New Subaru owner? Smeedia has valid tips for your ownership.
6 DEC 2023 - Jeff Willis
In all the blogs that we post, we highlight quality modifications brought to you by the most established brands and explain in detail the benefits of why you should perform x modification, and how it will benefit your Subaru. These posts come from experience, trial and error, many blown motors, and over a decade of trying the latest innovations spread throughout just about every generation of Subaru WRX and STI that has been a apart of RSD.
There is one major quadrant that we can easily overlook here. Because when a new enthusiast asks what are the first modifications that they should do to their newly acquired Subaru? There is always a knee-jerk reaction that begins with “get a wideband gauge” because this tells you to stay off the throttle if your air/fuel ratios are off, so you don’t blow your engine. Or “get an Accessport with a proper tune for current and future modifications”. Many times, the presumption is that you are walking up this giant hill and will quickly slide down this path of upgrades that will take your Subaru from zero to full blown race car in six months. As fun and exciting as it is to have the fastest race car in our inner circles, for many it’s just not sustainable, and it’s not sensible. Afterall, you need to be at the office in the morning and get a gallon of milk afterward.
For many times the most overlooked responsibility is MAKING SURE YOUR SUBARU IS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION BEFORE DOING ANYTHING. This should be a large neon sign that you should have in your Subaru before thinking about going faster. Because mods and upgrades only make you drive your Subaru harder, and more because the driving experience is better, and a lot more fun.
There is no way you should ever think about getting even basic performance upgrades if your tires are worn, if you have a worn clutch, if your timing belts are outside of service, if you have broken suspension parts, or if you are leaking any fluids. All these issues are common for used vehicles, but they need to be addressed immediately. We have all been there, why spend x amount on new tires when I can get a cat-back? Because you don’t want to have a blowout while on a spirited canyon run.
Smeedia released a video that every new Subaru owner should watch. This video touches base on what mods you should perform that are relatively easy to install by yourself or your mechanic and won’t need a tune afterward. These mods add a layer of protection to your engine but will also improve your overall driving experience. Let’s have a watch:
With any used Subaru on the market, it’s easy to overlook many mechanical elements. We can be blinded by the fact that it may have a set of TE-37’s, it could have a custom wrap, or it could have no accident history. But it can’t hide the fact that it could have an underbelly of maintenance issues so make sure you take care of any existing used car issues first so that you have a reliable platform to begin with.
Let’s discuss the components that Smeedia mentions in order. Again, the benefit of these upgrades, is that they are in a way, preventative maintenance, they aren’t too terrible to install, and they don’t require a tune. They are daily-driver friendly, and will make your Subaru look better, sound better, and improve the overall performance and driver experience.
PITCH STOP MOUNT
This is the first component he mentions, because the OEM unit has a high rate of failure in the Subaru WRX and STI models. The OEM pitch stop mount installs between the firewall, and the top of the transmission bellhousing. It absorbs the forward and backward movement of the engine and transmission, and it absorbs a lot of torque during acceleration. The OEM unit is made using materials that get weaker over time and cannot support the increased power made from upgrades. This is a modification that you can install yourself with basic tools, and a little mechanical know-how. Below are some pitch stop examples that are available for most Subaru WRX and STI models:
GRIMMSPEED PITCH STOP MOUNT – SUBARU MODELS INC. 2002-2020 WRX
COBB TUNING PITCH STOP MOUNT – SUBARU MODELS INC. 2002-2020 WRX/STI
FACTION FAB PITCH STOP MOUNT – SUBARU MODELS INC. 2002-2020 WRX/STI
COILOVERS
