Scoobyfreak86 2017 Lapis Blue Pearl STI Journal

[Squattro]

Is this the same lip (vendor) you purchased? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CS-Style-Fro...NXO8pj&vxp=mtr

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[Obviously Tyler]

Originally Posted by Dalessio

I know you haven't had much time to drive on them yet, but please let me know if you experience any rubbing with the 265s. I currently have 245/40 Continentals (had them on my BBS before I got rid of them) but am planning on stepping up to either 255 or 265s before summer is over, and I've heard mixed things about 265/35s rubbing. The general consensus seems to be that they're fine for OEM height, but RCE says they will rub with Yellows or Blacks, and there have been lots of conflicting posts on forums.

Sorry to thread jack Scooby, those wheels look fantastic. Glad you got what you wanted!

Dalessio, I'm running 18x9.5 +45 wheels with a 265/35 tire on RCE yellows. My camber is at -1.5* at each corner and I have plenty of clearance in both the fender lip area and around the suspension.

I believe +38 wheels have issues when the car is lowered, and require fender rolling or more camber than usual.

[Dalessio]

Originally Posted by Obviously Tyler

Sorry to thread jack Scooby, those wheels look fantastic. Glad you got what you wanted!

Dalessio, I'm running 18x9.5 +45 wheels with a 265/35 tire on RCE yellows. My camber is at -1.5* at each corner and I have plenty of clearance in both the fender lip area and around the suspension.

I believe +38 wheels have issues when the car is lowered, and require fender rolling or more camber than usual.

Thanks for the info! I'm running 18x9.5 +40 so...not quite +38 but, close. Glad to hear it though, I'll have to see what I can find!

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by dichoi

congrats on both the baby and the wheels Chris! (even though you didn't buy mine...guess it worked out in the end for both of us haha). I have AST5100 sitting in the garage and will be going on the car July 1. I already test drove my buddy's car with them and they are amazing. had the fortune autos with swift springs on my last sti and was not a fan. would highly recommend the AST's.

Haha thanks man. I couldn't resist the 57dr's. A nice set came up for sale on the fs threads and I had to jump on it.

Awesome. I'm most likely going with the AST's. I'm not in a rush to get them, but definitely something that strikes my interest. Geoff at Cygnus highly recommends them.

Originally Posted by FL4TFTW

Soooooo meaty. Looks so good. I wasn't sold on the black but that looks great.

I never tried a $1500+ set of coils but I loved my feals on my WRX. I had no weird noises and the ride quality was very acceptable. Much better than my BRZ and Fiesta ST.

The stage 1 isn't so much having more power as it is improving the powerband. Stock to TP stage 1 is a massive difference in feel. More torque down lower and more power up top. Definitely worth it IMO.

Thanks man. I love the look. I always gravitate towards darker wheels on all my cars. Not sure why, but it always happens. Luckily lapis blue looks good with any color wheels.

I hated the feal 441's. They clunked in the cold bad. Customer service was terrible and I just wasn't happy. They performed ok when driving aggressively, but everyday type driving they really showed their true colors.

Very true. I'm sure I'll go stage 1 down the road, but I'm more than ok with the stock power for now. I just want to get the car looking right before I jump to void the warranty haha.

Originally Posted by Dalessio

Looks great man, welcome to the black on blue club!

I know you haven't had much time to drive on them yet, but please let me know if you experience any rubbing with the 265s. I currently have 245/40 Continentals (had them on my BBS before I got rid of them) but am planning on stepping up to either 255 or 265s before summer is over, and I've heard mixed things about 265/35s rubbing. The general consensus seems to be that they're fine for OEM height, but RCE says they will rub with Yellows or Blacks, and there have been lots of conflicting posts on forums.

Thanks bud. However, not my first blue/black combo before. My m3 was carbon black (which is a dark blue/black metallic) and I rocked black wheels on it for a while.

