opinions on H&R springs?

[silverfool]

anyone else have these on the LGT?

my exhaustive search of this site using 3 supercomputers, 4 gradstudents and five fingers and the search button reveals only 3 opinions. they seemed pretty good for the price and yet i don't see much info here or on Nasioc.

 

$230 for progressive coils with a lifetime warranty from a reputable manufacturer. is there something i dont know bout them or coils?

[Th3Franz]

I think I heard the coilovers they offer for our car are generic, meaning not legacy-specific and they aren't that great.

Their springs lower the car a lot, which will kill your struts pretty quickly.

[ONRAMP]

I have them on my car. I started a thread here just a few days ago.

 

[thread=40152]Link to my thread.[/thread]

[silverfool]

wow, between the short message flaw and the server is too busy message, this is the 3rd time i've typed this message-

 

yeah, your car and the PDX thread are the only 2 real references around here. your's doesn't seem as low as theirs. how is the ride still?

 

i've been wanting to get some coils and these seemed like a great deal and i don't think the ion GB is gonna happen. i've heard similar things to what th3franz was saying about the drop but didn't hear any of you 3 complain about it. maybe people are confusing them for the RSRs which also had the slammed reputation?

[ONRAMP]

The drop doesn't seem as much as what H&R claims, but I didn't get any before and after measurements to compare. I am very happy with the amount of drop and the ride, but as I mentioned in the other thread, the improvement in the springs really highlights the lackluster stock shocks.

 

When I had my GTI, I looked at H&Rs for it, and the issue there was that the stock shocks would bottom out and would wear very prematurely. I'm sure that I'm not helping the life expectancy of the Legacy's stock shocks, but the plan is to replace them at some point in the future anyway.

 

If you're not looking for a slammed drop, and you're not looking to turn it into a race car, I think these really fit the bill. They lower the car enough that the look is improved and provide some noticeable improvement in handling without destroying the ride.

[silverfool]

how often are you hitting the bumpstops? are we talking like once a week or like daily? i got a baby on the way so don't want to get too harsh. the choice otherwise it seems is to get new struts now...which i don't really understand how it'll improve dive/squat more than springs but i'm kinda stupid.

[ONRAMP]

I have found one or two places where I drive regularly where I can hit the bumpstops if I don't slow down a bit. Mostly bad railroad crossings and torn up roads. Having said that, though, I have had the H&Rs on for almost a month, and my wife and 5yr old daughter have been in the car a number of times since then and haven't noticed the change. The change in the ride quality, especially now that I have had them on for a while, was very subtle. The reduction in squat and dive is very noticeable from behind the wheel, and the reduction in body roll, while not as much as I thought it might be, is also noticeable.

 

Just like firmer springs, upgraded struts will have different rates of compression and rebound that help control the movement of the car. Without going into real detailed descriptions, the stock struts are under damped, meaning the compression and rebound rates can't keep up with the motion of the car (on stock or aftermarket springs!). A better set of struts will be able to react more quickly to the compression and rebound of the suspension, thus keeping it off the bumpstops and reducing the bounce and float that is present in our cars.

 

I'm not really an expert on this, maybe somebody else can chime in with a better technical expanation?

[mckman]

I ordered the H&R springs from Tire Rack this week along with the Tokico D-spec struts from jdsperformance.com, and a JDM RSB from RalliTEK to complete the package.

 

Based my purchase mostly on ONRAMP's recent post. I am looking for springs that firm up the handling a bit without the end result being too harsh. The H&R's seemed to have what I wanted compared to Pinks (although everyone raves about Ions) and Swifts that may involve too much of a reduction in ride quality. The specs list the drop for the H&R springs as 1.4 inches, but ONRAMP's car doesn't seem like it has dropped quite that much. Given that our stock struts can barely control the OEM springs I purchased the Tokico's as well (couldn't wait any longer for the Koni's). Hopefully this package will work well together.

 

Everything has shipped but the JDM RSB from RalliTek, however even if it shipped today it will likely be a few weeks before I get everything installed. Once the new parts are on the car I will post a review (with pics of course ).

 

Kevin

[ONRAMP]

mckman - I will be very interested in hearing your thoughts when you have everything on the car. I wanted to hold out for Konis or pick up some Bilsteins, so I will be particularly interested in how the Tokicos mate up to the H&Rs. I think the JDM rear sway will be a good match as well, take some of the load off the outside front wheel in turns.

 

Waiting patiently for your review... Hope I haven't steered you wrong!

[bluechipbmw]

Sounds great...I am definitely interested in hearing your feedback on your set up. I actually went on a test drive with someone who has the swifts with the tokico d specs. And I feel its still a little too harsh like the ions but firmer. I would perfer something more comfortable. Maybe your setup iwill be the ideal set up?????????

[jim1969]

maybe the stock springs on the tokicos?

[bluechipbmw]

maybe the stock springs on the tokicos?

 

i was thinking that too....i wonder? how can we find out if the stock springs would be a good fit?

[mckman]

Thanks for the post ONRAMP, it was a big help.

