My STI-7 has inverted struts(supposedly like the rally car). What's the difference between them and the normal suspension of a M02 WRX?

The car feels a lot more fluid and balanced than my old MY00, but so much has changed from MY00 to MY02 STI its hard to pin down the main cause of the improvements.

And don't say they are inverted

 

I think all the new age are inverted struts

The inverted bit, means the rod is actually a tube, which moves up and down over a fixed piston. Normally the rod is solid with a pison on the end, which moves in the body.

The upshot is the strut is loads stiffer, which keeps eveything where it should during cornering.

I also read that the new age struts are spring in the middle of the stroke somehow, and that it improves ride over holes in the road.

paul

 

I somehow seem to remember that only the new STi's struts are inverted...?

[Edited by BruceWarne - 9/13/2002 5:55:30 AM]

 

Well, the B4 and GT-Bs are all wearing inverted struts, and yes it is better. Stiffer being the big plus - also things are suppsoed to work better/more smoothly due to less flex in the sus during cornering etc.

Having said which, there are cross stiffeners sold for the new age Impreza (std on the S202). I have stiffeners on my Legacy and they really help a lot (bloody expensive Prova ones), the newest D rev BE/BH has the front stiffened by dual cross bars std.