On stock suspension, no rubbing issues. But this really all depends on your setup. Tire brand and how low you are really will change everything. If you are about an inch lower than stock and want to run Michelin pss's, go with a 255/35. They run wider than most brands 255's. I ran a pss 265/35 in my wrx and it rubbed at stock height in dips.

Expect to roll your rear fenders a bit though. Pretty much a given for this car.

Originally Posted by Squattro

Is this the same lip (vendor) you purchased? http://www.ebay.com/itm/CS-Style-Fro...NXO8pj&vxp=mtr

This is the one I got https://www.ebay.com/itm/161427572796

Originally Posted by Obviously Tyler

Sorry to thread jack Scooby, those wheels look fantastic. Glad you got what you wanted!

Dalessio, I'm running 18x9.5 +45 wheels with a 265/35 tire on RCE yellows. My camber is at -1.5* at each corner and I have plenty of clearance in both the fender lip area and around the suspension.

I believe +38 wheels have issues when the car is lowered, and require fender rolling or more camber than usual.

No worries dude! I encourage the discussion! +38 is the perfect offset for this car. I had running issues with +40 too. But once I got the rears rolled I was good. But it's all personal preference. I ran everything from +35 to +40 and found the +38 to fit the best.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Hello all!

Been a while since I have had a chance to post in here. My wife and I welcomed out second daughter on June 9th in the wee hours of the morning, so I have been a bit preoccupied with adjusting our new lifestyle. It has been a busy few weeks, but couldn't be happier with becoming a dad again. It truly is the best "mod" you can ask for.

In terms of updates to the STI, I got the 57dr's mounted up and loving the new look. Sold the OEM 18's to someone out in California. Really enjoy how this car is turning out as it is easily the most fun car I've owned to date. I think the simplicity of it and doing it the way I wanted from the start is the reason for that. I am not putting pressure on myself to get the car to where I want it like I have in the past. Researching each option and really making sure what I choose is what I want.

With that said, I've been doing a ton of research on suspension for this car. It is an extremely sensitive subject since this mod can really make or break a car. I've gone with the budget minded coilovers in the past and trying my best to learn from those mistakes. I've come to the conclusion that spending a bit more on a proper suspension setup will not only get me what I want, but keep the reliability and overall comfort the car has in stock form. I want something that will enhance the overall performance of the car and allow a good amount of adjust-ability to get the car setup and looking exactly how I want it. Yet, keep it comfortable for the wife and kids to be in everyday. Everyone is different, so having that option to adjust was a must.

I briefly entertained the idea of springs (swift spec r's or rce yellows), but knew in the end it wouldn't be what I wanted. Dove head first into coilovers and been talking with a very reputable suspension guru for our cars and he definitely guided me in the correct direction. Right now, I am weighing the pro's and con's between the AST 5100's and the Fortune Auto's with upgraded swift springs and radial bearings (along with a few other tweaks). I am leaning towards the AST's as they are ultimately what I am after, but the price is the only con to them. A bit more expensive than the other options, but like I said I want to do it right.

I am still deciding on which route to go as I have not yet bitten the bullet, but when I do I will be sure to update everyone!

I apoligize for the lack of photos with the new wheels. I've been busy with the new addition and want to wait to really take some good shots once I get the suspension set up. The car looks good in person, but the photos make the car look way higher than it is in real life. Adding the coilovers will be the cherry on top to this car and should really take it to the next level. For now, this is a quick shot I snapped the other day after taking my oldest to the park.

[FL4TFTW]

Looks great and congrats on the newest edition to your family! My next mod would be tint. Like nowwww.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by FL4TFTW

Looks great and congrats on the newest edition to your family! My next mod would be tint. Like nowwww.

Thanks bud. I appreciate it. Tint isn't (for once) one of my must do mods. I like the fishbowl look. I do plan on getting it done, but I want to go pretty light this time around. I've always done 30-35%, which I find to be the perfect shade. However, I plan on going a bit lighter this time as I prefer that look and only want it to keep the car a bit cooler mainly for the kids. Probably will do a 40-50% eventually.

