Suspension STAGG Struts and Shocks installed --> Review
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 6
From: Denver, CO
Yup same deal with me! I was issued a full re-fund for parts. Then I asked them how they were going to re-imburse me for the $300 I spent on labor....they are sending me a free set of Monroe OESpectrum shocks which arrive today........
Really upset about the STAGG but we'll see how the Monroe's are.
Really upset about the STAGG but we'll see how the Monroe's are.
I would have took that deal, but I had to get the Mini back on the road and couldn't wait 5 more days(including weekend) for shipping. NAPA had OE Spectrum in stock, so I settled for them. the ride feels good.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
That is good to hear! Much smoother than stock? How does the car handle? I'm trying to decide if I want to install my OE Spectrum's or just try to sell and say F it and deal w/ the rough ride of stock struts with 100k on them.......
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 909
Likes: 3
From: New York, NY
So -- while late late 2002s might be okay -- the early builds were not.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 6
From: Denver, CO
I was amazed at the ride difference. I also replaced all of the steering parts in the front end, control arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends.
The upper strut mounts were also worn out, so I replaced them too. The rubber in the mounts were cracked. The oem rear struts were so worn out that when I pushed the rods in neither came back out!
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 6
From: Denver, CO
Our Mini is a 4/02 build date.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Nope, no reply. Last time I checked the auction ended with all 17 sets sold. I don't know if they pulled the auction or if 7 more sets were actually sold. The timing leads me to think they pulled them after I sent them a message.
Went ahead and ordered the Koni FSDs from Tire Rack. $591 with 5% cashback from some bargain site. Lot's more but known to be good with my stock springs.
Went ahead and ordered the Koni FSDs from Tire Rack. $591 with 5% cashback from some bargain site. Lot's more but known to be good with my stock springs.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 329
From: Panama City Beach Florida
No, the fitment was fine. The ride was alot better than the older shocks. They just do not handle the Louisiana bumps that well. I could feel every little bump in the road. And the bigger bump just plain sucked.
I purchased my FSD's from Bravmotors for $568 with free shipping. Not to bad I think. Will install next week. I also purchased a new strut compression tool. This one is sweet. I will be renting it out to ya`ll at a fare rate. Like I do with the lower control arm tool I have.
I purchased my FSD's from Bravmotors for $568 with free shipping. Not to bad I think. Will install next week. I also purchased a new strut compression tool. This one is sweet. I will be renting it out to ya`ll at a fare rate. Like I do with the lower control arm tool I have.
Last edited by shrevemini; Apr 19, 2014 at 07:48 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 25
Thanks, shrevemini. Were these from the ebay vendor, techdeals1?
Please do share us your objective comparison w/ the FSDs. I know they are far from equals. Striuts are among those maintenance items, this would help guide those in the hunt for worthy stock replacements. FSD is an upgrade surely, but are the Staggs really better than stock as others have claimed? We also don't have any long term feedback on reliability & ride quality.....yet.
Please do share us your objective comparison w/ the FSDs. I know they are far from equals. Striuts are among those maintenance items, this would help guide those in the hunt for worthy stock replacements. FSD is an upgrade surely, but are the Staggs really better than stock as others have claimed? We also don't have any long term feedback on reliability & ride quality.....yet.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 25
My good buddy finally found some downtime to mill the Stagg front strut tips to factory standard diameter & specs. The set was from that batch which had oversized rods that won't fit our strut mounts.
The rears were fine:
The rears were fine:
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Drove the car a couple hundred miles since the install.
Wife gave it thumbs-up yesterday. hahaha
The car feels a lot more comfortable and composed.
Might feel like there slightly more body roll but that could be my imagination. I guess it could be there as these struts actually work! lol
Unrelated i have an occasional rattle in the suspension that I think may be related to not installing the second big washer that came with the new mounts. Also noticed that the boot on the inner balljoint on the left control arm is torn.
All in all I am very pleased with them and would highly recommend them to anyone on a budget.
The H&R Springs drop the front 1.0 inch and the rears .75 inch so your setup would be mint with these.
My front mounts were so worn that when I installed the new ones it raised the height of the car almost .5 inch which sucks cause I loved the height before..lol
Wife gave it thumbs-up yesterday. hahaha
The car feels a lot more comfortable and composed.
Might feel like there slightly more body roll but that could be my imagination. I guess it could be there as these struts actually work! lol
Unrelated i have an occasional rattle in the suspension that I think may be related to not installing the second big washer that came with the new mounts. Also noticed that the boot on the inner balljoint on the left control arm is torn.
All in all I am very pleased with them and would highly recommend them to anyone on a budget.
The H&R Springs drop the front 1.0 inch and the rears .75 inch so your setup would be mint with these.
My front mounts were so worn that when I installed the new ones it raised the height of the car almost .5 inch which sucks cause I loved the height before..lol
Just a note: higher center of gravity, by having less drop, will give you more body roll compared to a lowered car.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: KS
Hello All,
I need to do the replacement of my shocks/struts on my '06 R53 and have already decided on the Stagg's.......
However, I've read on multiple posts how the Stagg's don't fit thru the upper mount or the end plate?
For anyone was has done the STAGG install, already, what did you have to do to make them fit?
I need to do the replacement of my shocks/struts on my '06 R53 and have already decided on the Stagg's.......
However, I've read on multiple posts how the Stagg's don't fit thru the upper mount or the end plate?
For anyone was has done the STAGG install, already, what did you have to do to make them fit?
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 365
Likes: 6
From: Denver, CO
Hello All,
I need to do the replacement of my shocks/struts on my '06 R53 and have already decided on the Stagg's.......
However, I've read on multiple posts how the Stagg's don't fit thru the upper mount or the end plate?
For anyone was has done the STAGG install, already, what did you have to do to make them fit?
I need to do the replacement of my shocks/struts on my '06 R53 and have already decided on the Stagg's.......
However, I've read on multiple posts how the Stagg's don't fit thru the upper mount or the end plate?
For anyone was has done the STAGG install, already, what did you have to do to make them fit?
Send them a message and see if the issue has been resolved. My experience with them was good. Once UPS picked up the shocks for return they issued me a paypal refund, even before they received them!
1st Gear
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
I just got done putting these on my R53. I optes to go the budget rout as the fun money funds was drying up fast. I paired these with IE fixed camber plates and new shock mounts on the rear. Only have one ride in so far, but its a huge improvement from the original shocks and struts that had 91k on them. I have no clue how long it should take for shocks and struts to return to full extension, but the shocks took a good 50 seconds. Anyway I am very pleased for what I spent, just hope that lasts.
