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02-24-2004, 12:47 PM | #1 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
Thinking about an APS catback for your STI? Read this first.
I just purchased a 3" APS catback system for my 2004 STI. I bought it from a local dealer that has a pretty good reputation so I don't blame them for this. They also assure me they have installed this system on other STIs, but there was no way it was going to properly fit on mine.
Here's the deal: According to APS, the 3" catback system is not certified for the 2004 STI. I had trouble getting mine to fit properly. It appeared to install very easily but I was getting occasional rubbing between the driveshaft and the resonator. There was roughly 1/2" of static clearance between the driveshaft (at the center bearing) and the resonator, which appeared to be enough, but apparently the driveshaft actually moves around in its rubber mount more than that. (Next time you are under your STI, check out how much the driveshaft actually moves around in the rubber mount at the center bearing.) The only way to get a little more clearance was to slightly dimple the top of the resonator with a rubber mallet. It doesnt rub anymore. I contacted APS in Australia regarding this and got the following response: Quote:
Just some info for you as you make buying decisions. -Mark |
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02-24-2004, 01:00 PM | #2 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43339
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: mpls, mn
Vehicle:2oo4 STi URgt35r w/t3hM3finj3cki0n |
simply searching would have given you the solution....
if i recall correctly, the current sti version may need to rotate the mounting flange to clear correctly. Quote:
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02-24-2004, 02:05 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
Thanks Discoscope for that tid-bit. But, if you read that post you refer to a little more closely, you'll see he's talking about a full TBE APS system. I'm referring to their cat-back system. I'd like to see you rotate the stock cat on an STI.
-Mark |
02-24-2004, 03:22 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 19467
Join Date: May 2002
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Chatsworth, CA.
Vehicle:04 WRX STi WR Blue - original owner |
That's ODD. I own a APS TB that I bougth for my 2002 WRX and xferred over to my STi. Fits right in. A little fitting issue in the mid-section but double gskets fixed that. No problems, nor rubbing issues.
Recently the Catalytic shield started to de-soldered and is making some nast vibrations. I took it to a muffler shop to resolder. After 1 month it started again. I guess the exhaust system is under heavy vibrations stresses or maybe the welder did a crappy job. It happens at 3500 rpms. |
02-24-2004, 04:45 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
APS told me their TB system is fine on the STI. Its their cat back system that doesnt fit properly.
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02-24-2004, 04:56 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43339
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: mpls, mn
Vehicle:2oo4 STi URgt35r w/t3hM3finj3cki0n |
the flange on the catback should spin 360 deg....
unless there was a version change..... |
02-24-2004, 05:02 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Discoscope. The flanges on both the stock cat and the APS pipe are welded in a fixed position. Its not possible to rotate the whole midpipe, the bend would be in the wrong direction and the hanger as well. The STI cat is held in place very securely by a fixed hanger off the side of the transmission. If that hanger was a bit longer, the cat would hang lower, and that might give the necessary clearance. But I didnt want to mess with that. I thought it might put undue stress on the cat/downpipe.
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02-24-2004, 05:09 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43339
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: mpls, mn
Vehicle:2oo4 STi URgt35r w/t3hM3finj3cki0n |
no, i understand that the factory cat wont move,
but i would be amazed if the aps mid pipe not have a rotating flange.... that would be contrary to how every other cat back i have see is manufactured... edit oh i see what you mean.. about the midpipe twisting, but, iirc the midpipe has only one hanger, you should be able to rotate the section enough to clear the diff... only 1 deg. of spin at the cat will give you 1/4 inch more play... Last edited by DISCOPOPE; 02-24-2004 at 05:16 PM. |
02-24-2004, 05:22 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
I wish I had a picture of this... the APS cat back doesnt have a flange that spins. Its fixed. And the instructions that came with it indicate the same thing. The holes in the flange that connects to the cat are the same round holes that match up with the factory cat. And there are only two holes on the flanges, so I'd be rotating the whole thing 180 degrees, so the mid pipe wouldnt fit at all.
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02-24-2004, 05:35 PM | #10 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43339
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: mpls, mn
Vehicle:2oo4 STi URgt35r w/t3hM3finj3cki0n |
ok, my bad.
i see the problem then.. i made an assumption about the flange. heh easy solution then would be to hit the resonator with a hammer, and call it an evening.. Quote:
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02-24-2004, 05:48 PM | #11 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15405
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: OC, CA
Vehicle:2004 STI Silver/Gold - Team Blew |
Yep, that dimple worked. It was already partly dimpled from the driveshaft, so I had a good target to aim for.
I just started this post to let people know what I had experienced. I'm still emailing with APS. As I mentioned earlier, they told me the catback wasnt certified for the STi but then I remembered that the instructions specifically included the 2004 STi in their list of applicable vehicles. I'll be curious to see what they say. -Mark |
02-24-2004, 10:36 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 23993
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Mukilteo, WA
Vehicle:2004 STi, Surgeline WR Blue |
I'm sorry to hear about this. I've got the full APS tbe and love it!
The solution is simple, you know- Get the hell out of AS and into the new AutoX class, STU!!!! Then, of course, get the missing pieces for your turbo-back... Just a thought, Russ R |
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