modrich

iTrader: (2)

PCA Dynamics springs arrived today, getting them fitted nextweek...

l1verp00l

is this still on?

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Hi scouser, he's only got 1 or 2 sets left from the 9 he had in stock, so yes still on. Contact details are:

Peter Cambridge
Tel: +447827778743
Email: peter@pcadynamics.com
Web: pcadynamics.com
Peter Cambridge & Associated Limited
Registered Office: 9-11 Stratford Road, Shirley,
Solihull, West Midlands, B90 3LU

::RiL::

hopefully fitting mine on saturday, will post pics when its done

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Cool, looks like you'll beat me to it! Had the wagon booked in next Tuesday but realised I needed new bump stops to suit the non-inverted KYB struts I've ordered, the front bump stops are coming from Germany, but hopefully be here next week sometime.

Welshwagon

Hiya chaps,
Here's my wagon on the pca springs and kyb ultras fitted yesterday

callahan

Nice, how are you finding the ride on the Ultra's?

Do you have a 'before' pic too?

Collecting mine tomorrow.....

l1verp00l

just spunked on clutch n flywheel.

might need to wait a while to let wallet recover. springs look cool though

Welshwagon

Hi call,
Ride totally different bit harder but it feels a lot tighter haven't pushed it into any corners yet though.

Here's before

callahan

Thanks, that looks like a good drop - not too low, but more 'purposeful'.

Reminds me, I must try to de-tango my lights this weekend....

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Looking good Welsh! Mine looks like yours did.

Am I right in thinking that the Ultra SRs are firmer than STi struts, or are they comparable?

I notice you have the fully painted bug mirrors, I have a pair ready to fit, look so much better than the blob/hawk ones

Welshwagon

Hiya mod,
Thanks mate,I think they are comparable to the sti from what I've read on the forums,I haven't driven an sti so I wouldn't like to say but it's a lot firmer than standard kit.it will take a few miles to settle then it's a geo set up,I've just set the front camber to max negative at moment and it drives ok.

callahan

Went to collect mine on Saturday and it looks like this:



Unfortunately I couldn't take it away as there was a problem with one of the new top mounts! Roll on wednesday.....

Sneak peek:



Other goodies:



Yes, a full brake refurb is next.....

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Looking good mate! You must have been gutted, did they say what the issue was? How come you're changing the top mounts? What's your mileage?

callahan

Totally gutted, apparently it drove really well on the test drive, but there was an audible click coming from the passenger side top mount, which we couldn't sort and didn't want to risk. Zak is calling Whiteline in the morning to get it sorted.
New top mounts are to help the alignment of the front wheels, along with the other Whiteline bits you can see in the pic and Sti lower arms. Looks good, but most importantly it should transform the handling.
Mileage is 85k ish.

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Yeah noticed the roll centre kit, and did notice the alloy lower arms but didn't register. Is all this to widen the front track or just improve the camber? Am I right in saying you've still fitted wagon struts as apposed to saloon versions?

callahan

Camber, as you say. Good question about the lower arms, they are second hand, but I'm not sure if they are off a saloon or hatch. Not too bothered, as long as they do the trick!

Welshwagon

Did you have the click before call ? I marked all the components on front before I took apart,there where two things I noticed when doing mine,the subaru springs are ground flat on the tops and when I put back together there wasn't much clearance between spring and bodywork.if you where slightly out with top hat/spring position it might catch.i also checked cleaned and regreased top mount bearings before I reassembled.
But looking very nice though mate.

callahan

Thanks Welshwagon, I'll mention that to Zak.

Seems to be a fairly common issue though: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2509541

Let's hope the replacement parts are good.

callahan

Quick update on this. I got the car back in the end, with the original top mounts back on - the second set were clicking too. I don't know if they would have made much difference anyway, as the car is transformed. So much smoother, better damped, doesn't crash over uneven bits of road and handles so much better. Only problem is that I need to take it on track to find the limits as it doesn't seem to have them at road speeds....

Dockyard

Just ordered my set today and he only has one set left so if anybody wants them I would get in there quick

Ste333

iTrader: (3)

I too have now ordered one of the remaining sets apparently he has 1 or 2 left. So someone else may be able to get some too if they were quick.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Me hopefully just in talks with him now about payment as I'm in Croatia so sorting an electronic transfer (as I'm not even sure what one is or how to do it ) is a bit of a pita, paypal is the normal route for me, (which is surely electronic ) but definitely need these on my car, so hopefully will get it sorted.

