Spare & Jack = 42 lbs !

SGOSWRX · 07-09-2003, 05:00 PM

I was looking to reduce some weight in my STi. I took out the spare tire and the jack and weighed them. Together they weigh a large 42 lbs.

On average they usually say that 100 lbs is equal to 10hp. I believe its a little more than that with a WRX. In my stage 4, 02WRX, reducing weight really helped performance.

I think I'm going go without my spare around town and at the track. If I go for an out of town cruise I'll put the spare back in.
42 lbs is a nice weight reduction.

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ciper · 07-09-2003, 06:18 PM

A drop of 42 pounds is worth the price of AAA+ membership, many benefits to AAA+ but the main one is 100 miles of towing to ANY location you choose. 3 times a year! Plus free duplicate keys (plastic) and DMV window inside that is rarely busy.

Stone Monkey · 07-09-2003, 06:53 PM

That is great weight savings...

Now if you could move some weight from the front to the back to offset losing weight off the rear wheels...

Kostamojen · 07-09-2003, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stone Monkey
That is great weight savings...

Now if you could move some weight from the front to the back to offset losing weight off the rear wheels...

Lightweight battery, empty the fluid from the window washer, and go on a 10lbs diet

SGOSWRX · 07-09-2003, 08:13 PM

Another thing I forgot about is the exhaust. When I took the stock exhaust off my WRX and compared it to the turbo back exhaust I got from Turboxs, there was a big difference in wieght. The factory exhaust is very heavy. There is probably a 10-15 lbs difference between Turboxs's exhaust vs the stock STi exhaust.
I should call turboxs and ask them how much lighter their turbo back exhaust is.
If it is 10-15lbs total, which is very realistic + 42 lbs from removing the spare and jack. That will be over 50lbs of weight off the car.

Janq · 07-09-2003, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SGOSWRX
I was looking to reduce some weight in my STi. I took out the spare tire and the jack and weighed them. Together they weigh a large 42 lbs.

On average they usually say that 100 lbs is equal to 10hp. I believe its a little more than that with a WRX. In my stage 4, 02WRX, reducing weight really helped performance.

I think I'm going go without my spare around town and at the track. If I go for an out of town cruise I'll put the spare back in.
42 lbs is a nice weight reduction.

I have been saying just this for 4 months!

I'd asked so many new STi owners to weight their spare & jack yet I was totally blown off. I'm glad to see someone finally sees the light. I'm going to do the same and invest in Fix-A-Flat and a a rescue service fro Costco ($29.99/year!).

I plan to go with a lighter weight/higher cpacity battery as well as any other easy/quick weight reduction mods I can find/think of.
Coming from a track & field as well as cycling background, I know the quickest & easiest way to gain speed is to drop the fat.

Swing by your friendly neighborhood parts man and see if he can get you a weight of the exhaust can. I'm sure anything made from titanium will be _much_ lighter.

Good info...

- Janq

jaypride · 07-09-2003, 10:30 PM

Just a little FYI, you may not care, the spare tire is part of the rear crash zone and designed to absorb some of the impact in the event of a rear end collision.

ToddStratton · 07-09-2003, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janq

I have been saying just this for 4 months!

I'd asked so many new STi owners to weight their spare & jack yet I was totally blown off. I'm glad to see someone finally sees the light.

I posted the information right after I got my STi in May. It is buried on some thread about why the STi weighed so "much." http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=370621

Anyways, my weight reduction scheme is mostly focused on things that are _relatively_ easy to reverse and won't significantly pose a safety problem:

gut trunk ~ 44lbs
lite weight battery ~ 15 lbs
racing seats ~ 25 lbs (depending on $$$)
exhaust ~ 15 lbs (more with titanium)
remove A/C compressor and condenser ~ 30 lbs (more?)

Around 120-130lbs can be dropped with most expense going towards an exhaust and seats.

There are lots of other little things to do, but they can be a pain to do. There are a couple of threads floating around with WRX weight reduction schemes.

TRS

Janq · 07-09-2003, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jaypride
Just a little FYI, you may not care, the spare tire is part of the rear crash zone and designed to absorb some of the impact in the event of a rear end collision.

Forgot about that...good point.

- Janq

WRX_Mundi · 07-10-2003, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToddStratton
racing seats ~ 25 lbs (depending on $$$)

I installed a stereo today, so had the chance to measure the stock passenger seat. 42 pounds, including rails. A racing seat is going to weigh 14-20 pounds (not counting rails, and obviously without a side airbag). Your 25 pounds is probably conservative. Even more savings it you go torture your body with Kirkey or your pocketbook with carbon fiber.

wgknestrick · 07-10-2003, 01:10 PM

Please don't think that the spare tire would save you in a rear impact crash. That tire is only held into the bay with a tiny 1/4" size bolt. In a crash, it would be the same as having random junk in your trunk = no benefit. The frame (rigidity) is what makes the cars safe not a spare tire.

07-09-2003, 05:00 PM	#1
SGOSWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 10921 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: S.W. Florida Vehicle: 04 04 STi 12.8 @ 105 mph	Spare & Jack = 42 lbs ! I was looking to reduce some weight in my STi. I took out the spare tire and the jack and weighed them. Together they weigh a large 42 lbs. On average they usually say that 100 lbs is equal to 10hp. I believe its a little more than that with a WRX. In my stage 4, 02WRX, reducing weight really helped performance. I think I'm going go without my spare around town and at the track. If I go for an out of town cruise I'll put the spare back in. 42 lbs is a nice weight reduction. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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07-09-2003, 06:18 PM	#2
ciper Scooby Guru Member#: 15543 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: san francisco, ca Vehicle: 90BJ Legacy LS ABS AWD 946 Rio Red Jpn built	A drop of 42 pounds is worth the price of AAA+ membership, many benefits to AAA+ but the main one is 100 miles of towing to ANY location you choose. 3 times a year! Plus free duplicate keys (plastic) and DMV window inside that is rarely busy.

07-09-2003, 06:53 PM	#3
Stone Monkey Scooby Newbie Member#: 35735 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: LA Vehicle: 2005 STI Aspen White	That is great weight savings... Now if you could move some weight from the front to the back to offset losing weight off the rear wheels...

07-09-2003, 08:13 PM	#5
SGOSWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 10921 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: S.W. Florida Vehicle: 04 04 STi 12.8 @ 105 mph	Another thing I forgot about is the exhaust. When I took the stock exhaust off my WRX and compared it to the turbo back exhaust I got from Turboxs, there was a big difference in wieght. The factory exhaust is very heavy. There is probably a 10-15 lbs difference between Turboxs's exhaust vs the stock STi exhaust. I should call turboxs and ask them how much lighter their turbo back exhaust is. If it is 10-15lbs total, which is very realistic + 42 lbs from removing the spare and jack. That will be over 50lbs of weight off the car.

07-09-2003, 10:30 PM	#7
jaypride Scooby Specialist Member#: 33424 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: WMIC Vehicle: 2004 STI Blue/Gold	Just a little FYI, you may not care, the spare tire is part of the rear crash zone and designed to absorb some of the impact in the event of a rear end collision.

07-10-2003, 01:10 PM	#11
wgknestrick Scooby Specialist Member#: 32576 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Allentown, PA Vehicle: 04 STI Roller Barrel ITBS	Please don't think that the spare tire would save you in a rear impact crash. That tire is only held into the bay with a tiny 1/4" size bolt. In a crash, it would be the same as having random junk in your trunk = no benefit. The frame (rigidity) is what makes the cars safe not a spare tire.