I recently bought my 2004 STI PPP and want to know where i should start with improving the handling.

I am really pleased overall with the car,and it has lived upto my expectations in most areas,however i do find that it seems to understeer more than my (standard)Classic Turbo did when you first put it into a corner,and it does possibly lack some of my previous car's steering feel.

The car is already fitted with the Prodrive Springs,and presumably the geometry settings that go with them.

What do things like the Whiteline Droplinks do/improve?

Is there a relatively "cheap" fix for this,or is it a full new suspension kit?

Ideally i want to get this sorted before i move onto more power .

Cheers.

 

I feel the same about my '03 STI which is also fitted with the Prodrive springs

 

ALK and adjustable rear bar for mild improvement.

For a vast improvement AST replacement suspension. Better by far all round and surprisingly much more comfortable and quiet.

 

i went for full AST set-up with ALK and whiite line front/rear ARBs - huge difference and handles 370/370 with ease. Not the cheapest option though!

 

What's ALK??

Will the Droplinks make any improvements to the problem,and if not,what do the Droplinks do?

 

Will the Rear Bar improve Understeer ?

Also,forgot to say it is also fitted with a Front and Rear Strut Brace's.

 

ALK anti lift kit

droplinks will help but only with bigger arb (anti roll bars )

u need alloy ones to replace the plasticy soft OEM onjes

 

i would say yes, when i installed my rear arb the steering felt different and i could push the car a lot harder on corners def nicer 2 drive


as for front strut brace i heard it increases understeer???

 

Front & rear adjustable arb's and a decent geo set up. £450 ish the lot including fitting and you will have a car that will be as neutral as you want or even tail happy with an adjustment of the rear arb

 

Paul,

Yes the rear bar will dial out some of the understeer. I had this done at the same time as the ALK well before I had the ASTs done. With just the rear bar and ALK the front end grip/traction is significantly improved particularly in tight bits like roundabouts.

Cheers, Diccy.

 

Cheers for the responses guys....................i now know whats next on the "To Do" list .

 

I had the PD springs fitted, then had a Rear (22?mm) adjustable whiteline ARB (about £90) and the Anti Lift Kit (£100ish) fitted at Powerstation and their 4 wheel geometry.

About £250 all-in.

No need for droplinks as it has the solid ones on.

Made an amazing difference. Really was shocked at it. TBH, one of the best mods i've done. The corners don't seem to exist, and it has a weird sense of accelerating quicker, there's no pitch/dive under braking/throttle. The car just sits level.

Dave @ demon tweeks will get you a nice discount.

Next step up is coilovers (ASTs), but comes in at £1000 ish. (You'll at least get some money back on your PD springs)

 

Cheers mate,if those mods make that much difference i will be on the phone to Powerstation very soon!!

 

Oh they did!

I was up for getting droplinks and front ARB, but was advised to try just the rear, and the 04 STi has solid droplinks anyway. I sourced from DTweeks and took to PS for fitting & geom.

Was a nice drive home alright.

I can't imagine the handling getting better, but do wander about AST's.....

 

Don't wonder, ASTs are brilliant.

 

£1000+ better though??

I wouldn't know personally,but surely unless it was being tracked all the time etc,it sound's like the above is a substantial improvement for very little outlay...................especially for "just" a road car.

Are the AST's coilovers?

 

That's what i was thinking. The opt out before the car does at the minute, so i don't see another £1k to make it even better. But i can be convinced if needed

Aye, they are coilovers.