STi Files - Chapter 6: OTC Suspension Upgrades

OTC Suspension Upgrades

Late February, 2004

Suspension Suspension Suspension
In case you weren't aware, a good suspension is what really gets you around the track, not horsepower. Not that extra power doesn't help :) I went back to Virginia for a couple of days to visit family and friends. We craftily decided while I was gone would be a good time for Erik and Shane to destroy^H^H^H^H^H^H install all the suspension components on my OTC STi.

I think I was still on a plane over the middle of the country when my car was busy being ripped to shreds in Eriks garage.

How do you install all this stuff? First, put the car on jack stands and pull out the back seat along with all the sound deadening and carpet in the trunk. This way it will look like you have a broken down heap that no one will want to steal instead of a brand new $30+k car that you have just ripped a perfectly good suspension out of.

Remember to put all the parts somewhere you won't drop grease on them and somewhere they won't get lost. You'll want to hold on to these original car parts they make classy decorations around the house. Plus if you ever want to sell the car you will probably want to part it out and reinstall the stock parts.

So, apparently there is some angry Subaru factory worker who has a job on the side as a Sumo wrestler and they are wrenching down the factory strut bolts to somewhere around a gazillion ft lbs of torque. I highly recommend you use a large breaker bar and get a 'Brad TM'

Also, take note: When installing suspension parts on a new model year of car you will probably find something no one else has. For instance, did you know that the current Whiteline ALK is missing a spacer for the 04 STi since Subaru changed the subframe config. Fortunately the guys at Whiteline in Australia were quite helpful. They were kind enough to talk to Erik late in the evening (It was well past quitting time in the land down under) since it didn't sound like we were locals. We took some pictures and Whiteline said "We saw one other car like that, but it was a Japanese model" Well, I am guessing the USDM ALK will get updated with some extra spacers and Whiteline was generous enough to ship us some.

Ok, Most of the suspension components are installed. The STi now has as much camber as my RC Car. It also handles like an F1 car. Kick Ass. There are about 100 extra miles on it since I left. I think Erik and Shane managed to break in the new components. Besides, I didn't want to be the first to trust my life to that install. I am signed up for an alignment and corner weighting at TC Design Friday the 19th of March.

Thanks go out to Ray and Brad TM for helping with wrenching and JB for drinking beer and taking pictures.