New/Old Familiar Wagon
30 March 2018, 10:35 AM
#92
Personally I wouldn't be too worried about getting some from a breaker, although I'd carefully check the dimensions before fitting.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282896885082
And there is always the option of an ALK and possibly a roll center correction kit too.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F282896885082
And there is always the option of an ALK and possibly a roll center correction kit too.
30 March 2018, 11:15 AM
#94
Try ringing AS Performance 0191 410 3770
They do high caster alloy arm modification, so might have some stock classic alloy arms?
They could press newage bushes (group n?) into the classic arms.
I'd have Group N bushes, rather than an anti-lift kit.
Roll correction kit would be helpful if you're lowered (25mm?)
They do high caster alloy arm modification, so might have some stock classic alloy arms?
They could press newage bushes (group n?) into the classic arms.
I'd have Group N bushes, rather than an anti-lift kit.
Roll correction kit would be helpful if you're lowered (25mm?)
30 March 2018, 11:59 AM
#95
An all-in-one solution would be better than messing about sourcing separate parts and having them pressed.
Although newage saloon ARBs are cheap and plentiful - would there not be more benefit to having a wider track at the front?
I'm not sure how much lowered the car is from standard as it's on coilovers and I just tried to match the ride height of my Bug on PCA Blues. So maybe only a 20mm drop?
I'm considering swapping the PCA/Koni combination onto the Blob anyway as I can't get the current Meister-Rs to ride as good as stock or perform as well as the PCA/Konis for fast road. They are neither one thing or the other.
Although newage saloon ARBs are cheap and plentiful - would there not be more benefit to having a wider track at the front?
I'm not sure how much lowered the car is from standard as it's on coilovers and I just tried to match the ride height of my Bug on PCA Blues. So maybe only a 20mm drop?
I'm considering swapping the PCA/Koni combination onto the Blob anyway as I can't get the current Meister-Rs to ride as good as stock or perform as well as the PCA/Konis for fast road. They are neither one thing or the other.
30 March 2018, 12:17 PM
#97
You'll have too much negative camber at the front, if you use saloon arms. They're about 10mm wider per side.
If AS Performance have got the classic alloy arms? Then they'll have the rest of the stuff you'll need. I'm sure they'll press the bushes in for you.
You could always get them to add 2 degrees of positive caster to the classic arms!
If AS Performance have got the classic alloy arms? Then they'll have the rest of the stuff you'll need. I'm sure they'll press the bushes in for you.
You could always get them to add 2 degrees of positive caster to the classic arms!
Last edited by 2pot; 30 March 2018 at 12:30 PM.
30 March 2018, 05:37 PM
#101
I've been trying to find something wagon, that doesn't involve the Koni inserts, as the vast majority of people find the install off-putting,
The excel-g's are obviously on their limit, with regard to the PCA blues spring rate, hence the reduced longevity. So, rather than a softer set of springs for the excel-g's:
I used the wagon specific, non-inverted, kyb ultra sr and matched them to some higher-rate springs, to stop the front bump stops being so frequently engaged, at lower than oem ride height - the same front bump stops you're using on the Koni inserts.
I stiffened the rear bump stops and springs, to use a small 20mm rear bar.
I asked about the bugeye rear mounts, as I moved the heavier closed coils, on the rear, to the top of the spring (un-sprung weight). This spring design requires bugeye rear top mounts with blob/hawk struts.
I would recommend a Whiteline or SuperPro roll centre kit and Whiteline kca335 front top mounts, with this set-up.
The excel-g's are obviously on their limit, with regard to the PCA blues spring rate, hence the reduced longevity. So, rather than a softer set of springs for the excel-g's:
I used the wagon specific, non-inverted, kyb ultra sr and matched them to some higher-rate springs, to stop the front bump stops being so frequently engaged, at lower than oem ride height - the same front bump stops you're using on the Koni inserts.
I stiffened the rear bump stops and springs, to use a small 20mm rear bar.
