mattvortex

Was about to have a 22mm whiteline rear anti-roll bar with alloy droplinks all round, fitted to my uk98 turbo, as well as geometry/allignment re-set but, just read in the Haynes Subaru Impreza book that uprating the anti-roll bar and drop links , can make the car far less progressive near the limit and lead to much more "violent" change between grip and losing it. Is this correct? Anyone whos had these mods done, can they give there experiences? Was looking forward to gettings these up-grades done because people say it will transform the car but ,to be honest , i dont want a car thats going to let go at the rear everytime i give it some ! Cheers. Matt

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Matt, If you uprate the rear bar only, the car will be more inclined to oversteer if provoked, you can counter this by also installing an uprated front bar. It'll understeer more than if you had the rear bar only, but the handling should then be more neutral with the benefit of less body roll.

Don't forget that good tyres and the correct pressures can make all the difference too!

Talk to 911 (Graham) on here, he's very experienced in these matters.

NS04

pappasmurf

I have the set up you were going to have on my MY00 UK Classic with Goodyear Eagles. It did indeed transform the cars handling for the better. Corners flatter..sharper and very little understeer. When really pushing it around a tight bend i can make the back end twitch alittle...which i don't mind....but you have to be pushing it and by no means does it feel out of control.
I had a front anti roll bar on for two weeks and hated it....it dialed out any of the gains the rear bar gave ( it's for sale if you want it )
Speak to Roger Clark Motorsport for some very good advice.

911

All IMHO:

The Impreza responds really well to a number of tweeks which need to be matched to get the best from them.
An Impreza oversteering like a Mk2 Escort is good chat in the pub, BUT is the slowest on the road.

Many have tried good proven steps (me included) and some solutions are more radical than others.

For thought:

Road only
MRT top mounts, Rear bar, solid rear links camber bolts in the back and a PowerStation alignment (or RCM etc but not a Dealer)
Good tyres and correct pressures.

Road Race

As above, but front MATCHING bar, decent coil-overs (ie expensive), 50/40 N/mm springs, front camber bolts, radical alignment, very good tyres to suit the 'track'.

Race Road (my spec)

Above, plus:

Solid bushes, adjustable rear lower arms, strut braces front lower, diff bushes, rear subframe bushes, subframe rear locking bolts, steering rack bushes, Kumho V700 semi slick (but road legal) tyres, Powerstation/Curtis alignment on AST coil-overs with 60/50 race weight springs. re-enforced roll bar brackets.
Good supply of clean underwear as this combination is fast, neutral and confidence inspiring for the driver, but scares passengers sh!tless.

You have been warned.

Graham.

warrenm2

as for violent change, not too bad, the only time I got mine oversteering was by turning in hard on a trailing throttle, then it would oversteer with the harder rear ARB. However you then applied about 1/3 throttle and it gripped again so no real biggy. The loss of understeer makes it WELL worth it

911

In my early days with my Sti v3 and hill climbing, I used to go tearing into/through/out of bends on full lock with understeer. Just the worst condition to race under.
Today there is nothing if you drive with a clear mind and plan!

Sudden changes 'on the limit' is cruel in any car. Just try it in an old 911!!

Graham.

Nick Read

Just swapped my knackered rear drop links for the Whiteline heavy duty ones and it made a good improvement. As the book says, it does change the characteristic of the car, but I think he overstated it a little. 'Violent' suggests to me 'uncontrollable' but it's perfectly predictable and easy to deal with when it goes from plough-on understeer (going into a roundabout/bend too fast), into slight oversteer or a four wheel drift if you give it beans on the exit.

It's like going from high profile rubber on little wheels to low profile on big rims...swings and roundabouts. Fat high profile tyres are very comforting and easy to predict on the limit, they let go very gradually and understeer all over the shop because of all that 'give'. Low profile 'rubber band' tyres are brilliant up to a point far beyond where high profiles could hold on, but then they will suddenly let go - less progression between grip / no grip. You just have to learn when that will happen and get used to it, it's no biggie.

Sticking on a bigger rear ARB will increase the rear anti roll effect even more than simply using solid rear drop links and make the rear - for want of a better term - more skiddy on demand. Once I have mine on,I'll report back.