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Rallitek springs installed on 2.5i!!!

naimouasta

By naimouasta
in Suspension/Brakes

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naimouasta Experienced

naimouasta

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I installed Rallitek springs on my 2008 2.5i about a week ago and now should have settled. I will add some install info when I have time, but was pretty much straightforward as far as spring installs go. But for now below are some pictures.

 

Initial impressions? I love them! As far as the struts are concerned they are underdampened but are doable I guess. For those with 2.5i's like me that are afraid that the struts are way underdampened compared to the GT struts, trust me they are not way underdampened. Underdampened? Yes... but I'm bettings that the GT struts are not much better compared to the 2.5i. I was set on getting Koni's however I was short on cash, plus when I do Koni's I have to gut the front shocks anyway, so i figure I kill them first. Handling wise, I wasn't too impressed when I first installed them. However now that they have settled, wayyyy better then stock. Bodyroll is down a lot, as well as pitch and dive which IMO is annoying as hell. Looks?...the car looks good, not too low but good stance. These Rallitek springs are great for those looking for an everyday spring thats not too low to avoid scraping everywhere while improving looks and handling. They are pretty cheap too now that they are on sale. Buy it and support our vendor!

 

Pictures!!! took these very quickly because battery was dying. taken before the snow tonight!http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2882/dsc03600hd8.jpg

 

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/2301/dsc03603rt2.jpghttp://img376.imageshack.us/img376/3313/dsc03604ul4.jpghttp://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5362/dsc03598dv9.jpghttp://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1927/dsc03611dq6.jpghttp://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8229/dsc03610xj7.jpghttp://img126.imageshack.us/img126/2225/dsc03608gx4.jpg

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naimouasta Experienced

naimouasta

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Just some steps on my install.

 

First off, some tools/supplies.

 

1. 1 friend with helpful hands, 2 friends with hands in pocket, beer, snacks, music

2. 1 floor jack, 4 jackstands

3. various wrenches, sockets, 6mm allen wrench, torque wrench

4. PB blaster

5. spring compressors

6. impact wrench ( I used an electric one)

 

 

I started with the rear first. First thing to do is expose the rear top hats. To do this the interior of the trunk has to be taken apart. Everything is held in with some kind of clip so be careful not to break anything by just yanking. I recommend using some kind of clip removal tool.

 

1. First remove the cheap rear cargo cover. Also remove the two side pieces of the cargo floor.

2. Then remove the rear most plastic piece.

3. Now you can remove the clips holding left and right trim pieces covering the sides of the trunk revealing the tophats/bolts.

4. Next remove the wheel, jack up the strut slightly with the floor jack, and remove the lower strut bolt. It is a PITA to remove according to people but my car is newer so I had less trouble I suppose. I also sprayed PB Blaster on all my nuts/bolts and used an electric impact wrench on the bottom bolts. Once I had the nut off, I used a pin and hammer to knock the bolt out.

5. Go back in the trunk and remove the two tophat nuts. Then lower the floor jack and with a little finesse, the strut/spring assembly should come out.

6. Compress the spring with the spring compressor until it is loose. Once you’re sure its locked and secured by the compressor remove the top strut nut with the allen wrench and 17mm wrench.

7. Remove everything from the strut; keep in mind the way the tophat lines up with the strut. Once removed, decompress the spring. Compress the Rallitek spring then put everything back together. Make sure the spring is seated correctly and the tophat is aligned correctly. Tighten the top nut to ~40 ft-lbs.

8. Put the spring/strut assembly back in and tighten the tophat bolts to hold it in place. Use the jack again and raise and compress the strut so the bottom hole lines up with the control arm. It’s a PITA but once they are lined up, insert the bolt and tighten to ~120 ft-lbs

9. Install wheel and that should be it. Once the other side is complete, reinstall everything in the trunk. Move onto the front.

 

 

Now the front.

 

 

  • First remove the wheel. I ended up removing the brake caliper and bracket along with the ABS and brake line attached to the strut.
  • Now remove the bottom two strut bolts. The upper bolt is the camber bolt. You can mark it so that you can put it back the same way when you’re done. I didn’t however, I just maxed out the camber, idk when I reinstalled. These bolts I removed by using my electric impact wrench.
  • Next remove the 3 tophat nuts and the strut should drop, finesse it out being careful not to rip the CV boot.
  • Remove the old spring and install new spring. Basically the same as doing the rear except you don’t have to worry about lining the tophat because it spins.
  • Install spring/strut assembly back in, starting with the 3 tophat nuts. Tighten ~15ft-lbs. Align the control holes and reinstall the two bottom bolts. Tighten to ~115 ft-lb. Camber bolt is top bolt.
  • Instal ABS and brake lines.
  • Install brake caliper and brackets
  • Install wheels.

