STI Suspension Swap Project

[httrdd]

Looks really good with the BBS on there too!

[TomsSVX]

I guess you failed your geometry class?

The ride height is too low, thus actually making the handling worse except maybe better dampening control... Can you raise it up more or are the struts maxxed?

Tom

[Crazy_pilot]

I know, the control arms are no where near level like that, I just wanted to see what I could do with it. I can raise it to at least stock levels, probably quite a bit higher if I really want to. One thing that's great about Stance is that they're dual height adjustable, meaning I can lower the car without touching the spring perch: (not my picture)

[mkud28]

Wow that is low, I thought mine was low lol.

[LetItSnow]

Although I wasn't as low as that (and dag, you're in the weeds!) Tom told me the same thing about my Pearly, and from my experience he's definitely right.

[Crazy_pilot]

I had some skidpad fun using my iPhone and Dynolicious software. Around a 300ft skidpad the car hit .96 lateral G.

Test conditions: (this was an impromptu thing, so hardly ideal setup)

Temperature: 7* C (45* F)
Coilovers: Full soft.
Ride height: low.
Tires: General Exclaim UHP, 40 PSI front, 35 PSI rear.
Car load: 1/3 tank gas, myself (165 lbs) and 145 lb passenger.

Observations:

I was told the car cornered very flat from people watching, it certainly felt like it. There was some rubbing in the front outside wheel well, but nothing extreme. The parking lot we used was quite bumpy, as you can see in the graph from all the jumpyness of the line. The main limiting factor at this point is my tires. The Exclaims were fine with soft stock suspension, but can't handle the extra demands of the coilovers, the sidewalls are just to soft. They were my first set of "performance" tires and my initial thoughts were good, however now that I've had them for a while and have more varied experience with tires I would certainly not classify them as "Ultra High Performance" as General claims. Rather I would call them an aggressive touring tire.

Graph: (there's a high res version in my locker)

[LetItSnow]

Is that with the car still slammed? All told, a skidpad queen is nifty until you get into turns that will throw your camber out the window and make performance mods cost performance!

[Crazy_pilot]

Yep, still slammed. I know, I know. The car hasn't even been on the alignment rack since I put the coils on. When I did the alignment this summer the specs were on factory all around, which are very conservative. Not even a full degree negative on camber and zero toe all around. I haven't bothered because I've only put about 60 miles on the car since then and it's about to go to bed for the winter.

Right now I'm just having fun with this coilover thing. I doubt I'll be bringing the car to a track for a while, but when I do it'll be at proper ride height, aligned, balanced, etc. What are you running for alignment specs Rob? The local Subie guys go for -2* camber all around and zero toe.

[LetItSnow]

I've had it set to whatever it was like when I got it! I'll do something with it next season, for sure. I'm not quite sure what yet.

[dynomatt]

Did you happen to get any photos of the rear?

[Crazy_pilot]

Woops, sorry I missed that question...

No real pictures of the rear, but there's nothing much to show, the process is almost the same as the front but doesn't involve drilling new holes in the car.

-Remove old, rusted out strut.
-Remove knuckle from car (remove axle nut, trailing arm bolt, lateral link bolt, wheel speed sensor, brake caliper, rotor, and parking brake cable)
-Go to town with your grinder on the knuckle until the coilover bracket fits.
-Put everything back together with your shiny new awesome parts.

The only reason this part takes longer is because you have to strip out the whole interior in the rear of the car to get at the three nuts holding the struts to the car. Seat, sides and rear shelf.

[sowise]

Outstanding thanks for the link to this from the other thread!

[Crazy_pilot]

Just a fun little bit of info: I had to raise the front of the car to get it onto the U-Haul trailer that brought it home the other week (1200 miles in a POS U-Haul cube van does not make for happy Chris). There's still adjustment left, I didn't try to max it out, but this is how high she's currently sitting:



I haven't touched the rear, didn't need to adjust anything to fit the trailer. Raising the front was about 20 minutes work with hand tools and a floor jack. Amusingly, I had to drive the front wheels onto 2X4's AND remove the gripper thing from the jack to get it under the side of the car.

[Nemesis Destiny]

Nice job. If you're ever in my neck of the woods we should meet up and compare notes

[Crazy_pilot]

Actually I passed through Sault Ste. Marie a couple weeks ago on the way home. I'm done with school for good now though, so I don't know if I'll be passing through that way again. Possibly if my girlfriend ends up moving out to Toronto with me, but not likely with the SVX.