[bluedemon_II]

So I have been looking for a strut insert for a while and now I’m more confused than when I started looking…

My problem is that I don’t know what strut to buy for my 04 STI. I know I want a strut insert, but I am confused as of fitment. People have told me that 04-05 wrx strut inserts fit the 04 strut body. Is this true? What insert do you recommend me to get. I want to track my car but it is mostly a daily driver that will see the track maybe 1-2 times a month. I’m looking at the Koni adjustable insert for the wrx but… will it fit. I’m confused.

[kursplat]

great thread on NASIOC about it. i'll probably get inserted in january

Koni inserts in STI inverted struts-specs and pics inside - Brakes, Steering & Suspension - NASIOC

[bluedemon_II]

Correct me if im wrong but the 04 sti has a diferent strut than the 05+

That thread is mostly consentrated on fitting 05+ sti. I dont know what to do on my 04, some say that since the struts work on a wrx, that the struts of a wrx work on the sti. It is becoming a pain to find a set to replace my extramly blown struts.

[aschen]

the 04 struts are the same dimentionally as wrx struts 04-07. The regular wrx struts are not inverted however. You can use any wrx struts. The best option in my opinion (and many others) is to buy a set of cheap wrx take off struts (25-50$) and a set of Koni inserts for them (575$). Cvrmotorsports has the konis.. 05 + sti owners dont have this luxury. Alternately you could buy agx, dspec, etc wrx struts. There is also the ohlins if you are a baller but I am not sure these make sence when you can utilize the super badarsse konis

[kursplat]

Originally Posted by aschen

the 04 struts are the same dimentionally as wrx struts 04-07. The regular wrx struts are not inverted however. You can use any wrx struts...

right, so can't you just gut the 04' sti housings?

[bluedemon_II]

O so the only problem is that the struts on the Sti are inverted and so i need to get the base struts of any wrx and then im set? Will they have the same mounts etc?

[aschen]

Originally Posted by bluedemon_II

O so the only problem is that the struts on the Sti are inverted and so i need to get the base struts of any wrx and then im set? Will they have the same mounts etc?

yesir. The inserts will not fit easily into the inverted housings, but the regular wrx housings will work perfectly. I am in the middle of an experiment that I am 99.999% sure will work. I picked up wagon struts which are a tiny bit different and should give me a bit more neg camber up front which is "cool in the gang".....

[mojambo]

here is the deal.

if you have an 04 STI. get WRX housings and call it a day for the insert bodies.

for 05+ STI's you can use the front inverted stuts and gut it to accomodate the insert. As we all know, the clevis has different bolt spacing on the 05+ STI's due to a larger bearing. This is up front only.

For the rear, get WRX housing for 04+ STI and save the headache!

E

[bluedemon_II]

So the magic is:

4 Wrx housings
Take out the inserts
Put Koni adjustable inserts in
Instal in car
Be happy?

Is that more or less what I need to do?

[jamesohoh7]

Originally Posted by bluedemon_II

So the magic is:

4 Wrx housings
Take out the inserts
Put Koni adjustable inserts in
Instal in car
Be happy?

Is that more or less what I need to do?

looks like this was left up-in-the-air... but yes, that plan will work for you since you have an 04 STi.

[mgsm666]

since you have an 04 --> YOU DON'T NEED THE WRX HOUSINGS!!!

That's the beauty of it, and thats why all of us 05 guys are constantly complaining. The 04 housing design is identical to that of the 02-07 wrx. Therefore, you can use any strut insert designed for the wrx (such as the koni inserts, which are great), and just drop them into your own strut. Follow the instructions on nasioc - but do them with your own stock struts.

The only difference on the 04 STi from the WRX's is that the strut itself is inverted - no difference in the housing.

Hope that helps...


Jesse


p.s. NOTE for 05+ owners that want koni's: See stretch's thread about the ground control / koni inserts --> GC now makes a custom housing for us, that will fit koni inserts, and we can choose basically any spring rate that we want Full custom setup, for under $1500!!!!!

