valleylegacy Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Just had the Bilstein HD's installed with JDM Pink Spec B springs in the front and JDM GT wagon springs in the rear. Honestly they are too stiff for local Los Angeles roads...IMHO. Called Bilstein and they advised that the BILSTEIN HD struts are better suited to work with the OEM USDM SPEC B Springs. The drop height is nice but its too low for my taste. I'm scraping the lower lip and even when entering the driveways at an angle. I enter slow but the slightest bump or too much speed and I scrape. Only when the roads are smooth does the suspension really feel nice and comfortable. Maybe I'm a wimp. But I need a different set of springs. Suggestions? Anyone pair the OEM JDM SPEC B sedan , wagon springs (non-pinks) with the Bilstein HD's? Or what about he Rallitek Springs with Bilstein HD. Ive read some reviews but don't know much about how those springs are rated. Ideally I want to keep comfort and have just a slight drop no more than 1/2 inch really. The JDM Pinks are too low for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holla Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I'm in the exact same position. I'm also running Bilstein HD's with the STi Pinks on my wagon. The car is too stiff to drive around the city comfortably and I'm getting sick of it. I know for sure I'm going to at least put the oem suspension back on the rear. I had run it like this for a couple of months and it wasn't that bad, pinks in the front and oem in the rear. Even with the 3/8" spacer & pinks my car sits just a hair lower in the rear. The real issue is the stance from the factory is all wrong, the back is lower than the front. All I really want is the front to be dropped like 1/2"-3/4" while maintaing the best ride quality possible. Having the rear lower than the front is just plain wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 I agree with you. Immediately after my install I noticed the ride quality was too stiff. Like I mentioned Bilstein said the HD is 15% stiffer than the OEM spec b struts. The tech mentioned many people called in about this issue. He said the HD struts were designed for the OEM spec b Springs . But I don't want the front to sit lower than the rear too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holla Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I think I'm going to try the Epics. A group buy on this forum just ended yesterday for them but I'm trying to get a set anyway. They probably won't be here for a few weeks but I'll report back when I have them installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idiot4hire Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I agree with you. Immediately after my install I noticed the ride quality was too stiff. Like I mentioned Bilstein said the HD is 15% stiffer than the OEM spec b struts. The tech mentioned many people called in about this issue. He said the HD struts were designed for the OEM spec b Springs . But I don't want the front to sit lower than the rear too I have always heard that the specB and lgt springs are the same the ride height difference comes from the weight of the 6spd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Catalyst. Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 LGT vs. spec.B OEM springs (USDM) have a different spring rate (and part number) to mate with the different struts. The STi Pinks are the smallest drop you will find in a performance aftermarket spring. Sounds like you need to track down some spec.B OEM springs to get the ride height (and comfort) back. I already sold my takeoffs, or I'd work out a deal with you (although I think you have sources for JDM parts so perhaps some JDM spec.B springs would be something you can source). My spec.B [#163] Project Thread with Pictures Get CryoTuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 That's is a great point "catalyst" but now I wonder should I track down oem jdm spec b wagon springs rev d Or try the oem jdm spec b sedan springs rev d. The reason I would think getting rev d is better is because the 6mt wasn't released in the jdm spec b car until rev d Or could I be over thinking it and that the jdm spec b springs either wagon or sedan from rev c is the correct spring to mate with the bilstein HD cause it was a 5mt car? Thus giving me a slight little drop more on the oem springs Geez I Sound confusing. . The 6mt car is heavier and it is even heavier on the jdm wagon with the 6mt. So in theory the oem springs in that car should be rated huger to support that . I guess I need to check curb weights of the USDM spec b vs jdm spec b with the 6mt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Catalyst. Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I think you will find the USDM to be heavier since we have the 2.5 vs. the 2.0 block. My spec.B [#163] Project Thread with Pictures Get CryoTuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 So It would still be worth trying out the jdm spec b springs from a wagon with 6mt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Catalyst. Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Yes, should be a pretty level ride height (wagon giving a bit of a lift in the lighter sedan rear), and get you back the comfort you desire. My spec.B [#163] Project Thread with Pictures Get CryoTuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 So looking at the actual curb weights...get this - USDM 07 GT Wagon Auto - 3530 lbs. USDM 07 Spec b - 3515 lbs. USDM 08 Spec b - 3530 lbs. USDM 09 Spec b - 3543 lbs. USDM 09 3.0R - 3545 lbs. JDM 07 Spec b 6MT wagon - 3306 lbs. JDM 08 Spec b 6MT wagon - 3306 lbs. JDM 08 Spec b 5AT wagon - 3306 lbs. JDM 08 S402 6MT wagon - 3351 lbs. Nothing comes close to our USDM weights. Probably the heavier bumper beam, and our 2.5L engine are the factors, except the S402 is a 2.5L motor. but still weighs almost 200 lbs less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Are the USDM 3.0R Bilsteins struts the same as our USDM Spec B struts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I haven't got mine on yet, but I wonder why some people say this setup is too harsh, and others say it's smooth as glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 It's all about personal preference 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleylegacy Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 In all honestly the The LA COUNTY area has really slacked off on repaving let alone making the roads even even when they do repair potholes. Plus all the contractors that dig up the roads for construction and do a piss poor job on repairing or repaving them up to code....the roads and highways in the LOS ANGELES metro area...really suck. And the set up with the Bilstein HD + JDM SPEC B WAGON Pinks in rear/sedan pinks in front is just too harsh. I can see that if it were on a very very even surface and smooth well maintained paved roads it could be a dream of a ride. But for me in LA... I honestly thought the OEM USDM SPEC B set up was pretty comfortable and handled potholes and uneven pavement on highway or surface streets pretty well. Now that being said I called Bilstein as I stated earlier in the post and they said that the Bilstein HD struts were a better match with USDM OEM SPEC B SPRINGS. That the Bilstein HD was 15-20% stiffer than OEM USDM SPEC B Bilstein. And the JDM SPEC B Pinks are not rated correctly for the Bilstein HD strut. That would make sense why the ride is too harsh for my taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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