jaycee Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 Is it my imagination or has anyone else noticed that the suspension is getting noticeably stiffer as the weather's getting colder. We've had some days in the low 40's and high 30's (Fahrenheit) and the ride seems bumpier. Maybe it's just me anticipating the onset of pot hole season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deer Killer Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 I don't mean to be condescending, but "duh" Things get tighter as it gets colder, I really would not like to see a thread on how subaru's change with cold weather and subaru needs to do something about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbi012 Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 welll what deer killer said is true but actually I feel like the ride stiffens even if its not that cold, I have a feeling that when I drive the car for a long period of time it gets stiffer, not sure why but that's how it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted October 24, 2004 Author Share Posted October 24, 2004 Well, I've owned several previous cars and this is the first one I've noticed this behavior on. So, logic suggests that this is not an unavoidable byproduct of the changing weather. Thanks for the constructive post anyway Deer Killer - true to form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtguy Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 As it gets colder, what you're really feeling is the tires getting harder. Rubber hardens in cold temperatures. It's one reason I always say that snow tires are also temperature tires. Their softer compound doesn't get as hard in the winter. Metal (springs, etc) will get harder, but not harder enough to compromise ride quality to a noticeable degree. I'd speculate that it's the rubber that is mostly the culprit. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted October 24, 2004 Author Share Posted October 24, 2004 Kevin, good point, that could be it. The tires on my Subaru are the lowest profile of any I've owned and their increased stiffness in the cool weather could be making the difference. I also leave open the possibility that it's my perception and not reality. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaceComp Engineering Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 Actually,.what you feee is the density of the fluid in the dampers, esp in the rear which is inverted. Same thing is true on VERY cold days,..my issue with this is, that once the car is driven, it should get softer, as the fluid heats up. In extreme situations, the fluid will foam, causing it to be very bouncey. 944 turbo guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtguy Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 [quote name='RaceComp Engineering']Actually,.what you feee is the density of the fluid in the dampers, esp in the rear which is inverted. Same thing is true on VERY cold days,..my issue with this is, that once the car is driven, it should get softer, as the fluid heats up. In extreme situations, the fluid will foam, causing it to be very bouncey. 944 turbo guy[/QUOTE] Hmmm. Good possibility. I thought of that, but my V7 STi dampers on my WRX wagon didn't alter their qualities based on temperature, so I presumed that the Legacy was also immune to such things. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meier motor sports Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 im add my 2 cents and say its both. i have noticed it in my car and thought it was the springs. after a few miles it would ride normal again. so i think its gona be all the factors. stiffer rubber in the tires, shock oil density, and cold/ stiffer springs. also how about the bushings in the spring pearches. maybe they are harder to so the little bumps are more noticeable and noisy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest *Jedimaster* Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 [quote name='gtguy']As it gets colder, what you're really feeling is the tires getting harder. Rubber hardens in cold temperatures. It's one reason I always say that snow tires are also temperature tires. Their softer compound doesn't get as hard in the winter. Metal (springs, etc) will get harder, but not harder enough to compromise ride quality to a noticeable degree. I'd speculate that it's the rubber that is mostly the culprit. Kevin[/QUOTE] Explains why my summer tires are acting a bit squirrely in our 40 degree weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_hunter Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 Man you are pushing it. I had summer tires on my WRX and it was downright scary when the temps got down around 40. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaceComp Engineering Posted October 25, 2004 Share Posted October 25, 2004 [quote name='gtguy']Hmmm. Good possibility. I thought of that, but my V7 STi dampers on my WRX wagon didn't alter their qualities based on temperature, so I presumed that the Legacy was also immune to such things. Kevin[/QUOTE] well the Sti version 7 and 8 KYB's have alot more fluid capacity so the dampening is much better, and less effected by temp change, and heat from within.......... 944 turbo guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTCanada Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 My STi v7 dampers got quite stiff when the temperature dropped below ~ -10 degrees C. (too damn cold) Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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