Looking for improved handling on stock 05XT

[Eastie]

Hi,
I've read a fair bit about handling upgrades and it sounds like the next best thing to good tyres is a RSB. After reading heaps on whiteline rsb's I'm left wondering what is the best solution for me?
Is a fixed 22mm a good option or should I go adjustable? obviously endlinks should also be done, yes/no? what about bushes and other stuff whilst I'm under the car?

It's 99% on road and the offroad is nothing that a standard can't tackle.

 

[Rally]

I would go adjustable for any suspension part. Have you fitted decent tyres to it? When I did that, I was much happier with the suspension and left it standard. What do you really want from the car? You can push the standard set up pretty hard with good tyres and still have a an easy to drive car. If you do go up on bar size, not only would I look at the links, but the mounting brackets as well. I forget what the Foresters come with, but earlier model WRX's had quite thin brackets which would snap with bigger bars, but were fine with standard bars.

 

[Eastie]

Hi Rally,
It's currently got geolandar AT+II which will soon be changed over to C-drives, probably in the same +size (215/60 R16) as I've had no troubles with the auto box with the geo's. We travel a fair bit on windy roads (up around omeo/east gippsland) and the body roll in corners is starting to get annoying. From what I've read increasing the size of the rsb will lessen this (?) Agree that adjustable will offer more flexability to tune it.

Bascially I'm looking for a setup that will let me drive and a decent speed in corners without my wife compalining (because of the roll) - If I can get that I'll be happy

 

[Rally]

The bars will reduce roll, although I must admit I never thought the roll much of an issue (for the type of car it is)- and my other car is a WRX! Remember that when you add bars you are increasing the spring rates that the shocks have to deal with (dampen). On the WRX, I left the bars standard and went with adjustable dampers and on the firmer settings I obtained similar results- acccording to a guy who had the same dampers and bigger front & rear bars on his car and also having driven my car.

I resisted going to bigger bars because of the noise and servicing issues, the extra expenses of links, brackets and in the end dampers to work with them. However, most of the WRX guys I know swear that adding a rear bar is the best bang for your buck handling mod you can do. I do not know how that translates to a Forester with otherwise standard suspension

 

[carljwnc]

I ran the 20mm STi rear bar and mounting brackets on my '05 XT. Genuine Subaru parts and no hassles. I did go with aftermarket end links, Hotchkis, since the STi mounting brackets are shorter and I could make the Hotchkis links longer.

If you get too big of a bar, what you have to watch out for is the mounting tabs on the lateral links can/will break. Some folks tried to weld them to make them stronger, DO NOT attempt this, then the lateral link itself will snap. Poltech makes an end link that mounts to the hub and there was a guy, moboost, on sf.org that was/is making a bolt on tab support. He only does short production runs every once in a while, so they can be difficult to obtain.

 

[Eastie]

Thanks Rally & Carl.
The other option I was thinking of was just getting some stiffer springs - probably kings and some new kyb's as the shocks have done 90,000 and are starting to transfer most bumps.

I see what you mean Rally, adding up the cost of the adjustable rsb, end links, hd mounts and rsb strengtheners it's adding up to $500+ which isn't as cheap a fix as I was thinking. Probalby money better put towards good springs and replacement shocks.

 

[mr turbo]

When I had my suspension done (30mm raised King Springs & KYB's) the first thing that I noticed was that the handling was a lot better.
There was a lot less body roll, especially when it came to cornering. As I said above, the Kings are 30mm raised & stiffer (190 pound) but the comfort of the ride has still remained the same. If however, you feel that it is too harsh a ride from having stiffer springs, you can always drop your tyre pressure by a pound or 2.

Well thats my 2 cent worth anyway.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[lefty]

I've got a WRX STi rear sway bar on stock mounts and endlinks on my 05XT and it's been fine for over 2 years, once on a motorkhana day with very heavy cornering.
A HUGE cornering improvement, especially now with C drives

 

[silver]

I fitted one of those 22mm Whitline bars to the rear of my 05 and nothing but trouble. Clunking and banging and stuffed the OEM links. It's presently 'somewhere".
I agee with the other posts. Get some decent performance road tyres and a second set of rims for the compromise tyres such as the AT's.
I think someone has said King springs make a std height heavier rear spring which might be worth a go.
I reckon you are right about the shocks. 90,000klms? Don't believe any shockie would be any good after that amount of k's. 50,000 would be more like it and that would depend on where you have been. Replacement KYBs
are valved 15% heavier than OEM. Don't get them off Subaru, go to the parts shop.

 

[Rally]

When fitting aftermarket bars you have to be careful when lowering the car back on to the ground that the links do not reverse back over themselves, which will break them. If using non rubbber "D" bushes, best to sand the paint off the bar where they mate against the bush- not forgetting to grease them there as well.