 

* I just realized I had a Chicago Go-Thru socket set which made it really easy to get the top strut nuts because it allowed the allen wrench to through. My dad got it actually at Harbor Freight for $30. I don’t know how most people would do it without a similar tool.

 

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/93100-93199/93150.gif

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Springs nicely packaged

 

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4524/dsc03533ls8.jpg

 

 

Rear tophat nuts

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8352/dsc03546yj7.jpg

 

 

Bottom rear strut bolt/nut

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1732/dsc03551ui2.jpg

 

 

Front tophat nuts

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5583/dsc03550dw0.jpg

 

 

Bottom Front strut bolts/nuts

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8477/dsc03548rs6.jpg

 

 

assembled front strut/spring ready to go in

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5993/dsc03542ua0.jpg

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naimouasta Experienced

naimouasta

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http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/5388/dsc04034b.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7332/dsc04037.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5375/dsc04038y.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5066/dsc04039.jpghttp://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2212/dsc04046.jpghttp://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5356/dsc04047v.jpghttp://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1646/dsc04048.jpg

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Pawlwawl06 Mentor

Pawlwawl06

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They are great, really tightens up the car. The front sway bar causes more understeer in tight situations, which makes it somewhat annoying. I would highly recommend them. Let me warn you though, you start with sways, then you will want to upgrade shocks, then brakes, etc... Its addicting :lol:
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mylgt1 Enthusiast

mylgt1

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^ yep good stance yet good usable clearance. see!! i knew the GT struts were no better LOL.

yeah don't get me wrong I love the drop,I clear parking curbs by mm but the factory struts just suck! I had a 05 wrx with prodrive springs on factory struts and it was great! can't say the same for the lgt!!!koni's next year for sure, but the ralliteks have the perfect drop....

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naimouasta Experienced

naimouasta

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^^ yep thats what i did :)

 

yeah don't get me wrong I love the drop,I clear parking curbs by mm but the factory struts just suck! I had a 05 wrx with prodrive springs on factory struts and it was great! can't say the same for the lgt!!!koni's next year for sure, but the ralliteks have the perfect drop....

 

yep for sure me too. summer hopefully.

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  • 4 weeks later...
axolotl81 Enthusiast

axolotl81

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Is anyone getting any clunking sounds after installing the Rallitek springs? I'm getting a clunking sound on my right front and right rear? Its not too bad (used to my brother's STi with yellow RCE's), but just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this? Also, any other SpecB guys do this?

 

Sorry, didn't mean to thread jack.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Ryandigi Proficient

Ryandigi

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Is anyone getting any clunking sounds after installing the Rallitek springs? I'm getting a clunking sound on my right front and right rear? Its not too bad (used to my brother's STi with yellow RCE's), but just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this? Also, any other SpecB guys do this?

 

Sorry, didn't mean to thread jack.

 

Just installed them today...PITA...but worth learning how to do something and save some dough. So far I can already tell less body roll onto the on-ramp :). I did not install any rubber on the bottom/top of the springs...hope that they stay squeakless.

 

As for drop, the rears already look lower but nothing up front. I will wait to see if they settle in a little bit.

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axolotl81 Enthusiast

axolotl81

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I found my clunking problem which was the top hat was a little loose. I've been riding on them for about a couple of weeks. The fronts have dropped a little since the install. The rears are a little lower, but not by much. I noticed my fronts dropped a little more today (long drive from Sac to Morgan Hill). Overall, I'm happy with the look and ride improvement. Need some LCA bushings and a RSB to tighten it up a little more. I'll post pics later on this thread to show my drop.
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Ryandigi Proficient

Ryandigi

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cool. post pics. noticed that you guys have specb's. before i bought these, i looked at pics on the rallitek site and i noticed that on specb's it was higher in the front compared to the GT and i supposed the 2.5i.

 

 

Where are these pics :confused:

 

Are you saying that the front remains high and the rears drop on these pics for specB's??? Hope that is not the case. At least the car feels great, not too stiff but stiffer than before :)

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cino135 Community Regular

cino135

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this just sold me on the ralliteks. been holding my finger off go for the past two days, and this thread just broke the camels back. OP, im in love with your color and front fascia, DAMN YOU! RSB next............
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naimouasta Experienced

naimouasta

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Where are these pics :confused:

 

Are you saying that the front remains high and the rears drop on these pics for specB's??? Hope that is not the case. At least the car feels great, not too stiff but stiffer than before :)

 

yes the front will be higher on the spec b. compared to the GT and 2.5i. it's because of the top hats on the bilsteins. you can see specb vs gt pics at the rallitek website. these are excellent springs though, cheap too!

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axolotl81 Enthusiast

axolotl81

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The fronts are high on the spec b, but its still lower than stock. These springs are great. This is how I would have expected the spec b and the GTs too feel out of the factory. Because my cars a daily driver its perfect for me. I should have pics up by this weekend. Too busy to take pics and post.
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