thickness are another place. I used to autocross a WRX in stock class and STX. Poly bushings are not necessary to bless you are running on racing level tires. Normal tires just don’t push on the stock bushings all that hard and the extra noise and harshness isn’t gaining you much. If you want to get better response on turn in, sway bars would be a better choice.

If you want to spend money on handling, buy good, soft tires and replace them more often. Also, get a performance alignment. A lot of the lack of response in a stock car is the fact that the alignment is meant to keep it stable and easy to drive in a straight line on a highway. A little toe put in the front will make it feel more aggressive on turn in, and neutral toe I. The rear will make the back end drag a bit less. Not every alignment place will want to do a custom job, but someone in your area probably will! Just call them first to make sure. Go ask on the Subaru forum for the current wisdom in what numbers you want for n the alignment.

- Bret

What kind of driving do you do?

I lived in the middle of nowhere when I had my WRX, many years ago.

It was a very fast car down back roads. (Did a lot of auto cross/rallye back then)

Suppleness is underrated, IMO for a street car tuning.

Subaru suspension upgrade, oh my, that sounds fun. I sure do love my King Springs on my 98 hatch. Plenty of other upgrades like from and rear tower braces, thicker sway bar, heavy duty end links and bushings. Of course it's lifted about 3 inches. She gets driven occasionally to the range. Whiteline rings a bell.

Primitive Racing certainly got plenty of money from me back in the day from skid plates to diff covers.

Call Mach V Motorsports; they're Subaru experts. They have these listed for the GRB hatch;

https://www.fastwrx.com/collec...struts-2008-2014-wrx

https://www.fastwrx.com/collec...ul-kit-2008-2014-wrx

https://www.fastwrx.com/collec...ut-kit-2008-2014-wrx

I had Ohlins coilovers on my GRB STI hatch; they were terrific but not cheap. Great balance between performance and ride Q

Ohlins; https://www.cobbtuning.com/pro...oilovers-wrx-and-sti

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
What kind of driving do you do?

I lived in the middle of nowhere when I had my WRX, many years ago.

It was a very fast car down back roads. (Did a lot of auto cross/rallye back then)

Suppleness is underrated, IMO for a street car tuning.

I live in the sticks. Twisty, hilly narrow roads. My road is kinda a mini Tail of the Dragon. There is a few more around here like that. Also unfortunately, we are the land of potcraders, and roads that look like they been through an Arc Light strike.

ARman

OK, so that sounds more like a gravel stage tune.