Anyone know Cusco Lat Links?
 

Anyone have any experience with Cusco Lateral Links? Can they "go bad" the bushings get worn? Any issues?

What about replacement parts? The rod end inserts - can I get replacements?


Looking to puck up a used set, but don't want to buy something that's trash....

Idk about going bad...but Cusco bits are amazing, the fitment of Cusco stuff is phenomenal. I have Cusco front and rear sways and the fit and finish is spectacular.

If they use spherical bushings, they can wear out and clunk, same as end links. No idea if they're replaceable, but if they are they're probably not cheap as the bushings are easily the most expensive pieces... it's probably just easier to replace the whole link when a bushing is worn out.

Do not buy Cusco anything with the idea of easily replacing sphericals. They're non-standard sizes and nearly impossible to source here, and they're $$$$$$$$$ from Cusco if you can even get the right ones. I bought a couple sets of firesale coilovers (like, $200, get these $3k units out of here before I put them through a wall) because the owners had so many problems with the sphericals in the tophats on them - both with initial wear and with getting replacements. I had a set of brand new tophats destroy themselves and start clunking like the wheel was going to fall off within a month of installation..........I've put ~120k on a set of Tein spherical tops with no issues, noise, or appreciable wear.

Your mileage may vary, but I'd stay away from used stuff, or plan to be used to noise.

Thanks guys, just what I needed go hear. Gonna walk. Still looking for some whitelines I guess. Just seem to be the only affordable option.

Rory, ever find any links??

FYI Rory, Ray's '05+ stock links are an upgrade on the '04. The '04 came with the WRX style links... the aluminum STi links are a bit nicer.

Huh? The '04 STI links are different than the bugeye WRX ones, thus the different endlinks, etc...

It must have been a mid-year change then... I remember Eric getting crap when he traded in his '04... the dealer was bitching that he had swapped WRX parts on the car before trading it in.

Keep in mind, the '04 STi could be using different endlinks than the WRX and still not have the aluminum '05+ lateral links.

Doh, mine are steel, but with the different end link configuration eliminating the stupid "C" shaped endlinks.

I wonder which is more prone to being bent or damaged? I have adjustable aftermarket ones that are destined to go on anyway before the next alignment and corner balance.

Gonna bring his thread back instead of starting a new one with a similar question.


I found a good deal on a lightly used set of Cusco Zero 2E coilovers with E-Con. Look new, and they're a good deal compared to the close to $3k for the setup new.

However, the comparisons, reviews, etc I've read indicate that I might be better suited with KWs, like a simple set of V1s (found a good deal on those as well).

Since 99% of my miles , and time in the car is on the street or freeway, and anything I do has to be wife-approved, would the rates and dampning range of the Cuscos be too harsh? I want the car a little lower than current (RCE yellows) for looks alone. I want the ride a little more complain than the factory dampening of the stick 04 STi struts, which are clunking.

Just wondering I'd anyone can give an unbiased relation of the Cusco set up compared to the stock STi setup? Or maybe even the RCE Yellow/stock strut setup?

And on the lat link question, I picked up a set of Raymen's awesome Kaminari links. Frickin quality!

I don't have personal experience with the Cusco coilovers, but they have a reputation for being stiff/harsh. In general, most everything out of Japan is pretty harsh, ostensibly because they have really smooth roads there. I think sybir has run the Cuscos on his wagon in the past... perhaps he can comment.

The KW's would probably be a much better fit for you if you plan to drive the car on the street a lot. MattR ran the KW V3's (?) very successfully for years at autocross, so they're also pretty competitive while being more streetable than the JDM bits.

That's basically exactly what I've read. Haven't found a good deal on KWs though, and definitely not gonna be able to step up to V3s. Me != baller :(

I wasn't suggesting the V3's, just pointing out that KW makes a pretty decent product. The V1's are more than 90% of folks out there need.

I haven't found V2s for our cars, just the V1s and 3s. It'd be nice to have adjustable dampening. At the same time, I don't really think I need to worry too much about it if a high quality coilovers comes with a specific dampening setting. Not at my levels at least. Gonna need to see what dude will do on the V1s

(and I was more saying I'd love to pick up some V3s, but they're out of my pricerange, and honestly more than I need. So are the Cuscos though. ;) )

V1's are great! I had them on my WRX. Perfect coilover for the street and Tirerack has a good deal on them.

Damping. The word is damping.