By far the most popular suspension upgrade among enthusiasts due to their highly versatile purposes. The main objective is to lower your vehicle to provide race-inspired looks, and they really showcase the overall stance if you have a set of custom wheels. The main reason for coilovers is that they are ride-height adjustable while installed on your Subaru. This is highly beneficial over lowering springs because it is labor-intensive to install lowering springs, and you may not be happy with the look afterward. With coilovers, the ride height can be adjusted by twisting the strut body into the lower mount. The damping adjustability in terms of stiffness or softness can be adjusted to your preference, and some coilovers have adjustable camber plates which allows additional alignment settings for those of you who participate in weekend track events. Because of the damping adjustability, coilovers can be enjoyed by new enthusiasts who use their Subaru as a daily commuter. Here are some coilover choices available for select Subaru WRX and STI models:
BC RACING COILOVERS – 2022-2024 SUBARU WRX:
FACTION FAB F-SPEC COILOVERS – 2015-2021 SUBARU STI
FORTUNE AUTO 500 SERIES COILOVERS 2005-2007 SUBARU STI
TEIN FLEX Z COILOVERS – 2015-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI
SWAY BARS
Although coilovers may be the most popular suspension upgrade for the Subaru WRX/STI, sway bars make for one of the best suspension investments. Because the Subaru is a rally-inspired all-wheel-drive vehicle, they have a heavy presence from your local autocross parking lot to world-class sanctioned time-attack races. However, in stock form, the Subaru has a tendency to understeer. Meaning when you turn the wheel during higher speeds, and the car wants to push forward. This can be counteracted with a larger rear sway bar. As Smeedia mentions, a 24mm rear sway bar is a good starting point as the front sway bar is fairly large from the factory. A 24mm rear sway bar will even the distribution of the body roll resistance to keep your chassis flat with better handling and driver feedback while cornering.
WHITELINE REAR SWAY BAR 24MM ADJUSTABLE – SUBARU MODELS INC. 2008-2021 WRX/STI
WHITELINE REAR SWAY BAR 24MM ADJUSTABLE – 2004-2007 SUBARU WRX
COBB TUNING 24MM REAR SWAY BAR – 2008-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI
MUFFLER DELETES
This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to increase that flagship Subaru flat-four rumble. Muffler deletes replace your factory muffler (or mufflers depending on the year) and are available in a variety of different tip options. The two main benefits are the weight savings, and the sound. You get a slightly louder exhaust note that isn’t as loud as an aftermarket cat-back system, but this is because of the OEM piping diameter and built-in resonators in other section of the exhaust. Muffler deletes are not that hard to install, the hard part is removing the factory mufflers, after that it’s a breeze that can make for a fun weekend project.
FACTION FAB AXLE BACK EXHAUST W/BURNT TIPS – 2011-2014 SUBARU WRX/STI HATCHBACK
AIR OIL SEPARATOR
One of the most important modifications to perform on any Subaru. Air/oil separation is very important in a boxer engine, but it is a prevalent problem within the factory PCV system in all Subaru WRX and STI models. Oil and vapors/moisture can pass through your factory PCV system and enter the intake system. The oil coats your intake manifold, intercooler, intake valves which turns into carbon buildup, and the oil will travel into your cylinders. The problem is that oil will lower your octane levels in the combustion chambers, and it will cause detonation issues leading to premature engine wear. The detonation leads to misfires and ignoring those misfires long enough leads to a very broken engine.
A proper Air Oil Separator system separates the oil from the air, so that only air enters the intake system. This keeps your intake and cylinder walls clean, and free of oil. Now Smeedia makes a solid point about those of you who live in areas that frequently experience lower than 30-degree temps, so a catch can is a good alternative because the vapors that create moisture in the AOS lines will freeze preventing the overall function. For the rest of you, here are some AOS examples you should invest in:
IAG PERFORMANCE V3 STREET SERIES AIR/OIL SEPARATOR – 2004-2007 SUBARU STI / 2006-2007 WRX
GRIMMSPEED AIR OIL SEPARATOR – 2002-2007 SUBARU WRX / 2004-2021 STI
IAG PERFORMANCE AIR OIL SEPARATOR – 2022-2024 SUBARU WRX
In conclusion, all the mentioned modifications mentioned by Smeedia are daily-driver friendly, and add more protection, style, and stound to your Subaru. None of these upgrades require a tune, and can be easily installed by an experienced mechanic, or if you have basic garage tools you could tackle any of the installations on a weekend. If you’re new to upgrades, this is a great way to start establishing a mechanical relationship with your Subaru as it really improves the experience, the wrenching efficiency, and allows you to pinpoint issues quicker as you are more familiar with the engine and suspension components.