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Old 03-12-2013, 05:58 PM   #1
webster354
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Default Stock (16mm) rear sway bar to 19mm+ for daily driver

After upgrading your stock RSB (16mm) to 19mm did you notice a significant change for daily driving on your 2012+?

Edited for simplicity.

Looking for some feedback from 2012+ owners who upgraded from the stock (16mm) rear sway bar to 19mm+ (eg. 2010 STI RSB). I've read through the 2012 and aftermarket threads and from what I understand adding a 19mm RSB is an excellent upgrade, but I haven't always been able to determine...
  • Did they originally have no RSB or did they have a stock size?
  • Did they use the original endlinks or aftermarket?
  • Were the comments based on daily driving or track performance?
  • Is it a hatch or sedan?
  • Have they done any other suspension modifications?
So far for daily driving, I've found the stock RSB to be sufficient. Let me know what you guys think.
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Last edited by webster354; 03-13-2013 at 01:16 AM.
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Old 03-12-2013, 06:35 PM   #2
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I see you edited your original post since I was going to reply lol....oh well....you should re-read through those threads though....all your answers are there!
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Old 03-12-2013, 07:13 PM   #3
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I am a leaf in the wind....
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Old 03-13-2013, 01:12 AM   #4
webster354
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Originally Posted by jsteg View Post
I see you edited your original post since I was going to reply lol....oh well....you should re-read through those threads though....all your answers are there!
I think only added 2012+ to my post, but regardless, the reason for this thread is the only info I've found is really is...adding the 19mm RSB improved the handling of my car, it's more neutral, great value upgrade...etc. Posts that did refer to the stock RSB mainly just mentioned you can reuse most of the parts.

I think I'll simplify my OP.
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Old 03-13-2013, 09:24 AM   #5
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I didnt see a huge difference. But I may be a bad sample.

I thought the car handled great before, so maybe I didnt pay attention to how much body roll there was at 16mm.

I have sedan so maybe the rsb benefits the 5dr more due to increased weight on back tires.

And also I have cvt so rpms seem to hover lower than the 5speed. Perhaps this is why I dont get the squirrely effect often reported.

With all that being said it handles great and still reccomend the upgrade.
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Old 03-13-2013, 09:47 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myrt1987 View Post
I didnt see a huge difference. But I may be a bad sample.

I thought the car handled great before, so maybe I didnt pay attention to how much body roll there was at 16mm.

I have sedan so maybe the rsb benefits the 5dr more due to increased weight on back tires.

And also I have cvt so rpms seem to hover lower than the 5speed. Perhaps this is why I dont get the squirrely effect often reported.

With all that being said it handles great and still reccomend the upgrade.
If you didn't notice a difference, then you weren't driving aggressively enough before. It completely cures understeer and negates body roll completely after a certain point, making the car much more predictable and planted in very heavy cornering, which it can pull off quite well.
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Old 03-13-2013, 09:58 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
If you didn't notice a difference, then you weren't driving aggressively enough before. It completely cures understeer and negates body roll completely after a certain point, making the car much more predictable and planted in very heavy cornering, which it can pull off quite well.
Yeah, this is why I was thinking about doing this upgrade but decided against it. Like Myrt (judging from his MPGs), I drive conservatively most of the time. So while I like a crisp handling car, I seldom push the Impreza very hard, and doubt that I'd get much out of the 19mm RSB.

On the other hand, I do shift the car every day, so a short shift kit is still on my radar screen.
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:04 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
If you didn't notice a difference, then you weren't driving aggressively enough before. It completely cures understeer and negates body roll completely after a certain point, making the car much more predictable and planted in very heavy cornering, which it can pull off quite well.
Yea its possible. Im not about to go drive around around with my foot to the floor but i like to make some quick turns through round-abouts.

I did say i was a bad example. lol
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:05 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgoldste01 View Post
Yeah, this is why I was thinking about doing this upgrade but decided against it. Like Myrt (judging from his MPGs), I drive conservatively most of the time. So while I like a crisp handling car, I seldom push the Impreza very hard, and doubt that I'd get much out of the 19mm RSB.

