[C_scribble]

I'm currently sitting on SPT blues and stock blown struts in my 02 WRX sedan and wondering if KYB AGX struts would work well with them. From my research I've seen mixed results with blues and other struts saying the spring rates aren't high enough and that sort of concerns me a bit. Keep in mind as I browse the different forums I've not found anyone running this setup specifically so it's hard to say.

If anyone's got some better info it'd definitely be much appreciated.

 

[Gigs]

I'm currently sitting on SPT blues and stock blown struts in my 02 WRX sedan and wondering if KYB AGX struts would work well with them. From my research I've seen mixed results with blues and other struts saying the spring rates aren't high enough and that sort of concerns me a bit. Keep in mind as I browse the different forums I've not found anyone running this setup specifically so it's hard to say.

If anyone's got some better info it'd definitely be much appreciated.

Hi I have had like 8 suspension setups on my 2003 Wrx

What is the purpose for the car ?

Is it just driving to work and back ?

 

[Winterhawk]

After much thought and research for my daily driver/spirited driving 2002 WRX Sedan I'm going with Koni inserts with STI pink springs. I concidered the SPT blues, but too many positive comments on the pinks steered me in that direction. That being said they go on the car next week so I'll be more informed on the results after that. Today I installed the STI short shifter with excellent results , tomorrow the Eibach sway bars go on, and hopefully early next week the struts. I guess what I'm saying is concider the Koni inserts.

 

[anarekist]

regular guy blacks from RACE Comp Engineering are nice too.

 

[Sasquatch]

I too have had several setups. The STi pink springs are overrated - the only ones worth mentioning are the JDM or tarmac versions. I had the JDMs. Hard to find several years ago. They were not stiff enough.

The Racecomp springs are a better choice. I've been on the yellows for years. You'll need STi capable struts - the Koni inserts do nicely.

 

[EJ257]

If you want to stick to "Subaru" springs, pick up a pair of used STI takeoffs. You can generally find them on the cheap from someone who just wants to get them out of their garage after they upgraded.

If you want a good set of aftermarket springs that aren't extremely aggressive, Swift Sports. These can be paired with the KYB GR-2 / Excel-G (whatever they're called now) nicely, or you can go with something like the Koni if you want adjustment.

If you're going to spend the money on the Koni, you're putting yourself into a category where you can get a higher-end spring and still have a complaint ride, so I'd suggest going with RCE Black/Yellow or Swift Spec-R (choose whichever you feel would be best considering the drop / rate).


Pick your struts / springs before you pick your swaybars. You should "rough tune" your body roll with your springs, and "fine tune" with swaybars.

 

[C_scribble]

I was laying in bed thinking "Ah man, I didn't mention the use of the car" lol

It's just DD unfortunately, in a year or so I hope I'd be in a position to AutoX or track it.
Right now I just want it to drive as well as the motor runs and I've already got the SPT Blues, I just need struts.

I do want the adjustability and Koni inserts have already been considered but I wasn't keen on disassembling the struts right off the back but that sounds to be a good option at a later date cause I've heard nothing but good things about the Koni's.... although I wasn't aware they where adjustable.

 

[EJ257]

I was laying in bed thinking "Ah man, I didn't mention the use of the car" lol

It's just DD unfortunately, in a year or so I hope I'd be in a position to AutoX or track it.
Right now I just want it to drive as well as the motor runs and I've already got the SPT Blues, I just need struts.

I do want the adjustability and Koni inserts have already been considered but I wasn't keen on disassembling the struts right off the back but that sounds to be a good option at a later date cause I've heard nothing but good things about the Koni's.... although I wasn't aware they where adjustable.

Don't waste your time with Koni on the SPT Blues; that's like bringing a porn star to prom, only to be home for curfew at 8PM. The GR-2/Excel-G struts are all you need for those springs; you MIGHT be able to get slightly better results with adjustable struts, but it's far more likely you won't, and you're taking life off a $$$ part that isn't needed. Respectfully, save the Konis for when you run a proper spring.

 

[MainFrame]

I recently discovered Tokico D-Specs are back on the market, but I'd tend to agree with ej257.. they deserve a good spring, same as the Koni Yellows. I might be wrong, but I thought KYB pulled the GR-2 from the market and replaced it with Excel-G struts. The GR-2 was a decent OE replacement.. Excel-G are a step down in terms of quality.

I ran AGX struts for several years with Eibach springs and I was pleased with the results for a DD.

 

[C_scribble]

What EJ257 says makes a lot of sense, I wasn't even thinking about using the Koni's with the blues lol

It does suck to have to buy struts twice, but I don't wanna put strain on them... at least I can sell them when I'm done with them.

