RallyX: stock spring specs vs GC + Eibachs

[kbeefy]

I've got a '92 Legacy turbo sedan 5mt, recently acquired, that is going to be my daily driver and I'd like to set it up for a little rallyX and some rubber-to-ice Ice Racing. I already have another car set up very stiff for road racing and autoX, I'd like to keep this on on the more civil side of things. I've already ordered up some KYB AGX's, a whiteline ALK and a 22mm adjustable rear swaybar.

I'd like to stiffen the suspension a little, I read in the sticky that factory spring rates are 132#/in. I don't want to lower the car at all, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to bring the car up a little in the front.

Here my question(s)....

1 - For whoever has run the Ground Control Coilover sleeves, how much did the mount raise the coil mount? At full drop, is the lower spring seat comprable to the factory height?

2 - I know the factory spring rate, but what about length? I know I can get 8", 10", and 12" Eibach 2.5" springs in a wide variety of rates, I'd like the springs to be long enough to not unseat at full droop (maintain some preload).

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a repost. Searched quite a bit and haven't found all the info I was looking for.
Also welcome any advice from those w/ similar setups.

[kbeefy]

it seems I'm very good at asking questions that have no awnsers about subarus, both here and on nasioc. This is but one of many questions the forums have simply left me hanging on. Maybe there a smaller following of subarus that the other vehicles I like to post about.

Anyways, I've decided I'd like to run springs in the 200F/175R to 225F/200R range. Really all I'm trying to figure out now is how long of a spring to run on the coilover sleeves to maintain a reasonable ride height (close to stock with a bit of adjustability up and down.

Has anyone on here used a coilover sleeve?

[jamal]

I put together a GC/AGX setup for a wrx wagon that worked out pretty well. The guy mountain bikes and drives around on fireroads, and wanted the car to be a little taller and better suited for offroad. I went with 12" springs in 225lb/in front and 200 in the rear. With a small amount of pre-load I'd put the car at about 3/4" higher than stock, and the perches are pretty much right in the middle of the adjuster range. The car will be back next week for a much needed skid plate so I'll get some pictures.

For a relatively smooth rally-x course and ice racing, however, I wouldn't go so tall. With stock sti suspension, which lowered my car, I was really fast around a rally-x course on good all seasons, so 10" springs might be better for you. I should figure out the spring travel and where coilbind occurs for the two at some point.

[kbeefy]

hey, thanks for some input!
The more I read the more times I change my mind. The above info about the WRX/AGX setup is promising, any idea what similar specs (12" 225#/12"(?) 200#) on a '92 Legacy would work out to be? (regarding to factory ride height)

Our rallyX is not smooth, our roads are rough (I'd use the same setup for both), Ice racing is more F/R bias and tuning, even rallyX settings will likely be good enough to continue winning (I took first with stock components).
The one time I think I'd like to stiffen it up (and lower it some) would be an annual road race we have up here. The road is still fairly rough (for a road course) traction is somewhat limited (portions of wet/frozen surfaces on a old paved series of roads).

Some of the limitations of the GC setup have me thinking about builing up a rallyX suspension and a road race suspension. Since I have the AGX's it would make sense to try and use the same struts for both, but my math shows that the AGX's can't handle much more than the above mentioned spring rates (225/200) and that doesn't seem to be high enough for a sorta serious road race spring rate. My other car is around 800# fronts (heavier car though).

Hmmm. Damn. I've changed my mind again.
OK. GC coilovers and 12" 200-ish springs. I'll check the sticky and see if it'll be close on the Leggy. If need be I can get a stiffer setup for the gran prix, but probably not this year. Hopefully this will fit. Thanks for some input Jamal, I've enjoyed reading (and made some purchases based on) your reviews and writeups.

[beatersubi]

I put together a GC/AGX setup for a wrx wagon that worked out pretty well. The guy mountain bikes and drives around on fireroads, and wanted the car to be a little taller and better suited for offroad. I went with 12" springs in 225lb/in front and 200 in the rear. With a small amount of pre-load I'd put the car at about 3/4" higher than stock, and the perches are pretty much right in the middle of the adjuster range. The car will be back next week for a much needed skid plate so I'll get some pictures.

For a relatively smooth rally-x course and ice racing, however, I wouldn't go so tall. With stock sti suspension, which lowered my car, I was really fast around a rally-x course on good all seasons, so 10" springs might be better for you. I should figure out the spring travel and where coilbind occurs for the two at some point.

What was it using for upper perches and tophats?

[greg donovan]

I've got a '92 Legacy turbo sedan 5mt, recently acquired, that is going to be my daily driver and I'd like to set it up for a little rallyX and some rubber-to-ice Ice Racing. I already have another car set up very stiff for road racing and autoX, I'd like to keep this on on the more civil side of things. I've already ordered up some KYB AGX's, a whiteline ALK and a 22mm adjustable rear swaybar.

I'd like to stiffen the suspension a little, I read in the sticky that factory spring rates are 132#/in. I don't want to lower the car at all, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to bring the car up a little in the front.

Here my question(s)....

1 - For whoever has run the Ground Control Coilover sleeves, how much did the mount raise the coil mount? At full drop, is the lower spring seat comprable to the factory height?

2 - I know the factory spring rate, but what about length? I know I can get 8", 10", and 12" Eibach 2.5" springs in a wide variety of rates, I'd like the springs to be long enough to not unseat at full droop (maintain some preload).

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a repost. Searched quite a bit and haven't found all the info I was looking for.
Also welcome any advice from those w/ similar setups.

where are you?

here in MN mike wray (LegacyPGT on here) rallied his legacy ss with a GC/AGX setup.

it is also possible to get custom wound OEM style springs in any rate and length you need.

talk to Doug Davenport at http://www.davenportracingusa.com/ he said he could get me some a while back when i was rallycrossing my old FWD sedan.

[kbeefy]

where are you?

here in MN mike wray (LegacyPGT on here) rallied his legacy ss with a GC/AGX setup.

it is also possible to get custom wound OEM style springs in any rate and length you need.

talk to Doug Davenport at http://www.davenportracingusa.com/ he said he could get me some a while back when i was rallycrossing my old FWD sedan.[/quote]


Alaska.

Thanks for the link, I'll check them out.

[jamal]

What was it using for upper perches and tophats?

The sleeve kit comes with turned aluminum upper perches that work with the stock tops.

In the front there are about 4" of adjustment on the lower collar, and 3" in the rear. I think that you should be able to get the ride heights in the right general range with 12" springs of that rate. On the wagon I put them on, dialed in a bit of pre-load, and the ride was pretty much perfect. I think with a 10" spring that soft they'll have to be wound up to the top of the collars, possibly leaving you with no pre-load at all.

The thing is that either length is going to compress the same amount, so with them pre-loaded the same you'll be at the same ride height. Going with 12" gives you more travel and more room on the collars.

As for the AGX, it should be okay with 300+ lb/in. Ideally you would want shorter and stiffer springs for on-road usage.