MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Are there two types of ARB then? Adjustable and non-adjustable? What's the difference between the two?
Sorry - have read up and answered my own question on that one - different holes in the bar for different stiffness right?

And also, what are the advantages of the heavy duty mounts over the standard ones? Why don't I know this stuff? lol

53

iTrader: (41)

I think W/L do 2 ARB's in 22mm, fixed and the one I bought below which is adjustable from soft to middle to hard. I might be wrong ?

The parts I had were IIRC

WHITELINE ALLOY REAR DROP LINKS KLC26

WHITELINE UPRATED ANTI-ROLL BARS (MY03 NEW AGE Rear) BSR36Z

Swaybar mount-h/duty kit KBR20-22

Whiteline Info from their website...

New heavy duty rear swaybar mounts - for Subaru Impreza, Legacy and Liberty.It's well known that the OEM rear swaybar mounts can break. Aftermarket sway bars add even higher loads, which can lead to premature cracks and mounting failure. Fit bigger rear bars with confidence or just upgrade your OE brackets to remove mounting flex. Specially strengthened to handle even 24mm adjustable bars.

Available in kit form with universal polyurethane bushes to suit 19, 20, 22 & 24mm bars. Order part # KBR20-Size. Eg, for 22mm bar order KBR20-22.

On your Bugeye the bushes are different to the blob eye so if you don't buy the Mounts you need to make sure you order the right bar (BSR33Z) as they come with bushes. If you go with the HD mounts, they come with their own bushes (same as blobeye bushes) superceeding your existing mounts bush design

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Rick has come back to me to say that the price is for, and I quote "the Rear Blade Adjustable ARB". So handy that rear ARB are also called "sway bars" in the USA - they always have to be different don't they .

According to the whiteline catalogue - cheers for the pointer BTW - it's part number BSR33Z - that's a 22mm item - which is the one you said to go for, so that's good news!

The drop links - if they're the same as "sway bar link conversion kit" would therefore be part number KLC26. Stated as "extra h/d alloy" - same as yours by the looks of it.

So I'm guessing that means I would have everything you're advising if I went for this package?

53

iTrader: (41)

Sounds like it, and at a good price really.

These are the bench mark prices I have in my head, as a deal its about spot on

ARB £115
Links £75
Springs £195
Fitting 3 hours ? @£65
Alignment £80

Take a punt on the mounts is it ? see how you get on without ?

magicgreg

Alright mate,

So you had your alignment done with your service at AS, how did it go?

Have you noticed a vast improvement after the alignment?

Overall with the PD Springs and alignment a huge improvement over standard?

Cheers

G

scotthldr

Got Eibachs fitted on my 05WRX during it's service on Wed past, had to get the rear struts replaced again(2nd time) so got the springs on cheap as the rear springs had to come off anyway. Anyway they have lowered the car by approx 40mm front and 35mm rear, looks far better now. As for driving, steering feels tighter, no difference in ride hardness infact slightly springy if that makes sense. Hopefully get some pics up tomorrow.

scotthldr

Got some before and after pics in Members Gallery

renny

iTrader: (2)

Had Prodrive springs fitted by a main dealer,managed to bugger it up.They put the front top plates on wrong and was only noticed by the specialist that i took it to to have the geometry done.

In hindsight i'd of got the springs from the dealer and buggered of to a specialist to have them fitted.

As for the springs themselves i rate them,don't find the ride to be any harsher and the handling is vastly improved (obviously helped by a decent geo set-up).Unfortuneately i haven't had any other springs to compare them to though.

I also have a front lip spoiler and haven't had any problems whatsoever with speed bumps although i have heard that some kerbs may just catch the bottom of it if a little high.So far so good for me though

Flaps

iTrader: (1)

Bugeye - Did you go ahead with this in the end? Any difference?

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Sorry mate - I've been tied up - may be moving house shortly!
That and I've been paying off a holiday to Mexico, and the paint job for my blobeye rear end conversion!

That said, the interest free credit card just arrived so at some point this month I'll be paying em a visit!

BTW I did also ask Subaru4u about the heavy duty mounts but they said unless I was planning to track it they wouldn't bother (think it was an extra £130 or so quid on top to add them too).

I'll post here when I've got a date set..

richie001

iTrader: (3)

sorry to hijack this thread but i was thinking about the same mod for my 05 STi but i seen some STi springs they not cheap at £57 per spring


so my question is which ones are best.

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

It's already been answered mate - Eibach seem good but most people seem to rate prodrive highest. Have a read. If you're wondering about STi springs suggest you search the forum - there are plenty of posts.

mystic_magic

So where is the best place in the south to get prodrive springs and ARBS fitted and set up correctly, seeing as dealers seem a bad idea?

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

lol - "The South" is a bit vague mate! Most people highly rate Powerstation, but they're West. Subaru4u in Newbury have also been given good reports.

mystic_magic

Well.

The clue is under my name matey

Location: Isle of Wight




powerstation would be ideal but its a bit of a trek with the boat and all...

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

lol- point taken - durrrrr!!!

