Suspension Options???

IANDLP

Member
Joined
May 19, 2016
Messages
62
So over the past 7 months, I have been playing around with various suspension setups and doing a compare and contrast. For those in Australia, the factory Bilstein setup is rubbish. Below is the list of things I tried and results achieved. I understand that everyone has different opinions on what a car should handle like and the following was based on my preferences to achieve a fair ride for daily duties.

Standard Bilstein Yellows revalved.
Made a huge difference having the rear shocks revalved. I had them mated to standard springs, STI springs and RSR Ti2000 springs. However the car still felt unbalanced. But at $350 to have the rears revalved it's a cheap and effective way of improving the handling.

MCA Street Essentials Coilovers.
Setup was 20mm drop from standard and in 8kg front/6kg rear spring rates. In short, a very well built, good bang per buck upgrade if you are happy with a firmer type ride on the softer setting. It wasn't what I was out to achieve. These are a popular option amongst most but just not for me. For spirited driving, they gave great feeling and confidence. Maybe if fitted with a softer spring rate, a not as harsh ride may be achieved, but I never explored that avenue.

Tien Flex Z Coilovers.
Again with a 20mm drop from standard height and 5kg front and rear spring rates. Also a very well built product, but a very firm ride also even when set soft and ordered with softer spring rates.

HKS Max GT Coilovers.
If you value your spleen, do not buy these. Or install a solid steel bar where the shocks should be to achieve the same result. I've never experienced a ride like it. The simplest of daily duties like speed humps and driveway kerbs would send the trac control crazy as it lifts the wheels off the ground.

Cusco Touring A Struts.
Upon purchasing these I was rather sceptical. Cusco make a quality product but are also a very track orientated history so I had my doubts that I would find my happy medium here, let alone the perfect ride. Trying 3 different spring options all yielded a great result (standard, STI and RSR Ti2000), but I have settled with these struts and the RSR Ti2000. On a conservative daily street setting (23 clicks from soft front and 27 clicks from soft rear) I would call this the perfect balance of comfort and response. Bump them up to 37 clicks front/40 rear and it makes taking the twisties very fun without being stupidly harsh. Go to the higher end of the scale (44 front, 49 rear) and the feeling of firmness and solidity gives you the confidence to push hard. I think it's too harsh for street duties and more suited to track days etc.

The above is certainly not the cheapest, but is definitely the best setup to suit the Levorgs in my opinion. Great for daily duties and easily tweaked if you want to drive in a more spirited manner. And I think that coupled with a larger rear sway bar will make our Levorg perfectly balanced all round

All of the setups above were in the car for 2-3 weeks and driven on day to day roads, a run through the mountains, then finally a quick track session prior to removal. Obviously, a wheel alignment followed after each change.

I will be adding a bigger rear adjustable swaybar to counter and correct the roll in the rear. I have also fitted SuperPro rear camber arms to resolve camber issues and tyre wear with the lowered springs.

If anyone else has done any other research/comparisons on Levorg suspension, I would love to see your results and opinion.
 
Last edited:

jimmyp

New Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2019
Messages
3
Hey IANDLP.

I'm curious how these are going still.. Also, how is the initial (compression) damping with the standard springs? , is it true only Rebound is adjustable?
 

jimmyp

New Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2019
Messages
3
bumpppp..

No one else consisering the Cusco's by any chance? OP still around? :)

I see they're the same part No as WRX, (6A5-65T-A) ? which makes sense I guess. About $1000AU.
 

Jasonlas

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2019
Messages
2
bumpppp..

No one else consisering the Cusco's by any chance? OP still around? :)

I see they're the same part No as WRX, (6A5-65T-A) ? which makes sense I guess. About $1000AU.

Gday,
Did you find out if they are the same as the WRX??
Cheers
 

Jasonlas

New Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2019
Messages
2
So over the past 7 months, I have been playing around with various suspension setups and doing a compare and contrast. For those in Australia, the factory Bilstein setup is rubbish. Below is the list of things I tried and results achieved. I understand that everyone has different opinions on what a car should handle like and the following was based on my preferences to achieve a fair ride for daily duties.

Standard Bilstein Yellows revalved.
Made a huge difference having the rear shocks revalved. I had them mated to standard springs, STI springs and RSR Ti2000 springs. However the car still felt unbalanced. But at $350 to have the rears revalved it's a cheap and effective way of improving the handling.

MCA Street Essentials Coilovers.
Setup was 20mm drop from standard and in 8kg front/6kg rear spring rates. In short, a very well built, good bang per buck upgrade if you are happy with a firmer type ride on the softer setting. It wasn't what I was out to achieve. These are a popular option amongst most but just not for me. For spirited driving, they gave great feeling and confidence. Maybe if fitted with a softer spring rate, a not as harsh ride may be achieved, but I never explored that avenue.

Tien Flex Z Coilovers.
Again with a 20mm drop from standard height and 5kg front and rear spring rates. Also a very well built product, but a very firm ride also even when set soft and ordered with softer spring rates.

