Category Archives: WRX

Ej20, ej20G, EJ25, EJ257, Impreza, STi, Subaru, Turbo, UK, USDM, WRX

Valve Cover Gasket replacement Subaru WRX:

Valve Cover Gasket replacement Subaru WRX:

This is a step by step guide on replacing the valve cover gasket on Subaru flat four engines. This guide will work for most Subaru turbo cars 02-07+ and most other naturally aspirated Subaru cars.

1.) Jack your car up and drain the oil. Remember to put the car on jack stands. You don’t want the car dropping on you.A lot of people do this job with the oil still in the pan, but its better to rather play it safe and drain the oil completely.

2.) Remove the front air scoop. It takes two 10mm bolts.

3.) Remove the nice Cold Air intake box.

4.) After removing all that, you should see this a total of 8 outer bolts and the 2 inner which holds the spark plug coils.

Valve cover gasket: In the center are the two coil packs that need to be removed.

5.) Unscrew them and label them. You don’t want the bolts going into the wrong place. It was a very hard to get any decent clearance so take your time.

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AWD, Drivetrain, Impreza, STi, Subaru, Turbo, WRX

ATF Power Steering Fluid Replacement Subaru STi/WRX:

ATF Power Steering Fluid Replacement Subaru STi/WRX:

This is a step by step guide in replacing the ATF power steering fluid on your Subaru STi/WRX. This is pretty much a two person job unless you have a suction gun. I like to use Mobil 1 ATF Synthetic fluid.

ATF Power Steering Fluid Replacement Subaru STi/WRX: A how to guide on replacing the power steering fluid on a Subaru WRX/STi.


Mobil 1 Synthetic Automatic Transmission Formula

1.) Open hood and remove two 12 mm bolts on intake scoop. Remove the scoop (lift up right side and it will pop off).

2.) Remove cap from power steering reservoir.

3.) Raise the car up (use jack stands “Safety first”), not to high. A person must sit in the car while another person fills the power steering reservoir.

4.) Under the car – Remove the Plastic engine cover under the car, using the 12 mm socket (5 bolts) and flat tip screw driver (4 clips).

5.) Remove the center jack plate, using 14 mm socket (4 nuts), and 12mm socket and 12 mm wrench (2 rear bolts & 2 front nuts/bolts).

ATF Power Steering Fluid Replacement Subaru STi/WRX:

6.) Place a oil pan under the power steering gear box (just above jack plate location).

7.) Using the pliers slide one of the clips off the rubber hose (pipe joint) on the power steering gear box. Fluid will drain out immediately, so have that pan already in place under the hose.

ATF power steering fluid: The rubber hoses in the middle are the ones to drain from.

8.) Slowly pour in some ATF into the reservoir, while another person sits in the car and SLOWLY turns the steering wheels from lock to lock – perform this at least 3 times. Watch the fluid in the reservoir so that it doesn’t drain out, and watch under the car to see when the old fluid is flushed out. The OEM fluid was brown and I used Mobile 1 ATF Synthetic which was red, so I could see when all the old fluid was flushed.

9.) Re-attach rubber hose (pipe joint) and slide the clip back into place. Put jack plate back on and put plastic undercover back on.

10.) Pour in ATF to the MAX cold line on the reservoir and be ready to add more when the person turns the steering wheel.

ATF Power Steering Fluid Replacement Subaru STi/WRX:

11.) Slowly turn the steering wheel lock to lock (3x or more) and watch the reservoir until bubbles stop appearing. Add ATF as needed! DO NOT LET THE RESERVOIR GET TOO LOW!!! This will suck more air into the system.

12.) Start the car and Slowly turn the steering wheel lock to lock (3x or more) and watch the reservoir until bubbles stop appearing. Add ATF as needed.

13.) Lower car onto the ground. Slowly turn the steering wheel lock to lock (3x or more) and watch the reservoir until bubbles stop appearing. Add ATF as needed.

