Hi everybody,
I'm a bit too much enthusiastic in roundabouts and country lanes with my 04 WRX. Results: my front tyres wear only on exterior sides.

I'm thinking about having any (cheap) mod that could made my steering sharper and reduce my inequal tyre wear. I've looked at the forum, but it sounds a bit confusing for a newbie like me (for example what the f### is a Whiteline Rear ARB!)
Also I'm not sure at all about stiffening the suspension as on bouncy country lanes it could make the car control worse.

Any expert suggestion welcome!

Thanks a lot,
K2iss

 

If the tyres are wearing unequally on one edge, it might be worth getting the alignment checked/set up for starters. Depending where you are in the country, there's a few specialists that should be able to help - Power Station, TSL, Scoobyclinic to name but three.

Whiteline Rear ARB - Whiteline is the company, ARB = Anti Roll Bar

 

Read the following documents:-

http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles...on_rails_1.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles...on_rails_2.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles...on_rails_3.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles...on_rails_4.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/articles...on_rails_5.pdf

http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/art...sp_01_0202.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/art...sp_02_0213.pdf
http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/art...sp_03_0228.PDF

Whiteline part numbers for the MY03/04 cars is here - http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/Fac...RX03_sedan.pdf

There's also some Whiteline geometry settings on the 2nd page of the last doc.

Stefan

 

They are quite far from where I live (Gatwick area). Does anybody know a closer place?

 

Power Engineering close to London.
PowerStation in Tewksbury isn't too far?
Graham.

 

I've read somewhere about some place in East Grinstead, does anyone know the place?

 

Powerstation are well worth the journey.

 

The Prodrive Geometry settings alone on my MY02 STI made a big improvement to the understeer.
The prodrive settings on the front wheels include 1.25deg negative Camber, which should save the outside of the tyres a little.
This is the insurance friendly option, and worth a try first I would suggest.

 

How can I be sure you are not their PR?

 

I've heard that this negative camber setting could cause the opposite wear (inside) of the tyres on straight roads.
I'm not too sure about having it done because I'm doing half motorway half countrylane travel every day and my insides are also a little bit worn.

 

Anyone who has been to PowerStation will be their PR man (me included)
Experience counts.
I ran 2.5 deg neg on the front and back of my Sti v3 for 3 years and raced/road drove the car. Tyres wore FLAT across the tread.
It will be incorrect toe that will do for the tyres.
Fill the car up and book it in with Curtis or Andy and be very happy afterwards.

Graham.

 

Thanks for that Graham, it sounds more like it!

 

Get QST
Quick Steering Rack
and good coilovers, polyurethane bushing and STi front helical LDS limited slip differential.

 

That sounds a little too bit hardcore to me...

 

So good starting point is ALK, anti lift kit from Whiteline, or Powerflex bushes, booth front and rear wishbone..
Next could be Noltec or MRT top mounts or STi hardened. Iam afraid you cant be able use Noltecs on OE dampers due short thread on rod. Coilver damper have longer.
"Software" tuning is geometry if you change it to toe out 10min and 1,2°neg camber on each wheel you get much rawe car but you gonna pay for it with tyre wear.
If you have friend in USA, rallpec sells helical LSD just under 1000USD. This is best mod becouse all Imprezas loosing his power due open front dif. Your wheel start spin and jus when you really need traction ar front you loose it and car goes heavy undesteer.
At winter/snow is much more funny. At first you turn the wheel and nothig happen, you turn it more and give more throttle. Nothing and you are in corner now... then centre diff cross his mind what happen if I transfer all power from zero traction front to read? So the answer is fu....g oversteered M3
With front LDS are things simple...

 

You can get the Quaife front helical torque biasing diff here for around £550 so no need to go to the states. Great piece of kit that biases torque towards the outside wheel even when the inside one is still gripping. The off-centre torque bias really helps to pull the front round under power.

 

Cos That'll be me



Head of PR.

Andy

 

Although not strictly OEM my bilstein (prodrive) shocks are exactly the same dimensions as standard and I have fitted the noltec top mounts myself with no hassles at all.


Andy