Ste333

iTrader: (3)

In an email to me just now, he mentioned that he could get his hands on another 10 kits if there was the demand? So if anyone is genuinely interested then get in touch with him! Seems like a very nice chap

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Sorry not posted on here for a while, my membership had expired!!

Yep Peter is a top bloke and has been happy to advise me on various options for my wagon. He's just back from China where he's been working for MG on their chassis set-up.

I've had my geo done a week or so ago now and the suspension feels really good, heres the printout:


It feels compliant yet has better roll control than before. Only thing I'm not happy about is how light the steering feels about the straight ahead and when turning into bends at low to moderate speed so I asked Peter what he suggests, here's his reply:

'‎I'm sorry the steering feel is not to your liking. The guys have done a good job in setting it up. The weak point of the Impreza was always it's steering feel. We found that when the front negative camber was set the car lacked some initial feel but this would tend to come back as the miles went on the tyres.

The rear toe has a big influence on the initial steering response. We used to run 15' toe in per side on the P1 and WR sport to help the steering response. On the later cars we found we didn't need anywhere near as much‎, but it varied a little between generations. Tyres also have an effect. What are you running on the car?

It sound like the car was better before the geometry was set. The rear toe in would make it responsive but the front toe out would make it dull initially and pick up on edges.

If you would like to try a bit of tuning I would advise ‎getting the rear toe set to 12' to 14' toe in per side and leave the front at it's current settings. This should make the steering more responsive and also increase the gradient of the steering efforts as you initially turn the wheel.

Please let me know what you think of the idea and if you try it what you find. Feel free to ask anything else.'

I'll also ask him if less neg front camber might help weight-up the steering. I gather that the set-up as it is now (to PCA Dynamics specs) is really for fast road which is great and will likely feel better keyed-in to the road when pressing-on into bends at higher speed but as this is my daily drive only used on main roads and slower country back roads mainly I might give the revised rear toe settings a go.

Dockyard

Well my springs arrived on Tuesday as peter promised!!!
I ordered them last Tuesday but he was on holiday but was still answering emails but sent them out on Monday!!
They are currently being fitted so I hope to get the car back tonight. If every thing goes ok!!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Our driving situations are fairly different so I doubt you'd like my settings of around 1.5 front and 2.0 rear with as close to zero toe as I could get.

I don't care what it feels like at low speeds as it doesn't matter then to me, and it does feel crap but once I give it beans it's fantastic.

You may ask why zero toe, well it's because that's actually what wears your tyres out so with the amount of camber I'm running I need it to be as close to zero as possible, also recommended by the suspension /geo guru on Naisoc.
I want to run more camber but I need more caster, roll bars and these springs first.

May I suggest some Pro flex or similar steering rack bushes as they really improved turn in and feel for me, but one of mine was split and the car is 10yrs old so my plan is to poly bush everything I can over time, I did both roll bars at the same time which helped too.

Just thought I'd mention it.

Oh and Peter has very kindly reserved me a set of springs too.

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, the idea of a 'fast road set-up' would normally appeal to me but the wagon only gets used for my 10mile round trip daily commute at the moment then it's parked-up for the weekend. Do you find that when driving dead straight the steering wheel feels very light? It feels alot lighter on mine than it did before, I noticed it straight away.

So, as much as it goes against the grain, I think I will get the rear toe adjusted as Peter recommends. His reply to getting the front neg camber reduced was:

'The change in rear toe will increase the weight and the car can feel more connected to the road. Reducing the front negative camber will change the steering weight a little. We are getting into the season of dodgy road surfaces that really play up steering feel.'

It probably doesn't help that I'm now running the OEM 17s with winter tyres on (to keep my Revolutions away from the road salt!) which won't exactly help steering feel!

Steering rack bushes are on my list for next year, as are about a dozen more things...

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Are these still available?

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I think so, send Peter an email I'm sure he'll sort something out for you, he's an extremely nice chap and very helpful.

Sprigs are bob on too, the only problem I have found is they high light other areas that need attention you might want to get as many Polly bushes as you can done at the same time, they're not very expensive and do make a noticeable difference to the feel.

I have done steering rack, front & rear roll bars although as mentioned on another thread I think I need a thicker front roll bar now as there's still a small amount of front end roll that I want to lose.