These will be my first, an maybe my only modifications to my WRX. Thoughts?

STI Uppipe - Quicker turbo spool and lower exhaust temps due to no pre-cat. (oh and a resistor for the EGT sensor and a full gasket set for a leak free install)

Perrin I/C hoses - Quicker turbo spool and better airflow to the intercooler.

Perrin Radiator hoses - Just to match

Prodrive Axleback exhaust - The way the WRX should have sounded from the factory (oh and a slight performance gain to boot)

Cobb Access ECU - This speaks for itself check it out here.

STI hoodscoop (painted) and splitter (splitter is TDB any recomendations?) - better airflow to the I/C and better looking.

STI mesh foglight covers (Painted of course) - Got to protect those fog lights and I like the look.

Painted side-skirts - looks cleaner.

High quality brake fluid and possibily new stainless steel brake lines. - Better pedal feel and fade resistance.

Dunlop SP5000 tires (As we all know the RE-92's pretty much suck for everything except plain jane driving)

Thoughts?

 

I REALLY like what you have planned for mods. The uppipe is essential, as are new tires. Some suggestions and comments to complete the package...

No drop or new wheels? You might want to consider at least a rear adjustable sway bar...it'll help dial out a lot of that understeer for sure.

If you're going to replace the lines and fluid, might as well get better pads too. Many people rave about Axxis Ultimates, Hawks, and Porterfelds. Those will complete your upgraded brakes until you decide to go up to larger rotors and calipers.

Otherwise, it looks like you're in good shape

 

Me to but then again I'm very baised... LOL...

Lowering
I'm not going to lower the MonkeySpec WRX because I still I want to ground clearance (I will heading up a forest service road to Mt. Adams for a little skiing this weekend for example...)

Wheels
I'm just not ready to pony up $1900 for the Volk TE37's yet... and I want to get some performance gain out of this change as well, so this new wheel tire combo must be lighter than the stock setup...

Brake Pads
When the stockers wear out then I'll replace them.

Handling
Your right I need to address this somehow but don't want to sacrifice ride quality or suspension travel. I know the right way to do it is to do the major handling adjustments with springs and then tweak it with swaybars. But I'm not really sold on either yet. Maybe I can get some STI lateral rear links to address to issue. (since I really don't know exactally what these do yet I'm still on the fence)

Thanks!

 

You might want to look at the SPT/RA Struts and Springs then...great ride quality, lowers ONLY 1/4 of an inch at the most, so it's still just about stock height, but at the same time you'll very much improve your handling. Even if you don't put in sway bars, this will be a worth suspension investment and will still give you enough ground clearance for those forest service roads.

Quote:

Wheels
I'm just not ready to pony up $1900 for the Volk TE37's yet... and I want to get some performance gain out of this change as well, so this new wheel tire combo must be lighter than the stock setup...

Indeed, wheels are a mighty investment. The stockers are great because they're pretty light, but the 6.5" width kinda sucks, especially if you want to get thicker tires. You might want to look for used GC8 RS wheels...same weight but they're 7" wide, so you'll be able to get handling advantages from thicker tires.

Quote:

Brake Pads
When the stockers wear out then I'll replace them.

Thanks!

Sounds good! No problem...looks to me like you're following a smart, well-thought-out upgrade path

 

That is the intent... I want to make these changes ONCE and expect them to last the life of the car. I don't want to do anything to crazy because if I'm not a jackass I can keep my warranty intact... The ECU is the big one here but they will never know about that one..

 

FYI, a rear swaybar has no affect of ride quality or suspension travel. It only affect the suspension when cornering hard, when one side of the suspension is more compressed than the other side. Otherwise, it just pivots around it's mounting points, doing nothing to the suspension. Very good mod, one of the best mods I did to my car.

 

I kinda like the RE-92's though. Easy and cheap to buy off others and so far it is the nicest tire I have ever driven on. Then again I have never driven on good tires though

 

Instead of a rear sway bar I was pondering some STI trailing links or some new bushings... Any one have any pink bits and the *** end of their WRX? Thoughts?

 

Okay... a rear sway it is then. Most likey a Cucso unit becasue I hear that they make one of the best rear sway's out there. Yes?

I'm not married to the Dunlop's or anything but I'm going to keep the stock wheels for the time being and want a tire that is good in the rain, works in the snow, and has better traction in the dry then the RE-92's. Since I've been posting on the boards I have seen many comments that suggest that the SP5000 are the all-season tire of choice for Seattle folks. In your experience what might be some other choices that would meet my needs?

 

After thinking about everyone's comments (From both here and nasioc) about the downpipe and incremental mods I have changed my mind about the MonkeySpec upgrade path... I agree about doing the downpipe / uppipe at the same time, so I'm just going to leave the exhaust totally alone for the time being. After the exterior tweaks are in place then I'm going to break into the following stages:

Stage One = Access ECU | Intercooler Hoses | Prodrive Exhaust
Stage Two = SS brake lines | Better brake Fluid
Stage Three = Handling Tweaks
Stage Four = Full Exhaust
If this still isn't where I want it then I am hopeless addict and might need to go to WRX rehab...

Sound like a better upgrade path?

 

Whiteline makes an excellent swaybar also. I got the 18-20-22mm adjustable one. Started out with it on 18 to get used to it, then cranked it up to 20, and now my car is very well balanced (00 2.5RS, by the way). Oh, and finely replaced the RE-92's (I also liked them, not as bad as most people seem to think they are) with some Toyo Proxes TPT's. WOW, I like them alot! Now I just need the solid endlinks and sronger rear swaybar mounts.

 

I agree, the RE-92's aren't really that terrible, but when thet are worn out you won't catch me gettting another set :LOL:

Since the stock rear sway on a WRX is 21mm and I want to up that (but not by much) I think I might end up the the cusco bar because it adjustable from 22/23/24. Whiteline is choice number #2 unless somebody convinces me otherwise...

 

Whiteline also makes a RSB for the WRX that goes up to 24mm. Guess it all comes down to pice. I will say that when I ordered my Whiteline bar, it got here much quicker than I thought it would, especially coming from Australia.

 

I've just read so many good things about cusco products in general, and I've read mixed (mostly good) opinions on whiteline stuff (but thier CS rules apparently), and hence the bias...