Topic: diamondedge's 2007 WRX - "STi TMIC, Redux"

[05LGT]

The rust by the badge on your trunk. Are you going to pursue a fix on this too or wait for another time?

I told him he might as well do that, the rear quarters, and fix all the chips on the hood and roof too while he’s at it.

Oh and replace and paint the front bumper.

[diamondedge]

I told him he might as well do that, the rear quarters, and fix all the chips on the hood and roof too while he’s at it.

Oh and replace and paint the front bumper.

Yes. See if I can get a dealio of packaged services.

[jellynuts]

Would it be easier/cheaper to replace the trunk?

[RockThePylon]

RTP it's as if you don't know me 

Full send. Must. Maintain. Minty-ish. Example. Of. Waghoon.

You caught it early, so if you control it now, I bet it'll never get bad. But calling a bodyshop and discussing replacing panels... Maaaaaaaaan.

It's a hidden area, so not cosmetic. And it's not yet a safety issue. It's like replacing your rotors because there's some rust on them.

[seat safety switch]

Would it be easier/cheaper to replace the trunk?

On my 06, having the hatch resprayed was one of the cheapest panels I had done on that car, and I had a lot of the panels done over the course of my ownership.

Front bumper was the killer.

[Canuckrz]

It's like replacing your rotors because there's some rust on them.

Or plastidipping them orange.

[diamondedge]

Blackstone Analysis came in.



I also replaced my stop lamp and high mount stop lamps with Sylvania ZEVO LED replacements. The high mount I noticed a better output immediately as there's tint covering it. The design of the 7443 ZEVO bulb is more "downward" firing - so directly into the reflector housing. The colour temp of the red is a much darker, deeper red. And you can't beat that instant on.

I stopped by thedude's place and in his parkade, we both noticed how awful my headlight aim was. I'm talking like a good 6 inches below the standard cut off line at 25'. We adjusted them and HOLY MOLY NIGHT DRIVING!! I can't believe they've been like this for two years.

[milkpumba]

I stopped by thedude's place and in his parkade, we both noticed how awful my headlight aim was. I'm talking like a good 6 inches below the standard cut off line at 25'. We adjusted them and HOLY MOLY NIGHT DRIVING!! I can't believe they've been like this for two years.

Get on my headlight cut off level brooo. Blinding people on a daily basis.. Jk

[RockThePylon]

Do you get the leveling motors on hawks?

I adjusted it so halfway on the wheel was perfect, then I had the choice to go low-key or blind everyone.

[diamondedge]

Do you get the leveling motors on hawks?

I adjusted it so halfway on the wheel was perfect, then I had the choice to go low-key or blind everyone.

STi gets them. 1/4' drive 8mm socket with u-joint and extensions to reach the horizontal adjustment. gg small fingers

[jellynuts]

[drewfuspx]

Oh man I'm dieing, that's fantastic!

[diamondedge]

Got a flat on my left rear on the way home from asiandad™'s place in Airdrie. Stupid me took out my tools for changing a flat. (No tire iron. Had everything else though, even had my impact...)

Shout out to Kijho for being my knight in CWP armor.

[GrantC]

STi gets them. 1/4' drive 8mm socket with u-joint and extensions to reach the horizontal adjustment. gg small fingers

If you have the correct length/size of philips screwdriver you can also adjust it that way.  There are guides to use the screwdriver teeth as a pinion against the back of that adjuster ring.

edit:

Example on MY06 Forester, but same idea on MY06 Impreza. http://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=4397

[diamondedge]

If you have the correct length/size of philips screwdriver you can also adjust it that way.  There are guides to use the screwdriver teeth as a pinion against the back of that adjuster ring.

edit:

Example on MY06 Forester, but same idea on MY06 Impreza. http://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=4397

Deffo. We saw the pinion teeth. Having the right screwdriver would have made the horizontal adjustment a gazillion times easier. Removing the plastic clip that locks over top was also a pain.

It's so much better now.

[kijho]

What will you do about your winter tires?!

[diamondedge]

What will you do about your winter tires?!

Got an appointment tomorrow at yella's old location to get sorted with warranty.

Less QQ more Pew-Pew, as they say.

[diamondedge]

It's been a while...

For those following GrantC's rust thread, I'll just dump all the pics of the rust repair. The bodyshop I went to is called Artisan Autobody, the guy and his wife there are
super nice. Found them from 1 review on Beyond.ca, surprisingly. TL;DR, no welding, new metal adhered into place, hit with primer,
sealed with a 3M product he mentioned that I don't recall the name of, then undercoated.

