Refreshing a 10 year old Impreza WRX STI - where to start?
Discussion
My Impreza, while great, could be better and I'd like to give it a new lease of life to sharpen the whole package. I'd like to know where to start so I'm asking for some advice.
My first thoughts are to refresh the suspension and steering bushes to ensure anything that's perished or isn't up to scratch is back to factory. I'm hesitant to upgrade them to polyurethane ones as I don't want to introduce any more NVH in a car that's already pretty raw for me but I'm open to suggestions. The steering is a bit loose when pushing on around a bumpy corner so hopefully it'll make it feel much more solid. It also wants to turn left to a very noticeable degree off and on power and after having the geometry checked, everything seems to be spot on as are tyre pressures and wear. Something is doing it and I'm at a loss as to what I can be. Thoughts?
One thing I'm open to doing is changing the struts and springs as I can detect a slight knock at times, very similar to the traditional STI issue I had in my Hawkeye. I'd prefer a more compliant and calm ride too so coilovers are out of the question for me. I want to get rid of the jumpy nature as low speed and the wallowing at high speed - perhaps the latter is a rear ARB.
So aside from these items what else would you recommend doing?
David
My first thoughts are to refresh the suspension and steering bushes to ensure anything that's perished or isn't up to scratch is back to factory. I'm hesitant to upgrade them to polyurethane ones as I don't want to introduce any more NVH in a car that's already pretty raw for me but I'm open to suggestions. The steering is a bit loose when pushing on around a bumpy corner so hopefully it'll make it feel much more solid. It also wants to turn left to a very noticeable degree off and on power and after having the geometry checked, everything seems to be spot on as are tyre pressures and wear. Something is doing it and I'm at a loss as to what I can be. Thoughts?
One thing I'm open to doing is changing the struts and springs as I can detect a slight knock at times, very similar to the traditional STI issue I had in my Hawkeye. I'd prefer a more compliant and calm ride too so coilovers are out of the question for me. I want to get rid of the jumpy nature as low speed and the wallowing at high speed - perhaps the latter is a rear ARB.
So aside from these items what else would you recommend doing?
David
Edited by Ved on Wednesday 16th April 10:58
74merc said:
What condition are your brake calipers in? Does that model have the chromed pistons or are they stainless steel?
Are you thinking it's biting on one side? There is a rubbing noise but nothing that would suggest that it's so severe that it's binding to the disc - certainly something to investigate though. They should be stainless pistons on the 4 and 2 pot Brembos.It's going in to Subaru to have the power steering belt look at so I'll get them to check over the brake clearance while it's in.
Good call!
Gorgar said:
Have you got an 02 Bugeye? Might help if you gave a few more details, particularly as the 02 models understeered more than the older models imo.
Have a look in my garage for details on the car. However, as I said in the first post it is a 10 year old STI so that'll make it a 2004 vintage. There isn't any more understeer than any other Impreza and that wasn't a complaint I mentioned.Edited by Ved on Wednesday 16th April 23:36
Im going through this ATM with my bug WRX... and i will submit a post in a few months when the final scores are in...
but at the moment I have..
replaced rear dampers with stock KYB units, fronts soon to be fitted.
whiteline 24mm rear ARB + bushes and HD droplinks
the ARB really did make a difference.. turns much better.
Dampers also now actually feel like I have dampers.
soon happening
Front dampers
Front HD drop links
front ARB bushes
front STI alloy wishbones and Anti-lift kit
downgrade from the Oz Supperaleggera 18's with T1Rs to the stock 17's on Gyear Asm2 F1 215/45R17 (just arrived today after getting refurb'd
)
If it was my money again and I was using it daily.. i would spent the cash on decent (KYB) dampers (not cheap coilovers), changing these made a huge difference to daily driving, I do 25miles each way to work.
The links and rear ARB made it turn better, but I could easily have lived with how it was before.
I strongly suspect that the 17's will remove alot of the crashiness the 18's gave.. my studded winter tyres are 17s and are nice to drive with.
but at the moment I have..
replaced rear dampers with stock KYB units, fronts soon to be fitted.
whiteline 24mm rear ARB + bushes and HD droplinks
the ARB really did make a difference.. turns much better.
Dampers also now actually feel like I have dampers.
soon happening
Front dampers
Front HD drop links
front ARB bushes
front STI alloy wishbones and Anti-lift kit
downgrade from the Oz Supperaleggera 18's with T1Rs to the stock 17's on Gyear Asm2 F1 215/45R17 (just arrived today after getting refurb'd
)If it was my money again and I was using it daily.. i would spent the cash on decent (KYB) dampers (not cheap coilovers), changing these made a huge difference to daily driving, I do 25miles each way to work.
The links and rear ARB made it turn better, but I could easily have lived with how it was before.
I strongly suspect that the 17's will remove alot of the crashiness the 18's gave.. my studded winter tyres are 17s and are nice to drive with.
t, and just get a bigger turbo 
My Evil Twin said:
If it was my money again and I was using it daily.. i would spent the cash on decent (KYB) dampers (not cheap coilovers), changing these made a huge difference to daily driving, I do 25miles each way to work.
The links and rear ARB made it turn better, but I could easily have lived with how it was before.
I strongly suspect that the 17's will remove alot of the crashiness the 18's gave.. my studded winter tyres are 17s and are nice to drive with.
Which KYBs did you go for? I'm picking up some Prodrive springs soon which should help the ride a little bit more too.The links and rear ARB made it turn better, but I could easily have lived with how it was before.
I strongly suspect that the 17's will remove alot of the crashiness the 18's gave.. my studded winter tyres are 17s and are nice to drive with.
I could never understand Subaru ruining one of the best aspects of the Impreza with the hard suspension of the STI.
Maybe you'd be better with WRX spec dampers rather than STI. KYB's are supposed to be good. Might be worth finding someone with a WRX to get a sit in and see if its what your after (local Scooby meet or a dealer selling a WRX).
Oh and your current dampers are inverted so already have bumpstops inside them, no need for separate ones.
Maybe you'd be better with WRX spec dampers rather than STI. KYB's are supposed to be good. Might be worth finding someone with a WRX to get a sit in and see if its what your after (local Scooby meet or a dealer selling a WRX).
Oh and your current dampers are inverted so already have bumpstops inside them, no need for separate ones.
Thanks Dave. WRX dampers wouldn't solve much to be fair as it would just add more compression. Springs are the way forward but until I find a complete set, including the bump stops, I'll wait. The ride is just a bit choppy but this isn't my first STI so it's fine for the moment.
The pulling issue seems to be tyre related and all bushes are looking good so I'll look at a simple fast road setup and a new ARB next month. New tyres can wait until the current ones need replacing.
The pulling issue seems to be tyre related and all bushes are looking good so I'll look at a simple fast road setup and a new ARB next month. New tyres can wait until the current ones need replacing.
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