Who here owns a Subaru?

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 16:19

I ordered 2 bottles I think.

I'll fit my brakes in the next few weeks but tbh, you won't go wrong with Ferodo DS2500 as an upgraded pad.

Phil, could you tell a difference after fitting the brake stopper?

Godspeed do some nice grooved discs. I was tempted but they are quite expensive.

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 17:38

agw_01 said:
Phil, could you tell a difference after fitting the brake stopper?

Yep. Under normal driving conditions the different is negligible because that's not what it's designed for. When you hit the brake pedal hard however you get an instant 'bite' with a solid pedal that is quite a bit different to not having it fitted.

Money well spent considering how much it cost!

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:00

Sounds good! I like to stage my mods so that I can feel the benefit of each one. Still running rubber brakes lines so would need to replace them.

I'll want a front strut brace to mount the stopper to but most of the ones I've seen are multi-piece alloy. I had single piece solid OMP braces on my Rover and they were really good. Wouldn't feel quite the same about using a brace made up of a couple of pieces of ally bolted together, they'd flex more than the car lol.

I really really need to learn to weld.

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:14

You don't need a strut brace to mount the stopper to if you get a Tegiwa one. Cusco do a strut brace with a brake stopper built in if you really want the brace though.

The Tegiwa one mounts to the strut housing.

My old man has recently set up powder coating. I'm having my wheels refurbished from the current dull gold to shadow chrome

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:22

Ahhh ok. I remember you mentioning the Cusco brace but I think that's ally too.

I don't think I've seen any solid braces for the Impreza.

I'll have a look into the Tegiwa stopper.

Shadow chrome will look good on a black car too! Just make sure he masks off the mating face before coating. Many companies don't and it's the little details that make the difference.

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:40

Yeah he does that anyway - prevents wheel wobble. Who knew you could get high temp masking tape

I want to re-do some bits in the engine bay (rad brackets, battery strap, tegiwa stopper etc) but I can't decide whether to go black or STi pink :confused:

- wouldn't mind a bit of colour but don't want to make it look pap.

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:46

Unless you're going to do large parts of the bay pink, I'd stick with black. Looks a bit odd with just the odd bit in pink. I might coat the brake stopper but not the battery clamp.

Just imo of course

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 18:57

I know what you mean - I'm on the fence as I don't want to 'cheapen' it.

I was more worried about it clashing with the red inlet manifold. My list was:

- Bonnet stay
- Rad Brackets
- Battery clamp
- Black brackets on the front of both struts
- Tegiwa stopper
- Top of the radiator tank reservoir

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 19:05

I'd go black. A clean and well presented bay with pink Samco hoses (if you really wanted to express your manliness

) would look much smarter than a bay with random brackets and mounts painted pink IMO.

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 19:10

Get rid of the bonnet stay btw. I fitted gas struts to mine a while ago and wouldn't be without them now.

They managed to leave @Rybo89 scratching his head for a few minutes while he figured out what was holding my bonnet up

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 19:13

Would never have hoses any other colour than black! I think you're right, black would probably be best.

Have looked at the gas struts, they are on my shopping list

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 19:39

After suggesting it, I'm actually quite partial to some pink hoses now, haha.

For small brackets and mounts though, black is definitely the safe option. Coloured accessories are only a good idea if you plan to bling the entire bay.

Gas struts are defo the way forward!

Rybo89 · 29 Jul 2017 at 20:20

agw_01 said:
Get rid of the bonnet stay btw. I fitted gas struts to mine a while ago and wouldn't be without them now.

They managed to leave @Rybo89 scratching his head for a few minutes while he figured out what was holding my bonnet up

I thought it was a magic trick

Anyway the best thing you can do with a engine bay is keep it nice and simple, but minted up:

My mate has tatted his up with a cheapo pink strut brace, battery cover, rad mounts etc and to me it looks utter dross.

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 20:35

Where's your airbox snorkel, @Rybo89 ? Or do the widetracks not have them?

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 21:06

I asked him the same thing Phil, hah. It should have a snorkel.

Rybo's engine bay is really smart. Very clean.

Rybo89 · 29 Jul 2017 at 21:28

I always assumed it was a widetrack thing. Can't remember you mentioning anything about mine or i would have questioned it. I am in a world of my own half the time though

Should a buy one?

Rybo89 · 29 Jul 2017 at 21:29

Meeting you has become bloody expensive....

Phil W · 29 Jul 2017 at 21:59

I would have one personally. Stops hot air from the bay being drawn in at the very least!

Where are you both based? We should meet up somewhere for an afternoon's driving!

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 22:00

I remember pointing it out, but it may have just got muddled in with the rest of the giberish I was saying

Yeah, if you don't plan to go with a cone air filter in the wing I'd buy one. Keeps the car factory and helps the airbox to draw in cool air.

agw_01 · 29 Jul 2017 at 22:01

Rybo89 said:
Meeting you has become bloody expensive....

Me? Why, what did I do? Apart from trying to persuade you to buy £150 brake pads lol.

Phil, I'm in North Manchester. Defo up for arranging something.