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US STi Struts, 02-03 WRX Prodrive Springs, Front STi top mounts.

Fronts:


Comparison:

New, Old (GR-2's, FWD springs, Stock topmounts)

Non-inverted:


Inverted:


Couldn't change the top mounts in the rear yet, so that's for tomorrow,

This is how it sits with the new stuff in the front, and an assload of shit in the back with AWD rear GR-2's, springs, and top mounts:


Kinda dark, but it was late. I'll take new pics when the rear is in tomorrow hopefully .

Rears with GD top mounts:


Comparison of the top mounts:


Bolt spacing (didn't really take a good pic):


Rubber dealie:
http://www.thawa.net/gallery/soobys-suspension/IMG_0010
old and new

Comparison of the whole strut with 93? top mounts:


How it sits now with the same amount of shit in the trunk:


Plus I got this number goin:

Finally

Update #1

Well, the more I drove it, the more it felt as if the car was overdampend. The springs are just too soft for the struts. So I decided I needed to change that up. I ordered some of these badboys:


JDM STi Pinks.
They are tapered to the same diameter as the 90-91 Legacys.

Left = 90-91 top mounts, Right = 92-94 top mounts

The rear's are a little taller when not mounted.


The fronts are about the same height when not mounted.


This is how the car sits now.


That is exactly how I wanted it to sit. Evenly. Prodrive makes their springs for asthetic appeal. STi makes their springs for performance. Lowering a car unevely != performance. They're quite a bit stiffer too. You can totally feel it too. The rates are 45/38 N/mm F/R or 257/217 Lbs/in. The car rolls very little now, and the rears seem to lose their progressiveness fairly quickly. Which is a good thing. I haven't been able to romp on them yet, but I'm quite happy with it so far.

Fender-hub measurements:
Front: 343mm-50mm drop
Rear: 311mm-53mm drop
Anyway, just updating.

Even More pics here: http://www.thawa.net/gallery/soobys-suspension

Update #2

Well guess what. JDM STi Pinks still felt overdamped. So what to use?

STi Tuned by Arai springs. Or in reverse engrish:


Some comparison pics:



How the car sits now:


The spring rates are supposedly 60/50 N/mm Front Rear, or 343/286 lbs/in front/rear. They are supposed to lower a GDB 15mm which is 5mm less than the v8 pinks they just replaced. I only drove a few miles, but the car feels even better than before. I'll take some side pics and measurements once it settles.

Drove around about a week. Holy hell! With the pinks it would rub quite easily with nothing in the trunk. With the Arai's, nothing with a trunk full of shit. an extra 14mm of height and stiffer springs makes a big difference. There isn't as much weight transfer when shifting and braking either. The struts still feel overdamped at times, but better than before. Overall much better. Worth the money, but would've been worth it even more if I didn't buy pinks.
Fender-hub measurements:
Front: 356mm-37mm drop from stock
Rear: 325mm-39mm drop from stock

Then again I did add these also:


And some more pics here: http://thawa.net/gallery2/v/thawa/sooby/suspension/

wtf happened to your door? And you need to cut your toenails.


but seriously, looks good

Toenails must have met door.

That looks like a fun suspension combo.

Tell me this isn't the first time you've seen the left side of my car. That dent happened the second day I had the car. Hit n run.

My cousin calls them toeknives

Nice! Those wheels look awesome on everything.

Sweet. Thatsa nice suspension setup.

Actually, it kinda looks like your door was attacked by Mr. Bangle's 'flame styling'

Why are you running WRX springs with STi struts? They can't match that well rate wise. You'd be better off with STi specific springs.

They're not stock WRX springs.

Prodrive P1...................215.............................195
2004 USDM STi.............200..............................130-200
WRX Sedan (MT/AT)......163/163........?............119/132......? fr

scottzg pimps t3h compendium

Let me rephrase. Prodrive makes a spring for the WRX and a different spring for the STi. Why would you not buy the spring designed to work with the struts you have?

Because I didn't feel like paying 300 bucks for springs, and another 200-300 for struts, and another 200 for top mounts, and then waiting for it to be shipped. This was 400, plus the rear top mounts for a whopping 12.99 each. It was local, so I got it promptly, and had it installed promptly. For the marginally worse performance(questionable even), I think it was worth it.

