Have just purchased Cusco adjustable shocks, for an 03plate sti, to fit myself and was wondering what ride height to adjust them for and at what point on the car do you get the first setting from,

Andy

If you start with stock ride height, you won't ned too much alignement, however to reduce understeer you need to lower the front roll centre relative to the rear, and I hate a saggy 4rse, so how about starting at -1/4" front and +1/4" rear....

Simon

Simon,many thanks for the reply but at what point on the car do you measure from.

Andy

wheel arch to tyre

If you start with stock ride height, you won't ned too much alignement
How do figure this?
The front dampers will have camber adjustment bolts and perhaps adjustable top mounts and the rears tend to be slotted causing the rear camber angle to alter unless measured accurately - even if the ride height remains the same, camber and toe angles have the potential to be all over the place.

My input:

Because of the sport I do with the car I need decent ground clearances, and this has seen my classic set at the front with the lower wishbones dead horizontal to the road looking at the car front-on. This is about 20 to 25mm lower than stock STi. (I think the Sti is lower from the factory(?))

The car is a little higher in the rear, and iirc if you place a protractor (!) on the front door cill, the boby rakes 1 deg up from the front to rear.

I would be very interested to read others views, esp Mocom's on this subject.
I have found my car to be surprisingly sensitive to front/rear rake.(racing conditions, not road driving)

If you wish :

Off my car standing in the garage now, garage floor to apex of front wing = 620mm, and the same measurment in the rear is 615mm

My car is an Sti V3 classic on 17'' P1 rims/tyres

Damon Harty of Prodrive once wrote a long story about the rake angle of the Impreza a few years ago. Very very involved.

Here is the car in hillclimb 'stance' with 16'' rims and road going Kumho tyres. Ride height can be compared by looking at the top of the RIM and the swage line on the car.
http://i5.tinypic.com/6oq23d3.jpg

All, many thanks for all input, the shocks were fitted today and at the moment I think there is 7mm difference between nearside to off side, (I think my drive is not level), the front shocks have a camber adjustment which at the moment is set to degs, 911, what part of the front and rear wings are you measuring to" the apex" is what part.

Andy

Only to the crown of the arch, the highest point of the wheelarch.

I feel the best setting is for the front wishbones to be horizontal .

Many thanks again, looks like it's back under the car next weekend,

Andy

Have just purchased Cusco adjustable shocks, for an 03plate sti, to fit myself and was wondering what ride height to adjust them for and at what point on the car do you get the first setting from,

Andy
if you are going to run the car very low you will be better to fit the roll centre adjusting kit whiteline kca 313 this combats bump steer on bumpy roads when suspension goes into compression:eek2: geo:thumb:

if you are going to run the car very low you will be better to fit the roll centre adjusting kit whiteline kca 313 this combats bump steer on bumpy roads when suspension goes into compression:eek2: geo:thumb:

I can't run it low as the wife drives it most of the time, (curbs) so looking for about 25mm from standard.

Andy

I have KCA 13 on my car @ 25mm lower and it helps stability.