On the other hand, I do shift the car every day, so a short shift kit is still on my radar screen.
I have a Perrin short shift adapter coming in today, so I'll report back on that sometime in the near future. 70 bucks for the kit is pretty cheap though so you may want to look into it seeing as it includes the bushings as well.
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:20 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
I have a Perrin short shift adapter coming in today, so I'll report back on that sometime in the near future. 70 bucks for the kit is pretty cheap though so you may want to look into it seeing as it includes the bushings as well.
Yeah, that's the kit I'm looking at. Some here have reported not bothering installing the bushings from that kit, and being satisfied with the results of only doing the "passenger compartment" portion of the job.

I'd like to hear from someone who has done the bushing part of the job and describe how hard it is to do. Don't you have to lower the differential or something to accomplish the bushing replacement? I'm guessing this isn't as hard as it sounds (I'm guessing you just remove some bolts and lower the diff a few inches with a floor jack, but this is just a WAG).

Regardless, lowering the diff makes me nervous.
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:36 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgoldste01 View Post
Yeah, that's the kit I'm looking at. Some here have reported not bothering installing the bushings from that kit, and being satisfied with the results of only doing the "passenger compartment" portion of the job.

I'd like to hear from someone who has done the bushing part of the job and describe how hard it is to do. Don't you have to lower the differential or something to accomplish the bushing replacement? I'm guessing this isn't as hard as it sounds (I'm guessing you just remove some bolts and lower the diff a few inches with a floor jack, but this is just a WAG).

Regardless, lowering the diff makes me nervous.
Yeah well, this is my first car and daily driver. Every modification I make a think about extensively before making with respect to reliability, resale value and warranty, as I want to get a BRZ or WRX in a few years, so I won't be installing the bushings myself. Instead I plan to get a professional to do it. Could I do it myself? Probably. Could I afford to mess it up? No. I'll report back to you after the adapter is on, and again after the bushings get installed, but I won't be installing them myself so I can't help you there. From what I've read, it has something to do with removing the transmission supports and supporting it with a jack or something to that effect.
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:43 AM   #12
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my car felt more stable especially in head wind, cornering has improved. She is extremely responsive especially when paired with a good set of tires. no more squirly car feel.

Tank mode summer edition
I live my life 1 mile at a time especially when going 5 above the speed limit
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:55 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
Yeah well, this is my first car and daily driver. Every modification I make a think about extensively before making with respect to reliability, resale value and warranty, as I want to get a BRZ or WRX in a few years, so I won't be installing the bushings myself. Instead I plan to get a professional to do it. Could I do it myself? Probably. Could I afford to mess it up? No. I'll report back to you after the adapter is on, and again after the bushings get installed, but I won't be installing them myself so I can't help you there. From what I've read, it has something to do with removing the transmission supports and supporting it with a jack or something to that effect.
Are you going to have a pro do the entire installation, or just the bushings? If you did the non-bushing portion of the job, that would give us a nice opportunity to see how much of an improvement just the short shifter makes on its own, and then how much additional improvement the bushings make.
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:59 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgoldste01 View Post
Are you going to have a pro do the entire installation, or just the bushings? If you did the non-bushing portion of the job, that would give us a nice opportunity to see how much of an improvement just the short shifter makes on its own, and then how much additional improvement the bushings make.
Yes I plan to do the non-bushing portion of it today and report back soon. It looks like a fairly simple process where not much can go wrong, so I don't really have a problem doing it.
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Old 03-13-2013, 11:05 AM   #15
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EXCELLENT!

I look forward to your report, and for your comparison of how shifts feel after the bushings are installed.
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Old 03-13-2013, 02:47 PM   #16
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I installed a Perrin adapter before I installed the bushings. The feel was as expected; much shorter throws that still felt slightly vague and rubbery.

With the bushings installed, the shifting is almost rock solid. It now feels almost like the best Honda transmissions, where the shifter almost "snicks" into each gear. Fifth gear is still annoying, but less vague.

I found that I didn't like the position of the shifter with the Perrin adapter, so I just installed a TWM shifter. It's very nice.

Pro tip: I had a HELL of a time trying to get the holes in the Perrin rear bushing to line up with the holes in the car. It was cussing-like-a-sailor difficult. I recommend installing at least the rear bushing before installing any type of short shifter. That should allow for more wiggle room.
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:16 PM   #17
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Thanks for the feedback.