Warning, if rust makes you queasy, scroll past now...






The water will come in thru the hole on the right near the C/D pillar. There literally is just a hole that gets covered with undercoating. There are holes like this near the rear of the wheelhouse behind the strut (looking across the axle line) WHAT THE uckfay SUBARU.






Note; I did visit the shop and yes, they cleaned away the rust before covering it with new metal.

Now onto the wheelhouse






Passenger side had the same symptoms, around the filler neck area too.



After picking up the car, on the passenger side wheelhouse, I caught a bubble that was super small before putting the interior together. Sanded and painted it. I must have missed it but it's all done now, I can't really tear into it. YOLO.



WHEW I'm glad that saga's over. Interior's all bolted in, thank you for the help 05LGT. Feels like a Lexus now. Only a few hiccups, I have a chewy thread on one of the lower seat bolts for the seat squab. Will chase it later this week.

Onto more happy news, I'm still super thankful for everyone who pitched in and got me YvanF's coilovers, you're all wonderful, thoughtful people. <3<3<3

To complement the coilovers, with Black Friday deals going on, I ordered Whiteline's KCA335, Com-C front top hats. Cheaper and less NVH than camber plates (which honestly, to get mucho caster, would be $$$) which brings me to the next thought. I'm waffling between how much I spend to prep the car for autoX... do I just join the arms race and buy everything in the Whiteline catalog to get faster at autoX? I need seat time, and I want my money to go elsewhere as well.

_edit_

In looking through the pictures, no matter how much you chase rust, GG wagons man, not even once. I love my WRX, it's brought me so much in terms of friendships and experiences, but holy itshay. I should have just bought an STi lol.

[ScubieDoobieDoo]

I found the best bang for my buck from the Whiteline stuff came from the ALK - the additional positive caster along with some alignment changes really helped with the understeer on turn-in. Maybe start there, sprinkle in seat time and you should be set.

As an aside, I am not sure what you are running, but tires made the biggest difference (although I can't seem to find RE71Rs in the whiteline catalogue)

Hope that helps!

[RockThePylon]

Do those tophats put you in Street Modified? Supposedly the Anti-lift kit does, because it changes a suspension mounting point.

#yolo

Come play in SM with me.

And get the Energy Suspension LCA bushings. And tires.

[RedBimmer93]

From the 2017 SCCA Rulebook (Street touring category)

https://dk1xgl0d43mu1.cloudfront.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/019/010/2017-01-17-section-14-street-touring-category.pdf?1484692402

C. The following allowances apply to strut-type suspensions. Adjustable camber plates may be installed at the top of the strut and the original up- per mounting holes may be slotted. The drilling of holes in order to per- form the installation is permitted. The center clearance hole may not be modified. Any type of bearing or bushing may be used in the adjustable camber plate attachment to the strut. The installation may incorporate an alternate upper spring perch/seat and/or mounting block (bearing mount). Any ride height change resulting from installation of camber plates is allowed. Caster changes resulting from the use of camber plates are permitted.

You should be good 

[diamondedge]

Yeah. It's either top or bottom with respect to suspension geometry changes. To stay in street prepared its tophats OR ALK/lower caster changes. The roll center adjustment kit is also a immediate bump into SM.

I found the best bang for my buck from the Whiteline stuff came from the ALK - the additional positive caster along with some alignment changes really helped with the understeer on turn-in. Maybe start there, sprinkle in seat time and you should be set.

I remember we had this talk at AutoX.. I'll build it up over a few seasons and hopefully get faster as time goes on.

See you two in SM.

[RockThePylon]

Quit playing and just get a twin scroll EFR.

[diamondedge]

Main post updated with plans and new part acquisitions.

Com-C tophats arrived. They have the correct type of shielded bearing (because the internet had a riot when Whiteline briefly had non-shielded bearings. They would accumulate grit and wreck themselves and clunk and pop). Thanks GTR-Auto.

Dynamic Entry also hooked me up with an adjustable Whiteline 24mm rear sway bar complete with Kartboy endlinks. Much happy..just need to find some hardware and decide on a color. I want to paint it something funky. Because why not?

Next on my radar will be an 22mm wagon front sway bar. I'll couple it with GNP endlinks. Camber bolts as well, and finally a roll center kit.

Excited for spring, the parts pile is growing!!

[kijho]

Excited for spring, the parts pile is growing!!

Only a couple more months dude! I'm excited to see with the coilovers!! It's going to be awesome!