Help me pick springs and shocks/coilovers

[ScaryFatKidGT]

K so I'm planning group-n top-hats, front and rear Whiteline endlinks with an adjustable rear bar and rear bar mount.

I want stiffer stock height, I want a lot stiffer than stock but not so hard that I can't crash over bumps and things at speed. I basically want an STi BD or a rally car. This will be for DDing, rally-x, auto-x, track days, back roads and snow. I don't want to raise and sacrifice cornering but I don't want to lower and sacrifice ground clearance. The options I have thought of are...

I would really like coilovers but the price and Minnesota weather usually don't mix. Are there any coilovers where snow and rain and salt don't matter?

KYB AGX's with KING springs that are 20-30% stiffer and raise the car a 1/4"

04 STi stuff, how would my car sit with 04 STi struts and springs? Are 05 and up springs any different from the 04's ride and height wise?

Is there springs that I could use with 04 STi struts that would get me to stock height?

I'm thinking that 04 is getting old now so maybe it would be smart to get NEW 04 STi shocks like 04 STi KYB AGX's but I'm limiting my self to KYB because I know they make BD specific shocks but If I'm going 04 is there something better "04 specific" I could get?

[Huffer]

There are NO coilovers that are unaffected by salt and water. No shock or any metal component is impervious.

Honestly you have way too many things you want to do or expect from a set of suspension. The best you can do without an unlimited budget (and constantly swapping setups) is to buy a brand new set of OEM shocks and install them with springs designed for a 98 Forester. You'll get a slight raise in height and the rebound will be more controlled.

You will NEVER find a set up that will be good for RallyX and Track Days. Never.

[ScaryFatKidGT]

There are NO coilovers that are unaffected by salt and water. No shock or any metal component is impervious.Well why do people specifically say not to do coilovers vs shocks and springs? I'd really like coilovers for the height adjustment, if I could find a set that are not to stiff, like take those king springs for example if they made a set of coilovers, I could just smash them together 1/4" or more and waaa laaa stiffer and lower and then put them back to stock for rally-x and winter, but you can't do that with plain shocks. What do rally guys use when they have like a 50-50 stage? or even a ruff pavement stage?


Honestly you have way too many things you want to do or expect from a set of suspension. The best you can do without an unlimited budget (and constantly swapping setups) is to buy a brand new set of OEM shocks and install them with springs designed for a 98 Forester. You'll get a slight raise in height and the rebound will be more controlled.

You will NEVER find a set up that will be good for RallyX and Track Days. Never.Well I'm thinking that a rally car has so be a lot stiffer than OEM especially the dampers and for the track stiffer is better so id be in the right direction for both, just don't wanna lose ground clearance or much travel or go to stiff. I'm thinking like a stock STi you know? Isn't it's suspension is better at both than a legacy would be?

I have thought about swapping springs and shocks but it seems like a lot of work, I could probably get another BD GT instead haha. I kinda just wanna swap tires and go, got 3 sets of those.

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Well I ordered F/R White line heavy duty end-links, front sway bar bushings and rear heavy duty sway bar mounts, haven't decided if I want a 20 or 22mm rear sway, I might try to find a junkyard that has a 18mm OB sway. Even with all this stuff and maybe even some AGX shocks I'm pretty sure I want stiffer springs, the car just seems to have a lot more body roll than I want especially in the front were a rear sway isn't going to help, only problem is I enjoy my ground clearance.

[Huffer]

the rear sway bar actually helps control body roll for the entire car, not just the rear. Remember the body of the car is actually twisting.