In the past half-year I've been getting lots of questions about running 2004 STi wheels and rubbing issues on my '99 RS.

Old Silver set:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/sheridanny7/PICT0032.jpg

Current Gold set:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/sheridanny7/IMG_4127.jpg

The 2004 (and only the 2004) STi shares the same 5x100 bolt pattern with All Impreza's excluding the 2005-present STi.

2004 OEM STi BBS Wheel Specs
5x100 bolt pattern
+53mm offset
17x7.5

The factory tires that come on these STi wheels are 225/45/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE-070's. YOU WILL HAVE RUBBING ISSUES IN THE REAR FENDERS WITH 225 series tires with ANY suspension. You can eliminate the Rubbing issues one of two differnt ways:
1. Have the rear fenders rolled out a little bit to provide a little extra clearance.
or....
2. Run 215 series tires.

Currently my suspension setup is KYB AGX's and SPT Springs. I have rolled my rear fenders to accomodate the 225 series tires and have no rubbing issues anymore. Next week I am installing H&R sport springs and will report back on if there are any rubbing issues with that setup.

I hope this thread helps people looking at rubbing issues in general or specifically running 2004 STi wheels.

Danny

The factory tires that come on these STi wheels are 225/45/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE-070's. YOU WILL HAVE RUBBING ISSUES IN THE REAR FENDERS WITH 225 series tires with ANY suspension. You can eliminate the Rubbing issues one of two differnt ways:
1. Have the rear fenders rolled out a little bit to provide a little extra clearance.
or....
2. Run 215 series tires.

Currently my suspension setup is KYB AGX's and SPT Springs. I have rolled my rear fenders to accomodate the 225 series tires and have no rubbing issues anymore.


Couple questions..

What is your car's ride height (these are SPT pink springs)?
When you had rubbing, it was only on the fender side and not on the strut?
Do have upgraded sway bars, and if so what thickness?
STM - this your autocross class? Can you list any other suspension mods you have?

Couple questions..

What is your car's ride height (these are SPT pink springs)?
When you had rubbing, it was only on the fender side and not on the strut?
Do have upgraded sway bars, and if so what thickness?
STM - this your autocross class? Can you list any other suspension mods you have?


1. The SPT springs (Blue/darkish I think - bought them used so they were dirty) drop the RS 3/4" front and back.
2. The only rubbing was on the fender side. There should be a little (and I mean TINY like a couple sheets of paper) space on the strut side.
3. I'm running the FHI 20mm rear sway bar and the stock front sway bar.
4. STM = Silverthorn Metallic (Subaru's silver paint color from 93-01), STS = Street Touring S (my auto-x class).
5. All suspension mods: KYB AGX adjustable shocks, SPT springs (H&R sport springs going on next week), 20mm FHI Rear sway bar, and Kartboy solid rear sway bar end links.

Danny

For what it's worth, my old set of worn-to-wearbars 225/50/16 v700s (on '00/'01 RS wheels) had "rubbing" issues on the strut body in the rear with stock springs (at least I think they're stock). This was due to the sticky tire picking up debris and it coming into contact with the spring perch.

With the same wheels and tires, but now lowered on Prodrive WR springs and struts, I had rubbing on the front fender/inner lining on big bumps. In the rear, I had rubbing on the strut on one corner, but that was also the corner with -2.0* of camber. The other side at -1.6* was fine.