Today we are reviewing the Flatout Suspension Coilovers, R5710 series for a 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon.
The packaging as shipped from Flatout is excellent, and they arrived in perfect condition. The extras were included at no charge, and they include 2 spanner wrenches, extended adjustment knobs & resi mounting brackets (comes very much in handy because the knobs are hard to reach from under the car). Most companies charge extra for this. Kudos Flatout.
They come set at 0 preload, so you will need to set the lower mount height, install them, then set the pre-load as outlined in Flatout’s technical documents. My install was pretty straight forward, and I’ll outline what I did next.
Install:
- Jack up car on all 4 corners and set down on jack stands.
- Remove the wheels.
- Remove old suspension via 3 upper bolts and 2 lower bolts.
- (Front) Remove brake line, remove abs line. (Rear) remove brake line.
- Install new coilovers, bolt to top and bottom.
- Set the bump travel, as outlined in technical document.
- Measure free length of springs (All 4 corners).
- Torque bolts, install wheels and torque lug nuts.
- Lower the car.
- Measure the length of the compressed springs.
- Check difference between free length & compressed length of springs.
- Jack up car again, and add the difference in length to the preload.
- Lower car and check ride height.
- Adjust ride height to the users likings.
- Torque all bolts, go for a short drive and check settings again after suspension has settled.
As outlined in the technical documents (link here), if you’re lowering or raising the car in step 13, make sure to divide the length you’re adding/removing between the pre-load and lower perch. ie – if you want to lower the car 1″, lower the pre-load by .5″ and lower the lower perch by .5″.
One thing I noticed in my install, was that the rear coilovers have a very small gap between the shock body and the wheels/tires. You will need to be sure they do not rub.
Minimal clearance, be sure you don’t rub!
Measuring gap before adding/removing length to the lower perch.
Front reservoir mounting. Had to remove washer bottle.
Rear reservoir mounting.
