[Big Sky WRX]

did you ever have rubbing issues with these?? strut....fender?? and they were +46 offset?? I'm shopping around for summers.....now.....itch.

THanks Mike,
-wYlie

Wylie

46 et is correct. I only rubbed one time- I'll explain I was at a two day track event and we were going to get some supper- had my wife up front and two 200lb-ish buddies in the back seat, in the trunk I had my floor jack, jack stands, air tank, rhino ramps, extra fluids/parts, pretty complete set of tools, folding chairs, cooler and some stuff I'm probably forgetting- but when I'd go up (or down) a parking lot approach or the like- I'd get the zzzzzzzp of the tire rubbing in the rear. I don't routinely have that much weight in my wagon and I've never had any other rubbing issues.

Mike

 

[Roamin'Coyote]

It's the FHI two pot rear setup, aluminum calipers, rotors are 290X18 vented. It's what the rest of the world gets oem on their WRX's (including the four pot fronts)

Mike,

I didn't know they were vented....hummmm......about the same diameter rotor as the H6 upgrade....so it's just fade resistance, right? I guess they might clamp a little different from the sliding calipers. OH and having the bling of matching front rear SUBARU brakes. I might have to look into this - BLING!

How do they attach? mount up to the factory brackets then the caliper is built with it's own 'big bracket'??

thanks for any info AGAIN,
-wYlie

 

[Big Sky WRX]

A little more mass and vented w/ the rotor- diameter is the same (290mm). Rear calipers same advantages as the front four pots- opposed pistons, a little stiffer caliper design, lighter (the two pots are aluminum) BUT when it's all said and done- a little bling to match the fronts (plus I got a very good deal on a set that were never installed)

The attachment is the biggest drawback IMO- the two pots take a different backing plate, the backing plate is pressed in w/ the hub- so it the old backing palte has to be pressed out, the new in- this calls for new bearings/seals/C-clip.

Big Sky

 

[Bart]

So why no STI pink trailing arms and lateral links?

I'm going over what I'd like to do to my '03 wagon suspension this summer. I'm looking at the doing the Group N bushings but saw those sexy STI pink arms and figured I'd check this thread for info 'cuz Big Sky would have 'em for sure.

So were the GpN bushings for the arms and link enough? Didn't need the pillowballs?

Thanks,
B

 

[Big Sky WRX]

So why no STI pink trailing arms and lateral links?

I'm going over what I'd like to do to my '03 wagon suspension this summer. I'm looking at the doing the Group N bushings but saw those sexy STI pink arms and figured I'd check this thread for info 'cuz Big Sky would have 'em for sure.

So were the GpN bushings for the arms and link enough? Didn't need the pillowballs?

Thanks,
B

Oh yes I've thought about them- more than once I've actually got a private wanted thread for the four piece set- kind of rare so not likley.

SPT (SOA) doesn't carry the wagon variety four or six piece set- so my 30% off sale wait is for naught on these.

I'm guessing the Grp N's come pretty close, no doubt the pillowball are even better.

I do have the "sexy" aluminum front lateral links though

Big Sky

 

[Big Sky WRX]

Secret Weapon

The "secret weapons" arrived today Bridgestone S02's- these are not the discontinued S02PP's, but rather the rear oem fitment for the Honda S2000 225/50/16's- completely different compound (lower tread wear for one-and extra sticky).

These things are wide! The Honda guys say much closer to 245 than 225- after seeing them in person I'd have to agree. Fender rolling time. The sidewalls feel very stiff (close to R compound Victoracer stiff ), they are not light- I weighed one at 25.7 lbs- considering the width and stiffness I'll take it.

My rims I asume are now on the long, long boat ride, hopefully getting close. Ofcourse winter has to come to end too

 

[triguy]

Come in 17 inch sizes

Tires look awesome, big contact patch. Where'd you get them and do they come in 225/45/17s?

 

[driggity]

The "secret weapons" arrived today Bridgestone S02's- these are not the discontinued S02PP's, but rather the rear oem fitment for the Honda S2000 225/50/16's- completely different compound (lower tread wear for one-and extra sticky).

These things are wide! The Honda guys say much closer to 245 than 225- after seeing them in person I'd have to agree. Fender rolling time. The sidewalls feel very stiff (close to R compound Victoracer stiff ), they are not light- I weighed one at 25.7 lbs- considering the width and stiffness I'll take it.

My rims I asume are now on the long, long boat ride, hopefully getting close. Ofcourse winter has to come to end too

If those were supposed to be a secret weapon I'll have to remember to never let you in on a secret. How many threads did you start about these things? They sure should be nice though. Until you get the wheels you can just roll the tires around the house and go "vrooom vrooom".

