As you've stated the prices are very reasonable indeed.

He is a member on here, although not an active one.

It was nice to see both takes on the improved STi concept side by side and compare how they differed.

 

I finally got my STi titanium keys cut, I tried a lot of places in both the Llanelli and Pontypridd areas and they all messed me about. Did try to get to a place recommended by Ian on two occasions but parking proved difficult on or near Crwys Road in Cardiff.

So a customer suggested Parkers Motors in Tredegar, a quick visit there and both keys were cut with no fuss or drama. They can cut any key to pattern or even off a key code for virtually any motor vehicle, plus code them to your car or immobiliser.

 

Plus this Saturday should see a few more of the smaller jobs I've been meaning to do finally get done.

 

So today saw the fitment of the wind deflectors, Rally Armor mudflap set, STi McGard wheel nuts, refit the standard gear **** plus some other tidying up work that I wanted to get done.

I found that the passenger side rear vent in the boot area was allowing water into the boot area, so that was taken out, cleaned up and refitted with fresh sealant. A quick test with the watering can and all was fine, plus of course soak up the water in the well and dry it out.

Unfortunately though I've encountered quite a big problem with the car, whilst driving it earlier I encountered one hell of a metallic clonking noise coming from the driver's side front area of the car. The kind of noise that makes you think that the wishbone had snapped or worse.

Blinking cars, if it isn't one thing, it's another...

 

was all this done in Crickhowell Ty ?

 

No Dave, it was done in Leominster where I had to leave the car.

 

Well the likely cause of the suspension clonking has been identified as the driver's side wishbone rear bush. So I've ordered a set of STi Group N bushes from Advanced Automotive in Bristol which should be with me next week.

Plus I've ordered some further STi goodies from Japanparts.com whilst my wallet was taking a bashing.




Plus a very big thank you to Lee for the offer of the loan of your suspension, much appreciated.

 

Have you ordered all them bits bud?
The air duct hose at the bottom of the page is on my list this year aswell best price I can find is about £55 how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking..

 

It was about £26 pounds including shipping but would obviously be more as a single item, I ordered them yesterday morning.

It makes you realise how much the UK based sellers are making, they obviously buy in larger quantities so will probably get a discount as well.

If the order is big enough then there are savings to be made as by my calculations I'll save at least £400 against what I would have paid in the UK and that includes any import duty and clearance fees I'll have to pay.

 

 

Although I did kick myself as I forgot to look for a new gear ****, it only occurred to me some time later after I'd placed the order.

 

Don't worry I'll give you a shout on the ***** when my next shipment arrives

 

Doesn't the RA come with pillow ball trailing arms and lateral links?

 

Thanks.

 

They were an option on the Blobeye Spec C Type RA, they were standard fitment on the Hawkeye Spec C Type RA.

As I'm going to have the geometry redone after changing the wishbone rear bushes I thought it was a good excuse to upgrade the rear suspension setup with some optional STi upgrades.

 

Got you.
There are 2 versions: triple pillow (that can be used with the "standard" ARB and droplinks) and full pillow.
For the latter you need the STi rear ARB as well (that uses the brackets you 've just bought), do you have that?

 

Hmm, that's interesting as the japanparts site didn't mention that. I'll check their listings again.

 

I've been discussing this with Nic a while who converted his Spec C to RA-R (full pillow) and he confirmed as I wanted to do the same to my FSTi but decided to stay triple pillow to avoid the ARB and bracket costs.
Double check it but I'm pretty sure you need it man.
The ARB shape is different: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...om/s204042.jpg
The cheapest way would be to get the triple pillow lateral arms so you don't need to buy the brackets or STi rear ARB.

 

Oops, I've emailed them asking to add to my original order.

 

 

Oh well in for a penny in for a pound I guess, I've emailed them asking to amend my order to include the correct ARB.

 

Good man, I found the car felt much more planted, ride quality improved and was progressive to rotate at the limit.

Let us know your opinion when you get them fitted

 

I sold the FSTi two and a half years ago

The S202 ARB (or any non-widetrack one) is shorter than the Prodrive one I had (from a RB320 - or any widetrack one) by ~5cm IIRC.

I mentioned the above as there are 2 variations of pillow ball lateral arms:

- full (i.e. 4) pillow ball ones (which the RA-R uses) that have to be used together with the special brackets and the STi pink ARB.

- triple pillow ball ones that can be used with 'any' ARB (no special brackets needed and no need to use the STi pink ARB). This is the setup I had (among other suspension modifications) in the FSTi.

I hope it's clearer now

 

Correct pink rear anti roll bar ordered with japanparts, as per the bekow link.

https://www.japanparts.com/parts/detail/15672

And this is how the setup will look when installed, thanks to Fivos (fpan) for the info given above.

 

How much of a difference this whole Pink bollocking will make in the real world ?


Fivos !!! trillion years buddy , i hope you kept that pug you had

 

You are welcome Tyron!

I hope you like the new setup!

Mantas, long time no speak, how are you man?

What do you drive now?

I sold the 205 GTi loong time ago (big mistake!)

One has to experience the pink bits to appreciate them

 

Because STi pink bits innit blud.

 

Sti pink bits FTW pal. !!!

 

I had heard you love a bit of pink.

 

So my STi Group N rear wishbone rear bushes arrived today, so they'll be fitted very soon and then hopefully that will cure the clonking noise from the front end.

Then it'll be a matter of waiting for the rear lateral and trailing arms plus the rear anti roll bar with drop links and brackets, once they are installed then I'll get a geometry alignment done. Can anyone recommend a good company to carry out the alignment in the locality?