Hey guys Im thinking about buying an STI RA gearset for my wrx... my car dyno'd at 239WHP at S-squared.. Is it really necessary for a new gearset yet? I plan on getting an STI top mount and an intake soon, what about then? (i am guessing the top mount and ram air intake would put me at around 260whp). I rarely "launch" the car.. but time to time I downshift into 2nd or 3rd pretty hard.

I'm torn on if I should throw down $1300 for parts then another $750 for installation.. I need some opinions on if the gearset is necessary yet or not.

 

so your keeping the car? good choice!

 

^yeah i really dont want to be paying $400 a month for a stock sti =/

 

Well my buddy up here in Reno has a fully modded WRX external wastegate VF34 running around 260whp or more I can't remember.

He has the RA Set and he says it's handsdwon the best mod he has done. It's not hard to imagine why. The WRX tranny leaves a lot on the table. Some poeple had lemons from the factory for god's sake I drove his car and the longer first coupled with the shorter set is like butter. He had a lighted flywheel and a new street clutch. The shifting was abosultely effortless. When you downshift it would drop into gear like no other. I was in love the minute we started driving.

I hope to get a RA set before I even do any real power mods!


Thinking long term this is a great mod. No more worries about your tranny losing a gear with increased power. Losing a gear at the track or on the street can both be a pretty bad situation if your car locks up for some reason.


From one MBP bugeye to another.

do it!!

 

Tyson makes good points. RA gears are a pretty good mod any way you look at it. You certainly can't spend less, or even close to that much and make your drivetrain any stronger.

 

alright thanks guys... as for synchros and bearings.. would you recommend upgrading or could I use the stock ones?

 

I'd replace them. It's minimal cost and the difference is having a basically new transmission, and having a used transmission that just has some slightly stronger gears.

 

hmm both sets run like $300 each dont they? =( man this is becoming an expensive mod

 

Have you considered the sti 6 speed swap?? Its only a little bit more expensive and its a joy to drive. The STi gearset is also an expensive purchase and a lot of people consider it a band aid not a fix. I was on the same boat about a year ago, and after spending countless ours debating the RA gearset vs 6 speed I decided to spend the extra dough and get the 6 speed. The is no comparison on how smooth the 6 speed shifts and the jdm has perfectly spaced gears. Just consider it for second if it's not what youre looking for then the STi gearset should be good enough. Just remember that with the 6 speed your also get a front LSD. Either way good luck to you on whatever decision you make.


Alex

 

So how is your transmission anyways? You could always "live on the edge"! Do you plan on tracking ar auto-x'ing and all that crap


I got lucky with a good tranny so far.

 

little bit more expenive?

$2400(plus or minus 500) vs $5000(plus or minus 1000)

 

its doing okay so far... its sort of notchy.. and my clutch just went out (i ordered an exedy organic clutch last night) and plan on installing it when it arives. And I plan on doing autox and attending some track days as soon as I get around to doing suspension mods... so far I only have HR springs =/

A 6mt would be sweet but man... $6000 thats insanely expensive.. if it were like 4k id go for it.

 

A used 6 speed can be had for 3500 if you shop around, the install is around 600. Plus another 500 for the rear diff mod and you have a 6 speed swap for a little over 4500, and then take away what you make from your used 5 speed, I got 1200 for mine. You could have a 6 speed swap for aound 4k installed. If you go the RA gearset youre gonna spend about 1/2 of the money but you will also have an inferior tranny overall. I went the extra mile when I get my 6 speed installed and got a complete sti rear end to match my jdm 6 speed, which was an 05 spec c with matching dccd controller. At the end I ended up paying 5500 for everything installed and stock parts sold. It all depends on how much money you want to spend, the RA gears seem to be a good choice but the 6 speed should not be overlooked.

 

Perfect real life example.

It's really all about money.

I would never argue the benefits of 6-speed with RA set. The 6-speed wins on every point. The RA set is cheaper, that's about it

If you are for sure keeping the car for the long term maybe you should just get a 6-speed, but then it's not about money, it's about why not buy a STi problem.

I've had the 6-speed in a WRX versus buy an STi conversation tons of times as I'm sure you have also.

bugeye for life.

 

Does any body know all the part numbers to this set? or were to buy them direct?
This would be so helpful.