Originally Posted by budd (Post 10057396)

just refitting mine at the moment (see new thred re lube) and it's a pretty straight foward job, although I'm replacing mine with poly bushes I don't think OE rubber items would be any more difficult to fit the poly bushes simply pressed in with a vice and socket.
a couple of things to consider, firstly the rear toe will need setting after you complete the job, and also if the long retaining bolts (240mm 14mm fine) are seized in (mine were and needed cutting off!!!) they're a TITA to remove without damage and are 22 squid each PLUS vat from subaru!!!

Originally Posted by Pink_Floyd (Post 10057504)

It would be poly-bushes mate. I would get 4-wheel alignment done afterward to ensure all was well. Those bolts sound pricey :eek:

Originally Posted by budd (Post 10057555)

with poly bushes it's dead easy, the trailing arm bushes come in 2 halfs and can be pushed in by hand !!! and yeah the bolts are silly expensive and that's without nuts and washers etc, and I needed x2 both had to be beaten or cut off they were so seized, you'll probably be OK with your car been newer, although mines a 2000my so there's only 3 yrs difference, also my local main dealer doesn't carry them in stock and would have needed to order them from subaru uk, next day delivery but not a lot of good if your trying to get it done in the same day.
I decided not to bother and threaded some 14mm high tensile bar, total cost 6 squid inc new nuts and wahers ;)

Originally Posted by Pink_Floyd (Post 10057582)

Sometimes you can be luck and find a local engineering factor who will stock the same bolts for much less. Sounds like you're all sorted though :thumb:

Originally Posted by Arnie_1 (Post 10058727)

I usually recommend STi Group N or Whiteline Plus poly bushes, depending on your tastes. But in the past, I usually recommended people going with the STi pink bits (trailing arms and lateral links) because, frankly, its easier to install. No need to wait to have bushes pressed and installed. Plus the bushes are pillowball.

Another alternative to the STi lateral links are Whiteline adjustable lateral links. You get the poly upgrade as well as easy toe adjustment. Camber can be adjusted slightly but the adjustment is really mainly for toe.

While you are in there, i highly suggest you also replacing the rubber bush in the rear knuckle (that the trailing arm attaches to). This is often neglected but makes a huge difference in rear end precision as well.

Originally Posted by budd (Post 10057396)

just refitting mine at the moment (see new thred re lube) and it's a pretty straight foward job, although I'm replacing mine with poly bushes I don't think OE rubber items would be any more difficult to fit the poly bushes simply pressed in with a vice and socket.
a couple of things to consider, firstly the rear toe will need setting after you complete the job, and also if the long retaining bolts (240mm 14mm fine) are seized in (mine were and needed cutting off!!!) they're a TITA to remove without damage and are 22 squid each PLUS vat from subaru!!!

Originally Posted by Arnie_1 (Post 10058727)

I usually recommend STi Group N or Whiteline Plus poly bushes, depending on your tastes. But in the past, I usually recommended people going with the STi pink bits (trailing arms and lateral links) because, frankly, its easier to install. No need to wait to have bushes pressed and installed. Plus the bushes are pillowball.

Another alternative to the STi lateral links are Whiteline adjustable lateral links. You get the poly upgrade as well as easy toe adjustment. Camber can be adjusted slightly but the adjustment is really mainly for toe.

While you are in there, i highly suggest you also replacing the rubber bush in the rear knuckle (that the trailing arm attaches to). This is often neglected but makes a huge difference in rear end precision as well.

Originally Posted by dunx (Post 10061067)

I got mine from Litchfields, but the exchange rate has gone "down the pan" since then...

Originally Posted by Arnie_1 (Post 10060370)

Wow, what the hell happened to the UK Subaru tuning market? I was looking through a few of the Subaru tuning sites and no one carries STi suspension parts anymore. That is very, very sad.

As to the cost, it costs a bit more compared to buy those parts outright but probably maybe only 30% more over swapping bushes on the stock parts (labor/bush cost) and not including your down time while you wait for the stuff to be installed. I preferred the convenience of the preassembled part as well as the benefits of the pillow ball bushing in the STi pink bits. I think the STi lat links and trailing arms will set you back about 900-1000 GBP.

http://rallispec.com/prod_susp.htm

Once again, I have to point out the massive change in the market of these cars. When these cars first came out in the late 90's, early 2000's they were fairly pricey items with a pretty small aftermarket. 95% of the parts out there were high quality, high performance solutions and the prices reflected that. There were no BC Racing or cheap EBay brands. We only had STi, Cusco, Prodrive, Bilstein, Whiteline and Öhlins. That is what we had to buy in order to modify our cars. Now there are dozens of cheap, horrible quality knock-offs out there. And the new folk buying a scoob for 1000 quid is going to feel weird about spending 3-5 times that on quality suspension parts from the above mentioned brands. It just doesn't compute. So, unfortunately, we have a new mentality like posted above (no offense meant) that questions spending several thousands of pounds on their suspension (only). The result is a cheapening and reduction of the performance experience these cars are able to provide. I'm sorry, I don't mean to pontificate about not wanting to spend the money. i can understand that, surely.

Its just, I feel the quality of the parts is worth every cent. Its worth saving up an extra couple of months to buy something that will perform better and last longer than the cheap Ebay knock-offs.