Long time Subie owner & new Levorg suspension mods

[oze.dave]

As you can see from my signature I am a long time Subaru owner having had 8 Wagons & Outbacks since 1990. Thought it was time to hop into a smaller, more road orientated performance car.

Had seen all the previews of the soon to be released global platform 2021 Levorg & was thinking to hold out till then. However, I actually prefer the smaller size & not so edgey looks of the current model & due to the current failing new car market due to the Covid crisis & run out model prices was able to swing a great deal on a Cool Grey Metallic 2.0 GT-S demo that only had 130km on the clock.

Am planning on installing MCA coilovers (by MCA here in Brisbane) but was wondering what thoughts people had on possible detrimental effects on Subaru warranty. Has anybody had suspension mods done on a new Levorg?

Dave

 

[Rustysalami]

As you can see from my signature I am a long time Subaru owner having had 8 Wagons & Outbacks since 1990. Thought it was time to hop into a smaller, more road orientated performance car.

Had seen all the previews of the soon to be released global platform 2021 Levorg & was thinking to hold out till then. However, I actually prefer the smaller size & not so edgey looks of the current model & due to the current failing new car market due to the Covid crisis & run out model prices was able to swing a great deal on a Cool Grey Metallic 2.0 GT-S demo that only had 130km on the clock.

Am planning on installing MCA coilovers (by MCA here in Brisbane) but was wondering what thoughts people had on possible detrimental effects on Subaru warranty. Has anybody had suspension mods done on a new Levorg?

Dave

Welcome aboard Dave. I have MCA Street Performance coil overs fitted to mine and thoroughly recommend them.

Previous owner fitted them and Subaru are cool about it. They just note it on the service paperwork. Obviously if there were to be any issues Subaru won't cover the coil overs. They've been on the car for three years and had no issues.

I spoke to MCA after I bought the car. Nice guys and gave me advice for setup etc. Easy to adjust if you have c-spanners. Lowered my car a little and looks and handles better. They quoted me about $110 per shock to take off an service if I ever needed it. I'm due some tyres soon and will go there for a proper wheel alignment.

Cheers

Rusty

 

[oze.dave]

Welcome aboard Dave. I have MCA Street Performance coil overs fitted to mine and thoroughly recommend them.

Previous owner fitted them and Subaru are cool about it. They just note it on the service paperwork. Obviously if there were to be any issues Subaru won't cover the coil overs. They've been on the car for three years and had no issues.

I spoke to MCA after I bought the car. Nice guys and gave me advice for setup etc. Easy to adjust if you have c-spanners. Lowered my car a little and looks and handles better. They quoted me about $110 per shock to take off an service if I ever needed it. I'm due some tyres soon and will go there for a proper wheel alignment.

Cheers

Rusty

Hi Rusty, thanks for your reply, much appreciated. Yeah have talked to Josh already & have decided to go with MCA. Just crazy that Subaru hasn't addressed the deficient Bilstien setup after all this time. After reading so much discussion online about it I got a price from MCA before we finalised the purchase of the Vorg. So I had priced that into the car anyway.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Roberton]

Just stumbled onto this forum and have had so many questions answered already...thanks.

My 2017 Levorg is going through the Bilstein challenge! From the 3 month tighenherup mini service is had a slight banging in the front left suspension but Subaru techs couldn't recreate it. Same at 12m, 2y and at the 45k 3 year service it was getting worse but they couldn't recreate it! They did however note the rear shocks were leaking so I'm now waiting for the replacements to arrive from Japan (two months later but Covid etc blah blah blah).

A week after the 45k service the front left was banging constantly and took it back, tech jumped in and within five metres said 'top hat front left strut needs to be replaced'. Finally a result so three quarters of my suspension to be replaced!

Initially there was some debate around 'out of warranty as rubber wear' but this was pretty quickly negated by the constant notes at every service.

