I purchased these bolts from Exeter Subaru (www.subaruwrxparts.com). They were priced at $30 and contained two bolts (17mm hex).
I read the directions from Whiteline's website and they were the same directions that came with the bolts.

Install time: 60 minutes.

It was a pain in the arse to install these bolts. Whiteline recommends leaving the car at normal ride height, re: do not jack the car. I highly recommend a breaker bar with a half inch swivel drive. It's tight working in that area and I probably could have made it easier on myself if I took off the axleback. I'm an idiot and didn't do that so the driver side was more of a pain than the passenger side.

Response: I took the car out to a controlled (relatively) environment. It's effect is pretty noticable. It feels a lot tighter back there. Even just swerving at low speeds, you can feel the rear want to swing. Flex back there is reduced a ton. Without these bolts, the car seems to want to understeer when cornering. It took a little bit of effort to swing the rear around. Now, with these bolts, the feeling of the car as it is in a corner, is less understeer. I found it easier to induce oversteer and the car just felt more controlled and balanced.

Sorry, no pics yet.

yeah, i love mine, but i went with the whole sexy rear end kit from TIC

Can you install these on ramps? If so, that would give you more room to work.

The instructions said normal ride height, so I left it on the ground. Maybe you can put it on rhino ramps, I'm not 100% sure.

I did that on ramps. I tried. it was really almost impossible for me to install it w/o ramps. no problmes. this lock bolt big time tighten the rear so that you feel solid rear big time. one of my fav mods so far. oh do grp n engine and tranny mounts along with kartboy xmember bushing. i love this solid and connected feeling.

installed mine last friday, and went for a drive. seems like the rearend plants a little better, responsive, tracks well.

current suspension mods:

Whiteline R&P Bushings
Whiteline Rear Strut Bar
Whiteline Read Diff. Outrigger Bushings
TiC Fender Cowl Brace
WRX Sedan Rear Sway Bar
Helix Rear Pillowball Endlinks

= sweeeet!

Would I be able to install these with lowered springs? My car sits pretty low.

I did that on ramps. I tried. it was really almost impossible for me to install it w/o ramps. no problmes. this lock bolt big time tighten the rear so that you feel solid rear big time. one of my fav mods so far. oh do grp n engine and tranny mounts along with kartboy xmember bushing. i love this solid and connected feeling.

read it again

bzbuzz did not state whether he had lowered springs or not.

The height of your springs don't change the location of the rear crossmember- what would they have to do with installing these? I don't think you understand where they go if you think spring height factors into the installation. Look here:

http://www.northursalia.com/modifications/drivetrain/subframe/subframe.html


Brian

http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/home.jpg (http://www.ravensblade.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/impreza.jpg (http://www.northursalia.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/imprezamods.jpg (http://www.imprezamods.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/dmw.jpg (http://www.deniedmywarranty.org) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/bratthumb.jpg (http://brat.northursalia.com)

Just wanted to caution everyone that is thinking of installing these that if they are difficult to screw on because of rust then you need to clean and chase the threads first.

I tried installing these on my 2002 WRX and they were very tight when I started treading it. I backed it off and started again to make sure that it wasn't cross threaded. Did this a couple of times each time going in a little further. I ran out of patience, so I used a breaker bar. I was three quarters through when I heard something snap. :furious: The captive nut that this threads to must have broken off. Now I can't tighten it or take it off. It just spins, and since the nut is inside a frame rail you can't get to it!. For the other side I learned my lesson and chased the threads first and there was no problem.

So with only one side really installed I don't think I could give an accurate review, but for what it's worth I really couldn't detect much of a difference.

What I am trying to say is whether there is enough space to work on your car with lowered springs... :)

The height of your springs don't change the location of the rear crossmember- what would they have to do with installing these? I don't think you understand where they go if you think spring height factors into the installation. Look here:

http://www.northursalia.com/modifications/drivetrain/subframe/subframe.html


Brian

http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/home.jpg (http://www.ravensblade.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/impreza.jpg (http://www.northursalia.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/imprezamods.jpg (http://www.imprezamods.com) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/dmw.jpg (http://www.deniedmywarranty.org) http://www.northursalia.com/hosting/bratthumb.jpg (http://brat.northursalia.com)

bzbuzz did not state whether he had lowered springs or not.

doesnt matter if you have lowered spring or not. you would want to do this on ramp, otherwise it would be a big PITA. try that and you would know what i am talking about. oh btw i got prodrive springs.

great cheap mod

just bought these from TiC and the Whiteline instrux say:

"should not be used for extended periods as it may lead to premature chassis wear." they suggest that it should be removed between races.

anyone notice any issues after using these over time?

Mine have been in for 70,000 miles wih no problem.
I had the same concern when I got them, but that disclaimer is just for "legal" purposes.

egg-cellent!

I know what I'm doing tonight ...

:eek: :o :( :confused:

just installed these today (on rhino ramps). Install was a breeze and what a great cheap mod. My wagon's arse is finally tighter than the front. The car really rotates better. There was very little additional NVH from these.

The more suspension mods I do, the more I realize that my tires are absolute garbage.