I asked about the bugeye rear mounts, as I moved the heavier closed coils, on the rear, to the top of the spring (un-sprung weight). This spring design requires bugeye rear top mounts with blob/hawk struts.
I would recommend a Whiteline or SuperPro roll centre kit and Whiteline kca335 front top mounts, with this set-up.
Last edited by 2pot; 31 March 2018 at 02:57 PM.
03 April 2018, 11:10 AM
#102
Had you (or Stuart) done the recall thing at Subaru main dealer? I had mine checked a couple of years ago, they said they were fine...but I've recently picked up some newage alloy arms and will get them fitted soon. Hearing more and more people saying they've had steel control arm failures.
03 April 2018, 12:13 PM
#107
You could use saloon front struts, with newage saloon alloy arms, to reduce the excessive negative camber increase - caused by wagon struts with newage saloon alloy arms.
But, then you've still got the issue of the front driveshafts and front roll bar lengths.
But, then you've still got the issue of the front driveshafts and front roll bar lengths.
Last edited by 2pot; 03 April 2018 at 12:15 PM.
04 April 2018, 12:46 PM
#113
MattyB has lots of alloy arms, I got mine off him recently for a great price.
Last edited by boggissimo; 04 April 2018 at 12:47 PM.
04 April 2018, 02:25 PM
#114
So the Green Machine has been re-commissioned and sent for it's MoT.
Tyres were a bit borderline, so swapped the new wheels over. Horn doesn't work. Rear seat belt doesn't recoil. PAS is on way out. Hopefully won't be too expensive.....
Driving it again has convinced me to swap the Koni/PCA combo onto the Blob - it just rides/handles so much better.
Blob got trailered of to Subaru this morning. Doubt I'll hear anything until the end of next week.
Tyres were a bit borderline, so swapped the new wheels over. Horn doesn't work. Rear seat belt doesn't recoil. PAS is on way out. Hopefully won't be too expensive.....
Driving it again has convinced me to swap the Koni/PCA combo onto the Blob - it just rides/handles so much better.
Blob got trailered of to Subaru this morning. Doubt I'll hear anything until the end of next week.
04 April 2018, 02:29 PM
#115
If they agree that the failure was caused by corrosion, and it was checked and passed fit by a Subaru dealer, then they should definitely replace for free. You'd have to pay for them to be swapped onto the bug though surely?
MattyB has lots of alloy arms, I got mine off him recently for a great price.
MattyB has lots of alloy arms, I got mine off him recently for a great price.
The Bug will have it's arms checked during MoT and if anything is amiss, that will be going back to Subaru as well.
06 April 2018, 11:29 AM
#116
So the Bug is MoT'd and taxed!
Horn was rewired to a toggle switch.
No advisories AFAIK.
PAS probably needs the steering knuckle greasing after sat for a while.
Now I need to find someone to steam clean the whole interior pronto.
Horn was rewired to a toggle switch.
No advisories AFAIK.
PAS probably needs the steering knuckle greasing after sat for a while.
Now I need to find someone to steam clean the whole interior pronto.
09 April 2018, 06:19 PM
#117
So an advisory for rear strut area corrosion (which I knew about) and low brake fluid.....errr....just top it up during inspection 
Got a couple of guys from here https://car4valet.co.uk/ to come out Friday afternoon and fully steam clean the interior. 90mins and they did a really good job. Car is now sanitized and no longer a health risk.
Discovered some bad news though, apparently from 2019, all cars with air bag steerings wheels as OEM, must be fitted with one in order to pass MoT. Not enough just to put a resistor inline to stop the airbag light appearing. I expect that Damd wheels will suddenly increase by 50%!
Got a couple of guys from here https://car4valet.co.uk/ to come out Friday afternoon and fully steam clean the interior. 90mins and they did a really good job. Car is now sanitized and no longer a health risk.
