RSB on old imprezas
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 726
From: Sunnyvale
Car Info: '99 Impreza OBS
RSB on old imprezas
I have a 99 impreza OBS, and have very little experience driving, its my first car though I've been driving for almost two years. I got it about a month ago. I have a couple thousand to spend on it and am not sure what to do. I read a lot about swaybars helping performance a lot, but am a little worried about too much oversteer since I'm inexperienced, but want a great handling car. It's mostly just a daily driver but I'm gonna be doing some autox. Any recommendations for swaybars? Or any other things that I should maybe get to increase performance. I'm on a budget because I'd like to do a lot to it but performance is the most important to me. How different is the old one from the new, does the same stuff go for '99 as for '03 wrx, or would the bars be different. Also maybe want spring/shock upgrade but don't know much. I'm really inexperienced with performance stuff, my extent of knowledge, I've replaced the clutch because it was dead, but thats all ive done to my car. Thanks in advance!
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Better tires would help handling AND increase safety. Lighter alloy wheels could inprove the looks of your car and give a slight performance increase. I wish I was young again AND had your wisdom. You admit you could improve you driving skills. Well, driving school and/or SCCA or other autox/rallyx events could be both educational and fun!
a 17mm or other Impreza takeoff might be cheap. Probably don't need to go over 20-22mm. Folks have their favorite suppliers but Whiteline seems to offer a lot of value.
Carl
1 Lucky Texan
a 17mm or other Impreza takeoff might be cheap. Probably don't need to go over 20-22mm. Folks have their favorite suppliers but Whiteline seems to offer a lot of value.
Carl
1 Lucky Texan
Thread Starter
VIP Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 726
From: Sunnyvale
Car Info: '99 Impreza OBS
Hmmm. I thought about the wrx's sway bar, but thought an adjustable one might be better for as I get better I could adjust it, or adjust it to preference. But thanx for the size suggestion. As far as wheels, I was thinking of upgrading the wheels, and thats another thread I started, because I love the look of the formel's but they are heavy, and I don't really know what to do, its at https://www.i-club.com/forums/showth...824#post507824 so if you want to help with that I'd appreciate it. Also I am definetly wanting to to autox, as well as take a driving class but classes are a little expensive, I was thinking of maybe doing a few autox's then taking a class, so that I have some skill going into it so I get more out of it. Does that make sense? or should I take a class before autox? Thanx
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Okay lets see if I can help ya a bit:
For the most part the rear suspensions are the same on all imprezas sans the tophats... So RSB's lower tie bars Swaybar mounts etc etc are very interchangeable between new and old models...
If you want to do auto X an adjustible bar would be best for you... Since you can make it stiffer as you learn and or stiffen it up for the track and then drive on a lower setting... I think a 18-19-20mm adjustible might be a good choice... Get used to it on the middle and then decide if you want to back it off or increase the bar rate... If you don't care about adjustibility a WRX or STI 18 or 20mm takeoff will be fine...
Tires are BY FAR the most important thing to consider in regard to handling. Trash those RE92;s as soon as possible if you haven't already. Go with the best rubber you can afford, depending on where you live... You may want to sacrifice a bit of performance for good all season handling... But still get something very sticky. I prefer bridgestones better offerings myself (RE750's, SO2's, SO3's), but Falken Azeni's, Kumho (Ecsta Supra's, MX's), Pirelli's etc etc are all very respectable...
As for springs and struts I suggest not worrying about these until you have done tires and a rear swaybar... Some alloy wheels would help, even if they are not some beautiful 17
... There are lots of reasons Alloy wheels are superior to steel but I won't get into that.... Suffice to say if you have steelies plan on swapping to alloys if you want to do any performance driving...
Once you get used to the above and are looking for springs and struts... I'd reccomend a simple spring strut setup for your needs rather then expensive coilovers since you plan on daily driving still and also don't seem to be too intent on hard tracking or MAX handling... Go with either KYB AGX's or the Koni Yellows... And a spring to suit your needs... P1's, STi's, SPT's, or Eibach's are just fine and will offer very good handling when used with either of the two struts I mentioned... If you want more adjustibility for auto X... Use ground control coilovers with either strut... Any of the above will combine for a good day to day feel and excellent performance when adjusted for Auto-X
As for taking driving lessons before auto X... I'd say unless you can afford to go to a racing school or have a cheep performance driving clinic readily available, forget it... Just get out there... have fun and ask lots of questions... Usually people around are more then willing to help beginners out and you will likely learn almost as much as if you had attended a driving school anyway... Just have fun... stay within your limits... and you'll improve a great deal...
Hope that helps...
-DE
For the most part the rear suspensions are the same on all imprezas sans the tophats... So RSB's lower tie bars Swaybar mounts etc etc are very interchangeable between new and old models...
If you want to do auto X an adjustible bar would be best for you... Since you can make it stiffer as you learn and or stiffen it up for the track and then drive on a lower setting... I think a 18-19-20mm adjustible might be a good choice... Get used to it on the middle and then decide if you want to back it off or increase the bar rate... If you don't care about adjustibility a WRX or STI 18 or 20mm takeoff will be fine...
Tires are BY FAR the most important thing to consider in regard to handling. Trash those RE92;s as soon as possible if you haven't already. Go with the best rubber you can afford, depending on where you live... You may want to sacrifice a bit of performance for good all season handling... But still get something very sticky. I prefer bridgestones better offerings myself (RE750's, SO2's, SO3's), but Falken Azeni's, Kumho (Ecsta Supra's, MX's), Pirelli's etc etc are all very respectable...
As for springs and struts I suggest not worrying about these until you have done tires and a rear swaybar... Some alloy wheels would help, even if they are not some beautiful 17
... There are lots of reasons Alloy wheels are superior to steel but I won't get into that.... Suffice to say if you have steelies plan on swapping to alloys if you want to do any performance driving... Once you get used to the above and are looking for springs and struts... I'd reccomend a simple spring strut setup for your needs rather then expensive coilovers since you plan on daily driving still and also don't seem to be too intent on hard tracking or MAX handling... Go with either KYB AGX's or the Koni Yellows... And a spring to suit your needs... P1's, STi's, SPT's, or Eibach's are just fine and will offer very good handling when used with either of the two struts I mentioned... If you want more adjustibility for auto X... Use ground control coilovers with either strut... Any of the above will combine for a good day to day feel and excellent performance when adjusted for Auto-X
As for taking driving lessons before auto X... I'd say unless you can afford to go to a racing school or have a cheep performance driving clinic readily available, forget it... Just get out there... have fun and ask lots of questions... Usually people around are more then willing to help beginners out and you will likely learn almost as much as if you had attended a driving school anyway... Just have fun... stay within your limits... and you'll improve a great deal...
Hope that helps...
-DE
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