 

[EJ257]

What EJ257 says makes a lot of sense, I wasn't even thinking about using the Koni's with the blues lol

It does suck to have to buy struts twice, but I don't wanna put strain on them... at least I can sell them when I'm done with them.

You're not going to "strain" the Koni struts with lower rate springs, but you're not going to get the most out of them. If you really know you're going to be able to upgrade to springs that are more matched to the Konis, there's no sense buying struts twice. Apparently, while editing my post, I lost that portion...

Really understand your goals / timeline for the car. You won't realize $500 benefit (vs buying the KYB OE-replacement) from Koni on any "Subaru" spring. If the "Subaru" spring is a short-term option, go for the Konis so you're not buying struts multiple times. If you can swing the setup you think you want, it'd be best to do it now, since you avoid additional installation time (assuming DIY) or cost (if you're paying a shop), as well as an additional alignment (very few DIYers I know DIY their alignment, although it can be done).

 

[C_scribble]

I meant straining as in putting the mileage on the AGX. I should have used better wording. Koni's aren't in the cards right now.

In my OP I was trying to figure if I should go with the AGX/Blue setup and getting better springs later on or just go ahead and get the Excel-G until I'm ready to upgrade the springs. Either way I should go I definitely need new struts soon.

 

[Gigs]

Excel G's are super cheap on Rockauto too

 

[SD_GR]

I like the AGX but I like the car a bit over damped, it makes it more predictable for me over long wavelength anomalies on tarmac even if it's harsher than it could be and it won't bounce -- hate that.

 

[MainFrame]

I like the AGX but I like the car a bit over damped, it makes it more predictable for me over long wavelength anomalies on tarmac even if it's harsher than it could be and it won't bounce -- hate that.

Same here. The Eibach springs I had on them were pretty soft comparatively, but I still preferred running the shocks on the #3 setting. I have a feeling that #1 (softest) would be a more "correct" setting for those particular springs. :dontknow:

 

[SD_GR]

1 is for funerals. 2 is for weddings. 3 is for hooligans. 4 is for the Bonneville salt flats. I run 3 with stock WRX springs! Over damped but I know where the wheels are (granted sometimes the answer is "in the air").

 

[SD_GR]

And whoever put the adjuster on the top in the rear should be chemically castrated. Idiot.

 

[MainFrame]

1 is for funerals. 2 is for weddings. 3 is for hooligans. 4 is for the Bonneville salt flats. I run 3 with stock WRX springs! Over damped but I know where the wheels are (granted sometimes the answer is "in the air").

And whoever put the adjuster on the top in the rear should be chemically castrated. Idiot.

I used one for pregnant woman chauffeur (or one in the front, two in the rear.. giggity). I rarely used 2 all around.. I kept them set on #3 probably 95% of the time. #4 I would use occasionally if I was planning on going for a "fun" drive on roads that were nice and smooth with back to back corners.

Ohh.. and those rear adjusters, seriously. Someone wasn't using their brain on that one.


After I upgraded to overly stiff swaybars, which I also prefer, I never felt the need to use the #4 setting anymore. Whiteline 24mm adjustable front & rear bars.. front set on the stiffest setting, rear on the middle. Front on the stiff setting virtually eliminated any dead zone in the steering and made the car VERY responsive to steering input.. middle setting in the rear was stiff enough to make it break traction earlier, which eliminated the car's inherent understeer. At first having the car neutral in a slide was a bit of a scary feeling. With all four tires breaking lose simultaneously the car would push to the outside of a corner while maintaining it's trajectory. It leaves much less room error. If you follow your instincts to brake and slow down, instead of turning in as it would with understeer, the increased grip up front would kick the rear out and suddenly you're now in an oversteer situation where it's easy to over correct. If you don't know how the car is going to react, and you don't keep your wits, you'll wind up with the rear of the car in front of you, pointed towards the outside of the corner. The positive aspect about it is that when the car remains flat through the corner, it doesn't snap back when the weight is transferred.. it's super predictable, and with subtle inputs the car becomes very easy to control in a slide. I doubt I could maintain the same speed through a corner as I would with the swaybars set softer, but it's more fun. :drive2:

 

[SD_GR]

I use a 24mm Whiteline up front and a 20mm Subaru stock in the rear. I like the tail more compliant so that I can avoid too much oversteer. It's pretty predictable and I enjoy it. I also use as much front camber as I can get, 0' toe, and rear camber at 0.5 degrees more than front.

 

[C_scribble]

I'm gunna go ahead and pull the trigger on the AGX. I totally appreciate all the input and I was previously unaware that the Koni's where adjustable so that's good to know as well.