mantra1

I thought I would share a few pics/commnets after installing the Megan EZ Streets coils on my 2011 Sportwagon. Originally I was going to keep the car stock (yeah, right) but the mod bug is a disease for me, especially after owning 3 Subarus with turbo motors. Anyways, in stock form, the TSX has some of the best handling and steering characterists I have driven. My first mod was swapping out the stock Michelin Primacy tires to Dunlop Direzza DZ101 225-45-17. So in order to improve on that, I was going to just install Tein H-techs, but I despise the process of spring compressors and lowering spring on stock struts. I was reading Benben01's thread about installing the Megan's EZ with BBS wheels and the great deal from 1XRacing, so I took the plunge>
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tsx-tires-wheels-suspension-300/bbs-megan-ez-coilovers-836497/

The install is pretty straight forward, however, the removal of the rear stock strut/spring is a pain the ass!!! Had to disconnect the endlinks, and controls arms than have my friend with his wife piggybacked standing on the rotor in order to get enough sag to pull the strut out.

Here are some before and after pics:

Before, with stock Michelin Primacy tires:



After: Front lowered 1 5/8", Rear 1 3/8" with Dunlop Direzza 225-45-17



I definately need an alighnment since the rear tires are already beginning to cup. Thinking about adding some 15mm spacers as well in order to fill the wheel well.
The ride is great and having the adjustability of ride height and dampening is a plus.

TSXy Luster

dang, I was hoping to see a picture of your "friend with his wife piggybacked standing on the rotor in order to get enough sag to pull the strut out."

lovely car though.

tobwac

looks great first wagon dropped spacers will really set the car off
why did you go with 225-45 instead of 225-50?

mantra1

I went with 45 series as a good compromise on looks, performance and comfort.

tobwac

wouldnt going with 45 series tire trow off speedo because the diameter of wheels is smaller than stock

Mr. NC

Looks soooo much better dropped like that

ed_423

looks good!

what stiffness setting do you have your front/rear on?

ttk5

Man what an improvement lowering makes! looks so good man. Lower more if you can

mantra1

Thanks for kind words. I have the fronts set at 6 clicks from full stiff and the rears at 8 from full stiff. But, I'm always changing depending on the mood I;m in!

Yes, the 45 series does mess with the speedo, but only by 2 mph when going 80

08r3308

Love the lovering.
I would lover rear 5mm more raise front 5mm but thats me
Looks hot regadles

ecko508

i have my megan coils on the way as we speak should have them in my 09 by this weekend!

ecko508

Just put my megan coils on my 09 sedan....Such an easy install took me and a buddy 2 1/2 hours....the ride is really comfortable and the price cant be beat!!! contact mark from throwdown performance best vendor on this site handsdown!!!

tobwac

^im installing my tomorrow

ed_423

im installing mine...in a month or so

tobwac

^better later than never

opboarding

i really need to jump in on this megan EZ bandwagon

Puppetmaster

Nice work. How does the actual height adjustment on the coilovers differ between front and rear? In other words, you only have a 1/4" difference in drop between front and rear, but how does that translate to where the locking collars are on the coilovers? I'm curious to know if you have the locking collars on the rear considerably higher, relative to the front, to account for potential additional sag from the heavier rear. I assume you are using the stock Megan spring rates of 10F and 5R. Thanks.

mantra1

Puppetmaster,
I did not touch the collars which adjust the spring preload, only adjusted the bottom collars which adjust ride height.

benben01

Looks good mantra! Glad I was your inspiration :P BTW, should have pm'ed me about the rear strut removal. All you needed was a 2x4 or a long sledge hammer handle to push down on the suspension

ecko508

Benben thats exactly how I did it! So much easier than removing everything. I used a long car jack handle. Ben do you rub at all? I'm pretty low and ive noticed taking sharp turns on a bumpy road I'll rub a bit from the tire being turned. Check out my thread ronjon and Megan coils I can't tell who's dropped more lol. But on another not the coils are awesome and can't be beat for the price!!

benben01

Mine is dropped about 1.25 in the from and 1 in the rear. Measured the fender height before and after. I resolved all my rubbing issues in the rear since I am running 275/35/19 back there. The fronts are fine with no issues.

ecko508

Ben out of curiosity what was the stock fender height from the ground? Im curious to see how far I'm dropped

Puppetmaster

Thanks. So even for the bottom collars, it was pretty "proportional" front and rear? You didn't have the rear collar much higher than the front? Basically, I'm asking about this because almost all wagons (A4, WRX, Legacy, etc) when using sedan components end up with a saggy butt. The Subarus have a saggy butt spacer, which is just a flat bracket with the same bolt pattern as the upper strut mounts, that fits between the upper mount and the car. Since you're using coilovers, you can mitigate this by just adjusting the bottom collar higher, if it indeed is the case that the rear sags. But it sounds like it does not in your case.

