Considering moving from WRX Wagon to Forester STI

Considering moving from WRX Wagon to Forester STI

Author
Discussion

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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For my later reference, do you have a recommended setting for the full alignment? Castor, toe etc?

Shocks are being left. Will look at the Whiteline adjustable ARB in the coming month. Is the ARB a do-able self-install or is it one of the awkward ones that needs a full lift to fiddle it around the exhaust?

The other thing that is going to be on the list in the next six months will be a full new set of rubber. I'm aware from prior experience that different rubber can have huge effect on the drive. It's on Toyo Proxes currently which are ok but not brilliant. My personal preference from use on other cars would be Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrics. Any guidance on this? I know enough to stay well clear of Geolanders! smile

Edited by Ryvita on Monday 18th August 13:59

bonesX

902 posts

179 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Hmmm... you're going to get variation in opinion as well personal preference on your questions there. However, here's my punt

The Forester is after all pretty much an Impreza with different body shell, so similar 'rules' apply. I use one and 3/4° negative camber all round and a little toe-in all round (O°04') some prefer zero toe. The toe-in sharpens turn-in

Rubber - you're up against it with the tricky size. I recently bought a set of S001's to replace a worn out set I fitted the previous year. They have a stiff wall which again sharpens things up. Online buy then get fitted was significantly the cheapest option

Your soft walled Toyo's will make the car feel soft

ARB - dead easy. Half hour job lying on your back. You may need a jack to tweak the position of the bar/clamp to get the final bolt in

Edited by bonesX on Monday 18th August 20:32

Ennoch

371 posts

137 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Can you get Dunlop Sportmaxx in the size you need? They're current;y my favoured tyres thanks to the stiffer sidewalls. The Eagle F1 A2's I have on right now have a disappointing amount of sidewall flex in them.

bonesX

902 posts

179 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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I tried to get the Sport Max as liked the look of them, but couldn't - IIRC the size is made, just not available in this country

Yeah, the F1's have squishy soft walls

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the info. Will start hunting on tyres I think. Something with stiffer sidewalls will be the priority I think.

Last night I put on a GFB variable recirc/atmospheric BOV. Went for one of these because they have fully variable 0-100% atmospheric venting, with independent preload spring adjustment. There was an amusing tuning session where I went from a rifle crack backfire on every blip, back down to a level idle with a bit more pre-load, and about 50/50 atmospheric/recirc. smile And fully recirc operation is just a hand wheel twist away if that becomes too offensive. Nice bit of kit. Easy fit, apart from getting the old gasket off.

Anyone know where I could get hold of a Cosworth air filter to fit? Is the airbox the same sizing as that on an XT or does it match the STI Impreza?

count duckula

1,324 posts

273 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Ryvita said:
Anyone know where I could get hold of a Cosworth air filter to fit? Is the airbox the same sizing as that on an XT or does it match the STI Impreza?
It already has a cosworth filter fitted ;-)

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Should be since it's a Litchfield, but I believe they should be replaced every 10K miles or thereabouts, and I'm not sure when it will have last been done?

count duckula

1,324 posts

273 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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They come as standard with a paper one, I think it was replaced about a year ago before the last service. It did have a foam one but I read negitive remarks about MAFs and the oil in the filters.

Malc

Edited by count duckula on Wednesday 20th August 15:14

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Wait a second... am I talking to the previous owner here...? biggrin

count duckula

1,324 posts

273 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Ryvita said:
Wait a second... am I talking to the previous owner here...? biggrin
Yes it was mine (my sister brought it from litchfield from new).
Great car just fancied a change, I had a black fsti before the blue one.
I have pictures of when the car was written off if you want them jesterlaugh

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Written off?? redface And here was me about to congratulate you on an excellently maintained and serviced specimen. So what I've got is the stapled together remains of the two is it? tongue out

Did you do the AP Racing brakes on the front too? a)They're awesome! b) What pads and discs is it running, so that I know once replacement time comes around. smile

count duckula

1,324 posts

273 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Ryvita said:
Written off?? redface And here was me about to congratulate you on an excellently maintained and serviced specimen. So what I've got is the stapled together remains of the two is it? tongue out

Did you do the AP Racing brakes on the front too? a)They're awesome! b) What pads and discs is it running, so that I know once replacement time comes around. smile
I left loads of documentation with the car including the part numbers etc of the pads and discs. Ask the dealer if he still has them. If I remember correctly they are slightly different from the impreza ones and the pads are less common, I think they are Ferodo DS2500.

Malc

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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There is a tonne of documentation, yes! smile I'll have a dig through, it must be in there somewhere. Finding an FSTI with full service history from new was one of the big plusses on this example.

...You are joking about the write off, right? I had a minor heart attack there for a minute. smile

count duckula

1,324 posts

273 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Ryvita said:
There is a tonne of documentation, yes! smile I'll have a dig through, it must be in there somewhere. Finding an FSTI with full service history from new was one of the big plusses on this example.

...You are joking about the write off, right? I had a minor heart attack there for a minute. smile
Yes all joking, never been in an accident.

Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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*relieved* smile

Stinkfist

37 posts

182 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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I have a 2005 FSTi on OE suspension with uprated rear 22mm ARB and uprated mounts. Customized fast road alignment

In the process of sorting out possible spring replacements with some customised springs made by Springcoil in Sheffield. They already sell specific springs made for the XT which are lowered duel rate with non self levelling rears. A member of SubaruForester.org had them made up so there is plenty of info about them on the site,

I have had the OE FSTI springs measured by Springcoil so I know the OE spring rates but just waiting for them to comment on what they recommend with the OE shocks

I have been advised if I do get a set made up not to go lower than 15mm over stock FSTI as this will ruin the handling. I was initially after some JDM 'pink' Forester spings but they no longer manufacture both front and rears so I'm still musing on what to do. I really don't want to spend a few £60's on the springs which incidental will only be around £45 a corner, the fitting, aligning etc etc only to find it handles like a bag of the brown stuff

Ideally I'm after a 15mm drop, slightly softer 1st rate, and similar second rate

Will post up results if I go ahead



Ryvita

Original Poster:

712 posts

209 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Good info, thanks. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and will add in anything further I do. Uprated rear ARB is first on the list.

bonesX

902 posts

179 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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You'll need the reinforced arb mounts. Std ones will break


Lightningman

1,228 posts

181 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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Do the FSTi suffer from the same ringland issues that the 2.5 Impreza STIs do?