[jamesohoh7]

Originally Posted by mgsm666

since you have an 04 --> YOU DON'T NEED THE WRX HOUSINGS!!!

That's the beauty of it, and thats why all of us 05 guys are constantly complaining. The 04 housing design is identical to that of the 02-07 wrx. Therefore, you can use any strut insert designed for the wrx (such as the koni inserts, which are great), and just drop them into your own strut. Follow the instructions on nasioc - but do them with your own stock struts.

The only difference on the 04 STi from the WRX's is that the strut itself is inverted - no difference in the housing.

Hope that helps...


Jesse


p.s. NOTE for 05+ owners that want koni's: See stretch's thread about the ground control / koni inserts --> GC now makes a custom housing for us, that will fit koni inserts, and we can choose basically any spring rate that we want Full custom setup, for under $1500!!!!!

NO!!, that's incorrect. No STI strut housing is identical for purposes of Koni inserts to any year WRX housing (up to 07, anyway... can't speak to 08's yet).

The only dimensional similarities between 04 STi housings and WRX housings is the clevis bolt spacing and width.

The STi housing is still SMALLER ON THE ID than a WRX housing (yes, even after removing the three bushings). For the fronts, it -IS- possible to press the Koni cartridge in (with some sanding prep of the Koni), but it's very tight and if you don't hone out the ID, you will need a shop-press. I speak from experience.

If you read the thread on Nasioc, I am the guy that actually did this first. Mojambo lead the way with his initial research, but I am fairly sure I actually was the first to use a press to install the Koni's in the front struts. Not that that matters much, just saying... I've been there, done that.

The rear STi struts of -any- year are a no-go for anyone that lacks access to either a lathe or a means to hone out the inside ID of the rear strut body. It -will- jam if you try to press a Koni into them... ask me how I know!

Don't muddy the waters here... if he has an 04, he is best served by just buying some worn out WRX struts and gutting them for his install.

-That- is the beauty of him having an 04 STi. The 05+ guys are forced to use their front STi struts b/c of the clevis incompatibility. They can still use the WRX rears (which I highly suggest them doing).

[Blinden]

^^^ this, Konis will not just go into even the 04 housing.

I have a damn set of WRX housings that I have gutted, I have KONI inserts sitting in my garage, and I have a set of RCE V2 Yellows and Group-N Top mounts that I have yet to have time to put on, it's driving me crazy. Wish I had more info on the matter, but, all I can tell you is that mine are sitting in the garage.

[aschen]

just got this finished the other day and i must say I am as pleased as punch. I think the use of the wagon strut housings is an under rated option. You can basically get free - camber in front which is enough to camber plates reduntant for many. You can save 300$!!! I have yet to get aligned but I maxed out the camber bolts and plates and it looks to be at least -4 deg. My setup

wagon strut housings
tanabe gf springs 05 spec
Koni sa inserts
Whitline camber plates fixed perch version (very high quality)
I got the springs used so the entire setup was only a little over 1k

The ride is 1e23 times beter than the cheap coilovers I have yet it still feels pretty stiff. Ill wait untill the next autocross to pass final judgement but I suspect the handeling will be at least as good as it was with the CO's. I am begining to think there is some truthe to all the koni Hype!

[0000-09-0233]

Originally Posted by kursplat

right, so can't you just gut the 04' sti housings?

no, just get the WRX housings.. I have a spare set in the garage already gutted.. i'll sell ya cheap.. if you want.

Originally Posted by aschen

I picked up wagon struts which are a tiny bit different and should give me a bit more neg camber up front which is "cool in the gang".....

hell yeah, this totally works!!

Originally Posted by aschen

wagon strut housings
tanabe gf springs 05 spec
Koni sa inserts
Whitline camber plates fixed perch version (very high quality)
I got the springs used so the entire setup was only a little over 1k

+100000000 this is exactly what I would do if i had the older style hub..