Ver.4

Hi guys, bought a subaru impreza Type R a few months back when the weather was lovely and roads dry, but since then, the weathers been slightly crappy and the wet roads has made my type R a nightmare to drive!

I havent driven the car enthusiastically for a second in the wet, but even so the back end seems to want to overtake my front when coming off a round about. Even under slight acceleration (as you would normally to get back up to speed).

My car as the following handling mods done to it;
Meister R coilovers (first gen)
Rear anti roll bar (not sure of the thickness)
Front H brace
Bridgestone Playz tyres all round on 17's.

Im guessing that the fact that the car has coilovers and a rear anti roll bar is what is causing the back end to be skittish and the tyres may not be all that well adapted for rainy days. Cant find any decent reviews on the tyres?

What do you guys suggest i do in order to make the car more pleasant do drive? I dont want to wuss out and buy a car without the DCCD because i love the Type R's massively but surely being this unnerving isnt normal?

My initial thoughts would be to sell the coilovers and replace them with standard pink shocks and eibach lowering springs and also fit a front anti roll bar (not sure why but my limited knowledge suggests that it may help to counter the back end being so stiff?). Then finally change all tyres for something like the Vredsteins.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, the cars superb in the dry but if i have to compromise to make it safer in the wet then so be it as i dont want any other scooby for now. Would like to keep the handling though as thats where all the fun is!

dunx

iTrader: (3)

If the rear bar is adjustable, soften it, if not get back to us with the size, ( use an open ended spanner to gauge the diameter ).

dunx

P.S. Have you tried locking the drivetrain to 50:50 ? Did it get to Sherburn on Tuesday night ?

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

Rear only arb is a good mod for the lighter weight type R. Does the oversteer happen when turning both directions, and do you know what geo settings have been dialed in, as this is something I would be looking at first, provided nothing obvious a miss with rear arb set-up

Ver.4

It does it in both directions equally. Going round a bend I can feel the back end planting itself into the road yet the front end tends to roll (im guessing its due to not having an anti roll bar). Not sure on the geo settings ill have to get a good setup done once i change all the suspension bits. Ill try and get under the car tonight or tomorrow and measure the diameter of the anti roll bar. And im not sure if its adjustable or not.

I have tried locking the diff 50:50 but going round a corner you get the usual shunt and diff noise....not pleasant to hear!

stef_2010

iTrader: (3)

Something must be up with that as my Type R is very good in the wet

I found a good geo setup made a massive difference

Ver.4

What settings do you usually have the diff set to in the wet? And what tyres/setup do you use? Yeah maybe looking into a good geo setup will help.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Bring it round I'm bored

Try swapping the wheels/tyres for a test ?

Stevo210 has a 2.5 Type-R and that is properly slippery... in the dry !

I would try one click softer on the rears if you can work out how to adjust them, top or bottom (?)

Good luck !

dunx

P.S. Tyres are an easy fix, RE-070's are my favourite, but I run Verddy's in winter and R888's on track

Ver.4

Just got underneath it and they measured 20mm with an open ended spanner. And it seems that they are adjustable as there are 3 possible holes for it to be in at either end and they currently are at the 1 furthest from the actual bar itself. Did take some pics but i dont know how to upload and they arent very clear either lol

Ver.4

The coilovers are adjustable from underneath. I have softened them but i dont want to fiddle too much, would rather take it to an expert and get a good setup done all round. Im going to be looking to change the tyres. Its a shame though because i dont even know if the ones i have are good or not as i cant find any reviews for them!

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Softening the rear will help it grip and it sounds like you have the ARB set to "soft".
So what tyre pressures are you running ?

dunx

P.S. It could already have an "aggressive" set-up, or the unknown tyres could be unsuitable.

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

So, he has a 20mm rear set to the softest setting - that's pretty soft

OP - what size front is fitted as it looks as if you're out of balance front/rear

dunx

iTrader: (3)

You could try a PM to Stevo210 he's over near Huddersfield, and has a fabulous 2.5 Type-R
We had a play with his, because it was digging in too hard at the rear in the dry, and one clicjk made it much nicer to drive. Still went sideways everywhere like a MK.I Escort tho'.

dunx

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Had a dccd classic with over 500bhp and had the following setup and had no problems in the wet, also never lock the diff unless its in snow or for launching otherwise you will damage the centre diff.

whiteline 22mm arb middle setting
standard front sti roll bar
whiteline wire drop links
hardrace anti lift kit
ast suspension
whiteline front top mounts
geo setup by Richard Henry motorsport

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

Just a bit of rear stiffening then with your 22mm. I'm considering trying this combo, so changing out the front 22 and rear 24 for a 22 rear only if this current round of fettling doesn't improve things on my R

172sport

iTrader: (6)

Man up. LOL

Ver.4

The front anti roll bar has not been modified in any way. Tyre pressures are 31-32psi. Once i get chance to i will try and get in touch with stevo210, might even just go over to richard henry and see what they recommend. Wanted to get an anti lift kit and front anti roll bar put on as well as standard sti shocks with eibach springs.

bgood

iTrader: (2)

Deffo need to stiffen up that rear bar, if it's a 20mm bar then I'd put it onto the stiffest setting (the hole nearest the bar) which should make the rear more responsive so you can actually feel what's happening back there.

But the main thing to do would be get the geometry checked out, when I got my Type-R I was finding it unpredictable mid corner and when I had the geometry done they commented that the rears were all over the place and said that it must have been interesting to drive, which it certainly had been but not in a good way

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Building a 2.35 type r at the moment should be in the region of 650bhp and will be trying the same setup on that before I make any changes to the suspension

dunx

iTrader: (3)

I PM'd Stevo210, but his car is at the beauty parlour...

IMHO get the geometry read before adding more bits, I think the rear end is either set-up to be like that or just plain poorly set-up.

Most folk like a 22mm rear bar, mine is an adjustable. If you are smooth and fast then a 24mm might be o.k.

Good luck !

dunx

Ver.4

Cheers guys, ill get a full geometry setup done. I think ill go ask richard henry who they recommend me to go to as around these parts, most of the places only return the car to standard settings which doesnt really use the potential of the upgraded bits. Once its all done ill let you all know how its going

Thanks alot once again!