Suspension Woes

[scooby222]

first off a big thanks to andy and the guys at awd for a top notch service, cars running like a dream. however when it was in they pointed out a couple of problems, namely that 3 out of 4 shocks were suffering from the dreaded knock and that my alignment/geometry was massively out.

as my cars an 05 sti with 16,000 miles i managed to get the shocks replaced under warranty albeit with some determined negotation on my part which i dont feel i should have needed to do. the alignment issue however came from the fact that it hadnt been done properly or at all after i had the prodrive spring kit fitted at the supplying dealer last year in which time the two front tyres had worn the inside edge down to the canvas in around 3,000 miles! i took the car back to the dealer and they agreed to pay 75% of the tyres and do the geometry properly. when i picked the car up they told me theyd done the setup twice with two different sets of equipment to make sure but they couldnt get full readings because the front splitter was getting in the way of the lasers? they also said that the car felt a bit skittish and suggested that this was down to the tyres on it, goodyear eagle f1s. now to me the car seems to be handling like a bag of s***e, its continously pulling to the left whch they say is the tyres following the camber of the road and feels very vague and twitchy at the front. i dont trust the car at the moment and am getting no enjoyment from driving it and am tempted just to sell up. wheres recomended for getting a proper setup? theres no way im going back to the dealer again EVER and subaru doesnt want to know as its a dealer issue. Please help!

[scouk]

[Grr! double post]

Edited December 29, 2007 by ScoUK

[scouk]

Dont you dare sell up on us!!!

Does sound a bit of a nightmare though. Has this feeling with the car just came on recently or has it been feeling weird for a while?

I know that with the suspension set-up to prodrive spec the inside of the tyres will get worn out pretty quickly (camber set to -1.2 degrees for PD settings) But shouldn't be wearing after 3,000 miles! That's just wrong! Also with the prodrive settings there have been comments about it pulling to the left quite often. My guess is similar to yours, it simply wasn't set up properly..

THe other settings is the Fast road settings which is more along hte lines of -0.9degrees camber at the front. Still bloody good for cornering but less inside tyre wear and more even balance on the road..

I should have gone with my first thought when I got my alignment done after the prodrive springs and got a decent set-up on it.. But I was talked out of it with the guy from GT tyres as he reckoned with that much camber I'd eat tyres very quickly.. AS it happens all else was fine and they just charged me for alignment check!

But after that last run we had, I'm thinking I want more camber on the front for cornering (Not just making sure the wheel nuts are tightened).. Speaking to Euan afterwords about a sequence of corners, I felt the car struggling for grip on a few left hand bends but he was running behind me and never felt a thing... Ok I accept the classic will have better handling but I recently dug out my suspension settings and discovered very little camber on the front right, (-0.2) which would explain the problem.. Left front is at (-0.42).. Toying with the idea of tryign to match them up myself without paying for full laser alignment.. i know dodgy! but I can actually see the difference between the two front wheels and the angle they are sitting at..

Whoops! That's was a bigger reply that I thought it was going to be..

BTW - Did you ever discover the cause of your heavy steering on the last run?

[thewelsho]

Hypertech in Bonnybridge for alignment. They also have the extra bit of kit that will allow the alignment gear to see below your front splitter. They'll fix it, they fix everything. Trouble is, they are closed till the 7th.

[dipsy]

Scooby222 the shocks on the 05 sti i have are knocking aswell going for tein super street and its only done just over 18k miles .Hope get them fitted in the new year.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Dipsy

[thefastone]

I'm sure that Ive heard that Falkland are really good for doing your geometry too.... dont know where they are, but I'm sure that someone does...

Oh, and those tyres causing your handling to be pants? Not bloody likley!!! I'm chomping to get them back on my car again!!!!

[colzo]

I had the dreaded knock on my 03 STI, but as yet not had any probs with my 05 STI. Will the Hawkeyes eventually suffer this problem too, do they not have the same suspension set up as the 05s? Now say I was going for the Prodrive Springs, with dealer fitting the geometry is set up to Prodrive spec, but would I be better to get Hypertech to set the geometry to Fast Road or can the dealer set it to that spec?

[thewelsho]

Scooby222 the shocks on the 05 sti i have are knocking aswell going for tein super street and its only done just over 18k miles .Hope get them fitted in the new year.

Just got these supplied and fitted at Hypertech. I thought the ride would be firmer with these, but they feel pretty close to the set up I had with the standard shocks and Tein lowering springs. Of course, they are adjustable and I haven't tried them out proper on the track yet. That said, they are night and day compared to the standard set up. Good luck with it mate.

[colzo]

scooby222 - what splitter do you have fitted thats causing the problems with the lasers?

[thewelsho]

I had the dreaded knock on my 03 STI, but as yet not had any probs with my 05 STI. Will the Hawkeyes eventually suffer this problem too, do they not have the same suspension set up as the 05s? Now say I was going for the Prodrive Springs, with dealer fitting the geometry is set up to Prodrive spec, but would I be better to get Hypertech to set the geometry to Fast Road or can the dealer set it to that spec?

Colin, the dealer should be able to set your geometry for you to fast road or Prodrive settings. I wouldn't go for the Prodrive springs though, I'd go for the Teins. They drop the car that bit lower than the prodrive ones do. Persoanlly, I'd go to Hypertech for the alignment.

Edited December 30, 2007 by TheWelsho

[colzo]

Colin, the dealer should be able to set your geometry for you to fast road or Prodrive settings. I wouldn't go for the Prodrive springs though, I'd go for the Teins. They drop the car that bit lower than the prodrive ones do. Persoanlly, I'd go to Hypertech for the alignment.

Thanks John, not looking for too low as too many speed bumps around my area, just better handling. The springs are at the end of a long list of 'wanted' bits for 2008.

[cullenmin]

Dave - don't sell up! (funny coming from me) you'll regret it!

I've used falkland for the geometry, they have their own settings, kinda between fast road and prodrive. I had this done on my classic, theyre pretty friendly and happy to help you out. Theyre in glenrothes, just beside the BP garage.

Hope you get this sorted out

[euan_r]

as above dont you dare sell up lol

dont know where to go for alignment round your way but heard there someone very good out alford way.

my old tyres wore out on inside very quickly but that was due to the steering rack working loose.

[sKunk]

I replaced my 03 STI knocking shocks with the Tein Super Street Kit with EDFC. Can't recommend it enough. The ability to change from soft (ish) to hard suspension whilst on the move is awesome.

The full kit (all four corners) was about a grand cheaper than Subaru STI shocks\springs\top-mounts for the rear only!

Edited December 30, 2007 by sKunk

[fai17]

get your car set up proper and it will all be good again.

[scooby222]

cheers guys, think il try falkland in the morning and see if they can do anything this week. its a sti vltd style splitter from revolution ive got colzo, which the garage split when they picked it up but thats another story

[steven_williams]

cheers guys, think il try falkland in the morning and see if they can do anything this week. its a sti vltd style splitter from revolution ive got colzo, which the garage split when they picked it up but thats another story

Dave got to GT tyres in Nairn they sorted mine out after fitting the Tein flex suspension. When the units are fitted they have dropper links that can be used to get below the spoiler. I dont have the price I paid last, their phone number is 01309674161. The guys are enthusiastic and will talk you through what is needed and you get a before and after printout, showing the adjustments.

[thefastone]

Yeah do it Dave, Go for the Teins....