STI STRUTS

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:19 am

I did try out the STI struts on the Legacy last weekend and found very good even with some cheap 195/65x15 tyres on(saves my rally tyres).
I've just taken them off again and fitted some KSFS-22 front springs(245lbs) and rear KSRS-39 about same lbs .While the struts were off I welded in some wedges for extra strength.I do have photo's and will post them if someone can give me some web space or recommend one.
Ride height is a little higher and stiffer.Road test next week!

Cheers

Chris

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 4:35 pm

Sounds cool, Chris.

Free image hosting, courtesy of THAWA:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=17062

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:55 pm

Thanks for that.Try this http://www.thawa.net/gallery/Rally370

I hope it works

Chreers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:58 pm

Ok I tryed it and it works! so I'll shoot some more photo's soon.

Cheers

Chris

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 6:02 pm

Neat! Those wedges look very... uh, neat.

King Springs are from Australia, right?

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 6:16 pm

Yes from Austrailia,My co-drivers wife was in Australia last week and carried them back for me.Price was $145au per set about $204us Their shipping?? Email Brad Green.
In the US I could not get any raised springs for the Legacy or STI.

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 6:20 pm

OOHH1! forgot to say ,the reason the STI struts work for me is that you can undo the bottom nut at the base of the strut and remove the insert(after spring are removed) so then you can weld them.Plus you can replace the insert and as the insert is upside down,less flex.
Normal strut,Big bang???

Cheers

Chris

-K- · Post by **-K-** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 2:11 pm

Those rims in gold are nice! Makes me want to get some stock rims and do that.
I love to see cheap, easy ways to fix things up. Hope it works well on the Legacy.

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 6:55 pm

universal gold engine paint from Kragen,more photo's now!

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:42 pm

To sum up my STI Strut swap ....

Front standard set up (USDM 04 Impreza STI) good ride height and stiffer (Spring rate 200lbs)for road.

Rear Standard set up as above but spring rate 130/200lbs(need to file out the top three mounting holes outwards by about 3/8"

With front KSFS-22 springs fitted +3/4" ride height and much stiffer(245lbs rate)

Rear fitted with KSRS-39 springs (245lbs) +1 3/4" ride height and a lot stiffer

See photo's for ride height.

One good thing is the rear spring plattform is higher on the back so now I can put on bigger tyres/wheels if needed.

I used the same brake line fitting and added tie wraps just to be sure.If I have time I will make special brackets to hold them in better.

Road test to follow.

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:27 pm

Road Test:

I can either go to work via the freeway or take a canyon road???
So I took the canyon road(he he),a series of tight twists and turns up hill then down.
Nobody was about so I gave it some! The present set up seems to work very well,taught but not to the point of jarring your bones.
I have very low cost tyres on and these swealed from all fours as I made some nice four wheel drifts around the bends,infact the noise from the tyres was so bad it drowned the noise from the exhaust!
Now I find that the standard LS rear swaybar is not up to it for the road as the rear end comes out quite a lot,just the way I like it and just right for rallying???
For the road I would need bigger sway bars,energy suspension bushes rear and of course better tyres.

Total cost was $669 for the 4 complete STI Struts with shipping off Ebay , $204 for the springs and $109 for the energy front "A" arm bushings.
Next test will be Laughlin next month www.rallyusa.com

I hope this is of use to someone.

Cheers

Chris

ultrasonic · Post by **ultrasonic** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:02 pm

rally370 wrote: Now I find that the standard LS rear swaybar is not up to it for the road as the rear end comes out quite a lot,just the way I like it and just right for rallying???
For the road I would need bigger sway bars,energy suspension bushes rear and of course better tyres.

Thanks for the road test review.

Without changing other factors, an increase in rear sway bar stiffness will tend to increase oversteer. So if you like the way the back end comes around now, you might not want a bigger sway bar.

Also, gravel and snow set ups will often use lighter sway bars to allow more body roll in the turns. This allows more weight transfer, letting the outside wheels achieve more grip. I'm no expert, but I believe I have read that somewhere, and it made sense to me. You probably know more about it than I.

I do know that better tires, appropriate for the road surface, will be a huge improvement.

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:14 pm

Hi Steve

I thought and have read that the bigger the rear anti-roll bar/swaybar the less oversteer?
The Turbo has a bigger rear sway bar and I sure they didn't add to induce oversteer.
I remember in the UK when the Escort RS1600 came out it would swap ends on the limit and they cured that by adding a stiffer rear sway bar.
Maybe I'm wrong??

Better tyres I feel would help as these were $30 each! you get what you pay for!!! but I only use them for going to work and they are fun to drive on.I spent my dosh on the Rally tyres.

Cheers

Chris

Brat4by4 · Post by **Brat4by4** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:57 pm

Bigger rear sway bar is MORE oversteer. I am pretty sure that the turbo has larger bars front and rear, someone correct me if I am wrong. Turbo also had revised strut settings, so that could keep the steering more neutral with only the bar being different.

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:18 pm

OOOOOPs I must have it wrong! cheers dudes.I did a bit of checking with the Alfa guys and found this link.
I must be getting old and my memory fading???

http://www.international-auto.com/index ... =ad&aid=40

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:35 am

STI struts had their big test last weekend at Laughlin and performed very well
No bends and took the bumps without problems.

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:37 am

Just pulled the STI struts off after competing on Laughlin and Seed 9 rallies and they are just as good as when I put them on.I think money well spent.
I said this before,but the handling is all oversteer when lifting off the gas so much fun!!! not a bit of understeer a bit like the old MK2 Escorts. Spring rates are 250lbs all round .

Cheers

Chris

rally370 · Post by **rally370** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:00 am

Just purchased another set of 04 STI street struts($400) as a back up for the one's on the Rally car.
I have to say these STI struts on the Rally have now done Laughlin,Seed 9 ,Rim and Treeline without any problems.Got 5th O/A on Treeline!

Good value?? to right!

Cheers

Chris

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:23 am

Definitely a good value. The struts, new at 1stsubaruparts, are $302 each.

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STI STRUTS