AndyMiles

Harry Potter,

I guess from the below...

that you have a problem with our (Leda) units. Please give me a call in at Leda to see what we can do to recify this. You seem to be happy with the handling results and I would like the oppourtunity to make you 100% happy.

johnfelstead

Harj probably charged them for the priviledge of taking the picture and putting it on their website Richard. It was taken whilst under his care, you can tell that by the Scooby GB badge on the rear. Maybe you need a word in his shell like. Anyway, it looks the dogs bollox in that photo, they should be charging you for showing it off.

The guys at Powerstation didnt even know it was me driving your 22B till i told them.

johnfelstead

Chris, you dont need rear camber bolts on the standard RA struts as they already are setup to give a good level of negative.

My car has LedaB struts and they dont have enough rear camber as fitted using standard bolts, you have to install rear camber bolts to get back to where it was. Front Leda however give more camber than the stock struts, the issue with those is trying to get less.

I have had the LedaB's on my car for 4 months now including 2 trips to the nurburgring and i am very happy with them to date.

johnfelstead

to answer the tyre question, i would fit them new at the same time of just after the setup, that way you dont scrub them in at the wrong angles and find you have to do it all again.

The rest is down to what you want out of the car. Removing some of the stock slopiness such as ARB links and stiffer bushes has its downside in terms of road noise and harshness. Like i say, it's all compromises.

chrisp

Thanks John, I guessed it might be something to do with the RA setup. The original Subaru settings before the geometry setup were showing -1'10 rear camber.

Fury Pilot

What an interesting thread. Perhaps John, or one of you other experts could offer some advice on my Scoob's handling problem?

Following advice from Scoobynet, I junked the ZZ1s that came on my 98S Impreza in favour of Eagle F1s. I also had the geometry checked/set at Micheldever Tyre Services, who have laser gear.

However, the car still does not feel right, nor does it seem to grip even as much as FWD cars, most noticeably when there's any moisture on the road. On RH bends there is less resistance (through the steering wheel) than on LH bends, and the car feels grippier around LH bends. Like most people coming from FWD cars, I feel loss of grip through the steering wheel. I rely on this. But on RH bends the car feels like this all the time. I hate it. It also tramlines on ruts in the road and the white line down the middle.

Is it possible/likely that Micheldever haven't looked at all the settings? I am about to ask my local Scooby dealer to look at it. If the car's handling isn't improved, I will probably leave the world of Scoobies, soon, and feeling v. disappointed. :-(

SiPie

Fury Pilot

I am no expert but the exact handling charecterisitcs you mention were apparent on my my99 until I had the bumpsteer mod carried out.

I initially thought the handling thing was psychological but I definetely felt less grip on R handers or vice versa (can't remember which) but now all seems greatly improved

Might be worth getting your settings checked again

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Strange! I've never experienced anything other thangood grip on both right, and left bends. Even with the not-so-good tyres I have on at the mo. (Bridgestone B530).
Are you sure you/someone haven't/hasn't hit a kerb since it was aligned?
I've never seen a thread on here, or heard of anyone experiencing handling like that.
I'd be inclined to get it looked at.
Alcazar

chiark

Do NOT have geometry done at a none specialist. I paid 40 quid to have mine done, and they told me that the rear wasn't adjustable at all (*cough*) and that I had a bent wishbone. Oh, and that my wheels were the wrong offset (Prodrive P1 wheels). And also that my headlights dipped the wrong way because the car was an import.

I was passing tyres northampton, and chucked them cash to check and align everything. No problems with wishbone, they set the front up, and I'm happy. I would like a weightier steering feel, so next time I'm passing cheltenham...

As you can imagine, I was absolutely livid with the local BS merchants.

Get it done by someone with a clue.

nick.

johnfelstead

It's very common to see diferent camber on the front left and right of standard setup Imprezas because some of the dealers set them diferently to counter the arcing in the road.

Micheleden would probably have set the toe, but not checked, set the camber. Very few tyre places do camber changes. I bet you have positive camber on your fronts, especially under droop.

