Everything needed for a complete STI 6 speed drivetrain swap into an 02

[Xenri]

Originally Posted by aica123

(im typing this for my husband btw) He has a 02' WRX first gear does not work but all other gears are fine the trany couldn't handle the horsepower and needed to be upgraded, would you reccomend a swap or upgrade the parts?

Personally, I would say get the swap. After doing a ton of research before I did mine, that's the choice I eventualy made, and since then, after having talkedto more than one mechanic and a couple of enthusiasts and rally drivers, they all agree. There are two main reasons I think a swap is a better choice than upgraded gears:

1: the cost is similar. Though the gear set option IS cheaper it is still a few thousand dollars after all the parts and labor are accounted for. My swap included a new 6 speed fromthe dealer, a controller, shifter, linkage and axle, oil, etc for about 5000 after install. If you can find a used trans you trust, that price goes down fast.

2: the gears are not the only weakness in the five speeds. The case is another problem child, as it is thin, espeially when compared with the STi case. After talking to the experts I mentioned, more than one said that after switching out the gear sets to profesional racing level gears, they broke the case open after just a few events. That is not to say they wouldn't do fine under daily driving conditions, but if you are even considering spending the money on either of these options, you clearly have other uses in mind for the car than just getting to and from work.

My .02

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[redline41190]

So I'm looking at swapping the 6spd into my 04 WRX... If I'm right I need the following things (Im looking to retain my WRX suspension/brakes/rims etc):

-07 STi trans to use stock rear dif
OR
-04 STi trans and modded R160 rear
-Axle stubs for any 05+ STi tranny. I can just pop the ones out of my WRX tranny right?
-Automatic driveshaft
-6spd shift fork
-STi shift lever assembly
-6spd tranny mount

I've got a budget of about 3k to do the whole swap with and I think my WRX tranny is about to go... so its imperative that I keep to budget lol.

[kpluiten]

You are close, but some corrections:

The stubs actually come from only 04 STi trans, not 05+. Also, you cannot remove the ones from your WRX trans without disassembling the transmission. They do not work like 6MT stubs do.

Other then that, you should be good. If you do go the route of 04-05 trans, you'll need the 3.9 R160 as you indicated. These are VERY easy to find in 2.2L 5MT Imprezas. Like $50 at the pick and pull easy.

also, $3K can be done. I did mine for about that ($3200-3400) with a DCCD controller and new clutch kit. Just got to hunt for those deals!

[redline41190]

are the stubs then a part I could order from Subaru? Since it seems NO ONE sells them on here lol

And I could use those 04 STi stubs in an 07 STi transmission? I'd love to only have a short list of stuff to get haha.

07 Route:
-07 STi tranny
-A/T drive-axle
-6MT shift fork
-6MT mount
-6MT shifter
-04 Stubs

04/05
-04/05 tranny
-2.2L R160
-A/T drive axle
-6MT shift fork
-6MT mount
-6MT shifter

Thats it? I'll have a fully functional 6MT?

[kpluiten]

Looks like it. What are you doing for the clutch setup?

[redline41190]

Originally Posted by kpluiten

Looks like it. What are you doing for the clutch setup?

Cool

I'm going to re use my WRX clutch/flywheel until it gives out. After this swap I'll be totally broke haha. I've seen a few people use the WRX stuff as a temp solution and it works. After that probably an Exedy organic clutch and a lighter flywheel.

[renjiv2]

so after reading all of these different setups, can i conclude that the 04+sti trans components interchangeable?

[Faster_Gun]

I'm balls deep into my swap, trans in and mounted, engine hooked up, front axles intalled. I'm sitting here thinking I can run my R160 diff on the STi drive shaft I have hooked up, but it wont bolt, alright that's cool. My question is can I run my 02 axles and hubs straight into my R180 out of an 04?
If not why not and what do I need to buy next?

[redline41190]

Originally Posted by Faster_Gun

I'm balls deep into my swap, trans in and mounted, engine hooked up, front axles intalled. I'm sitting here thinking I can run my R160 diff on the STi drive shaft I have hooked up, but it wont bolt, alright that's cool. My question is can I run my 02 axles and hubs straight into my R180 out of an 04?
If not why not and what do I need to buy next?

No you cant, you need STi hubs in order to use an R180, because they're different than the R160 axles. Just use an Automatic driveshaft and an R160 with 3.9 gears in it, and it will work.

[Faster_Gun]

So my 02 axles physically wont fit into the R180 diff?

[redline41190]

I don't believe so, but I could be wrong.

[Faster_Gun]

For future reference, axles that fit into R160 diffs do fit into R180 diffs but they are too small (diameter) to be held in the splines. (I didn't believe you, the shop, or my dad.)

Now who's making adapters?

[redline41190]

Originally Posted by Faster_Gun

For future reference, axles that fit into R160 diffs do fit into R180 diffs but they are too small (diameter) to be held in the splines. (I didn't believe you, the shop, or my dad.)

