New Suspension Recommendations

I have a 2007 Legacy 2.5i Limited. With a large sound system in the trunk approx 250+ lbs. My rear is sagging just over the top of the tire and front of course is several inches higher above the tire. Im looking for a complete suspension kit for $1000 to $1500. Struts/shocks/coils. I want it to sit about 1 inch nicely over the tire front and rear with some adjust-ability. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Picture would probably help here. Probably going to just end up getting budget coils. BC's or ISC's. You can adjust the height accordingly on those. If you expect performance, which I doubt being a 2.5i, those will do just fine for your needs.

The simple/cheap option is new KYB struts and maybe some saggy butt spacers (search on here for them). Total cost $500, essentially getting the OEM suspension.

 

For higher performance, you can get new springs and Koni inserts or Bilstein shocks.

Regardless what suspension you get, other than coils, you are going to want to get some saggy butt spacers to bring the car back up to the desired ride hight. That much weight will always make the rear end sag some. For the money I'd look at kyb for struts and your spring of choice. I just did Konis and swifts and love it, but would probably push your budget if professionally installed.

Thanks for the recommendations! Here are pics of current suspension

 

( dont mind the ugly dirt.. Really horrible late winter up here )

 

FRONT

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/photo-29.jpg

 

REAR

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/photo-28.jpg

 

Any sites to order from that you would give a personal thumbs up to?

 

Thanks again for the help.

Vendor forum, u must look there

If adjustability is key then I would say coils all the way. Most struts, if adjustable, are going to be for dampening as opposed to height.

 

The saggy butt spacers are also a good idea as mentioned above. I like the idea of compensating the height difference there as opposed to locking down the coil. Seems like it would keep the hydronic within its optimal rate of travel as opposed to compensating if for the weight...

 

Other goals should be defined as well. I wouldn't assume you autocross with the additional weight but is performance something you're looking to improve? Are you looking to "stance" your car or just even out the rude height? Is comfort an issue? Most entry level coils are not designed with comfort in mind. Spring rates can come into play but its not often you get comfort and performance along with affordability...in fact I would venture to say never...

My end goal is to level front and rear maybe dipping the front slightly more than rear, and improve the comfort. a performance boost would be a great bonus but not the highest priority.. This city has nasty roads with horrible potholes, it would be nice not to feel like my car is suffering each bump.

 

End game comfortable everyday driver that looks nice and not like I have 2 fat guys in my back seat at all times lol..

 

Any links to actual products / kits would be awesome and much appreciated

Seems to me that coilovers are often a solution looking for a problem. For you, it seems like maybe wagon springs in back combined with some sort of lowering springs in the front would be a good start. Add saggy butt spacers of the appropriate thickness if that doesn't quite do it... Doug

Good point on the wagon springs, that might be the perfect fix for you sedan. Wagon springs should bump up the back nicely since they were designed with the extra weight in mind. Also this way you will still have full rear suspension travel, saggy butt spacers just bump up above your already compressed rear springs.

Kings springs makes rear spring that are same ride height as oem and are stiffer

If im understanding you correctly, I should basically buy a set of springs for a 2007 legacy wagon?

 

Like these.?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ TEIN-H-TECH-2005-2009-SUBARU-LEGACY-GT-SEDAN-WAGON-LGT-LOWERING-DROP-SPRINGS-/261099165153?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2007%7CMake%3ASubaru%7CModel%3ALegacy&hash=item3ccab915e1&vxp=mtr

 

Or do i need model specific coils? like non GT

 

Along with...

 

http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Suspension/KYB-GR-2-Shocks

 

and koni inserts?

 

Would this make sense for my application?

Someone with a little more knowldage than me will have to chime in about which springs would best suit you, gt or standard wagon.

 

I love my konis, but they would probably kill your budget if you had a shop do all the work. I paid like $530 for my coils and $300 in labor to get them installed. That doesn't include the time to build the konis into the stock bodies.

