After a few production hiccups, we finally received the new rear prototype EPIC Engineering springs and bumpstops, and installed them onto our 08 STI. I’ve been driving the car all this week for my commute and despite the rear being just a little bit lower than previously, there hasn’t been many noticeable handling differences. Here’s how it sits now:
The ride is still extremely smooth and comfortable, in fact even more comfortable than previously when going over expansion joints on the freeway. Dan made a few adjustments to account for the little bit of oscillation he was experiencing with it when he test drove the car for a few weeks. He also put the car through its paces, testing different driving scenarios (such as free on/offramps, fast emergency lane changes, and uneven/pothole-ridden roads) to ensure the springs were doing exactly as he specified. I think with these latest changes, full production on these springs will likely be starting soon, but that’s Dan’s final call of course. Either way, I’m still beaming happy with them and I can’t wait to start selling them to fellow 08+ STI owners!
We’ve been working closely with EPIC Engineering on their spring setups, and we recently had a customer of ours come back so we can take photos of his install. Here’s what these springs are all about, according to EPIC Engineering themselves:
The goal of the Epic Engineering STI Road Spring kit is to give the vehicle a more aggressive stance, and increase the intensity of the driving experience.
The Suspension kit lowers the car approximately 25mm in the front and slightly less in the rear giving the vehicle a slightly raked or “nose down” stance. This adjustment levels the wheel arch front to rear, for an aggressive, even look. The quality of the ride is drastically improved on both the freeway and city roads.
The overall balance of the vehicle is greatly improved reducing unwanted under steer. Pitch and roll motions are substantially reduced and turn in response is markedly increased. In the STI model spring rates have been optimized in order to make the transition from under steer to over steer, smooth, and enjoyable.
Our STi kit features proprietary spring rates and precisely engineered front and rear bump rubber, a critical component of the suspension kit. The decrease in ride height effectively lowers the drag coefficient, as well as the front roll centre and hence inclines the vehicle roll axis further up to the rear.
Overall, vehicle dynamics are improved in such a way that the end result is a better balanced car with more predictable handling that is noticeably more comfortable and above all else confidence inspiring!
Our customer has very high praise for these springs and I’m sure he’d be happy to chime in himself with some comments. Here are the photos that were taken:
The EPIC Engineering Springs are available for $296.10 shipped here!