Now who's making adapters?

Yeah thats what I thought haha, I think Drive Shaft Shop makes adapters axles but they cost somewhere over 1,200 bucks

[pie]

Ok guys, hope you can help my friend who is on deployment out. He has an 06 TR that he is going to do a 04 jdm sti transmission swap in when he gets back.

So far he has trans with all linkage,clutch and related components, driveshafts,all 4 axles, rear diff R-180, and the rear subframe.

Rear hubs and spindles are where he is stuck. He wants to swap all 4 hubs and spindles to keep it the same. He can find fronts all day long on ebay, but not rear.

Also ABS- will it work with 04 sti swap? Will wrx rotors fit on STI hubs? Will WRX swaybars work or does he need STI? Will he need sti struts?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[gizmotron2030]

Let me make this swap real easy (for future reference for those looking to swap):

05-07 6spd
Sti drive shaft
matching r180 diff
*****07-08 legacy spec b rear axles. They have a r180 input shaft with r160 spline. Buy some axle grease and a boot kit. Swap the Wrx hub cv boot to legacy axle and your done. ********

This allows you to have the strength of a complete Sti drivetrain with out having to loose your hubs or wheels and suspention on the Wrx. And it's cheaper than getting the 04 Sti brembo set up. The legacy spec b axles run ~$620-$630 for the pair on subarugenuineparts.com.

I just did mine. $3000 got me the trans, drive, rear diff. $640 for the axles.

Originally Posted by redline41190

So I'm looking at swapping the 6spd into my 04 WRX... If I'm right I need the following things (Im looking to retain my WRX suspension/brakes/rims etc):

-07 STi trans to use stock rear dif
OR
-04 STi trans and modded R160 rear
-Axle stubs for any 05+ STi tranny. I can just pop the ones out of my WRX tranny right?
-Automatic driveshaft
-6spd shift fork
-STi shift lever assembly
-6spd tranny mount

I've got a budget of about 3k to do the whole swap with and I think my WRX tranny is about to go... so its imperative that I keep to budget lol.

[gizmotron2030]

Everything in the above post I got for an 06 TR. Maybe the part about the legacy spec b axles can help your friend.

Originally Posted by pie

Ok guys, hope you can help my friend who is on deployment out. He has an 06 TR that he is going to do a 04 jdm sti transmission swap in when he gets back.

So far he has trans with all linkage,clutch and related components, driveshafts,all 4 axles, rear diff R-180, and the rear subframe.

Rear hubs and spindles are where he is stuck. He wants to swap all 4 hubs and spindles to keep it the same. He can find fronts all day long on ebay, but not rear.

Also ABS- will it work with 04 sti swap? Will wrx rotors fit on STI hubs? Will WRX swaybars work or does he need STI? Will he need sti struts?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[theSlothy1]

Originally Posted by pie

Ok guys, hope you can help my friend who is on deployment out. He has an 06 TR that he is going to do a 04 jdm sti transmission swap in when he gets back.

So far he has trans with all linkage,clutch and related components, driveshafts,all 4 axles, rear diff R-180, and the rear subframe.

Rear hubs and spindles are where he is stuck. He wants to swap all 4 hubs and spindles to keep it the same. He can find fronts all day long on ebay, but not rear.

Also ABS- will it work with 04 sti swap? Will wrx rotors fit on STI hubs? Will WRX swaybars work or does he need STI? Will he need sti struts?

Thanks in advance for your help.

As stated above, spec B rear axles will work with the outer wrx cv joints swapped. See post 361 from here:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...201152&page=15

[redline41190]

How exactly does one swap the CV joints?

[STI2FAST4U]

My 04 STI hits hard when going 1st to 2nd, but only over 6k rpm. Any ideas on why? I'v been thinking about replacing my tranny mount but i don't see anything wrong with it..

[Rally2]

Couple nagging questions I haven't figured out yet (for my '04 6MT / R180 swap into 2006 WRX):

1. Is the WRX R160 rear diff support bracket the same as the STI bracket; will it work with the R180?

2. Will my WRX E-brake wire into the Spider Auto DCCD controller so it opens the center diff when pulled?

[redline41190]

Originally Posted by Rally2

Couple nagging questions I haven't figured out yet (for my '04 6MT / R180 swap into 2006 WRX):

1. Is the WRX R160 rear diff support bracket the same as the STI bracket; will it work with the R180?

2. Will my WRX E-brake wire into the Spider Auto DCCD controller so it opens the center diff when pulled?

1. yes

2. Im not sure... But probably not unless Spiider made a special provision for it.

[Rally2]

^ thanks for the quick reply

[Rally2]

FYI I got an email from DCCDPro confirming the WRX e-brake works with their controller:

"The ebrake on all models works with my controllers.
They all feature the ebrake cut out as a part of the standard firmware."

[Leicaken]

Thanks guys

[Djtoad]

this thread has helped me a lot, but i still seem to have alot of questions maybe ill get some answers in the future lol