Help choosing Suspension, Breaks and Swaybars

[Kekotic]

Follow it up with removing the front sway bar. If you're not happy now, sell and upgrade to a GT or 3.0 so its worth spending money on.

When you say removing the front swaybar....do you mean replacing it with a thicker one, or just completely removing it?

Any front swaybar you choose will not fit on the turbo models, so keep that in mind.

[Johnb]

Suggested bang for buck package to improve handling:

KYB shocks
King Springs
Whiteline swaybars front and Back
AVO rear swaybar reinforcements mounts

This set up will keep ride height at about standard.

If price is no object then:

Tein or KW coilovers or Bilstein HD replacement Struts with Tein or H&R Springs
Cusco or STI or whiteline strut brace (front)
Cusco Type 2 bar suspension brace (front)
Cusco Type 2 rear bar suspension brace
Cusco rear strut brace
Super pro front lower arm bushes (Castor adjustable)
Anti lift kit
Whiteline roll centre adjustment kit
Solid swaybar endlinks
Whiteline rear camber correction kit
Whiteline polyurethane diff mount kits

[DrivesLikeJehu]

LOVE that list, JohnB. I'm keeping it for mine .
I'm curious, tho' .
On a 2.0L, would the ALK and poly diff mount kit add any discernable improvement ?
I'm thinking, it's more about keeping cornering speed up, than needing better control when powering out ?

And, i'm wondering if the best value upgrade ATM would be a set of those Billies from WheelPower while they're so cheap (before they sell out).
Will they fit OK ? GTB/RB OEM bilsteins ?

[tangcla]

Poly diff mount will transfer a lot of NVH into the cabin - you're basically replacing soft rubber mounts with hard stuff.

Having said that, when I did that with my old car, it was actually changing a rubber mount with a solid nylon one... Never again will I do that

[blacktop™]

King Springs

You can't be serious?

Best bang for buck for those without billies, would be a set of billies. $500 you can't go wrong

[tangcla]

In addition to John's list, you could add alloy lower control arms too, pending budget and objectives. They're stronger and offer an unsprung weight advantage.

[Arith]

Best bang for buck for those without billies, would be a set of billies. $500 you can't go wrong

I've had Billies with the stock suspension. Meh.

I've rather do lowering springs with stock shocks as you get looks along with better handling. Granted it's not as good as lowering springs with Billies but Billlies on their own just didn't do it for me.

[DrivesLikeJehu]

Tangcla, got a ballpark $ figure ?
Arith, the aforementioned Billies come complete with Spec B lower/stiffer springs. (Not LOW, but lower than standard).
I SO wish I could edit that title to read BRAKES, not Breaks. It's starting to grate on my nerves ! (But, "Them's the breaks/brakes", LOL)

[tangcla]

Tangcla, got a ballpark $ figure ?

They aren't cheap, not sure what they're worth. They came on the JDM spec.C models, I believe. My set cost me over $1K but I was young and naive back then...

[Arith]

the aforementioned Billies come complete with Spec B lower/stiffer springs. (Not LOW, but lower than standard).

Someone correct me on this, but is there such thing as Spec B springs? I thought the Spec B come with Billies paired with the standard stock springs.

[DrivesLikeJehu]

Hmm. I've read so many threads, on so many forums, in so many countries, my memory might be playing tricks. Keen to have that confirmed too.

[Kekotic]

Someone correct me on this, but is there such thing as Spec B springs? I thought the Spec B come with Billies paired with the standard stock springs.

I think PHAT said it's just the stock springs on the Billies, when he was taking mine off the car. I may have misheard though.

[blacktop™]

Best bang for buck for those without billies, would be a set of billies. $500 you can't go wrong

I've had Billies with the stock suspension. Meh.

I've rather do lowering springs with stock shocks as you get looks along with better handling. Granted it's not as good as lowering springs with Billies but Billlies on their own just didn't do it for me.

That's a fair call and the lowered stance is nice, but king springs are just shithouse. I don't think they offer any performance gain.

I think a more reputable spring should be used if the OP decides to go down this route.

[Arith]

I think a more reputable spring should be used if the OP decides to go down this route.

That's great advice. You dont' replace springs usually more than once (unless of course you're Tangcla in which exhaust, wheels, springs, and intake sees more change than undies), so best to invest in a great quality set and do it right the first time. Otherwise if you have to replace them and pay for new springs, it would cost much more than if one had bought good springs the first time around.

Hmm. I've read so many threads, on so many forums, in so many countries, my memory might be playing tricks. Keen to have that confirmed too.

I pretty much think the Oz-spec is simply just stock springs paired with the Billies. All the springs I've seen taken out of Spec B's are all standard springs that are fitted in all the Libertys (sans the STi).

[DrivesLikeJehu]

Wow. I've just re-arranged the order on my upgrade list ! (Springs, right up there with rear swaybar).
Still getting my head around a 2.0 using the same front springs as a H6 3.0R, actually.
But, getting back to OP :
"I want to keep the height as close to stock as possible". On that brief, wouldn't the billies still be the best value first step for our P-plate-poster ?