I have to wonder though, are those p1 spring rates for gc imprezas?

New pics of the rear will be up in a minute.

THAWA wrote:I have to wonder though, are those p1 spring rates for gc imprezas?

they might be I dont know. They're from ravensblade, iirc.
They're only 7% over stock sti. The rear isn't progressive like sti springs are though, although i wouldn't be surprised if the exact same strut is also sold with a linear spring.

THAWA wrote:Because I didn't feel like paying 300 bucks for springs, and another 200-300 for struts, and another 200 for top mounts, and then waiting for it to be shipped. This was 400, plus the rear top mounts for a whopping 12.99 each. It was local, so I got it promptly, and had it installed promptly. For the marginally worse performance(questionable even), I think it was worth it.

I have to wonder though, are those p1 spring rates for gc imprezas?

New pics of the rear will be up in a minute.

Fair enough, but I can assure you the performance would be better with STi specific springs. Enjoy the new setup though, I'm sure its a thousand times better than stock.

Ya I forgot to mention that the P1s are GC springs (I own them). Also Prodrive doesn't publish springs rate so if you see them they are unoffical and mostly likely educated speculation.

WTF? You some sort of super suspension tuning master?

scottzg wrote:Prodrive P1...................215.............................195
2004 USDM STi.............200..............................130-200
WRX Sedan (MT/AT)......163/163........?............119/132......? fr

scottzg pimps t3h compendium

The numbers I got fromhere say the 04 STi rates are 224f 194r.

rallitektech wrote:WTF? You some sort of super suspension tuning master?

eh, looks like he's new to the board and trying to establish a reputation as being knowlegable. Or something.

Jamal- duly noted and updated. Thx.

JC- so are prodrive springs another set of those 'the rates are better than stock, trust us' type things? ugh.

rallitektech wrote:WTF? You some sort of super suspension tuning master?

Knowing that you should use springs designed for your struts doesn't really require mastery of anything frankly. My local club is mostly STis and most see a lot of track duty. I assure you I've been in this discussion (not that its much of a discussion).

scottzg wrote:eh, looks like he's new to the board and trying to establish a reputation as being knowlegable. Or something.

I'm newish to the board. I signed up a while ago but I never really posted because I didn't get my wagon until last weekend. I've been in the Subaru community a long time though. I've even met THAWA several times. I was just trying to contribute, perhaps I shouldn't bother.

scottzg wrote:JC- so are prodrive springs another set of those 'the rates are better than stock, trust us' type things? ugh.

They'll give you a "about 25% stiffer than stock" but that's about it.

I appreciate the discussion

Another reason I didn't use STi designed springs is before now I thought you had to slot the holes at the top of the strut tower, but apparently you can get them to work with some 90-91 perches. So I may be going that way eventually.

It depends what year of STI springs your talkin about.

I can assure you JC that I've had ta conversation very close to this with the rallitek guys before, I think Kelly's just trying to ruffle some feathers.

While you may know alot of people that track their cars on a fairly regular basis, and are knowledgeable on the subject, coming into a thread on the offense, without first developing a decent standing with board members may not be the best idea. I've been here for about 2 years, and I'm relatively certain they only put up with me still is that I'm female.

I asked a question of someone that I know and tried to offer my opinion to him. If Kelly wants to puff his chest and act like a jackass that's his problem not mine. I would have expected someone from Rallitek to behave in a more professional manner, obviously I'm wrong. If he wants to say something that's not a thinly veiled insult or some vague non-specific crap then I'm happy to listen, but until I hear something from him worth while I don't care what he has to say nor what he thinks.

THAWA, sorry to mess up your thread. I guess it should be obvious from I-Club I don't always play well with others. Enjoy you setup man.

rallitektech wrote:It depends what year of STI springs your talkin about.

04-05. What year works that isn't pre-bugeye?

I think you guys are taking this to the extreme. He asked a question, I answered it. I'm not offended by the what he asked or the way he asked, as I would've asked the same question to someone else that did the same thing. It's realy not that big of a deal

THAWA wrote:

rallitektech wrote:It depends what year of STI springs your talkin about.

04-05. What year works that isn't pre-bugeye?

I thought they made some pretty significant changes to 05 sti suspension, something about the hub brackets....