Hi all , I am modifying my cars suspension to get much better handling than the std package .

 

I am lucky enough to have the ear of someone who runs a suspension hot shops and makes lots of aftermarket anti roll bars .

 

First Stage . They looked at my 86 RX sedans std 19mm front and 16mm rear bars and said we can do better than that . They made up 24mm front and 22mm rear bars which gives a 1.55 times front and 2.57 times rear increase in bar rate . They were fitted with new urethane bushes as well .

 

While under there my expert noticed that there was ~ 14mm of radius rod poking out behind the rear bushes lock nut so he said out with those and in with urethane bushes and three thick washers (curved radius rod type) in front of them . BTW this was all about getting an easy increase in much needed positive caster .

 

It feels much more predictable in corners now which is what I want .

 

Stage 2 will be neat looking WRX coil overs where the strut "foot" is also threaded onto the damper body which will make the set up ie stroke vs wheel travel a piece of cake . The springs will be 66mm ID so huge range of rates available .

Back is looking like being a Koni depending on what is available in the approximate dimensions we want . They will have a circlip low on the body so that a coil over conversion unit can fit over and seat on the circlip . Std rear springs are 66/67mm ID so easy peasy .

 

Cheers A .

Sounds pretty good.

When I modded my Brat's front suspension I found the best thing was the positive caster. It gave so much more feel like you said.

Although I wasn't running any anti-sway bars it still felt like a train on tracks with the 215/60r15's.

 

Got any pictures of these additions?

The people who made the bars have some pics as it's their guinea pig RX-Turbo . They have the Rex struts as well .

 

Cheers A .

this sounds interesting. i like the idea of better sways. keep us updated on your progress, and get some pics, i want to see this:headbang:

I have a question on the above said modification. Now will WRX struts fit a '88 Rx becuase you said you were putting WRX coilovers on your car.

No. Not without ALOT of modifications.

 

If you do the 5 lug swap, you can do it.

Ok for the 5 lug what do I need?

I have a question on the above said modification. Now will WRX struts fit a '88 Rx becuase you said you were putting WRX coilovers on your car.

what are you doing to make the wrx coiover fit on the ea82 knuckle. since ea82 the strut fits into a sleve on the knuckle, whereas the wrx knuckle is a macpherson strut with bolts thru the knuckle?

 

or do you have xt6 suspension?

 

either way keep us posted on the progress

The stock 04 macpherson struts on the wrx are terrible. Blew one with just 31K on the ticker on my 04. Stick with the later models if ya can.

 

Just my $0.02 worth.

I have a question on the above said modification. Now will WRX struts fit a '88 Rx becuase you said you were putting WRX coilovers on your car.

 

I think he is just using the springs? Is this correct disco???

Firstly I bought one of Gareth's Crossbred performance 5 stud conversion kits .

 

They do exchange front control arms so you get the correct ball joint fitting like XT6 arms have .

We will use the 3 ring RX turbo front drive shafts but with the 1st gen Liberty

(Legacy in US) N/A FWD CV joints . The upright and hub are also 1st gen Liberty .

Early Liberty RS Turbo front caliper mount brackets allow you to mount the L handbrake caliper on the uprights and fit over RS disc rotors .

The strut tops will be Noltec or Nolathane adjustable ones intended for a WRX GC8 because these fit in L strut towers . The spherical joint is suspended in urethane to save back teeth .

We will be using 66mm ID springs on small diameter perches which allow more movement of the struts in the top of the towers .

The dampers are an aftermarket thing that are threaded for their body's whole length . Both the lower spring perch and upright mount are threaded so they can screw up or down as required .

 

In the US all you need is the XT6 control arm/Legacy hub/upright/RS caliper mounts/discs and CV joints .

WRX struts (93-00) are generally a little shorter than Legacy so probably better in an L Series . They also have springs smaller in diameter at the top so they and their upper perches fit in L Series towers .

 

We didn't get Vortex XT6's in Australia so we have to improvise with the control arms and rear hubs . The Crossbred rear back plates/adapters are a real piece of work and the pics at their site don't do them justice . These and the splined billet hubs were the reason why the kit cost a bit .

 

Cheers A .

hell yeah you blokes over there sure know your mix and match. one could have assumed they smelled BS with this topic but i guess not!

 

that is some great info. can you tell us more on the stud conversion kit?

 

and of course, pics!

http://crossbred.gotdns.com/