Discovered some bad news though, apparently from 2019, all cars with air bag steerings wheels as OEM, must be fitted with one in order to pass MoT. Not enough just to put a resistor inline to stop the airbag light appearing. I expect that Damd wheels will suddenly increase by 50%!
09 April 2018, 06:24 PM
#118
I've been trying to find something wagon, that doesn't involve the Koni inserts, as the vast majority of people find the install off-putting,
The excel-g's are obviously on their limit, with regard to the PCA blues spring rate, hence the reduced longevity. So, rather than a softer set of springs for the excel-g's:
I used the wagon specific, non-inverted, kyb ultra sr and matched them to some higher-rate springs, to stop the front bump stops being so frequently engaged, at lower than oem ride height - the same front bump stops you're using on the Koni inserts.
I stiffened the rear bump stops and springs, to use a small 20mm rear bar.
I asked about the bugeye rear mounts, as I moved the heavier closed coils, on the rear, to the top of the spring (un-sprung weight). This spring design requires bugeye rear top mounts with blob/hawk struts.
I would recommend a Whiteline or SuperPro roll centre kit and Whiteline kca335 front top mounts, with this set-up.
The excel-g's are obviously on their limit, with regard to the PCA blues spring rate, hence the reduced longevity. So, rather than a softer set of springs for the excel-g's:
I used the wagon specific, non-inverted, kyb ultra sr and matched them to some higher-rate springs, to stop the front bump stops being so frequently engaged, at lower than oem ride height - the same front bump stops you're using on the Koni inserts.
I stiffened the rear bump stops and springs, to use a small 20mm rear bar.
I asked about the bugeye rear mounts, as I moved the heavier closed coils, on the rear, to the top of the spring (un-sprung weight). This spring design requires bugeye rear top mounts with blob/hawk struts.
I would recommend a Whiteline or SuperPro roll centre kit and Whiteline kca335 front top mounts, with this set-up.
Definitely fitting the Bug setup onto the Blob though; so much more composed and really feels like the strut/sprngs are working in harmony compared to the Meister Rs.
09 April 2018, 08:57 PM
#119
The Koni sport inserts are Impreza specific - they are stiff in compression, to allow for lowered springs.
The non-inverted Ultra SR are twice the damping rate of excel-g's, in compression and rebound - not as stiff as koni sport inserts in compression.
https://translate.google.co.uk/trans...Fultra-sr.html
Inverted ultra sr are as oem.
What are your pca/koni ride heights?:
Measure from the wheel centre vertically up to the metal arch (not the plastic liner). Make a note of the fuel level.
Don't be surprised, or concerned, about a 6mm side-to-side differential.
Depending on the wheel style, it's sometimes difficult to measure accurately. If so, use this method:
Hook the tape on the wheel rim nearest the ground. Measure vertically upwards, across the wheel centre, to the metal arch = x
Then, hook a tape on the wheel rim, measure across the wheel centre to the outer edge of the rim, on the opposite side of the wheel - divide this measurement by 2 = y (y is, obviously, the same on all 4 wheels).
x minus y = ride heights
The non-inverted Ultra SR are twice the damping rate of excel-g's, in compression and rebound - not as stiff as koni sport inserts in compression.
https://translate.google.co.uk/trans...Fultra-sr.html
Inverted ultra sr are as oem.
What are your pca/koni ride heights?:
Measure from the wheel centre vertically up to the metal arch (not the plastic liner). Make a note of the fuel level.
Don't be surprised, or concerned, about a 6mm side-to-side differential.
Depending on the wheel style, it's sometimes difficult to measure accurately. If so, use this method:
Hook the tape on the wheel rim nearest the ground. Measure vertically upwards, across the wheel centre, to the metal arch = x
Then, hook a tape on the wheel rim, measure across the wheel centre to the outer edge of the rim, on the opposite side of the wheel - divide this measurement by 2 = y (y is, obviously, the same on all 4 wheels).
x minus y = ride heights
Last edited by 2pot; 09 April 2018 at 09:00 PM.