 

[Muz]

Hi,
I’ve got a 2016 GT, the standard suspension was the worst set up I’ve ever experienced, the rear of the car felt like it was on a trampoline, with no fix on offer from Subaru. A year ago I fitted MCA performance set for comfort, 9kg springs front/8kg springs rear. While they’re not perfect, (a tiny bit too stiff for me), it has totally transformed the car, it is 95% better than what it was and now I can actually enjoy all the great things about the car. If you can, I would strongly advise driving a Levorg with MCA’s fitted, in hind site I would go for the 8kg front/6kg rear set up, obviously a personal preference thing. I might swap out the springs in the future. Warranty wise, if Subaru deems that the suspension has caused another part to fail, they won’t cover it.
I also informed my insurance company, there wasn’t any extra charge, but it’s good to have it noted in their system.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Muz

 

[Roberton]

Thanks Muz, I wasn't allowed to use the login Muz as somebody had it and it was you ironically! MCA - Murray Coote - geez we're everywhere.

Thanks - will wait till my sons finish their L's and stop driving my car and warranty expired before looking at adjusting it and will let Subaru pay for the new gear now. The sons get a little too excited already and think all cars handle like my Levorg! Need to keep getting them out in my mate's old VN V8 Commodore to 'balance' their reliance on Subaru's safety tools.

 

[Muz]

I had a VP V8, great car, I’ll stick with the Levorg on a wet or slippery road any day, definitely chalk and cheese.
I thought I was pretty lucky to square away our name.

 

[Rustysalami]

Hi,
I’ve got a 2016 GT, the standard suspension was the worst set up I’ve ever experienced, the rear of the car felt like it was on a trampoline, with no fix on offer from Subaru. A year ago I fitted MCA performance set for comfort, 9kg springs front/8kg springs rear. While they’re not perfect, (a tiny bit too stiff for me), it has totally transformed the car, it is 95% better than what it was and now I can actually enjoy all the great things about the car. If you can, I would strongly advise driving a Levorg with MCA’s fitted, in hind site I would go for the 8kg front/6kg rear set up, obviously a personal preference thing. I might swap out the springs in the future. Warranty wise, if Subaru deems that the suspension has caused another part to fail, they won’t cover it.
I also informed my insurance company, there wasn’t any extra charge, but it’s good to have it noted in their system.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Muz

Muz I set my rebound 2-3 clicks on the front and 3-4 on the rear if that helps. Seems to be about the softest I'd go. I recommend some good tyres to go with it eventually. I fitted Pilot Sport 4 recently and they improved absorbing small bumps like cats eyes etc.

 

[Muz]

I’ll be updating the tyres early next year so I very much appreciate the advice, 2-3 clicks off hardest great on the freeway but not real flash around the burbs, but with a more compliant tyre I can see how that will change up everything, I’ll keep experimenting.
Thanks again, cheers.

 

[Roberton]

Hey team, three questions:
Got the strut top replaced under warranty so this should fix the banging on the front end (haven't driven it yet as wifey picked up the car).
I did notice that the rear Bilstein shocks were replaced with stock yellow Subaru ABS Complete R shocks. Do you think I should be disappointed with this considering the B-Spec came with the Bilstein's considering the Bilsteins failed as both leaked (or just be grateful they aren't Bilstiens again)!
Secondly - Why would it take Subaru Aust three months to get stock parts in from Japan or do you think they couldn't get the Bilsteins so just threw on the stock?
Thirdly - replacing suspension parts on three corners of the car and no wheel alignment afterwards - guess I need to get it realigned as tyres only 1500k old. Should Subaru have done an alignment?
Thanks

 

[Rustysalami]

Wowsers. What dealer was that as I won't go there! Yes to a wheel alignment as they most likely took the struts out to replace the tops. Also, they should replace like for like under warranty, unless you wanted them to put standard shocks in? You paid extra for the B-spec model which included the Bilsteins. So do you now have Bilsteins front and standard ones at the rear?

Sorry, I can't comment on whether the standard or Bilsteins are better/worse.

