Because roads aren’t perfectly flat and you’ll inevitably encounter bumps and potholes, it’s important to have a solid suspension system in your vehicle. When it comes to the Subaru WRX STI, this means that you’ll want to have top quality coilovers and springs in the system. Don’t take your chances and settle for just any parts for your WRX STI suspension system.
What the Suspension System Does
A suspension system helps with steering and braking. It’s meant to optimize the traction that’s between the road and your tires. This way, you’re sure to have a smoother ride. Vehicle shocks going over potholes and hitting debris in the road can weaken the components over time, so there’s the added bonus that a quality suspension system will make your automobile have a longer lifespan.
Manufacturers can have different types of setups for the suspension, but in general they do have specific elements in common. It will always be a part of the chassis and this is what makes up the load-bearing elements of the vehicle.
Coilovers
The 2012 wrx coilovers help when it comes to setting up the height and damping of the WRX STI. If you have the right coilovers, they will optimize the performance level of your Subaru. Not only does it look great, but it lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity and also stiffens up the chassis in order to achieve improved control and cornering.
Be sure to do your research before you purchase new coilovers for your Subaru WRX STI. There are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind with this process.
Monotube Design
Though most OEM suspension has the twin tube damper setup, you may want to opt for the monotube design. This means that it will keep the gas and shock in one tube, using a floating piston to separate liquid from gas. This is a design that makes it so the gas is compressed and reacts faster as it compresses slowly when you hit small bumps and quicker when you drive over larger bumps. It holds more fluid, the heat dissipates more efficiently, and this improves damper responsiveness.
Spring Rates
The springs serve as a crucial part of any suspension system since they control its ability to bounce, absorb bumps, and it has a low body roll when loaded. Look out for higher spring rates, which need more force in order to compress the spring. This reduces how much the suspension travels. It also helps to spread the corning load over the four tires which leads to better grip. Aftermarket coilovers tend to have stiffer springs than OEM suspension, truly an ideal thing when you want to do some more spirited driving.
Adjustability of Spring and Valving
It’s also a good idea to have the ability to adjust your ride height. You can adjust 2020 WRX coilovers by getting a softer or stiffer spring. If you plan to take your car to drive on a track, make sure to get stiffer springs so your vehicle will do well with grip, handling, and have less body roll. Match the spring rate with your damping so you can reduce the risk of a bouncy ride.
Top Mount
The “top mount” is at the top of the coilover. It holds everything within the coilover together and it connects the coilover to the car. Choose something that has a stiffer rubber mount because this is going to reduce energy deflection. Another benefit to this is that you’ll have greater longevity with a coilover that has this type of mount. Also, you can opt for a pillow ball mount that doesn’t move at all and gives you a more precise feel from your steering and suspension.
There are a wide array of coilovers available from our store. Search through our selection and reach out to JDMuscle with your questions and concerns. We’ll be pleased to help you narrow down the options to meet your needs.