I think I'll hold off on the 19mm RSB for now as I'm satisfied with the handling for daily driving. I'm sure I'll get a better understanding of the handling and performance after I take up to the mountain.
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:40 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgoldste01 View Post
Yeah, this is why I was thinking about doing this upgrade but decided against it. Like Myrt (judging from his MPGs), I drive conservatively most of the time. So while I like a crisp handling car, I seldom push the Impreza very hard, and doubt that I'd get much out of the 19mm RSB.

On the other hand, I do shift the car every day, so a short shift kit is still on my radar screen.
COBB is pretty nice..
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:41 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by webster354 View Post
Thanks for the feedback.

I think I'll hold off on the 19mm RSB for now as I'm satisfied with the handling for daily driving. I'm sure I'll get a better understanding of the handling and performance after I take up to the mountain.
the 19mm was night and day difference to me. there was a lot of understeer before, now it is pretty much neutral. the way it corners is different from anything i have ever driven before, but that is because i am used to understeer and not neutral steering.
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:43 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
Yeah well, this is my first car and daily driver. Every modification I make a think about extensively before making with respect to reliability, resale value and warranty, as I want to get a BRZ or WRX in a few years, so I won't be installing the bushings myself. Instead I plan to get a professional to do it. Could I do it myself? Probably. Could I afford to mess it up? No. I'll report back to you after the adapter is on, and again after the bushings get installed, but I won't be installing them myself so I can't help you there. From what I've read, it has something to do with removing the transmission supports and supporting it with a jack or something to that effect.
really really really difficult to mess them up...how will you ever learn and build confidence in your skills unless you try, especially something as simple as the bushings. watch youtube videos, there aren't any changes from the last gen.
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Old 03-13-2013, 06:01 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by Dirt Bringer View Post
If you didn't notice a difference, then you weren't driving aggressively enough before. It completely cures understeer and negates body roll completely after a certain point, making the car much more predictable and planted in very heavy cornering, which it can pull off quite well.
How fast are you going to notice understeering? For example, on a highway exit loop are you going more than 50% over the posted speed limit?
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Old 03-13-2013, 10:24 PM   #22
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How fast are you going to notice understeering? For example, on a highway exit loop are you going more than 50% over the posted speed limit?
Most definitely, I'm usually around double
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Old 03-14-2013, 10:04 AM   #23
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How fast are you going to notice understeering? For example, on a highway exit loop are you going more than 50% over the posted speed limit?
Yeah pretty much. I push the car very near the limit of it's grip a lot of the time. I've never been one for acceleration, it's fun but I can live with a slowish car. I cannot however respect, or drive, a car with poor handling. It's no wonder why in my case, I love corners.
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Old 03-14-2013, 10:18 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by sgoldste01 View Post
EXCELLENT!

I look forward to your report, and for your comparison of how shifts feel after the bushings are installed.
I got the short shift adapter installed last night. It's actually pretty amazing. Took for god damn well ever, and was not as easy as I was made to believe. The new components of the dash do not want to come out easily the first time, but they aren't bad the second time you pop them out. Once you get past the hard part of the e-brake boot and shift bezel things get easier. I'm running a little past the halfway point of throw and it feels like a sports car throw now. The hardest parts were getting the bushings out of the shifter pivot location (used a blunt beer cap opener and a flathead screwdriver to slowly pry them out without causing damage), and getting the adapter on. The top of the shifter has burrs you have to file off, and some force has to be applied for the adapter to slide on, but once it does, it slides down pretty easily. I had to apply a ton of clamping force to the bolt that holds the adapter on to keep it from sliding, I just hope it doesn't slowly work it's way down over time or I'll have to go back in and adjust it again. The shift levers position is barely effected and feels just fine, and shifts are orders of magnitude more positive and responsive. The force it takes to get the car in gear now is higher, but once you get used to that your shifts will be much much faster. I could barely feel the shifts last night with some proper use of the clutch and some quick shifting. I still want to install the perrin bushings but this is much much better already. There is a boot under the bezel and boot over the shifter, it has some sound insulation and probably helps to avoid dust getting in or something. I may remove it because honestly I don't mind the sound of a nice shifter and it does have some resistance to it, but for now I think it's fine.
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Old 03-14-2013, 10:37 AM   #25
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Thanks for the update, Dirt. I'll look forward to hearing how much additional improvement you see from the bushings, or if you think most of the gain is from the portion of the installation you've already completed.
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