first time sti owner need help
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2
From: ft myers,fla
Car Info: 04 sti 400hp
first time sti owner need help
name is ben i have a 04 sti and would like to gather some input on it. like whats recommended hi boost settings on boost controller and what's the biggest turbo upgrade with out having to change everything i just want a little more than stock with a front mount intercooler system is there any little tricks to add power by tuning please help if you can it would be very appreciated thanks i-club members
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iTrader: (13)
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,035
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon
You're about to get flamed with tons of "go use the search button #$%^". And really, they're right, you should go use the search function. However, i have time to waste at work so I'll help you out as well as flame you.
Most cost effective performance mods:
1. Cobb AccessPort Tuner - used ~$300-400 which is the same as a single pro-tune. Makes tuning easy and you can sell it when you sell the car or get an opensource pro tune. ~10-15 horsepower/torque gain even in a perfectly stock car, more importantly it smooths out the power band and improves drive-ability significantly.
2. Full 3 inch turbo back exhaust - up to $1500 new, as little as $300-400 used. You will need to tune your car after you put this in, so get the Accessport first. ~50 horsepower/torque, particularly noticeable improved low end torque and faster turbo spool, vast improvement in exhaust sound.
3. A thicker rear sway bar, I would recommend something like a 22-24mm adjustable. ~$140 new, as low as $75 used. Will give you great turn-in and just enough adjust-ability to completely eliminate understeer. Don't bother with endlinks and heavy duty mounts yet; they are worthwhile later on but not the most bang for your buck at this point. You will need bigger bushings to put into your current mounts to fit the bar in, but these will probably come with the sway bar.
4. Tires. $500-800 new mounted, balanced, and aligned. Don't know what you have on there now. If you have the STI BBS wheels then keep them and put something between a 225/45-17 and a 245/40-17. Pay the extra few bucks for nice summer/all season tires, they are arguably the most important wear-and-tear items on the car. I mean, they connect your car to the ground. If you don't do a good job there everything else is basically in vain.
5. Brake pads. Not sure about the prices for Brembo sized pads, shouldn't be more than $200 for all 4 corners. Either way, people generally really like the Hawk HPS (street-friendlier) and the Hawk HP+ (more track-oriented) pads. Personally, I like Axxis Ultimates better myself, they have better initial bite but they dust more.
These 5 things will completely transform the car and take it to a new level of power, handling, and stopping. Personally, i would spend another $300 and change all the fluids (engine oil, tranny fluid, rear diff fluid, steering fluid, and related filters). Folks seem to like Redline fluids in the tranny and rear diff, particularly "75w-90 lightweight shockproof". It's easy to forget about keeping up with regular maintenance when you spend all your time improving performance, which is a shame because maintenance is doubly important on performance oriented and modified cars.
Good luck and welcome to the club.
Most cost effective performance mods:
1. Cobb AccessPort Tuner - used ~$300-400 which is the same as a single pro-tune. Makes tuning easy and you can sell it when you sell the car or get an opensource pro tune. ~10-15 horsepower/torque gain even in a perfectly stock car, more importantly it smooths out the power band and improves drive-ability significantly.
2. Full 3 inch turbo back exhaust - up to $1500 new, as little as $300-400 used. You will need to tune your car after you put this in, so get the Accessport first. ~50 horsepower/torque, particularly noticeable improved low end torque and faster turbo spool, vast improvement in exhaust sound.
3. A thicker rear sway bar, I would recommend something like a 22-24mm adjustable. ~$140 new, as low as $75 used. Will give you great turn-in and just enough adjust-ability to completely eliminate understeer. Don't bother with endlinks and heavy duty mounts yet; they are worthwhile later on but not the most bang for your buck at this point. You will need bigger bushings to put into your current mounts to fit the bar in, but these will probably come with the sway bar.
4. Tires. $500-800 new mounted, balanced, and aligned. Don't know what you have on there now. If you have the STI BBS wheels then keep them and put something between a 225/45-17 and a 245/40-17. Pay the extra few bucks for nice summer/all season tires, they are arguably the most important wear-and-tear items on the car. I mean, they connect your car to the ground. If you don't do a good job there everything else is basically in vain.
5. Brake pads. Not sure about the prices for Brembo sized pads, shouldn't be more than $200 for all 4 corners. Either way, people generally really like the Hawk HPS (street-friendlier) and the Hawk HP+ (more track-oriented) pads. Personally, I like Axxis Ultimates better myself, they have better initial bite but they dust more.
These 5 things will completely transform the car and take it to a new level of power, handling, and stopping. Personally, i would spend another $300 and change all the fluids (engine oil, tranny fluid, rear diff fluid, steering fluid, and related filters). Folks seem to like Redline fluids in the tranny and rear diff, particularly "75w-90 lightweight shockproof". It's easy to forget about keeping up with regular maintenance when you spend all your time improving performance, which is a shame because maintenance is doubly important on performance oriented and modified cars.
Good luck and welcome to the club.
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