And the KW V1 is a great setup for a DD/weekend Solo/track day car. Adjustment is overrated when there are well-engineered setups that do exactly what they're supposed to on a given model of car. KW is arguably the top builder of streetable suspension in the world. They are an OE-caliber company. If I had only one vehicle that I wanted to use for Solo and PDX, I would look very very closely at the V1s myself. I use the V3s only because they're on a dedicated competition car.

^ Agreed

How often are you going to be adjusting the dampening or changing ride height on a DD. Plus for a once in a while AutoX or track day, the V1's are more than adequate. KW did a great job providing a good balance for street driving and for competition.

The thing to remember with any coilover is that the ride will be rough, especially on the horrific strips of pavement that Reno calls roads. But on the freeway or out on the track they feel fantastic!

Awesome, thanks guys. The deal on used KW V1s sold, but it wasn't that good of a deal. I'll probably pick up a set new if I can't find another used set.

And I know kevin, damping not dampening, but my phones likes to make it's own engrish ;)

Apparently. :lol:

Lol. Nice catch. And to think, I have a degree in journalism...

That's why journalists have editors. ;)

Lmao yep. I am not an editor, that's for sure.


Finding a deal on KWs is turning into a bit of an adventure.

Seriously the best deal you will find is thru Tirerack. I got mine from Oakos.com for 1600. Tirerack kills that deal.

Edit- Nevermind, for a long time Tirerack had them on special for 1395.00 and now they are back up over 1600.

I didn't even see the V1s on Tire Rack when I looked - but found them at Circuit Motorsports for ~1400 shipped. Gonna keep looking and see what's best.

I've recently looked into and have found good things about Stance coilovers. P&L Motorsports endorses them and they have great reviews on NASIOC. They run 1300 new and have camber plates front and rear. I'm considering them as a cheap alternative to my lame clunking stock struts.

I'm about to pull the trigger on some KW V1s from Circuit, $1449 for them or $1025 for the ST version. Guess I'll have to do a little homework on Stances. Was only seeing the KWs as choice for dd use though.

If you're considering $1000 coilovers, take a look at the BC Racing offerings. They're well reviewed for entry level coil overs, totally rebuilable, and have independent ride height adjustability. Plus, Kspeed is a retailer so you can get them locally.

I'm planning on a set of them for my Outback in a few weeks.

Don't the BCs have clunking issues with long term use? And my main intention here is to soften my ride a bit, the RCEs offer a considerably smoother ride than the stock springs, but I'm still bouncing down the road.

I'd like something about 1/2" or so lower than the RCEs, but a smoother ride. Was thinking Feal revalves would do the trick. But wanting to go as big as possible.

Gonna need to talk Austin into giving me a ride in his wrx at some point, that should be a good indication on their ride.

I'd go with the revalve. It should really smooth out the ride with the RCEs. Does it address the clunking issue though? I take it Ohlins are still $2K? :(

The revalve should address the clunk. The regrease them, and I'll opt for the added zerk fittings for easy future regreasings.

I wouldn't bother with the grease fittings. One good declunk service should last years, and by then you'll have a DD and the STi will be on coilovers.

I've regreased my struts twice in the last year and each time they only stopped clunking for 6 months or so. I was using a Mobile 1 synthetic grease.

I haven't read about the BCs clunking. Then again I've only been looking at the outback/legacy offerings which use a different rear suspension design.

I believe what I read was BCs previous offerings, but never heard if issues were resolved with the Br coils. Seems just about all options have had clunk issues for some users.

Oh, now I know what you're talking about. They had a pretty big redesign quite some time back (more than a year ago) to address those issues. I hadn't even heard of the brand until after the newer versions were being sold.

I'm thinking Kevin is referring to Feal doing a decent enough job with everything apart to last a while, like factory. Based on everything I've read, they do a solid job.



I'm thinking before I do anything I need to mount two if the SSRs to see where I sits. Might be just right as is.

I was referring to the discussion I had with Noah at LIC, where I learned how to do the declunking. He said they'd done dozens over the previous 4 or 5 years and none had needed to be redone. Did you fully disassemble your struts and completely remove the factory 'grease' before adding your bearing grease in?

Yeah I cleaned out the strut really well before repacking it. And I made sure to pack lots of grease in the notch where it collects. Idk why it hasn't helped.

If you leave it clunking long enough, the bushing wears and no amount of relube will fix it and I don't know if anybody has sourced a replacement bushing.

Thought it worth updating, a set of used KW V3 coilovers are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. Soon as I'm back, and have my car back, and after I enjoy a bit of time with it, I'll install them, the lat links, sway bars, an some bushings. :)