STI Multi-Link rear suspension info

[deadlydave]

While browsing for stuff on the GR-chassis STI, I ran across the two following blurbs:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gr-suspension-handling-stiffening/132786-2008-rear-suspension-part-i-travel.html
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gr-suspension-handling-stiffening/133160-2008-rear-suspension-part-ii-toe-change-bumpsteer.html

They are written by  TurnInConcepts.  It details "whassup" with the STI's rear suspension.  Currently, ALL the new Subarus I care about that are sold in the US use the same basic design for their rear suspensions, so the articles are applicable, at least in part, to Legacy, Outback, Forester, and Impreza/WRX.  Tribeca can fuck a goat. 

This means we're back to the same problem as before in that you'll be fighting it until it lets go.

Anyone remember how I ran into a tree?  Subaru multilink rear end, lowered/stiffened?  Understeer, Understeer, snap oversteer. 

In Conclusion:  In part I we looked at travel, and lowering the car. Some solutions exist for this in the fact that you can work with a shortened strut body and find a good balance between bump and droop.

In this one there is no good conclusion. A shortened strut body is not going to help. Sure, lowering the car is going to make it worse, but truth is it's not that great to begin with it. Sorry, but the truth hurts sometimes.

A bunch of companies are working on it, but It's not 1-part fix.  Just wanted to give this some exposure, since we have so many new-gen impreza and legacy owners here.

[BlackParis]

  Thats why your sopposed to raise your car get some 250# 12inch springs and RAISE IT! LOL... You'll lose droop, but you gain alot of bump! -- NO MORE BUMP ISSUES!

hehe.. this sound dumb and un-educated. I'm just trying to be funny.. But in all seriousness.. I like how Paris drove when she sat 1 inch higher than stock with NO rear sway bar. ESPECIALLY on pavement, never a dull second of understeer (yes.. gd.. I know)

[spenk]

SOLUTION: Buy an Evo.

[RedRoof2]

SOLUTION: Buy an Evo.

+1
+ Karma

So basically the article is telling you the GR chassis Sti is already at optimum ride height, has a shitty toe curve and an unstable feeling at the limit.  And they're charging 32k for one of these?  Must've spent more time putting in fancy star wars electronics.

[spenk]

^^^ +1

+1 karma right back at you.

[deadlydave]

Ugh this was supposed to be a technical thread not a circle jerk for evo fans...

Oh well, the road to Hell is PAVED in good intentions.  I will say one thing about the stock baja, given the right situation, a nice controllable drift was possible.  I still doubt subaru has anything that would kick so much ass off road, a shame it was such a compromised design.

[spenk]

Ugh this was supposed to be a technical thread not a circle jerk for evo fans...

The GR rear suspension is its own circle jerk.  What else is there to say?

[RedRoof2]

Ugh this was supposed to be a technical thread not a circle jerk for evo fans...

Talking about circle jerks...   they want you to pay 32k for a car that has the rear suspension geometry of a corolla.  The thing is an STi.  It's marketed as a complete class above the WRX.  I'm surprised they didn't use a different crossmember or alter the pickup points on the unibody.  After all, it DOES have its own chassis code.  They could've done whatever they wanted.  I'm surprised it toes in that much under compression.  That's poop. 

[Jay9786]

thats pretty sad, given the label these cars have. glad i dont have a 08/09 =0

[cazwrx187]

Every car has it's own handling idiosyncrasies (except bmw ), you just have to learn how to drive your car.

[deadlydave]

hehe, it could be worse, could be a 4-corner McPherson strut....Guess I'm just surprised how nice the suspension in the is300 is by comparison.  I suppose subaru knew what they were doing, if it toes in under accel it would prevent power-on-oversteer, something the average driver can't cope with, and if it toes in under decel it prevents lift off oversteer(and would make it harder to trail brake  ).  I guess they were just thinking stability, stability, stability and packaging, packaging, packaging. 

I'm pretty sure it's not a 'corolla' rear suspension, since they're FWD, such a fancypants solution would be overkill?  Good 'Ol torsion beam would do fine.

[boxersix]

.............. you just have to learn how to drive your car.

^ This


I love how people bitch and complain about how poorly a car handles when altering the suspension geometry beyond the vehicles intended settings.  They're the same people that say lowering a car and stiffening springs up always makes the car handle better.

Subarus are one of the most docile cars I've ever driven.  You want to see unstable at limits, go drive 996 GT3 or GT2, or an NSX.  Imprezas are a bit quirky on tarmac, but null in comparison to many other vehicles.  In reality they drive like a two ton brick. 

Subaru engineers did a fine job in making a suspension that was more than capable for the general public.  Those trying to lower the car thinking their vehicle will handle like Blocks car fail to realize that Suabru designs all new suspension for those cars and not just dampers.  Hubs/knuckles, links, subframes, etc.  Suspension geometry is all different because the Suabru engineers knew from the start about this issue.

[deadlydave]

Every car has it's own handling idiosyncrasies (except bmw ), you just have to learn how to drive your car.

Actually, this is AMERICA and the lawyers say you don't have to have a damn clue.     You are technically correct.  Also, anyone ever ask these aftermarket companies who, specifically, designs their fancy new suspension parts?

I'd bet my left nut Akira, Shiro, Daijiro, and Isamu are a hell of a lot better at it than Bob, Dan, Joe, and Dave.