14.) “In case the following happens, leave it about a half an hour and then do” STEP 11 to STEP 13 again:
a. Fluid level changes over 3 mm (0.12 in)
b. Bubbles remain on the upper surface of the fluid
c. Grinding noise is generated from power steering pump.

15.) Replace power steering cap and reinstall the intake scoop.

Now enjoy your smoother steering with your brand new ATF on your Subaru WRX/STi!

Tools needed:
Flat tip screw driver
10 mm socket
12 mm socket
14 mm socket
12 mm wrench
Pliers
Drain pan

AWD, Ej20, EJ25, EJ257, Intake, STi, Turbo, WRX

Intake manifold bolts loose on a Subaru STi:

Video

Intake manifold bolts loose on a Subaru STi:

Don’t forget to tighten down your intake manifold bolts down to the correct torque values.

Intake manifold Subaru STi: Make sure to tighten down the bolts.

 

Otherwise you’ll end up with a broken sounding engine like this:

Luckily forgetting to tighten down the intake manifold bolts didn’t cause any permanent damage, but I wouldn’t go driving around like this either.

If you do TGV deletes like in this post. Make sure to use new intake gaskets where the TGV’s and the intake manifold meet up. What’s even more important is to make sure you tighten down those intake manifold bolts that hold the intake manifold to the TGV’s.

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AWD, Drivetrain, Impreza, Subaru, Tuning, WRX

Stainless Steel Brake Lines install 02-07 WRX/STi:

Stainless Steel Brake Lines install 02-07 WRX/STi:

This is a step by step guide on installing stainless steel brake lines on your 02-07 WRX/STi.

1.) Get the car safely in the air and remove the wheels.

Stainless Steel Brake Lines: Get the front of your Subaru Impreza up on jack stands.

2.) Start with the front wheel. First thing to do is clean all the fittings that will be loosened to prevent dirt from getting in the stainless steel brake lines. Use compressed air then some brake cleaner to do the job.

3.)Then, remove the 12mm bolt holding the line to the strut.

Stainless Steel Brake Line: Remove the 12mm bolt holding the line to the strut.
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AWD, STi, Subaru, Suspension, TMIC, Tuning, WRX

Strut Tower Brace front install WRX/STi

Strut tower front brace install WRX/STi:

This strut tower brace guide should work on both 04 and 05’s just fine (mine is an 05). I’m not sure about the 06s’ since they relocated the AC line and it looks like Whiteline makes the only strut bar that will work on an 06. A little bit of modification with the 06+ model cars might be necessary. These are also specific to the JDM Spec-C Titanium Strut Bar but should work as a general guide for any strut bar on an STi.

1.) Remove alarm horn bar from passenger strut tower bolts which are 12mm. Disconnect the horn and put it aside for now. We’ll screw the horn into the side of the strut tower once we’ve installed the strut bar.

Strut tower brace: Removing the alarm horn bracket. Some models did not come with the alarm horn option so you do not need to do this.

2.)Lower the AC line bracket down a screw. This is the AC Bracket you need to unscrew (use a philips head screw driver or 10mm ratchet). You’ll need to remove the bolt that connects the AC line to the bracket and also the bracket where it connects to the firewall. Remount the bracket down a screw by mounting the upper hole where the bottom screw hole on the firewall is. The bracket is the copper colored metal piece.

Strut Tower Brace: Remove the copper bracket off of it’s mount on the firewall.

3.) Install Strut Bar.

First remove the bolts holding the struts to the strut walls. Bolts are 12mm. They should come off pretty easily since they are only torqued down to 14.5ft-lbs.

I found it was easiest to unscrew the strut bar into 3 pieces, the 2 parts that connect to the strut tower and then the actual bar itself (bolts/screws are 12mm). I put the round strut tower parts on first and loosely bolted them down. Then I placed the strut bar on top and loosely screwed down the strut bar to the strut tower connection pieces.

