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Old 02-03-2002, 03:39 AM   #1
-LD
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 14009
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Vehicle:
2002 WRX wagon
Black

Default upgrade path

with spring coming up and warm weather not too far off i am now contemplating what upgrades and mods i want to do to my WRX sedan

unfortunately real life gets in the way and money becomes an issue (it doesn't really grow on trees i found out)...so i was wondering everyone's thoughts on upgrade paths

i want to take this in logical steps so i don't waste time, money, have to upgrade previously upgraded parts, put too much engine with too little brakes, or whatever

this is my first time doing performance upgrades to a car so any and all advice is welcomed...i was thinking of starting with new coilovers to tighten up the ride and lower the stance...also thinking of getting a new cold air intake, turbow timer, manual boost control...though maybe not quite all at once they would be within a month or so of each other

what's everyone's thoughts on this? what are some recommended upgrades, approximate costs of the upgrades, and preferred order?

thanks!

-LD
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Old 02-03-2002, 01:36 PM   #2
BIGSKYWRX
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Member#: 7958
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Plains of Eastern Montana
Vehicle:
09 GH B+

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-LD,

A question like this will most likely get many different answers as you probably need to tell us what "duties" you have in mind for your rex ie. street, gravel, autox, rally x, track, other.

First if you plan on autox or rally x you will definitely want to get familiar w/ the rules/classes as a simple mode can bump you out of one class into one you may not want to be in.

I think first off you won't get too much argument that tire upgrades will be at the top of the list. Again, your intended use(s) will affect this choice. Decent tires will run from ~ $90-150/tire. Some will reccomend a change in wheels, I would argue that the stock rims are relatively light ~16.3 lbs and strong (although they won't clear 4 pot brakes- this may change as Wilwood is supposed to have someting in the offering), and money may best spent elsewhere.

Brake upgrades that would be worthwhile include stainless steel lines ~ $110, uprated pads ~ $70-125 and DOT 4 fluid ~ $20.

Suspension upgrades will also be dependent on your intended uses. Some good crossover choices (tarmac & gravel) would include the DMS 40mm coilovers ~ $1600 + ~ $250 for STi top mounts. The other choice would be the SPT/STi strut/spring setup at ~ $1200 (price just went up ).
Also to consider would be uprated sway bars and perhaps stiffer suspension bushings.

Power mods should probably be best left for another forum.

Again, having your intended use(s) would help greatly.

Big Sky
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Old 02-03-2002, 02:33 PM   #3
-LD
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Member#: 14009
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Vehicle:
2002 WRX wagon
Black

Default

the car will be a street car...possibly some autox if i ever feel confident enough to try it out...i don't plan on going balls out like some of the hardcore guys, but i would like to make the performance of the car even better than it is

thanks for the response...i'm just looking to get a lot of opinions here before the cash starts flowing
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Old 02-03-2002, 06:06 PM   #4
RaceCarRiot
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Chapter/Region: South East
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1997 Ver IV
silver

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tires first. RE92's are AWFUL.

suspension and braking upgrades will allow you to make better use of what you have now, and will ensure that you don't overpower the rest of the car once you start adding power.

-adam-
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Old 02-03-2002, 07:46 PM   #5
rsr911
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Location: Elkhart, IN
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2002 AMG CLK55
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1. Wheels & Tires
2. Mintex 1155 Brake pads
3. Coil overs DMS Golds from M2 Performance
4. Scooby sport exhaust & Vishnu up-pipe

This is what I am in the process of doing in basically that order. I do already have my Vishnu up-pipe installed.

Owen
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Old 02-03-2002, 07:58 PM   #6
C_Rambo
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Virginia
Default Upgrades

I am also on the quest for which upgrades to go with.
The dealer is installing the following so far before I even drive the car off the lot.
Scooby sport exhaust with Uppie leaving Cat in the down pipe.
Hid Light Morrettes
Hid Fog
K&N with inbox removed
STI struts with Eibach pro springs.
Sti Hood Scoop (Painted)
Side skirts painted as well
Kartboy short shift with Bushings
"18- SSR Comp. Wheels with Bridgestone’s

Any opinions and thoughts are very welcome.
Should the bushings be changed in the suspension the same time the struts are changed?
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Old 02-04-2002, 08:55 AM   #7
gtguy
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Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA
Vehicle:
2005 Legacy GT wagon
Platinum Silver Metallic

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These guys all have it right, which warms my heart.

