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| Here are the steering rack bushings in place. |
After installing the parts which was a just a relatively simple afternoon of work, we headed off to Westend Alignment to have Darren Nishmoto work his magic to Project STi’s suspension. We set Project STi’s suspension to Whiteline’s recommended 1.5 degrees of negative camber front and 1-degree rear negative camber with zero front toe and rear toe in. We measured caster and found it to be right at around 3.5 degrees.
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| Whiteline’s camber bolts don’t stretch and slip like many inexpensive ones do. The eccentric bump in the spindle hole allows adjustment of camber. We used two sets to get additional adjustment. |
Like the 2006 model we drove in Australia, we were very surprised with the improvement in Project STi’s handling. For very little effort and money our cornering grip is greatly improved. The car turns in much better and the stock annoying plowing is reduced. Understeer under throttle and when trail braking is better and the car rotates better when trail braking. Body roll is reduced further making the chassis feel crisper and more responsive. As a final touch the annoying rubbery steering feel is nearly gone.
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| A close up of the adjusting holes of our sway bars. Putting the endlink in the inboard holes stiffens the bar, using the outboard holes softens it. |
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| Whiteline’s antilift/caster kit is perhaps what gives Whiteline the edge in getting rid of the STi’s most annoying vice, the rapid transition between understeer and oversteer on the throttle. |
The ride, noise and vibration characteristics are unchanged from stock and we feel that the tire wear will improve and we will be less likely to tear the edges of the tread from the understeer as before. Seriously the engineers at Subaru should looks at these changes and incorporate them into the newer cars.
But then we would not have so much fun improving on their work will we?
Sources
Global Performance Parts
North American distributors for Whiteline
www.globalperformanceparts.com
West End Alignment
Best Damn Chassis Shop in town
westendalignment@cs.com
(310) 808-9233