[icedcoco]

Congrats again on baby girl #2!!

I'm really curious to see what you decide with the suspension. I recently started talking to another GR owner that runs the 5100s and raves about it. While that cost is a deterrent initially, like you, I want to do it once and be happy with it.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by icedcoco

Congrats again on baby girl #2!!

I'm really curious to see what you decide with the suspension. I recently started talking to another GR owner that runs the 5100s and raves about it. While that cost is a deterrent initially, like you, I want to do it once and be happy with it.

Thanks brotha! It's a whole other level of tired with more than 1 kid haha.

Agreed. I just need to get over the initial "ouch that hurts my wallet" feeling and I'll be able to do it. I've heard such great things about the ast 5100's that it would be silly not to go with them. Going to take quite a few weeks to build, so it wouldn't be until end of July/August until I would get them.

[admiral snackbar]

First congrats on the second kid! And on the suspension front I've found the two best coiler suspension setups I've had are KWs V1s and my current H&R Street Performance (basically Bilstein coilers with H&R Springs). They are not fancy in terms of how the height adjust, and are fixed dampening but they use OEM tophats and they are just nice for an everyday coilover. That being said I've taken an 8hr road trip in an Evo with the Fortunes/Swifts and it was most definitely a firm setup, but super well controlled and a great middle ground between height adjustability/dampening adjustability/ride/Price.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by admiral snackbar

First congrats on the second kid! And on the suspension front I've found the two best coiler suspension setups I've had are KWs V1s and my current H&R Street Performance (basically Bilstein coilers with H&R Springs). They are not fancy in terms of how the height adjust, and are fixed dampening but they use OEM tophats and they are just nice for an everyday coilover. That being said I've taken an 8hr road trip in an Evo with the Fortunes/Swifts and it was most definitely a firm setup, but super well controlled and a great middle ground between height adjustability/dampening adjustability/ride/Price.

Thank you, sir. Much appreciated.

I ran KW V2's on my m3 and loved them. Ran the feal 441's on my wrx and hated them. I swapped them for the gt worx/rce black springs and loved them. After the headache I had with the feal's, I made a commitment to myself to never cheap out on suspension components again.

With that said, there are obviously some nice options out there for our cars. What ultimately lead me to the AST 5100's is the inverted strut unlike most other options which means you are replacing a strong inverted OEM strut with a weaker non-inverted coilover that can bend or break if it takes a hard hit. The lower end coilovers have shorter travel, hence why you only see 8k+ spring rates on them. If they go any softer, it will bottom out and destroy the suspension. With the AST's, you can get go even down to 4k.

The AST's also allow you to use the OEM top hats, which is a huge plus since a. I will not need to run anything more than -2 camber and b. it keeps things as OEM as possible, which eliminates chances for added clunks and unwanted noises. AST has a really nice option for top hats that allow some camber adjustment, but for the height I plan on setting the car at, I won't need them.

Damping adjustment is a must for me, especially if you are ponying up the money for coilovers. It allows you to dial in the suspension exactly to your needs. Feel like going on a spirited drive or doing a track/autox event? Tighten them up. Driving the kids to school or commuting through traffic to work? Soften them up. They really give the car a jekyll and hyde personality. Not every circumstance requires the same settings. At least that is what my experience has concluded me to.

The Fortune Auto's are easily the best choice in the under 2k bracket. They have taken leaps and bounds from where they started and I firmly believe anyone who choose them, they will be more than happy. I am just decided to go with a bit more to satisfy my needs for the long term as I plan on keeping this car for longer than my 2-3 year ownership turn around haha. I want to make sure I am putting on parts that I trust will last my ownership and not give me any problems. With all the other responsibilities I have in life before cars, I don't want to be caught in the garage having to fix a part on the car that I already upgraded. I am a more of a set it and forget it type person.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Mod update

After careful deliberation and a million questions asked, I decided to go with the Fortune Auto 500 series coilovers. The AST's were a bit over budget and realized it might be too much for what I would be using the car for. Maybe some day down the line if I want to upgrade or find the fortune's not to my standards, I'll grab a set of AST's, but for now I think my decision is the best way to go.

