Cobb front A/R bar installed (pics)

Boxer · 03-27-2005, 02:51 PM

Well, finally got around to installing my Cobb front A/R bar, along with Hotchkis competition endlinks, Fri. Check out the stocker/ Cobb side by side.

The Hotchkis endlinks make the stockers look positively puny. The pic doesn’t do justice to how much beefier the Hotchkis links are compared to stock.

Couple of install notes, the online instructions (Cobb, and others) are great..for a WRX. The STi has more bolts on the subframe (6 on each side, 2 directly under the front bumper cover). You’ve got to remove two little plastic covers with pop-pins (Subaru loves these) to even see one of the bolts.

As I’m looking to see what difference each modification makes, I drove it around the neighborhood with the bar/ stock links and felt the improvement right away. Came back and installed the endlinks, they magnified the tight feel of the front and understeer, while still present, is quite reduced. Can’t wait to add some negative camber to the front wheels.

Big props to FT at selgp.com for excellent customer service. There was a mix up on my order and FT promptly remedied it above and beyond expectations.

***VSGTS14*** · 03-27-2005, 06:29 PM

awesome

FT@SGP · 03-28-2005, 07:29 PM

I am glad you are happy Boxer

rankink75 · 03-29-2005, 06:57 AM

Can anyone confirm that the front swaybar only fits the 04 STi and not the 05 STi? I just read that they do not fit on the 05's because of the slight changes. I need teh biggest front bar possible for my 05 and am limited right now with 05's fitment.

Thanks.

***BoostJunkie*** · 03-29-2005, 07:45 AM

pretty sure swaybars are interchangeable between 04 and 05.

esemes · 03-29-2005, 08:15 AM

perrin FSB's are NOT interchangeable.........

i put an 04 on my 05 and it clunked/knocked the front face of the control arm (slightly different casting i believe)

PLEASE help me/us find a true 2005 fitment FSB. even tho the perrin clunked alot, it was a world of difference!

ese

mike_ · 03-29-2005, 08:33 AM

Are Cobb sway bars basically 'rebadged' Hotchkis parts? I thought I had heard something along those lines?

I definitley like Hotchkis products and want to use their suspension bits on my car, so if the Cobb bars are the same...

Seranin · 03-29-2005, 09:01 AM

love my hotchkis sway bar setup...it made the ride a little harsher over rough pavement, but the drive feel is great, hardly any roll. the car feels pretty solid

ocwill · 03-29-2005, 11:09 AM

I am running Hotchkis comp f/r sways on my 05 with out clunking in the front.

Will

Boxer · 03-29-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_

Are Cobb sway bars basically 'rebadged' Hotchkis parts? I thought I had heard something along those lines?

I definitley like Hotchkis products and want to use their suspension bits on my car, so if the Cobb bars are the same...

I've heard that Cobb no longer uses Hotchkis for their bars..FT might know.

STi_Mark · 04-09-2005, 11:40 PM

Just installed Cobb F/R Sway bars on my 05. Installed the Rear the other day without any noise, tonight installed the front sway and a bunch of ******* clunking.......

Wrong one? I AM GOING TO BE PISSED. That subframe was not fun....

Boxer · 04-10-2005, 03:38 AM

Check the endlinks. They need to be tight. Mine clunked a little after install and I go back and give more effort

***Datadatum*** · 04-10-2005, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esemes

PLEASE help me/us find a true 2005 fitment FSB.

ese - did you forget about this thread? 2005 Swaybars?

WE_R_ND · 04-11-2005, 01:53 PM

For those that did the intall how did it affect the balance of the car? I'm affraid that if I get sways f/r, I'll have problems trailbraking. Don't want the rear coming around because it was too stiff.

ValvetrainEngineer · 04-11-2005, 03:12 PM

Was the Cobb bar lighter than the stocker? IIRC isn't the Cobb / Hotchkis bar tubular?