Fury Pilot

Am I right in thinking that a Scoobie dealer should be able to do a 'proper' job?

SiPie

I quote what an unspecified Subaru dealer recently said:

"nae point mate, it'll just make yer tyres wear quicker"

Hope that answers your question

Fury Pilot

That's rather worrying.

From my chat with the service manager at my local dealer (Mill Lane, Basingstoke), I think that they are a bit more clued in. He talked about the 'Prodrive' settings. I have to say they were also right about the case of a sound that my car was making. It sounded to me like a rear wheel bearing was on it's way out. In fact the junior mechanic who came out with me in it, thought that it was a wheel bearing too. But, once the senior man was on the job, they concluded that it was the tyres (ZZ1s). They were right. Gives me some faith, at least...

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

ZZ1's

Sorry mate but IMHO these tyres are terrible and should not be on a scoob. I'd hate to think what they are like this time of year

ian_sadler

I had the four wheel geom. done at my local Subaru dealer and it was a bit better than before but I wasn't really happy.

Made my first trip down to Cheltenham and had the geom. & bump steer done. MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT

'Bout a year later went back for ALK, up-rated front & rear ARB's, solid drop links & poly bushes. EVEN MORE MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT

Would have had Eibach's fitted but ran out of time.

Power Station know their stuff.

Ian

A very happy customer

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Got mine booked in at Power Station to have geometry and bumpsteer done, and an anti-lift kit fitted next week.
Funnily enough, the local dealer who offered me mega deals on Toyo's and F1's b4 Christmas, now reneged on his offer,[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] so Power Station get the deal on the tyres, too.
Can't stand these places that tell you one thing to get you through the door, then tell you something different.........
Alcazar

323GTR

Place I went to had 2 laser alignment rigs - measure to 1/100th degree on camber, toe etc - gave me a printout of before and after, adjusted toe and camber on the car to the settings I gave them. No problems using places like this so long as you know what settings you want, you understand the basics of how changes in geometry affect the car, and they are a half decent outfit. I agree that there are some good specialists out there who can offer you advice and give a good setup based on that. You pay your money and take your choice. If you know what settings you want, anywhere with the right eqiuipment are capable of doing it. If you don't, go to a specialist. Best investment you can ever make in any car is to understand the basics of how it works and what things do, you'll save a fortune in the long run.

LB4

Anybody know of a place in the south east that does the suspension geometery alignment .... i spoke to Pete/ Scooby sport today about this, he did suggest a place but i have reservations ... they couldn't do the bumpsteer mod anyway .... i guess i will have to travel to Power station if there is now where closer ... was planning a trip to Power engineering for a TEK 3 as soon as i have the boost guage and AFR fitted .... thats on the way to PS.

Stuart J

Just to add my vote for Powerstation, had bump steer, anti lift kit, & rear drop links done last year. fantastic !!!!!!!

ozzy

SiPie,

To repeat Phil's (SCOsaltire) question, where did you get yours done? Falkland, Star, AWD?

Stefan

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Sorry alcazar to highjack your thread, but I want this done too. And I think it's worth doing anyway mate, I reckon it's worth the money.

Does anyone know of somewhere near me (Ashford, Kent) that can do it?

Also I have 18" rims fitted, do you need different settings for the bigger wheels?

Please don't suggest Barrets Motorsport as I can never get hold of them

James

[Edited by jameswrx - 1/3/2003 2:33:00 PM]

SiPie

I appreciate that you stated personal preference Steve ... but



I cannot disagree with this strongly enough .

I had the bumpsteer mod carried out just before xmas (must point out that car was stable and all 100% prior to the mod), and now the front end of my car will hang on for grim death and generally it is so much more stable under heavy breaking.

The car has now developed a slight rear end (predictable though) happiness, and generally feels totally planted on the road

It has almost completely eliminated understeer and under heavy braking the front wheels no longer splay out the way, therefore reducing brake flex and more tread is in contact with the road surface.

Turn in is so much sharper and that is about all i've noticed

[Edited by SiPie - 1/3/2003 4:40:53 PM]