 

[Roberton]

Yep, Bilstein fronts and stock rears. I haven't checked if they replaced like for like at the front (guy down the road is an ex Subaru engineer so will help me with this).
Thanks for your thoughts...will see what other feedback I get.

 

[NewLevorgOwner]

Welcome aboard Dave. I have MCA Street Performance coil overs fitted to mine and thoroughly recommend them.

Previous owner fitted them and Subaru are cool about it. They just note it on the service paperwork. Obviously if there were to be any issues Subaru won't cover the coil overs. They've been on the car for three years and had no issues.

I spoke to MCA after I bought the car. Nice guys and gave me advice for setup etc. Easy to adjust if you have c-spanners. Lowered my car a little and looks and handles better. They quoted me about $110 per shock to take off an service if I ever needed it. I'm due some tyres soon and will go there for a proper wheel alignment.

Cheers

Rusty

As you can see from my signature I am a long time Subaru owner having had 8 Wagons & Outbacks since 1990. Thought it was time to hop into a smaller, more road orientated performance car.

Had seen all the previews of the soon to be released global platform 2021 Levorg & was thinking to hold out till then. However, I actually prefer the smaller size & not so edgey looks of the current model & due to the current failing new car market due to the Covid crisis & run out model prices was able to swing a great deal on a Cool Grey Metallic 2.0 GT-S demo that only had 130km on the clock.

Am planning on installing MCA coilovers (by MCA here in Brisbane) but was wondering what thoughts people had on possible detrimental effects on Subaru warranty. Has anybody had suspension mods done on a new Levorg?

Dave

Hi Dave

I just bought a 2016 MY17 GT-S Levorg and wanted to know how much the MCA coil-overs cost for labour and parts?
I really like the handling of the car but the roads are quite bad here in Adelaide and you feel it. The car has only done 20K.

Be great to know what it costs to see if it's within my current budget.

Cheers
Nathan

 

[robo498]

Thanks everyone for the advise! I to would like to know the cost of the MCA and the cost of the springs, because like the rest of you I am sick of having a fast car that has to almost STOP to get over a speed hump or small hole in the road! !

 

[oze.dave]

NewLevorgOwner ..... The price of the Pro Comfort's from MCA was $2,250 as shown on their website. They will be setup for Levorgs, but worth letting Josh know your preferences of driving environment & any preferences etc. They fitted mine for $500 & that included a wheel alignment & setting front camber to his recommendation. Also, he will make changes to springs etc if you want, within an acceptable time frame.

In my case he is changing the rear springs to 20mm longer ones (200mm long) to compensate for sag when I tow our camper trailer.

Attached is a PDF of Setup Sheet he supplied with the coil overs.

Cheers

Dave

 

[robo498]

Thanks for that, I called 2 of the Melbourne suppliers and yes they both said $2250 plus $500 like you say. ....The guy in Ringwood was not great, but the guy in hallam was very helpful and said he would do $2500 for the lot (better than nothing) I wounder if we got a couple of Melbourne people together if we could get a better deal? MCA cannot supply any until early next year as they moved factory and are closed for Xmas. Anyone in Melbourne up for a better ride?

 

[Guvna]

Yep that would be me, just have to save a bit more for them

 

[Suffolk]

I'm also interested in new suspension but might go Neomax S

 

[robo498]

Well we cannot order them until next early next year, but sure let's try and get a better deal

 

[Jimmy]

Thanks for that, I called 2 of the Melbourne suppliers and yes they both said $2250 plus $500 like you say. ....The guy in Ringwood was not great, but the guy in hallam was very helpful and said he would do $2500 for the lot (better than nothing) I wounder if we got a couple of Melbourne people together if we could get a better deal? MCA cannot supply any until early next year as they moved factory and are closed for Xmas. Anyone in Melbourne up for a better ride?

Let me know how you get on, just go back from a road trip around Vic including some a lot of back roads between Mildura and horsham, rear of the car was like a trampoline, glad we didn't have the kids and wee traveling light. Definitely need to upgrade the suspension.