03-27-2005, 02:51 PM	#1
Boxer Spec C Club Location: FL Posts: 1,506 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Well, finally got around to installing my Cobb front A/R bar, along with Hotchkis competition endlinks, Fri. Check out the stocker/ Cobb side by side. The Hotchkis endlinks make the stockers look positively puny. The pic doesn’t do justice to how much beefier the Hotchkis links are compared to stock. Couple of install notes, the online instructions (Cobb, and others) are great..for a WRX. The STi has more bolts on the subframe (6 on each side, 2 directly under the front bumper cover). You’ve got to remove two little plastic covers with pop-pins (Subaru loves these) to even see one of the bolts. As I’m looking to see what difference each modification makes, I drove it around the neighborhood with the bar/ stock links and felt the improvement right away. Came back and installed the endlinks, they magnified the tight feel of the front and understeer, while still present, is quite reduced. Can’t wait to add some negative camber to the front wheels. Big props to FT at selgp.com for excellent customer service. There was a mix up on my order and FT promptly remedied it above and beyond expectations. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-27-2005, 06:29 PM	#2
*VSGTS14* Muller Chevrolet Car: 08 Chevy 2500HD Fav Mod: a new 08 STi Location: Milford, NJ Posts: 9,999 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	RE: Cobb Stage 2, anyone have it? awesome

03-29-2005, 06:57 AM	#4
rankink75 Junior STI Driver Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: SFSOC / Pastelito Racing Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 199 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Max power? Can anyone confirm that the front swaybar only fits the 04 STi and not the 05 STi? I just read that they do not fit on the 05's because of the slight changes. I need teh biggest front bar possible for my 05 and am limited right now with 05's fitment. Thanks.

03-29-2005, 08:33 AM	#7
mike_ The Next Petter Solberg Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 913 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Anyone have MagnaFlow Titanium exhaust? Are Cobb sway bars basically 'rebadged' Hotchkis parts? I thought I had heard something along those lines? I definitley like Hotchkis products and want to use their suspension bits on my car, so if the Cobb bars are the same...

04-11-2005, 03:12 PM	#15
ValvetrainEngineer Spec C Club Car: '04 WRB Fav Mod: A working ECU... Location: CT Posts: 1,486 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (7)	Was the Cobb bar lighter than the stocker? IIRC isn't the Cobb / Hotchkis bar tubular? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-28-2005, 07:29 PM	#3
FT@SGP Spec C Club Location: Become a sponsoring vendor Posts: 1,038 Join Date: Jun 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I am glad you are happy Boxer

03-29-2005, 07:45 AM	#5
*BoostJunkie* Sold My Soul For Mods Car: '05 CGM STi Fav Mod: Track Time Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 6,557 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (14)	pretty sure swaybars are interchangeable between 04 and 05.

03-29-2005, 08:15 AM	#6
esemes S204 Racer Car: 996TT Location: clearh²o, FL Posts: 4,756 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (12)	perrin FSB's are NOT interchangeable......... i put an 04 on my 05 and it clunked/knocked the front face of the control arm (slightly different casting i believe) PLEASE help me/us find a true 2005 fitment FSB. even tho the perrin clunked alot, it was a world of difference! ese

03-29-2005, 09:01 AM	#8
Seranin Professional STI Racer Car: '06 EB Evo IX / SSL Location: Eureka, CA Posts: 689 Join Date: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	love my hotchkis sway bar setup...it made the ride a little harsher over rough pavement, but the drive feel is great, hardly any roll. the car feels pretty solid

03-29-2005, 11:09 AM	#9
ocwill Junior STI Driver Car: 05 CGM STi Fav Mod: bike rack Location: RSM, CA Posts: 85 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	I am running Hotchkis comp f/r sways on my 05 with out clunking in the front. Will

04-09-2005, 11:40 PM	#11
STi_Mark Professional STI Driver Car: Sterling 1991 ///M3 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Just installed Cobb F/R Sway bars on my 05. Installed the Rear the other day without any noise, tonight installed the front sway and a bunch of ******* clunking....... Wrong one? I AM GOING TO BE PISSED. That subframe was not fun....

04-10-2005, 03:38 AM	#12
Boxer Spec C Club Location: FL Posts: 1,506 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Check the endlinks. They need to be tight. Mine clunked a little after install and I go back and give more effort

04-11-2005, 01:53 PM	#14
WE_R_ND Spec C Club Fav Mod: Track Time Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,267 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	For those that did the intall how did it affect the balance of the car? I'm affraid that if I get sways f/r, I'll have problems trailbraking. Don't want the rear coming around because it was too stiff.