Strut tower brace: Passenger side strut bar end installed.
Strut Tower Brace: Driver’s side strut bar end installed.
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brembo, Cusco, Impreza, STi, Subaru, Turbo, WRX

Master Cylinder brace Install For STi/WRX

Master Cylinder brace Install For STi/WRX:

The brake master cylinder is located by the driver’s side strut tower and once you find it the rest is pretty self explanatory. I have a 2005 Subaru STi. Some later years might be slightly different.
Tools needed:
10 mm socket and wrenches
Zip tie (optional)

Master Cylinder Brace: A installed Cusco master cylinder brace.

1.) Find the brake master cylinder located just inboard of the drivers side strut tower. The washer fluid bottle will be in the way so unbolt the two bolts and lean it forward, no need to disconnect it altogether.

2.) There are two brackets bolted to the strut tower visible in this picture. These are the two holes used to mount the brace. Unbolt these two holes.

Master Cylinder Brace: There are two brackets bolted to the strut tower visible in this picture.

3.)The lower bracket is not compatible with the master cylinder brace. Its best to remove the bracket, then zip tie the lines to the master cylinder brace at the end to keep them secure.

Master Cylinder Brace: Remove this bracket.

4.)The next bolt to take out is difficult to get a picture of but you will see it easily you can barely see it here, it is located slightly farther towards the back of the car, undo it as well.

Master Cylinder Brace: The hidden bolt is located slightly farther towards the back of the car, undo it as well.
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2.5RS, Ej20, EJ257, Intake, Intercooler, STi, Subaru, TMIC, Tuning, Turbo, WRX

Pitch Stop Install on Subaru WRX/STi

Pitch Stop Mount Install on Subaru WRX/STi:

This is a step by step guide on how to install an aftermarket Pitch Stop Mount to your 02-07 Subaru WRX or STi.

Pitch Stop Mount: In the foreground a oem plastic pitch mount and in the background a Perrin Performance pitch stop mount.

1.) Locate and remove the three 10 mm Gold colored bolts that secure the black vacuum lines to the bottom of the intercooler. You will need a shallow socket as it gets tight around the BOV. Careful not to drop them into the engine bay, it will be a PITA to find and retrieve them.

2.) Locate and remove the two 12 mm bolts that secure the recirculating BOV to the bottom of the intercooler. Again be careful not to drop these into the engine bay as it’s a jungle down there and it will be a PITA to retrieve them.

3.) Locate and remove the two 12 mm bolts that secure the intercooler to the engine. These are located one on each side of the intercooler.

4.) Now the intercooler is only held in place by the rubber intake hoses with the clamps. The one that is on top, from the intercooler to the throttle body/intake manifold is easier so do them first. Using the Flat head screw driver or an 8 mm socket loosen the clamps holding the intake piping to the Intake manifold and intercooler. And leave it for now.

5.) This is a little tough to do, but its not impossible. You should be able to do it even if you have large hands. Using the flat head or 8 mm socket, loosen the clamp that holds the intake tube coming from the cold side of the turbo to the intercooler. This is located underneath the intercooler.

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Ej20, EJ257, forester, Impreza, STi, Subaru, Turbo, WRX

Oil Change 04-07 Subaru WRX/STi DIY:

Oil Change 04-07 Subaru WRX/STi DIY:

If you’ve never changed oil on a 04-07 WRX STi this guide will take your step by step through the oil change process. This guide should be applicable to most turbocharged Subaru cars throughout the years. Check at the end of the post for part numbers, oil, filters and tools needed to complete an oil change.

Oil Change: The legendary oil filter subaru ring of fire.

1.) Get you car on a hard, even, flat surface and get your car up on jack stands. I put mine up on 4 jack stands, so that later on when you are draining the oil, the car is already level and will drain properly.
Where to jack and put jack stands has been debated many times before.

2.) Once you get your car up on 4 jack stands, it is time to remove the brush guard. There are 5 bolts to remove and they are all 12mm.

3.) Now that you got your brush guard off its time to get under the car and start your oil change. You should take a second and locate the oil filter and the oil drain plug.

4.) If your engine is cool, go ahead and start it up and let it run for about 5 minutes. This helps with the oil change. The oil gets warm and drains much easier and quicker.

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