 

Thought of sticking with the stock springs instead of the H&R's as well, which I can revert to if the new springs turn out to be too stiff or too low. Given that they were only $224 at Tire Rack (and should be quality German made springs btw) the savings on the H&R's relative to pinks might even pay for the swap.

 

I agree that the main problem with the car right now is the stock shocks. If you hit a bump mid corner, the car bounces all over the place and that is with the stock RE92's! I have a set of 18x8 Superleggeras as well and the stock shocks feel even less in control with low profile tires.

 

The only way to know for sure is to do some empirical research and put the parts on the car..... I hope to end up with a slightly firmer suspension, with much more body control and sharper turn in, without trashing the ride. I'll keep everyone updated.

[silverfool]

i wonder where the H&R's fit in the ride quality sector compared to the more popular springs on this board- if only they published their rates at least, we'd have an idea. maybe some of you guys can use your butt comfortmeters to educate us. i'm thinking either springs or struts at the end of this month but don't know which yet.

[ONRAMP]

The only way to know for sure is to do some empirical research and put the parts on the car..... I hope to end up with a slightly firmer suspension, with much more body control and sharper turn in, without trashing the ride. I'll keep everyone updated.

 

Thanks for being the guinea pig. I noticed you have a wagon, it will be interesting to see the drop on a wagon compared to the sedan. I'm looking forward to your updates.

[itsme]

I went with H-tech, whiteline adj. F&R swaybars and 19"x 7.5". I think I need better struts. I'm just going to wait till these take a dump and get new one. So for I think the ride good for only 225/33/19 tires. So if you have stock tire or a bigger sidewall then mine you should like the ride. If you want to see pictures of the drop let me know.

[silverfool]

i wish i had more time to check out a meet to try the ride on some of the different suspensions. sounds like there are quite a few in OC/LA whom are on non-coilover rides which is exactly what i would want. maybe next month. the teins sound like a good deal but with my usual luck i always check out warranties and theres just seemed kinda weak. haven't heard any complaints though from anyone here so that has got to be promising.

[Bez]

I have H&R springs mounted on stock struts, the JDM 20 mm RSB and am on STi BBS alloy wheels with the stock RE070 Bridgestones. Before I purchased the H&Rs I spoke with Jason at H&R in Bellingham and he advised me that these sport springs were designed to work with the stock dampers and I find the combination works well for me. H&R springs are very high quality, TUV approved and I have had them on a Nissan Maxima for 8 years, and on my 1974 BMW 2002 track car for three years and neither set have sagged, or exhibited reduced spring rates over years of hard driving.

 

The ride on the LGT is firm and well controlled, dive and squat are gone and the car tracks well and corners with just a trace of understeer. I purchased the H&R's from PDX Tuning in Portland, who also installed them for me and did a great job, very professional shop and one I would highly recommend.

 

I have not noticed that I am hitting the bump stops except a couple of times on the highway when transitioning from a road under construction to the existing pavement where you can feel the car hitting the stops as these transitions are abrupt, but the car doesn't feel unsettled and does not float. The stock spring and damper combination felt overdamped to me and the current setup feels just slightly underdamped. When the stock dampers are toast, I'll likely replace them with some after-market gas-over dampers like Bilstien or Koni, but hopefully that will be down the road somewhat.

 

All in all a great modification to the car, and one that has really improved both the handling, ride comfort and driving pleasure of my LGT. My wife likes the additional control of the H&Rs and wants a set on her Forester XT. Follow up questions, please either reply or PM me.

[silverfool]

got any young kids? do they tolerate the ride ok?

[Bez]

My youngest is 13 so can't comment, but the ride is just fine and just more buttoned down than stock. These springs are progressive and offer a great ride and only stiffen up when you the car is cornering hard or hits some abrupt transitions on higher spring compressions.

[rexster]

I ordered the H&R springs from Tire Rack this week along with the Tokico D-spec struts from jdsperformance.com, and a JDM RSB from RalliTEK to complete the package.

 

Based my purchase mostly on ONRAMP's recent post. I am looking for springs that firm up the handling a bit without the end result being too harsh. The H&R's seemed to have what I wanted compared to Pinks (although everyone raves about Ions) and Swifts that may involve too much of a reduction in ride quality. The specs list the drop for the H&R springs as 1.4 inches, but ONRAMP's car doesn't seem like it has dropped quite that much. Given that our stock struts can barely control the OEM springs I purchased the Tokico's as well (couldn't wait any longer for the Koni's). Hopefully this package will work well together.

 

Everything has shipped but the JDM RSB from RalliTek, however even if it shipped today it will likely be a few weeks before I get everything installed. Once the new parts are on the car I will post a review (with pics of course ).

 

Kevin

 

I look forward to hearing your feedback on that set up...

[silverfool]

thx for the input and great write up bez. i think i'll be ordering mine later this week.

[Bez]

This is a side view of the car on the H&Rs and the wheel gap is just right in my opinion with these 225/45-17 RE070s. Let us know how much you like the H&Rs once you have them installed, I am fairly certain that you won't be disappointed.