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Thought I'd follow up on this finally.
I ended up going for the Prodrive option.
I got my springs fitted, and had a full laser alignment with GRD in Surrey at the end of last year.

The stance of the car looks so much better, and it's more grippy and inspires more confidence through bends. In the end I couldn't stretch to the £600 odd I was being quoted, so I just went for springs.
It was just as well as one of my rear shocks was fooked when it came off.

More recently, I've bought an adjustable Whiteline rear ARB.
I went for the 22mm "Blade" - think the part number is BSR33Z for a bugeye.
I also bought a set of the Powerflex droplinks from the group buy with Apex Performance, and whilst the droplinks themselves don't make that much difference, the ARB is another story.

I've currently got it set on its medium setting, and the car grips so much better in the bends and turns in earlier - it's the car it should have been from the factory.
It's also a much beefier bar than the standard one - weighs more I reckon but it looks much sturdier and evidently is!

My advice to anyone thinking about springs for more grip is this - try an ARB first - cost me £124 delivered from Demon Tweeks with the SN discount and I think it's made possibly more difference than the springs - the main issue with the springs is the ride is harder - you really do feel potholes now!

Hope that's of assistance to anyone thinking about this.

The rookie

iTrader: (1)

Glad you happy!

That is what I always suggest anyway!

Simon

escott

iTrader: (1)

Hi Giles - I completely agree - I did droplinks, rear ARB first, along with anti lift kit, it made a huge difference, the prodrive springs are like the icing on the cake!

I also had a good alignment setup done which has made a big difference, and would probably recommend this before any other suspension changes. Although alk and springs will require this to be done anyway.

By this I don't mean a tracking check at Kwik Fit, but somewhere that knows what they're doing - Powerstation, Mocom etc.

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Hi Ewen,

Sounds like you've thrown a fair bit of the Whiteline catalogue at your car now then?
Take it you went with Slowboy in the end?
How much difference did the anti lift kit make, and tell me - do you find the ride a lot harder with the prodrive springs? Good to hear you're progressing well too

escott

iTrader: (1)

I've done most of it 'sensibly' - a few second hand parts etc. ALK made a big difference, makes the front end feel more planted, this along with negative camber has really improved things.

The springs don't really make the ride much harsher - yes there's a little less travel, but as they are heavier they also seem less crashy. Overall a decent improvement.

Neil at Slowboy has fitted a lot of the parts, Simon (JGM) did the remap and Zak at Mocom did the springs and last alignment - all good and very helpful guys.

rifleman

just fitted prodrive springs to mine along with drop links and roll bar bushes and top mounts,what a difference.less roll and loads more grip.just knocks over speed bumps etc...
going to use some rubber sleeving on top and bottom of springs to try quieten them done.

daijones

The cheapest and first step is to get a proper four wheel alignment done with a specialist, that makes a massive difference - sadly, the factory aren't too careful in setting up the alignment before cars leave. After that, Powerstation's staged handling upgrades are worth remembering - stage 1, ALK, ARB and drop links; stage 2, the same with springs; stage 3, coilovers. The ALK makes a massive difference to the front end grip in a corner; while the ARB upgrade, with metal drop links to make the ARB work properly - std plastics have too much flex - will shift the balance of the car away from the factory set understeer, chosen for safety for an average driver, towards oversteer. Not that the car, following the upgrade, will oversteer easily, just that it understeers a lot less and so carries more speed through the corner. The springs help reduce the roll centre and improve the visual stance of the car, but it's the ALK and ARB that do all the good work

The rookie

iTrader: (1)

The springs LOWER (not 'reduce' - it cannot be reduced!) the roll centre (by more than the car is lowered) which INCREASES the roll moment, in turn this would lead to MORE roll if the springs weren't stiffer.

Better not to talk about stuff you don't understand?

Glad to here you are still digging those PD blues Ewan!

Simon

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Having done some of these I'd argue that the cheapest and best modification to make is:
1) Rear ARB and solid droplinks
2) 4 wheel alignment.

Whilst the springs lower the car making it look more aggressive I personally felt that handling-wise the rear ARB and alignment made far more difference in both wet and dry, and I only went for a 22mm adjustable one.

AFAIK the ALK can assist in increasing negative camber and offers more castor adjustment but I'm relatively happy with mine ATM.

The rookie

iTrader: (1)

The ALK increases castor (Castor having no adjustment it can't increase it), it has no effect on camber at all.

Simon

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Sorry my mistake Simon - was quoting from memory the standard bumph listed on Scoobyparts and Camskill - which both say .

A better explanation here - Anti-lift Kit FAQ - NASIOC

Linus27

I've not had my Scooby long but it has 18" Redlines on and I was going to get the Prodrive Springs to just lower it to improve the look as it does look a little like its on stilts. However, a comment earlier said that the Prodrive springs are much firmer than the standard Scooby springs and you notice the bumps more. The thing is, I can feel the bumps quite a bit already. Is there any way to identify if my car already has the Prodrive springs fitted or in fact any other after market springs? Particular colour or markings etc??

Thanks.

richie001

iTrader: (3)

What model you got.

Linus27

2003 WRX.