 

[Big Sky WRX]

triguy- they jump from 16->18" (Porsche fitments- and do they have some wide one for the Porsches!)

driggity- never was good at keeping a secret (hence the parantheses) How did you know what I was doing last night? :rotfl:

 

[Big Sky WRX]

Have to make room for the big meats

First off the rubber strips go and then it's fender rolling time- the tool has three adjustments- the angle of the derlin head (the roller) the length of the arm and the tension applied to the roller. I used a heat gun (on low) throughout. It was kind of a pain- I could do it quicker now (ofcourse ). I went exra slow and careful- didn't want any cracked paint.

Takes lots of adjusting, but after three hours I got the desired result- the upper lip is now tucked under the wheel arch.

BTW this thing is available for rent- icludes heat gun too- it's $50 (get it for five days) + shipping both ways ~ $25- also have to give a $300 deposit which you get back when they get the tool back. If you had two or three (or more)guys it would be really cheap- shops are charging $150-200 for two fnders!

http://rollyourfender.com/ he's a wrx guy active on nasioc

I'll try and snap a pic tomorow of the lip rolled- was too tired and my back hurt when I was done.

 

[scottigee]

hey that's a cool little device...I never knew how fenders got rolled...and you didn't even need a repaint. Sweet.
Do you have a before pic of the fender at a similar angle to pic #3?

 

[Big Sky WRX]

pic 3 is the before- essentially it just take the lip- shaped like a L and then slowly folds it back so it looks like a ll

If you go slow and keep the heat to it no worrry about paint

 

[flyboymike]

Sweet wagon

Hello, I've been admiring what you've been doing with your wagon for awhile. I just got myself a 2005 version in blue. It'll be a commuter/road trip/autocross car. I want to prep it for STX eventually, so needless to say, I'll probably have a lot of questions for you :- ).

Come to think of it, I've got one already. Why did you go with springs and struts over a full coilover setup?

 

[Big Sky WRX]

congrats on your purchase- good choice- you'll be very satisfied

I've ran full coilovers before and while I do miss the damping adjustability on occasion, once a find a desired ride height I stick w/ it- I'd run a very similar ride height as I am running now if I was on coilovers.

The strut/spring combo is simple and proven, I'm using oem bits for the most part so reliability and comfort enter into it as well. It's my wife's daily driver and that enters into very much

Also as I use mine for such varied activities as rallyx- to track days, the strut/spring combo I'm running gives me pretty good versatility. Most full coilovers are geared to a certain niche (which makes perfect sense), but becuase of that they lose some versatility- if that is a requirement.

Obvioulsy there are better choices out there for a strictly gravel/rallyx setup or a track dedicated car, but most don't cross over too well.

Price enters into it as well, if I go back to coilovers there is a good chance I'll go in w/ both feet- double adjustable, remote reservoirs, etc- that gets pretty spendy in a hurry

Big Sky

 

[Chad W]

Hey Big,

I'm ready to plop down for an intercooler, do I want a USDM STi or JDM? Does it make a big difference? Are they both drop in or does the 04+ STi USDM require modification to the mounting brackets (I know I need to swap air splitters)

Thanks,

Chad

PS Wheels and Tires in about a week...

 

[Roamin'Coyote]

JDM STi is the one that's bigger and fits the stock brackets. The AC lines are a little close and need to be repositioned. i'm now sporting a jdm...

-wYlie

 

[ClavoWRX]

................................. if I go back to coilovers there is a good chance I'll go in w/ both feet- double adjustable, remote reservoirs, etc- that gets pretty spendy in a hurry

Big Sky

TAP TAP FIRST DIBS on any wagon suspension that you are getting rid of :thumbup:

 

[dredpiratsteve]

Sky-

What 21mm FSB are you using? I've been looking around and can't find much....and endlinks? What is your recommendation?

 

[Big Sky WRX]

The jdm (v7's- as the newer v8 ones will have the same issues as the usdm ones due to fly- by- throtle) is the one that bolts right in and as Wylie points out is bigger as well. They are hard to find though (and usually more doe as well). There is a fellow on the board that is fabbing brackets for installing the usdm one (when he has time)- does a really good job too

The 21mm bar I'm running is the new STi pink one- it's a sedan bar and wouldn't normally fit the wagon, but as I'm running the GC aluminum front arms I've found the sedan bar fits better than the wagon ones.

I do believe Whiteline makes a wagon specific forn bar and it's possible Cusco's GC turbo ones would fit as well (not 100% sure on that).

Big Sky

 

[dredpiratsteve]

Yeah, i saw the whiteline. Its a 22mm..subaruwrxparts has them for $125 which seems pretty cheap. Maybe i'll give that one a shot.

Another question...can someone expand on the benefits of an anti-lift kit? I'm looking for bang-for-buck breakdowns on suspension upgrades.

You guys are a big help. Thanks.