HKS Max GT Coilovers.
If you value your spleen, do not buy these. Or install a solid steel bar where the shocks should be to achieve the same result. I've never experienced a ride like it. The simplest of daily duties like speed humps and driveway kerbs would send the trac control crazy as it lifts the wheels off the ground.

Cusco Touring A Struts.
Upon purchasing these I was rather sceptical. Cusco make a quality product but are also a very track orientated history so I had my doubts that I would find my happy medium here, let alone the perfect ride. Trying 3 different spring options all yielded a great result (standard, STI and RSR Ti2000), but I have settled with these struts and the RSR Ti2000. On a conservative daily street setting (23 clicks from soft front and 27 clicks from soft rear) I would call this the perfect balance of comfort and response. Bump them up to 37 clicks front/40 rear and it makes taking the twisties very fun without being stupidly harsh. Go to the higher end of the scale (44 front, 49 rear) and the feeling of firmness and solidity gives you the confidence to push hard. I think it's too harsh for street duties and more suited to track days etc.

The above is certainly not the cheapest, but is definitely the best setup to suit the Levorgs in my opinion. Great for daily duties and easily tweaked if you want to drive in a more spirited manner. And I think that coupled with a larger rear sway bar will make our Levorg perfectly balanced all round

All of the setups above were in the car for 2-3 weeks and driven on day to day roads, a run through the mountains, then finally a quick track session prior to removal. Obviously, a wheel alignment followed after each change.

I will be adding a bigger rear adjustable swaybar to counter and correct the roll in the rear. I have also fitted SuperPro rear camber arms to resolve camber issues and tyre wear with the lowered springs.

If anyone else has done any other research/comparisons on Levorg suspension, I would love to see your results and opinion.


Gday,

Where did you purchase the Cuscos from?
Are they the same as the WRX as stated below?
Cheers
 

IANDLP

Member
Joined
May 19, 2016
Messages
62
86C30E75-B3B4-4264-97A5-7F310BF21D3B.jpeg
I purchased mine in myself. Same part number as WRX but specifically marked Levorg as I believe they were valved differently to suit the extra weight of the wagon platform.

9 months on and definitely no complaints from the cusco’s.
 

SilverSteed

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2019
Messages
2
Location
Perth
Can anyone tell me the actual Bilstein product type/number for the OE suspension? B*?
I have a cheeky idea brewing...
This would be for a 2017 GTS
 

Tim’s STI Levorg

New Member
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
6
Vehicle(s)
Levorg STI
Has anyone installed the coilovers themselves?
Does anyone have the torque specs for all the bolts?
I’ve bought Neomax S myself.
 

Arthur

New Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2020
Messages
11
Vehicle(s)
2017 levorg gts
View attachment 687
I purchased mine in myself. Same part number as WRX but specifically marked Levorg as I believe they were valved differently to suit the extra weight of the wagon platform.

9 months on and definitely no complaints from the cusco’s.
Gday mate
Is it a huge difference from that shitty bilstein suspension
Does it still bottom out like the bilstein?
Is it nice and comfortable but controlled
Cheers mate
 

IANDLP

Member
Joined
May 19, 2016
Messages
62
Gday mate
Is it a huge difference from that shitty bilstein suspension
Does it still bottom out like the bilstein?
Is it nice and comfortable but controlled
Cheers mate
The difference is phenomenal. If you’re in NSW you’re more than welcome to come for a steer
 

Doogz32

New Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
20
Vehicle(s)
2018 Levorg GTS 2.0
View attachment 687
I purchased mine in myself. Same part number as WRX but specifically marked Levorg as I believe they were valved differently to suit the extra weight of the wagon platform.

9 months on and definitely no complaints from the cusco’s.
Hey Ian, did you purchased directly from cusco.co.jp? Also, did you install yourself or at a mechanic? Thanks for the all the time and effort you put into the research btw.
 

samlux

New Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
8
Vehicle(s)
Levorg GT-S Forester XT
Has anyone tried fitting WRX Coilovers to their Levorg?
 

Doogz32

New Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
20
Vehicle(s)
2018 Levorg GTS 2.0
Hi fellow Levorg owners,

I'd been watching this thread since I picked up my Levorg in October because I also noticed the front suspension bottoming out (haven't noticed the rear being too bouncy/floaty that some owners have experienced). I bit the bullet and ordered a set of Neomax S coilovers from Silvers Suspension - just felt more comfortable ordering them locally than from overseas, that's just me ... And of course Gerald Reyes and perhaps other forum members have also mentioned getting these.

Anyways, had them installed by Pedders just yesterday and immediately took the car to the roads I know that cause that hard 'crash' - you never forget those 'soft pot holes' or undulations or Macca's speed bumps. Glad to report that the vehicle now responds the way it should have in the first place.

If anyone's experiencing the same suspension issues, I highly recommend getting yourself a good set of coilovers. Personally I can recommend the Neomax S from Silvers Suspension.

Btw, these coilovers are height adjustable within 50mm. But I had Pedders keep the car at the same ride height.

Gonna head to the coast this weekend. If I happen to encounter any issues, I'll post here.

Cheers
 
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