I decided to do a few upgrades to help with the comfort and make it truly a daily drive-able setup. I upgraded to the swift springs as well as the radial bearing upgrade. Both of these options will handle the roads better in daily driving duties and help eliminate any unwanted noises. I also went with the 7k springs front and rear instead of the 8k standard. Going down a spring rate will keep the car comfortable, yet keeping it flat on the corners. I also went with the "black series". They are purely a cosmetic change, but I liked the stealth and simplistic contrast between the black coils and the blue swift springs and collars.

There is a 3-4 week build time for these, so I expect these to be in my hands at the end of July/Early August. I will be installing these myself in my garage and hoping to record a video of the install. That all might change, but as of now I am going to attempt to get a video of it all to give everyone something to watch as well as inform on how to install if anyone cares for that.

I will be sure to update everyone once they come in!

[ScoobyFreak86]

Quick video of my typical weekly wash of the STI

Foaming my Subaru STI - YouTube

Foaming my Subaru STI - YouTube

[Northern]

Originally Posted by ScoobyFreak86

Mod update

After careful deliberation and a million questions asked, I decided to go with the Fortune Auto 500 series coilovers.

Have you given any thought to the HKS Hypermax GT's?
I've heard nothing but amazing things about them.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by Northern

Have you given any thought to the HKS Hypermax GT's?
I've heard nothing but amazing things about them.

Yes, I have and considered them, but HKS also comes with a fixed front pillowball upper mount which is a very bizarre design that gives you the worst of both worlds. You get all of the harshness of a camber plate with none of the adjustment. They are a nice option, but I am trying my best to keep the car as noise free and comfortable as possible.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Can't wait for my coilovers to arrive

[Dalessio]

Looks like Photobucket may be having issues, coils are going to be awesome though!

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by Dalessio

Looks like Photobucket may be having issues, coils are going to be awesome though!

Updated!

[icedcoco]

Looking tasty...lol. How's the baby?

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by icedcoco

Looking tasty...lol. How's the baby?

haha thanks man. She's great! Almost a month old already.

[icedcoco]

^That's nuts! Don't let this time pass you by.

[ScoobyFreak86]

Anyone interested in my Morimoto XB LED fog lights? Looking for 150

IMG_2110 by Freak Photography, on Flickr

IMG_2116 by Freak Photography, on Flickr

IMG_2120 by Freak Photography, on Flickr

[icedcoco]

What happened? Didn't like them?

[ScoobyFreak86]

Originally Posted by icedcoco

What happened? Didn't like them?

They are a great little package. They perform really nicely and have great usable light. I just think I prefer the overall output of a normal LED bulb in the stock housing. For the price point, I had a hard time trying to see the difference between a simple LED bulb and these. They look way nicer in there and prefer the black housing than the stock housings.

There are a few other things I am looking to get for the car and figured I could use that money to pick up the few other pieces.

[Obviously Tyler]

I picked up some LED fog bulbs on Amazon the other day, they don't exactly match the Limited/STi headlights color (I recently swapped to those too) but they were only $49.

The brand was JDM Astar or something similar to that. Size was H11, even though our fog lights call for H16.

They're great, they don't reach far obviously but they fill up the ground directly in front of the car with a clean white light. Much better than the stock halogen bulbs. I've had good luck with LED bulbs as fogs even though some people would not recommend it. Prior to these I had the Subispeed OLM 3000k LED bulbs that are no longer available but one eventually went dim after two years roughly. But not completely burned out. I got sick of the yellow anyway.