WRX Suspension Mods

C

Colm Mc

Sunday Drivers
Ive been thinking about some suspension upgrades for my '00 Classic WRX.

Springs
The car sits at a nice height but it could be 10mm lower. STi springs would probably do the trick. Are they much harsher than the Irish Market WRX springs? Can you run them with the original standard shocks?

ARB
Whiteline seem to be the guys to go to for uprated anti-roll bars. Are they worth the money?

Anti-lift kit
I think this reduces pitching under acceleration & braking, giving a reduction in understeer in the bends. Is it something worth bothering with, are there any downsides to this kit?
 
everything you mentioned above, springs ,arb and alk will make the ride abit harder but not undriveable on the road.

the biggest question, is the car a daily driver and for the track or just the road

sti springs are grand, not to low but will be expensive and probably hard to get

white line do a lowering spring too, that are good, whiteline arbs are good, just dont get to big a bar or it will be to hard, 22mm will be big enough for road use
are they worth the money? yes if your going on the track, no other wise

alk will not make that much difference without the above items either.

imo if your never going on track with the car dont touch it, you could lower it just for look but it will ride a little harder
 
This is never going to be a track car, its a daily driver putting up about 8K miles per year. I dont have much interest in tuning for extra power but I'd like to play with the suspension a bit.

In particular Im interested in reducing understeer to make the car a bit more playful. My other car is an E30, sometimes the Impreza feels a little too planted by comparision!
 
Colm Mc said:
In particular Im interested in reducing understeer to make the car a bit more playful. My other car is an E30, sometimes the Impreza feels a little too planted by comparision!
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Rear droplinks & adjustable 22 or 24mm anti roll bar will sort this right out for you. The rest can be added afterwards if you decide to.
 
Modified rear drop links or standard? If modified, Im guessing Whiteline again!

Would you replace the rear, front or both ARBs?
 
Solid whiteline droplinks on the back, means no flex before the anti roll bar does its stuff so a better option.

Wouldn't touch the front to be honest unless you're trying to make a track animal, against all logic its doing the above changes to the rear that makes the turn in so much sharper.
 
You're spot on there.

I did alot of work to the E30 to kill off understeer & it only reduced properly when I got the rear body roll & subframe movement in check!

I need to change the rear beam bushes on the Impreza, its a job Ive been putting off cos it needs alot of ripping. Once thats done I'll invest in a set of solid drop links.

The uprated ARB might come after that!

That should sort out the understeer! Its not very bad at the moment but I know there is room for improvement :)
 
The simplest and easiest thing you could do is probably get the car re-tracked to run as much negative camber as possible
 
Sweetcakes said:
get the car re-tracked to run as much negative camber as possible
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Increase negative camber all round? Whats the limit for neg camber on standard suspension? Is there anyone in the Limerick area that you'd recommend for tracking?

I usually go to Daly tyres near the NCT centre. He's from a rallying background so I trust him to do a good job :smile:
 
I think its about 1.4 or 1.5 degrees on standard suspension on the front. Standard rear suspension is not camber adjustable. Sorry but I've no idea who'd you should use down in Limerick, if you have a lad that you trust, then I'd say go with him :thumbsup:
 
if it were my car i put in a set of lowering springs , uprate the rear ARB and a front strut brace and set it set up properly on wheel alignment machine . still be comfy enough for everyday
 
Im not so sure about lowering it by much, STi ride height seems to be about right.

Its a car thats at its best on twisty bumpy backroad. I dont want to compromise that by having to back off because of ground clearance issues.

EDIT: It seems like a pretty rigid front end as it is. Is it worth fitting a strut brace?
 
Colm Mc said:
Have you set up your car this way? I'd imagine its an effective mod, but pretty hard on tyres?
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I don't at the moment but I will next week when I fit the coilovers I have so I'll run about 1.4 in the front and can then run up to about 3degrees if i want to adjust the coilovers as well. Most lads I know that run 1.4/1.5 find it a happy medium between tyre wear and extra grip gained
 
Colm Mc said:
Im not so sure about lowering it by much, STi ride height seems to be about right.

Its a car thats at its best on twisty bumpy backroad. I dont want to compromise that by having to back off because of ground clearance issues.

EDIT: It seems like a pretty rigid front end as it is. Is it worth fitting a strut brace?
Click to expand...

you dont need to go mad low on springs just 20 mm can change the centre of gravity of the car givin far more positive feel thru the wheel , its trial and error to find what you feel most comfortable , i know lads that went the whole hog and bought coilovers and just found the car to harsh and uncomfortable ,
 
what tyres do you have as this makes a massive difference
 
Ive got Falkens on it at the moment, its what it came with. They arent FK452's, they are some kind of a harder compound. I have a set of F1's on order, they should make quite a difference.
 
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