I didn't buy them in the end. Money is tight and I have a list of other stuff ahead of springs! It's been an expensive couple of months, having spent a load of time and money helping getting a club off the ground and arranging a big meet in the Peaks the other weekend.

Still, I can read this thread and dream on

 

Collected the car yesterday afternoon. I think it looks stunning, and the pictures don't do it justice. The stance is perfect and wheels really suit the colour, I'm not normally a fan of dark wheels as you lose all the detail but these are just right and fill the arches perfectly with no need for spacers. It was sitting a little lower at the back than expected when I took these pics but I did have the WRX wheels with tyres in the boot! Peter from PCA Dynamics says the best way to settle the suspension before the geo is done is to drive around with extra weight in the car so hopefully this has helped as the geo is getting done on Friday.















The ride is very good as far as I can tell on my short drive home (20mins), and bearing in mind the tyres are 92W extra load (so much stiffer side walls) and a lower profile I am amazed at how compliant it feels. I took it easy on the way home with the wheels in the back but it definitely feels more planted and compliant. The 'unsettled' feel of the standard springs seems to have gone. I can tell that the geo isn't right as it felt a little twitchy on the country roads (I have a scenic route home!) and it felt a little vague at the front.

The rear strut spacers weren't actually needed in the end as the mechanic said everything fitted perfectly without them. The reason I got them was the US forums say they are required when changing from inverted to standard struts, so not sure what they are referring to.

Anyway, looking forward to the geo on Friday.

 

Looks ace!

 

That looks great. Just the right amount of arch gap for my taste. I may well be following your lead when I eventually have enough money start with the upgrades!

 

Comparison to stock suspension (mine):





I need to sell some things... Anyone need a spare kidney?

 

Looks spot on mate

 

That looks really nice, mine has prodrive springs on that were fitted almost from new. The dark wheels do suit it, and I'll bet they look a lot nicer in the flesh.

 

I've not been able to get the geometry set up yet as the rear toe link cam bolts are seized so I've had to order a new set from Subaru which I'm getting fitted at the weekend. Then it will probably be another week before I can get the geo done.

In the mean time I thought I would post up few cosmetic jobs I've completed.

These cars are getting on a bit and most of the external black trim tends to look a bit tired so I decided to give VHT Satin black Plastic penetrating dye a whirl on the faded windscreen trim, heard good things about this stuff


Removed the trim


Cleaned-up and wiped down with isopropyl alcohol to decomtaminate


3 coats of VHt dye applied



While the trim was drying I cleaned out all the debris that had collected underneath over the years




Cleaned with a hoover & APC





The wiper arms were also looking a bit tired as well with corrosion and flaking paint



so got some fresh ones from Matty@MB developements that were corrosion free. Cleaned them up, etch primed and re-painted them satin black. Did the plastic fin with VHT plastic dye as well.

Wipers arms and trim fitted



never liked the standard blob partially painted mirrors


the black trim was also looking a bit grey and faded



so got a pair of silver bugeye mirrors and stripped them down so I could re-dye the black trim with VHT satin black...


and rebuild them with freshly painted casings in crystal grey


Fitted they look so mutch better

 

Nice job. That looks loads better. Might even do mine now you've inspired me!

 

You keep giving me ideas

 

This is like the ideas thread for all WRX wagons Great work!

 

Thanks lads, yeah, when I first got the wagon my intension was to keep it standard, that didn't last long now did it...

 

Hey, have you had any rubbing with your new wheels?

 

Nope, not a sausage. They're only 18x7.5 with 225x40 rubber so well within the arches limits. These are the same size as some OEM 18s like the GB270 Prodrive wheels.

 

Good to know, thanks.

 

Just so you know, copying the bugeye mirror swap! I hadn't realised there was a difference until you did this

 

Yep, I thought it was a JDM thing (rare) but thankfully not, so they're cheap as chips!

 

seen as I'd fitted whiteline rear droplinks thought it would be rude not to do the fronts, but decided to just do the bushes.

ordered a set of Superpro polybushes


drilled out the old bushes


cleaned-up the droplinks


with the help of some hot water (to help soften the bushes) and installation grease got the new bushes inserted


installed

 

Where did you source your top mounts matey?

 

From the for sale link I gave you on your thread, they're Lemforder

 

Enjoyed reading through. Nice wagon

 

Yeah he only had one pair left because of you

I'm leaning towards STi items myself but I've used Lemforder on my BMWs and liked them.

 

Cheers mate

Yep, Lemforder have a very good rep on BMW forums

 

So finally got the 4 wheel alignment done, but it wasn't the most straight forward job...

For the past 8 years I've used ***** at CLCM for any geo work, he’s been doing geo for decades and had it down to a T, very competent and you regularly used to see Lotus's, Astons and RR phantoms (suffer badly with uneven tyre wear apparently) on his ramps from the dealers round the corner, but unfortunately ***** has had to sell up and the new owner (along with his receptionist..?) have not got a clue. Had the wagon booked in a week after getting the springs fitted and after 1/2hr on the ramps was told that the n/s track rod end was seized along with both rear toe link cam bolts so couldn't complete the job. There was no charge but had to order the bolts from Subaru @£25 in case they needed to be cut-off. Booked the wagon in a week later at my local garage to get the bolts fitted and the track rod end freed-up only to be told that nothing was seized, nothing needed to be freed-up or replaced! They had heard about the new CLCM owner and could only assume he was fobbing me off for some reason. I did get the distinct feeling when at CLCM that the new guy was just a nut tapper and didn't know what he was doing. So £25+1hr labour down the drain...

On the upside, the mechanic working on my wagon was a Classic Impreza Turbo wagon owner! He recommended Farmer Autocare (Edinburgh, Maidencraig) as he knew the guy who does the geo there so all’s well that ends well...

Here's the wagon on the ramps...


And the final printout to PCL Dynamics specs


Drives so much better now everything is set-up correctly

 

Nothing's ever simple, is it?!

I'm glad you got sorted in the end though. It's always very satisfying, that first drive with properly set up geo. We had an S3 until recently which I got set up by my usual guy in Oldham. Bit of a drive for me, but like you, I like to stick with what I know to be good.

First drive afterwards was down to Ladybower reservoir and Snake Pass

Even the slightly numb S3 entertained me on that day. I think half the reason I take the car to Scoobyclinic when I can't be arsed doing work myself is because I love the drive home through the Peak District.

 

Driven that road many times when I used to work in Glossop and visit mates in Barnsley & Leeds...what a drive!

 

You're not wrong! We went when the reservoir was full to the brim also, so the glory hole (snigger) was a sight to behold!

I really do need to get my wagon down there once it's on fresh suspension.....

 

Camber on the right rear looks a bit off?

 

that's what I thought...forgetting that it's in degrees & minutes, so only 6mins off 1 degree (60 minutes to a degree).

 

Lovely wagon, like the way your mods have been carried out with taste and oem standard

One of my favorite mods on your car is the steering wheel. However, I don't know if you have looked in the subaru general section on here, but subaru have a recall out on 2004-05 imprezas for an airbag fault. Might be worth hanging on to that STI wheel for a little while longer unless you have already sold it.