In terms of ride quality, how does the rear react over bumps? Bouncy or compliant? I'm wondering if higher spring rates in the rear are necessary still.

benben01

IIRC.. Think it was 27" 3/8 front and rear when I was running 245/40/19 all the way around on stock suspension. Now, I am riding 26" up front and 26 1/4" in the rear.

mantra1

The bottom collars are much higher than the fronts, however, this has not hampered ride quality at all. I know too well about the 'saggy butt' on Subaru wagon's, having owned three since 2000. I use my car as a rolling office and always have 'heavy items' in the boot. I don't think you will need to upgrade to a stiffer spring.

My only dilema now is the excessive camber since lowering, causing the inside of my tires to cup. I guess I'll be shopping for a camber kit. (any suggestions?!)

mantra1

That would be too easy! Besides, I enjoyed watching the husband/wife tandom jumping up and down on the rear hub

benben01

LOL.. You are freaky like that BTW, are you upgrading your wheels anytime soon?

Puppetmaster

Thanks for answering all my questions, Mantra. Very useful info for me and other wagon owners who are considering lowering.

mantra1

No plans since I replaced the stock Michelins with Dunlop Direzza's. Probably sometime within the next year I might take the plunge and upgrade to 19s.

Are you having any issues with the tires cupping from excessive camber?

mantra1

No Problem.

If anyone wants a good deal on NIB Tein H-techs, shoot me a pm

Puppetmaster

I might have considered those because there's less drop in the rear, but you've just convinced me in this thread I "need" coilovers, LOL.

ceb

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but using non-standard tire sizes that affect the outside diameter is considered odometer tampering and one of the few things that can cause a manufacturer to summarily void a warranty. The direction of the "tampering" is immaterial but as long as the correct odometer reading cannot be determined then you have committed odometer fraud.

It is unlikely that the dealer will ever check tire sizes but that possibility exists - especially if come in with any driveline issues.

The difference in size is nearly .9 inches and is a 3.411% difference in size. At 60mph, your speedometer will read 58mph. and for every 100 miles driven, the odometer will record 96.5 miles. Over the warranty of the car, that would mean over 1700 miles - significant enough for a manufacturer to take notice.

benben01

Good Lord ceb! If that was the case, I better not fart or sneeze as my actions can affect all of human kind

ceb

No, now you know what the unintended consequence may be (loss of warranty coverage for the entire car that will be upheld by a court) and you can decide if the benefits are worth the risk. The comment about "it's only 2 miles off at 80mph" indicated that you had no considered the implications.

This will also inform others so they can't say "gee, I didn't know that" if they decide to use a shorter or taller sidewall. While you may consider warranty implications inconsequential, I'd bet that the majority of board members actually like having a warranty.

In theory you could be charged with odometer tampering as well in criminal court - a felony - but that is pretty rare.

Getting back to the subject at hand - nice drop - although I probably wouldn't drop it as much and spacers or a wheel with a different offset would make it look even better.

ed_423

fart while driving
realize you have to take a dump
go home to take a dump
while taking a dump, browse acurazine at the same time
see everyone changing wheels and tires
decide to change tire size
different tire size causes speedo to be off
speedo to be off causes warranty problems
warranty problems lead to felony
charge with odometer tampering
go to jail
take a shower
drop the soap
get butt rape.


fart = butt rape.

benben01

Coming from a guy who just sold me his nuts.. Classic!!!!

ecko508

Anyone else think ceb is Total buzz kill to this forum! Not only in this thread but in so many others. This is coming from me with 20" wheels a 225/35/20 tire and dropped 2 inches on Megan coils I love all of this wheel/ suspension modding keep it coming! Ceb don't call the grand jury on me lol

KillerG

^ alot of mods, one may find retarded, but everyone is entitled to their own taste, where some think 20's look good some think 17's look good and everything in between

An opinion i think is always good but everyone will always do what they like in the end D:

ed_423

opinions are fine.


respecting one's opinion is another thing though

KillerG

yep^ i shouldve said that better, but yeah ed