ver.8 Sti Spec C
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 49
From: Prescott, AZ
Car Info: 2002 Impreza WRX
ver.8 Sti Spec C
Just got back from my 1st test drive after installing Ver. 8 STi Spec C take offs...all I can say is "WOW! I should have done this sooner." and "This is what the WRX should have come to the US with." 
Took me about 3-1/2 hours to install them with quite a few "warm up" breaks.
Installation Notes:
1) my next house will have a heated garage.
2) the rear seat back comes out much easier if you open the pass through door.
3) the bottom bolt of the rear strut is a PITA: a long breaker bar or the doubled-up wrench trick is manditory...
My initial feelings are that it is definitely a keeper. Not too harsh for even my old body... While you feel the low speed bumps (under 40MPH) a touch more, and it is a touch bouncier, it feels less harsh than the stock '02 suspension IMO. Guessing that the stiffer springs are better matched to the strut valving & you don't get that overdamped(especially in rebound) feel that the stock suspension has. At higher speeds it feels much smoother, without the floatyness I've been used to. Turn in response is improved and body roll feels much less. Turns are much more fun. Took a short offroad (OK, road under construction & torn down to dirt) stint and I think it'll do OK in this area for my needs. I saw zero (<1/8") change in ride height which is also a plus to me.
Next step is to get it in for an alignment...
Brent.
Took me about 3-1/2 hours to install them with quite a few "warm up" breaks.Installation Notes:
1) my next house will have a heated garage.
2) the rear seat back comes out much easier if you open the pass through door.
3) the bottom bolt of the rear strut is a PITA: a long breaker bar or the doubled-up wrench trick is manditory...
My initial feelings are that it is definitely a keeper. Not too harsh for even my old body... While you feel the low speed bumps (under 40MPH) a touch more, and it is a touch bouncier, it feels less harsh than the stock '02 suspension IMO. Guessing that the stiffer springs are better matched to the strut valving & you don't get that overdamped(especially in rebound) feel that the stock suspension has. At higher speeds it feels much smoother, without the floatyness I've been used to. Turn in response is improved and body roll feels much less. Turns are much more fun. Took a short offroad (OK, road under construction & torn down to dirt) stint and I think it'll do OK in this area for my needs. I saw zero (<1/8") change in ride height which is also a plus to me.
Next step is to get it in for an alignment...
Brent.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 49
From: Prescott, AZ
Car Info: 2002 Impreza WRX
Took the new setup out to one of my favorite twisty roads in the state (AZ-89A from Prescott to Jerome, Arizona)...gotta love the "15MPH" hairpins and perfecty cambered esses on that road!
Only increased my belief that this is a great setup for a daily driver. This is a very well balanced & predictabe setup. Not too easily upset nor overly harsh. Impressive handling and it doesn't hurt that it is relatively inexpensive (around $1000) too. Don't get me wrong, it is stiffer & bouncier than the stock suspension nor does it handle as well as some other options, but is a pretty fair compromise IMO.
Things I might consider are:
1) Slightly thicker rear sway bar(or thinner front) to get a touch more neutral handling. Doesn't need much...
2) Stiffer (Group N) tophats might help lessen some of the bounciness. I mostly noticed this over repeatedly wavy/expansion jointed roads.
If you can handle some additional NVH, I imagine that it would only get better with some sticky 225/45-17 (or larger) rubber.
Brent.
AZ-89A heading NorthEast into Jerome:
Just SouthWest of Jerome, this downhill right
leads directly into this left
Ah, now that's what I call fun!
Edit: can't spell...changed links
Only increased my belief that this is a great setup for a daily driver. This is a very well balanced & predictabe setup. Not too easily upset nor overly harsh. Impressive handling and it doesn't hurt that it is relatively inexpensive (around $1000) too. Don't get me wrong, it is stiffer & bouncier than the stock suspension nor does it handle as well as some other options, but is a pretty fair compromise IMO.
Things I might consider are:
1) Slightly thicker rear sway bar(or thinner front) to get a touch more neutral handling. Doesn't need much...
2) Stiffer (Group N) tophats might help lessen some of the bounciness. I mostly noticed this over repeatedly wavy/expansion jointed roads.
If you can handle some additional NVH, I imagine that it would only get better with some sticky 225/45-17 (or larger) rubber.
Brent.
AZ-89A heading NorthEast into Jerome:
Just SouthWest of Jerome, this downhill right
leads directly into this left
Ah, now that's what I call fun!
Edit: can't spell...changed links
Last edited by brentlz; Dec 29, 2003 at 02:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 49
From: Prescott, AZ
Car Info: 2002 Impreza WRX
Hmmm, images working for me at work...would bet my ISP was flaking (again). Moved the 3 pic's over to their host.
Yep, stoopid ISP: sucks living in a "bandwidth challenged region"
Brent.
Yep, stoopid ISP: sucks living in a "bandwidth challenged region"
Brent.
Originally posted by ubercaff
beautiful images I bet they are but red x's are all I see.
beautiful images I bet they are but red x's are all I see.
Last edited by brentlz; Dec 29, 2003 at 02:55 PM.
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