DrScoob

I'm hoping that the experts on here can guide me in the right direction. I have a MY99 Turbo 2000 saloon which is totally standard apart from a stainless, single exit rear box. I'd like to tastefully & usefully improve the cosmetics and the driving experience & I'd like to upgrade the front & rear anti-roll bar & drop links together with a good quality top strut brace at the front. The car is running on the original 5-spoke 16" alloys which have fitted with Bridgestone tyres all the car's life!
My local specialist recommends Whiteline products - what do others think?

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

First thing to do is to get her on a ramp and check the bushes as it's an old car and the rubber may not have faired very well...mine hadn't.

Geometry check is a good way to start before spending your money...see if it improves the way the car feels,find somewhere good (not Kwik Fit or similar)

I've done rear ARB,rear droplinks, track control bushes, steering rack bush (a good upgrade is the Powerflex bush,easy to fit and cheap and well worth it imo as it tightens up the feel of the steering)

Not bothered with front ARB

Upgraded the actual struts and springs......not so cheap.

Classic STI strut brace is fine and looks good imo.

Non suspension related but check the rear arches as they tend to rust,good way to help stop this is to clean all the crap that gets stuck up there. I do it nearly every week as it doesn't take long.

DrScoob

Thanks for the comprehensive advice! I know the drop links on the rear ARB were replaced after the MoT this year - before I bought the car - & I've had a good look under the car with the help of my specialist while up on ramps. The underside looks good - clean with few signs of rust in the arches, sills & suspension mounts.
It is good advice to check out all of the critical bushes & I think that is better done before changing too much hardware! The genuine STi strut brace is often available 2nd hand but it would obviously have to be in good condition!
The car drives really well - straight & true - and is composed at speed & under heavy braking. Hopefully, I've bought a decent classic!! 😊

d4nnyc

I got an sti steering rack, sti wishbones, new track rod ends, ball joints and steering column. Poly bushes on both the rack and wishbones were also fitted. I also did the 'free castor mod' whilst changing the wishbones and took it for a geo setup up.
All that made the car loads nicer. The poly bushes do firm up the front though and pot holes / bumps feel worse when you drive over them.
I also just fitted a 22mm rear anti roll bar and that made a big difference. The car understeer s much less, turning in feels better too. It seems that the front and rear end let go together, where as before the front would lose grip on turn in and the rear was always stay stuck to the road.
Problem with fitting the arb o's that iice know got a clunk coming from somewhere!
I've also found doing it highlights other areas like the suspension! All the rattles get worse too!