I wont be paying labour it will be a DYI with a Good mechanic buddy of mine. So I might look for a more expensive spring if it will benefit me more and in the long run. I'm trying to Make a weekend decision. I want to buy the parts on monday and get it on there asap. If possible.. I can hear my rear bumping hard when i hit potholes, im not a fan. But I dont want to make a stupid rush decision of course. So All of your help is much appreciated.

 

Gonna Post some of my sound system pics soon to show you what im working with

Sick! Cant wait to see it.

 

Hope someone else chimes in soon on this.

I have had Megan Racing CO in my car for at least 4 years which I bought used. They recently started clunking bad so I did a lot of asking and reading and opted for the koni and epic that seemed popular on here. I am not disappointed. I would have to say that they are better than my coils ever were. The ride is better but still keeps out the roll when taking the curves harder. I paid $1350 for koni/epic plus install at a shop plus an alignment. I am not going to rip on the sub 1,000 coils as mine served me well, but I am really liking the konis. My .02$

That sounds awesome and making me think that's the way to go. So I guess the biggest question is do I buy legacy wagon coils with sedan konis? Or opt for the wagon all around? And finally if GT versions of both would be acceptable and fitting?

You're still going to have to compensate for the weight in the rear with that set-up...

So... konis /epic combo with koni insert and maybe 1 inch butt spacer depending how it sits. Do we like how this sounds? Would there be a huge difference between konis and kyb's they both seem to be getting praise.

 

Off topic i thought i would share my system.

 

All Powered off of a gold 180 amp DC engineering HO Alternator. A lot of fuses and 0 guage wiring.

 

( I have a nice cover which Hides Subs and amps and makes the back look completely bare and clean )

3 10inch RE AUDIO SE-X With abs/pvc port 3.25 cuft3 @29hz

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image.jpg

 

Kicker 2500.1 subs , 650.4 midbass, 500xi.4 mids/tweets. 200.2 rears.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/55c18d9c-a351-4473-8ef8-f20f12fbf35b.jpg

 

2 Shuriken 60amp Batteries on both sides in rear. (80amp in front)

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-2.jpg

 

Dual Kicker 6.5inch midbass along with Polkaudio SR6500 mid/tweets

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-3.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-4.jpg

 

Audiocontrol DQS (Running from Alpine CDA-117 than to a Hi-fi DAC to DQS)

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-5.jpg

 

The octopus port. (looks badass and works beautifully.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-7.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x78/or1g1na1/image-6.jpg

 

It sounds nice After porting it, and tuning mercilessly Im very happy with it. Now that its basically complete im starting on improving the looks and making up for the extra weight and slouch.

Final question.. Epic engineering springs seem to be for GT models will they fit on my koni strut setup for my 2.5i limited? Ordering parts tommorow morning. Thank you

Koni's are strut inserts. They require use of your existing struts and replace the damper. They are not as plug ang play as KYB's but are consider superior in handling and ride quality.

 

...another thing to consider...if you're needing that much of a boost in the rear you may not want lowering springs at back there...with a 1 in spacer you might not have enough thread on the top hat bolts to install the struts...

The konis require you to drill a hole in the stock absorber to alllow fluid to leak out and remove. Then the front strut has to be taken apart. I did not do this myself but the installer said the fronts took some time. If all 1000 $ ride even semi close in performance and ride then I think the epic\koni combo is better than inexpensive coils. However, like I said, my megans did me good for 5 years and I bought them used.

A solid spring/strut combo will out perform any entry level coilover. Though I don't think OP is going to get his height even with that set-up. He will actually be lower in the same boat as lowering all four corners does not correct his issue. He'd be better off putting 1" lowering springs up front and evening out the rear height with a shim or saggy but spacer if he wants to be low.

 

The idea of a 1" spacer is extreme as well...most I've seen are 1/4-3/8"

i have had bc br's and isc n1's and they both are amazing coils, the ride comfort is great and you can adjust the front to be lower then the back and virtually level it out man. Good luck! There's also a solid warranty on both.

Ok i Have the Koni's on order, Ive read the Koni to OEM Tutorial a dozen times and easily grasp the concept of it. Since Springs Generally come as a set.. How would I go about getting Epic lowering in front and a more general height in back? Or would I just get the set and add the 1" saggy butt spacer?