2006 3.0R Spec B new struts

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Need struts.

Kyb gen 3 or gen 4?

Of front gen 3. Rear gen 4?

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

As suggested I checked part numbers.

Gen 3 excel g is same Aus and US.

Gen 4 excel g is different Aus and US.

Gen 4 excel g pn is actually same Aus and UK.

Therefore as suggested there is no way to verify USDM experience is transferable. 

I have ordered rear excel g because there is simply no other option except koni or bilstein at 4 times the cost.

However I checked KYB Aus website. 

They list some interesting front options. 

New SR Special as Spec B and STi replacement.  And SR Ultra for GD WRX.

Pricing of above is somewhere between excel g and koni inserts. And much less tha bilstein b6.

Also the damping technology is very appealing.

[KZJonny]

Interesting that there are different struts/market. Tho maybe not surprising as North America generally seems to buy cars that have a softer, (less good), driving manner that the rest of the world. Thanks oversized American asses for the 2.5L tho, I suppose. For those of us who like lots of torque from more swept volume, it's a good thing.

 

Any case, there is probably more to it, but waaay back when I swapped to the Gen 3 struts, the logic was simply that the 3rd Gen car was heavier than the 4th gen, so it was assumed that there would be a little more aggressive valving in the struts to make up for it, all other things being roughly equal. I did not find it was a night and day difference, but I needed new struts in any case and didn't see the harm in testing the theory. The car definitely rides better with a lot of load in it, but I also did a near total bushing replacement throughout, so it's hard to say which exact one thing was the most responsible for improving the ride. I think the trailing arm bushings + overload springs probably were the biggest contributors to the improved ride quality.

 

Also very interesting about those SR Specials. If they really do match the performance of the stock Spec B Bilsteins, that would be a welcome new product for those of us with ageing out struts who can no longer justify the cost of a new set of Bilsteins....

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

5 hours ago, KZJonny said:

Interesting that there are different struts/market. Tho maybe not surprising as North America generally seems to buy cars that have a softer, (less good), driving manner that the rest of the world. Thanks oversized American asses for the 2.5L tho, I suppose. For those of us who like lots of torque from more swept volume, it's a good thing.

 

Any case, there is probably more to it, but waaay back when I swapped to the Gen 3 struts, the logic was simply that the 3rd Gen car was heavier than the 4th gen, so it was assumed that there would be a little more aggressive valving in the struts to make up for it, all other things being roughly equal. I did not find it was a night and day difference, but I needed new struts in any case and didn't see the harm in testing the theory. The car definitely rides better with a lot of load in it, but I also did a near total bushing replacement throughout, so it's hard to say which exact one thing was the most responsible for improving the ride. I think the trailing arm bushings + overload springs probably were the biggest contributors to the improved ride quality.

 

Also very interesting about those SR Specials. If they really do match the performance of the stock Spec B Bilsteins, that would be a welcome new product for those of us with ageing out struts who can no longer justify the cost of a new set of Bilsteins....

Yes I find it interesting that KYB will supply one part number to cover an entire range over the entire model life cycle,  and of course the difference in weights and suspension specifications. But have in this case opted for different part numbers for different markets.

As you say us spec is probably softer. Or it's a different mfg plant.

Rears are same pn so I was incorrect there.

Interestingly the 'New Sr Specials' are not actually new, they are about 10 years old. 'New' is part of the product name.

What I like about them is they have adaptive valving. In my view this addresses my biggest gripe with otherwise amazing struts: Harshness on poor road surfaces.

At 2 times the cost of the excel g's they are a premium product no doubt but they seem to offer what to me is an almost irresistible option: obtain the sporty driving dynamics while not compromising on ride comfort especially on poor surfaces. 

The GD WRX versions are actually a cool gold painted inverted monoshock. Still with the adaptive valving.

[KZJonny]

3 minutes ago, 06Obsidian3.0RB said:

Yes I find it interesting that KYB will supply one part number to cover an entire range over the entire model life cycle,  and of course the difference in weights and suspension specifications. But have in this case opted for different part numbers for different markets.

As you say us spec is probably softer. Or it's a different mfg plant.

Rears are same pn so I was incorrect there.

Interestingly the 'New Sr Specials' are not actually new, they are about 10 years old. 'New' is part of the product name.

What I like about them is they have adaptive valving. In my view this addresses my biggest gripe with otherwise amazing struts: Harshness on poor road surfaces.

At 2 times the cost of the excel g's they are a premium product no doubt but they seem to offer what to me is an almost irresistible option: obtain the sporty driving dynamics while not compromising on ride comfort especially on poor surfaces. 

The GD WRX versions are actually a cool gold painted inverted monoshock. Still with the adaptive valving.

Also, not available in Northa America it seems. I wonder what other market they may be available to? Shipping from Aus for something of that size and wieght would totally eat up the cost savings of getting something them vs. the Bilsteins which I can get shipped for next to nothing.

Sort of a shame there, but definitely interesting to see they KYB makes them.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

I think you can get JDM takeouts probably through the same pathway as the JDM Bilsteins.

From what I can tell they are available in Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, probably just most east Asia, Australia and Oceania really. UK, Europe...

I don't know why you don't get them. Probably a decision by KYB US.

I'm surprised we get them. Probably because we're part of the regional distribution network. Oh that's right we're part of a trading block with above countries. 

Probably the best promotional movie I found was from Vietnam. In my experience those people are happy to pay for something if it's worthwhile.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

What's the interchangeability with GD WRX front struts?

Just use Legacy springs and top hats?

