Same here Stu... As I may have told you this is a long term car for me now when this is all done. I'm pleased with where I am at the moment, ok I would have liked to have been at this point a couple of months ago but it was not possible but at least it's good weather to work on it now. I've only done a few miles in the car so I am looking forward to the day when it's back on the road and I can get to enjoy it :D

Another great update Si :)

My family like a good 5000 piece puzzle at Christmas to all join in with, if you get stuck putting that back together :lol:

Maybe I will set it all up on the back lawn sit in it and have a picture taken :D

Seriously thanks bud :thumb: I'll get a few detailed pics of the cross members for your guidance on bush replacement.

I'm not thinking that far ahead Cliff.... For now its in bits it gets cleaned prepped and painted, then I'll think of the next job on the list.... That's the only way I can play it :D you may not believe me now but I am not a mechanic and really have little knowledge in the area, but I will by the time I have finished I think it's safe to say :lol1:

Right guys need some guidance here, after having a talk with the one mechanic Rhys today he informed me that one of my struts is shot, I thought when I lifted them up yesterday something was not right so it looks like I may have to source replacements, so either I try and find second hand or I just buy some new KYB and drop them on.

Firstly lets look at the new option..... Are these correct for the model year ?

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m10b0s2611...TO_2000_Import

Good grief look how much Eibachs have gone up !

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m10b0s2612...eza_incl_wagon

I'm aware of buying second hand and then fitting and having wheel alignment done and then hoping they are not tired out as the last thing I want to do is pay for fitting and setting up twice.

Open to opinions and options :thumb:

I'd go with new kyb dampers Si. I understand the want to stay oem. But the kyb a are a good strut and there's nothing like brand new dampers. It will make best use of the freshly bushed suspension.

Thanks Frayz it's my gut feeling as well.... Even though I am happy to follow an OEM route were I can I do respect it is 2013 now and certain things should be brought up to date if the option is there.

Yeah, no point buying a reasonably good set of oems for the same money as brand new kybs. Doesn't make sense to me mate really.

I've got plenty of time anyway Frayz so I can have a look around and see who sells them altogether... I do think KYB are the best option on a standard strut route. I'm amazed how much the springs have gone up in price but I am going back a few years.

Talk to Alyn @ AS Performance. Tell him I sent you. He will get you the best deal on I all mate, and won't sell you crap you don need :)

Is there anything Alyn does not sell Frayz :lol1: don't worry he seems to be my first call for most things these days and he's already not sold me some items :thumb:

Nope, Alyn is my one stop shop for everything car related.
Best bloke, best service, best price and I get it next day.

Spent 8 years in this Subaru game Si and I've used almost everyone at some point. Alyn has always come up trumps. You never know, he may very well recommend you something else that's better that you haven't yet found.

Always open for advice... I'm only saying KYB because not only do I know they are great it's the only OEM like strut I know :lol1:

KYB AGX and some Eibach springs would be my choice Si. Worked a treat on the V5 STi, even Dannyboy liked them.

Hey up mate. Funny you should choose this set up, this is what my friends RA has on it ( the one with my car in the gallery) Madison's old RA
My standard struts are pants and I've drivin my friend Graham's car a few times and I think it's a really good cost effective option. Way cheaper than the likes of bilstien. The car sits great. I will say it's ever so slightly more crashy than the standard stuff. This could be due to the re070 tyres tho as these have a very hard wall.

Here's a question for you and one I am also interested in. Cam skill do the replacement KYB's for classics . Do the sell an inverted option as per the ver5/6 standard stuff? Basically a replacement inverted damper? As this would fit your car also?

Joe

How do the agx differ from the ones in the camskill link?

Joe

Danny is a good critic if he likes something then it works :)
How did you set the adjustable up then Ian is it a plus and minus set up ? Did you play with them until you got a comfort level.

Joe they are adjustable opposed to the fixed unit set up as we all have as OEM

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m10b0s2628...O_2000_UK_SPEC

Agree there Joe that may be the tyres, as you know your on a 215/40/17 and your mate will be on a 225/45/17 and yes they have a hard side wall so he's going to be feeling that and I would imagine with the lightweight of the RA it may transmit up more.

As for inverted I have no idea at all as I'm not familiar with that, no doubt someone will :)

I have the original shocks and springs from my old RA Si. From memory three are good so depending on which of yours is shot you could make a full set. Yours if you want them:thumb:

You're right Joe, the RE070's don't help and nor does being on 17's rather than 16's.
I think camskill have standard, inverted and adjustable KYB shocks.

Very generous of you there :) I've got no idea which one is shot here but I will go through them and have a look, at this stage now the cars in bits new may be a good option as I have to pay labour for fitting plus the set up afterwards so the new outlay could be the way forward.

The guy that owned this car before came from the Bournemouth area and I've found a lot of sandy like grit material throughout the body which is quite well draining so I think this may have helped the body shell instead of wet mud caked on but I think this may have worn the shocks as looking at them there's a lot of gritty material under the rubber covers.

When I did my callipers I baked them in the oven...whilst the wife was out! :D

:lol1: that's the spirit :D

Just come across this and impressed is an understatement. Suscribed!

that Camskill link for the springs is simply RRP pretty much......

Silver Scooby, i have a set of the Eibachs that could easily be "dealt" if needs be

0191-4103770

Thanks for the support Rob... It may seem odd but having you guys show such enthusiasm is a big motivational help here as it makes the work I need to do seem easier if that's the word to use plus it show's me I'm going in the right direction.

Cool thanks Alyn :) I've also been offered a set of low mileage red KYB Sti struts and springs today at a very reasonable price that are in a good working order only removed because of a big build upgrade... I think this also may be a sensible route to take at this moment in time for both cost and my usage, if I wish to then I can always upgrade in the future when the cars up and running.

There's always options available :thumb:

Back to talk about rust :lol1:

Had a sort through this morning putting everything for blasting to one side in preparation.... Takes a fair lump out of the list really :freak3:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-17.jpg

I'm taking a couple of bits to work tomorrow as I've not been able to loosen the bolts at home.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-18.jpg

Bushes are showing their age I'm afraid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-19.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-20.jpg

Removed the fans as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-21.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-22.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-23.jpg

I think I'm about there for this part.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-24.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-33.jpg

Definitely seen better days...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-26.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-27.jpg

These still look good considering...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-28.jpg

One job I'm not forgetting to do is both bumper bars, these are in fantastic condition really and the front one looks great, I'll have them blasted then drop them with the painter for a coat of white to be applied.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-25.jpg

Ok a little surface but far from into the construction..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-29.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-30.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-31.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-32.jpg

I'll be looking at the hubs myself, I've removed the dust cover from the one ok but I have a seized bolt on the other so that will go to work with me tomorrow as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-34.jpg

Since taking these pics I have put the wheel nuts on to keep the threads safe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...RA/null-35.jpg

Simon :)

Wow...that really is everything Si!

Wish I'd done my front sub frame whilst it was off doh!

Quite surprising really Ian when you sit it all together, that takes a big chunk of prep work out of my hands. I'm planning on just having it blasted then I'll use a rust inhibitor to coat them which doubles as an etch primer coating then get the lot painted. My concern.... If concern is the right word is the condition of some of the bushes look poor on the exposed ends and I don't know if they are ok or shot.

Don't go taking yours apart just to paint the front sub frame I don't want to be held responsible for any delays :lol1: