[wrrrx]

(Yeah, I know this has been dead for a coupla days -so what? I hadda post/vent)
Uff da.
This is one of those great mods I've been wrestling with.. I've had fantastic luck w/ my bearings (along w/ Polyol and STiBlitz)- lotsa AutoX's, heaps of track days, 30k miles and just last month had to replace my first bearing.
(I'm guessing my good luck streak is about to end..)
I had been hoping to have all the 6gun stuff to swap before my bearings ever went, but it didn't work out that way. I've been considering lighter wheels... and much wider tires... and new coilovers. With all that stuff, logic tells me NOW would be the time to upgrade, but geez- with 2-3 sets of wheels (now) involved and new coilovers, this does indeed add up to be "ungodly expensive"!
Carp.
Logic tells me to my current setup... siiigh.

[300hp@6000rpm]

Originally Posted by wrrrx

(Yeah, I know this has been dead for a coupla days -so what? I hadda post/vent)
Uff da.
This is one of those great mods I've been wrestling with.. I've had fantastic luck w/ my bearings (along w/ Polyol and STiBlitz)- lotsa AutoX's, heaps of track days, 30k miles and just last month had to replace my first bearing.
(I'm guessing my good luck streak is about to end..)
I had been hoping to have all the 6gun stuff to swap before my bearings ever went, but it didn't work out that way. I've been considering lighter wheels... and much wider tires... and new coilovers. With all that stuff, logic tells me NOW would be the time to upgrade, but geez- with 2-3 sets of wheels (now) involved and new coilovers, this does indeed add up to be "ungodly expensive"!
Carp.
Logic tells me to my current setup... siiigh.

6 Gun sells a kit that lets you retain your 5x100 bolt pattern but upgrade to the 05+ wheel bearings. If you are planning on going with some 5x100 wheels wider than 8.5", it might be easier to do the 5x114 swap as wide 5x100 wheel are pretty hard to find.

[jamesohoh7]

Originally Posted by red5001

I am in the middle of the hub conversion actually.

The abs rings were a lot easier then I expected. I did modify a gear puller to pull them off. I let them soak in some PB blaster and then popped off with out much issue with a gear puller. I then heated the abs ring with a torch and then slipped it on the adapter ring. Needed a hammer to get it all the way on. I thee used a torch and heated the abs ring and adapter ring and it slide right on the the cv joint. A dab of loctite and cool down and they were good to go.
I had more problem getting tie rod out of the knuckle with out ripping the boot.

I am replacing the rear knuckle assembly with 05 pieces (got them really cheap that is why I am changing the whole thing and not just the hub) and that is causing more way more problems then the front. the long lateral link bolt is giving me some issues. From my research it appears this happens if the car has been drive in the winter at all and on salty rods.

Oh yeah!...Aaron had to modify a gear puller as well!, forgot about that. He just had to grind down the little 'tangs' or whatever they're called to get the thing to grip the tone ring for removal.

doh!.. my bad, I should've mentioned... yeah, you'll want to get new tie-rod boots b/c odds are you'll rip 'em using a pickle fork.

I can't remember if Aaron got new boots either. At any rate, they're not hard to change at a later date once you have the pickle-fork.

Congrats on getting the upgrade! It's cool that 6-gun came out with such a kit, props to those guys for looking out for the '04 folks.

[jamesohoh7]

Originally Posted by 300hp@6000rpm

6 Gun sells a kit that lets you retain your 5x100 bolt pattern but upgrade to the 05+ wheel bearings. If you are planning on going with some 5x100 wheels wider than 8.5", it might be easier to do the 5x114 swap as wide 5x100 wheel are pretty hard to find.

The cool thing about their 5x100 kit is that it apparently uses a 5x114.5 hub that is re-drilled for 5x100 (leaving the 5x114.5 stud-holes in-tact). It would appear you could press out the 5x100-pattern studs and press in 5x114.5-pattern studs.

They just machine a semi-circle on the stud's seat so that it'll square correctly. If you see them (folks that are getting them, I mean), you'll know what I mean.

[red5001]

Originally Posted by jamesohoh7

I should've mentioned... yeah, you'll want to get new tie-rod boots b/c odds are you'll rip 'em using a pickle fork.

I can't remember if Aaron got new boots either. At any rate, they're not hard to change at a later date once you have the pickle-fork.

Congrats on getting the upgrade! It's cool that 6-gun came out with such a kit, props to those guys for looking out for the '04 folks.

The ripped tie rod boot and the may be impossible to remove ball joints from the old knuckles (dam salty winter roads) gave me an excuse to upgrade to the Whiteline ball joint/tie rod kit.
I can't wait to drive the car when then weather clears up and I am finished some other little mods like bushings since the car is in pieces anyways.

[Splash]

On the tie rods...

I used no fork or any other splitter to get the tie rods off... If you smack the vertical side of the knuckle where the tire rod end goes in with a medium hammer, it pops off.

I don't think I've used a puller/separator/anything in years...

[jamesohoh7]

Splash... I've tried that before, and we tried it on Aaron's car too, did not work... no amount of hammering on the tie-rod 'arm/mount' in the knuckle would get it to pop free. *shrug*

I even tried it not that long ago at a Subaru dealer 'shop day' we had... one of the mechanics was there telling me "do the hammer trick, works every time...".. well, it didn't work. He tried it, didn't work... wound up using a pickle fork... oh well!

I don't doubt it works many times in wide-spread practice, just didn't for me the times I've tried it is all.

[red5001]

Yeah same here the hammer trick works sometimes bt least for me but not always. The one tie rod came out pretty easy. The other one however not so easy hence a ripped boot. Oh well.

[aschen]

its been awhile since I have been on iwst. As james said I finally got around to this uprgrade. I got the 5x100 kit for 04 style struts. The abs rings were a bit of a challenge. I had to grind on a 3 jaw puller to get the old rings off. A trick I used was to use the bearing assembly on the splined shaft as a slide hammer to pound the ring and adaptors onto the axels. The interferance of the adaptors is a significant press fit. Lastly order the correct subaru parts for the 4 bolts that hold the bearing to the hubs. I searched all over for bolts that would work and found some regular hex bolts. I have since seen the OEM parts which have a smaller head and can be removed without disconecting the struts.

[aschen]

I also should add that the upgrade was 829 for the kit and prob 100$ for misc other items. All in all the best 900$ I spent on the car. Its wierd actually having brakes after a hard turn.

[aschen]

Public service anouncement: Dear 04 sti owners, please buy the 6 gun kit. It is absolutely without a doubt the best money I have spent on the car. After 3 aoutocrosses all I can say is wow. he difference in brake feel and performance are not subtle. I really wish I would have done this the first time I needed new bearings....

[corey]

Originally Posted by Splash

On the tie rods...

I used no fork or any other splitter to get the tie rods off... If you smack the vertical side of the knuckle where the tire rod end goes in with a medium hammer, it pops off.

I don't think I've used a puller/separator/anything in years...

I haven't paid attention, but is there a little spot in the casting for striking? Hondas have them and they've always popped for me - every time.

I've been considering ordering the kit as I'd like the beefier bearings and 5x114.3 for better wheel selection. Problem is that I have RCE T2 coilovers and I don't want to pay to get new fronts. I need to contact Myles and see if there is a way to upgrade the parts.

[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by corey

Problem is that I have RCE T2 coilovers and I don't want to pay to get new fronts. I need to contact Myles and see if there is a way to upgrade the parts.

i paid extra to have my 6gun knuckle machined for an '04 style coilover for that reason. i believe there's a bracket you can get.

[RaceComp Engineering]

Originally Posted by corey

II've been considering ordering the kit as I'd like the beefier bearings and 5x114.3 for better wheel selection. Problem is that I have RCE T2 coilovers and I don't want to pay to get new fronts. I need to contact Myles and see if there is a way to upgrade the parts.

well if we find someone to buy your fronts and we get them some rears, it could work for you.

Just a thought.

mw

[red5001]

Off topic a litte. But for those who did this swap. Did you have to get new Bolts for the strut and kunckles. I just did the swap and the lower bolt on the strut (not the camber bolt) seem a bit short. I was going to measure but didn't get a chance I will do that tonight. Wasn't sure if anyone new off the top of there head. Or it maybe the struts I am putting on that are not stock.

Thanks