Starting with the 2008 model year, Subaru changed to a new 5-door hatchback chassis for its flagship Impreza STI line. Along with the new chassis design included a completely revamped suspension that promised to not only deliver better handling, but also a step above in ride quality over the previous model Imprezas. The step up in ride quality cannot be questioned, however feedback from many new STI owners was that the car did not feel as responsive or crisp as the previous version STI. With this in mind, EPIC Engineering sought to solve these issues, while still maintaining the crucial aspect of ride quality.
EPIC Engineering spent almost 10 months researching and developing a spring kit to suit the needs of the vast majority of 08+ STI owners. This spring kit is geared primarily for daily drivers who want to get more out of their suspension, but not have to make sacrifices in daily drivability. Multiple drivers with varying levels of driving experience helped test these springs to allow for a wide variety of viewpoints and opinions. Lowering the car approximately one (1) inch all around with slightly less in the rear, the EPIC Engineering spring kit gives an aggressive raked stance to the car, yet still very much allows the car to clear speed bumps and steep curves with little to no problem. The ride height is optimal for handling, which is improved through progressive spring rates and replacement bump stops. These progressive spring rates allow for a nice and comfortable ride for the highway or daily commuting, but also provide proper stiffness and responsiveness when taking corners hard. Body roll is all but eliminated, as is the understeer and softness of the stock setup.
For the customer who is looking for exact spring rates to match up with a custom race strut setup, these springs are not going to be the best choice. However, for every customer who wants to push their car hard at the track, the number of customers who don’t go to the track vastly outnumber them, and that customer will find the EPIC Engineering springs perfect for their daily driven needs. The EPIC Engineering springs inspire confidence in handling and do not make the compromises in ride quality that many other suspension setups do. The difference is in the details.
You can purchase these springs from our website by following this link.
Couple more photos:
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!