[KZJonny]

I think if I was going to spend money on shipping things from Japan, I’d go all in and risk a set of Ohlins coilovers or the like… hah!

But yeah. Despite the size of NA as a market there is still quite a bit we do not get included in, sales-wise.

 

As far as GD stuff fitting, you’ll have read the same things I have. But GT too hats always sounds like the thing you’d need. Some struts require Spec B top hats, but I don’t know the difference in fitment. 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

2 hours ago, KZJonny said:

Also, not available in Northa America it seems. I wonder what other market they may be available to? Shipping from Aus for something of that size and wieght would totally eat up the cost savings of getting something them vs. the Bilsteins which I can get shipped for next to nothing.

Sort of a shame there, but definitely interesting to see they KYB makes them.

 

4 minutes ago, KZJonny said:

I think if I was going to spend money on shipping things from Japan, I’d go all in and risk a set of Ohlins coilovers or the like… hah!

But yeah. Despite the size of NA as a market there is still quite a bit we do not get included in, sales-wise.

 

As far as GD stuff fitting, you’ll have read the same things I have. But GT too hats always sounds like the thing you’d need. Some struts require Spec B top hats, but I don’t know the difference in fitment. 

I've noticed it with many things such as tyres.

NA doesn't get many of the UUHP tyres, gets market specific models and if the model is still selling well continued after its globally replaced.

NA is so large it's an independent market, so if a product line is not adopted, it's almost certainly a decision made in a US boardroom.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Here's the Au KYB range for 2004 Imprezza.

 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Here's the Au KYB range for 2006 Liberty (Legacy)

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Gen 3 Liberty 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Thais get the New SR Premium struts as well.

Link to promotion video. Just use setting to turn on auto generated subtitles. 

Interesting because he runs through the range and there is an oe replacement, then the excel g which he says is 20% stiffer.

 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Well we drove it to the beach yesterday and it was obvious the current struts are rapidly deteriorating.

My wife said she tried to take it on the Freeway during the week and had to turn back because it was unstable. 

So time to stop procrastinating.

I got a great deal on the front New SR Special so decided to try these out on the front coupled with the rear Excel G's.

Honestly, from what I read the front Excel G would have been perfect with the king springs especially with 15-20% extra damping.

But I decided on the SR's because they give the performance but also stock like ride at normal driving conditions. And another feature which was common in all the literature was anti dive under braking reducing braking distance, especially important for a car my wife drives.

All in they cost 70% more than the Excel G's.

I will try to remember to report back with results. 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Happy to see made in Japan 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Struts together and installed.

[KZJonny]

Looking nice!

Bummer they’re not carried here, but I suppose the extra cost of Bilsteins would be less than sourcing those.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

I took it on a test drive last night.

Was definitely firm to stiff but not hard or jarring. 

Just normal driving was smooth as promised and handled bumps and speed bumps well with little suspension travel.

Braking distance was shortened as promised. Pulled up last 10 -20 m in half the distance expected. 

So say last 20 m pulled up surprisingly shorter at say 10 m.

I expect them to soften a little but basically they deliver as promised. 

In my view they are my preference to bilsteins because they lack the harshness I experienced on normal driving surfaces. But that's just comparing to used spec b bilsteins.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

Anyway they are excellent and deliver as promised. 

They are comfortable but also firm and sporty. They are not harsh or jarring. 

On poor road surfaces they are noticeably firm but still smooth.

Handling is excellent and reaction to sudden sharp turns is excellent and turn in is improved.

 I expect it to improve even more once I do the rears with a rsb. One of the rears has completely dropped its guts now.

They reduce braking distances noticeably.

Unexpectedly suspension travel is much reduced over speed bumps but still comfortable. This may also be in combination with the king springs. This is good because these cars do not have a lot of suspension travel and bottoming out on unexpected potholes has always been an issue.

These struts are perfect in everyway and a credit to the KYB Japanese Engineers. 

They deliver exceptional handling, road control and braking while still not sacrificing acceptable ride comfort on poor surfaces.

I will buy these again, they are fantastic. 

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

On 3/7/2024 at 4:40 AM, KZJonny said:

Looking nice!

Bummer they’re not carried here, but I suppose the extra cost of Bilsteins would be less than sourcing those.

For me they were literally half the price of bilstein. $500 AUD vs $1000 just for the fronts struts alone.  That's for b6's. B4's were about the same.

I definitely rate them on the same level as the b6, possibly better in some situations like poor road surfaces.

Maybe try a jdm parts importer? Same guys who bring in the spec b parts etc. I have seen salvaged full sets available in Japan. 

Or next time you travel across the Pacific or Atlantic pick up a set because they are available literally everywhere except the America's.

Anyway bilstein are fantastic also. I'm just happy I was able to get results which exceeded my expectations for a reasonable price.

Another option you probably cant get is the KYB SR Ultra for the GD wrx. Go check those out. Trust me you will be drooling. They were out of stock here which is a good indicator where bilstein and koni options are both stocked.

[06Obsidian3.0RB]

On 3/7/2024 at 4:40 AM, KZJonny said:

Looking nice!

Bummer they’re not carried here, but I suppose the extra cost of Bilsteins would be less than sourcing those.

For example, for the SR Ultra, This is the cheapest option plus coupon but they only just got in front left, no front right yet. Having trouble keeping in stock.

Try this link if it works for you? They are already cheapest source I have found and there's currently a 15% coupon. $250 AUD but I don't know if they will ship to you. Worth a try.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/166629094636?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=FLSYwsE3RgS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=tOGqKuCCRlO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

FYI $250 AUD is $150 USD.

Edited March 9 by 06Obsidian3.0RB