Tires (anything but RE92s)
Suspension (the SPT/STi kit is quite nice, if you don't want to have to fool with coilovers)
Brakes (pads, fluid and stainless steel lines)
Power (which you might well find that you don't need to upgrade)

Hey Rambo, note that the K&N/removed box combo actually costs horsepower, and adds noise. A recent dyno test found this to be so. The hp losses aren't much, less than 10 actual hp, but I'm sure that it sounds faster, which is what is fooling many butt dynos.

Suspension bushings are really an optional thing. The install costs, compared with the benefits, almost argue against them. One member, UCI Scott, had them done and likes them a lot. But if you get the SPT bushing kit, you're looking at about 5 hours for the complete kit, which includes big rear suspension crossmember bushings. Expect an increase in NVH, but riding on 18s, you're be hearing those before any suspension NVH.

Here's another question...why STi struts with the Eibach springs, instead of the STi springs and struts? Do you want more drop than the 3/4" that the STi springs give you? I'd almost suggest mating the pink STi springs from Cobb Tuning with the STi struts, before the Eibach Pro-Kit stuff.

Kevin
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Old 02-04-2002, 10:47 AM   #8
BIGSKYWRX
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C_rambo,

I have a similar question to gtguy, do you have a wrx or rs? If it's a wrx what sti struts are you talking about? Where are they available on their own, ie w/o springs?

Also sounds like you have a mod friendly dealer .

Thanks,

Big Sky
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Old 02-04-2002, 12:10 PM   #9
gtguy
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Platinum Silver Metallic

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BIGSKY, I'm thinking with the Scoobysport stuff and uppipe, he's getting a WRX. I didn't think the STi struts were available separately for that car, unless somebody on i-Club bought the package just for the springs, then sold the struts.

I wasn't aware that other STi struts fit the new Impreza without some modifications.

Kevin
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Old 02-04-2002, 02:25 PM   #10
C_Rambo
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Virginia
Default Mods

OK, I talked with the dealer today and everyone is correct. No Struts without entire package for the WRX. Will the Eibach Springs feel better than stock or cause problems down the road, I.E. BOunce.
Another Question:
Will "19 Cause problems with the drivtrain or suspension. Just Thinking about it. Any problems? Yes, I have searched, but no forsure answer yet.
Seems Hard to find tires for "19.
instead of springs is it recommended to just go with the SPT struts and springs. Pretty limited choice If I don't want coilovers. Only because I not looking to race or Adjust.
I'm looking for the BMW low. Not wise or possible?
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Old 02-04-2002, 07:03 PM   #11
gtguy
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Member#: 2184
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA
Vehicle:
2005 Legacy GT wagon
Platinum Silver Metallic

Default

A guy in the Legacy forum reported problems with the Eibach Pro-Kit springs and their excessive drop. There was premature wear on other components, to the tune of a $1500 repair bill.

The Eibachs with the stock springs will take the struts out of their ideal range of motion, in effect shortening the stroke and travel by the 1.2-1.5" of drop. The pink STi springs (on stock struts) lower a bit less, but still about 1".

I would say that you shouldn't mess with springs on stock struts, but that's just my opinion. I rode in a car with the pink STi springs on stock struts, and it rode quite nicely. My only concerns would be long-term strut life for the stockers.

The SPT kit is very well thought of. Glenn Wallace, a voice I trust a great deal, has nothing but good things to say about it. It drops the car less than an inch, however.

In terms of wanting "BMW low," you might want to consider coilovers, rather than springs/struts. Subarus like a highish ride height, as befits their heritage. Put it like this. On my drive to work in about a foot of snow, I saw plenty of Scoobies...Outbacks mostly. Didn't see a single BMW, and there are plenty of them in my neck of the woods, a LOT more than Subarus. Subarus, suspension geometry-wise, aren't really designed with big drops in mind.

Uh, as for 19-inch wheels, I don't know how the roads are in Virginia, but here in Chicago... The wheels will be heavy, expensive as hell, and ditto for tires. Never mind the bling, bling factor. The biggest I would go is 17", but that's just me.

Kevin
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