Even though it was really fargin' cold and snowy this A.M. I installed my koni strut inserts and Whiteline "control" springs on the rears Nothing too difficult about it. Ignore the posts that say cutting your strut housings is tricky. The install on the Konis was a piece of cake, and the springs were, well... installing springs. Despite the 210 # spring rate, we did it without a spring compressor, and everything went smoothly. The hardest thing I encountered are the poorly engineered brake line holds, for the stainless steel lines. There sure isn't much room to get at those skinny 19s and 21s. I hate those things the job took about 2 1/2 hours, with thaw-out breaks. I'll post impressions, and ride heights of the new set up after I get the fronts done with the same treatment, plus Noltec plates. Can't wait for track time !!
Koni makes just a strut insert for our cars. That is just the damper (strut valve) without the housing (strut assembly) The OEM strut assembly is re-used for the mounting points, and it allows the konis to work on a variety of applications. Nobody makes adjustable strut assemblies for the wagon (yet) and the koni inserts are the same for wagon or sedan. The difference is the housing. They are currently the only real option for me to have a damping sytem that will compliment the stiff springs I am running. With 260/ 210 F-R spring rates, the OEM struts would not last too long, and they wouldn't really do a good job with that much stiffness.
I'm not sure that is a very good explaination for you, maybe somebody alse will jump in.
Well I got the fronts done today with the Noltec (MRT) camber/castor plates. I did need the spring compressor this time, the springs are pretty stout. Very smooth install. BigSky, I'll post the ride height info and driving impressions after this weekend at the track. My race rims and tires are in the back of the car, and I was too lazy to get them out and measure.
I'm looking to do my suspension as well and want a good set of springs with aggressive spring rates that eliminates most the wheel gap and lowers it evenly or as close as you can get. How did yours turn out?
There are photos here http://www.wrxtuners.com/forums/show...702#post134702
I am very happy with this set-up, but it might be a little too stiff for some as a daily driver. I ran Tein S techs with stock struts which lowered the car much more. It looked cool but wasn't nearly as good for a track set-up.
Nah, they just don't post them anywhere, and you know, inquiring minds......He was nice enough to get right back to me with the info. I'm a Whiteline fan now !
I acually think that I need a stiffer spring, now that I'm on the DOT Rs. The car feels great in the canyons with street tires, but on track with the grip of those Hankooks, it feels mushy. I probably won't change them out until the car becomes race only, but it was a big difference with those tires.
The Hawk blues are awesome, by the way, but I'll be chewing through rotors quick now. I'm going to stick with OEMs since they are only $45 a piece, and I already have spares. I can't see spending more than double that on cryo slotteds, just to watch them get eaten.
R compounds can really "highlight" things like spring/damping rates
RCE will be coming out w/ a wagon specifc spring (prototype will be out soon for testing). It has relatively firm rates 300ish/285ish- they're shooting for a 20mm ish drop. They may be worth looking at down the line.
Have heard a lot of good things on the blues Yeah $45 is hard to beat!
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Nothing too difficult about it. Ignore the posts that say cutting your strut housings is tricky. The install on the Konis was a piece of cake, and the springs were, well... installing springs. Despite the 210 # spring rate, we did it without a spring compressor, and everything went smoothly. The hardest thing I encountered are the poorly engineered brake line holds, for the stainless steel lines. There sure isn't much room to get at those skinny 19s and 21s. I hate those things 
the job took about 2 1/2 hours, with thaw-out breaks. I'll post impressions, and ride heights of the new set up after I get the fronts done with the same treatment, plus Noltec plates. Can't wait for track time !!
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