Some quick updates, no photos, although I have some of the following at some point to maybe drop in the thread:
- I did a road-trip (~700 miles one way) over spring break, it was awesome, except that it snowed/iced unexpectedly the day I needed to return but only for a short part of the lengthy drive. Was really sketchy, and I almost made it, but when exiting the Interstate to head South (doing about 25mph) the car became uncontrollable and spun. I continued corrective steering all the way through the spin and was able to regain some control when the side of the car went off tarmac into dirt/snow, which allowed me to prevent the car from hitting anything and gave me the traction necessary to stop. I don't feel too bad, there was already a state trooper nearby on the shoulder of the Interstate that came quickly because he'd just spun in the exact same place but had been able to drive himself out... my car was too light to get traction. Subaru Road-Side Assistance sent a flatbed and it towed me all the way to where the snowline was and dropped me at a gas station, no other serious problems on my way home.
- Car needed an alignment after my off. Toe arms moved based on visual on the lift from my torque seal marks, not sure, but I'm guessing when it "dug in" at the point I stopped.
- Vorshlag top mounts finally got delivered, which was the last part I was waiting on to do the suspension but they sent me the wrong size of extended top nuts for the rear shock mounts. So I'm now waiting on them to machine me "one-off" top nuts. For those wondering, fronts are M12x1.25 but the rears are M10x1.0. They sent me M12x1.25 top nuts for both fronts and rears.
- I've installed my CSG Spec brake pads and the Castrol SRF fluid and completed a full visual and function inspection of all components of the brake system. My braided lines still look pristine, no abrasion of any kind (which is kind of surprising considering). I had some interesting rotational noise from the fronts after installation and after troubleshooting determined that it was caused by the J-hooks on the rotors brushing against the pad surface, as the pads are full thickness and I had put in my Hard Brakes titanium heat shields as well. I removed the heat shields and reinstalled the pads which eliminated the noise... I'm guessing a few track sessions would have done the trick too
- I installed the TRD door stabilizers
- I've got half my ARP extended studs in (fronts), ran out of time on the lift last night (too much BSing, not enough wrenching). Switched to CSG Spec lug nuts. Going back to finish up the extended studs this evening after work and probably leave it on the lift overnight so I can start on bushings. Going to do all my whiteline bushings today and tomorrow. Then all I'm doing is waiting on Vorshlag and I can get the rest of the suspension stuff done. With extended studs I can run spacers as needed to flush out my wheels once I get my alignment specced in.
Track alignment plans right now (looking for opinions on whether this is good or not)
-3.2 degrees camber in the front, -2 degrees camber in the rear, 10mm spacers in the front, 6mm spacers in the rear with 17x9 +42 wheels w/ 245/40R17 tires (Toyo Proxes R888R). I think this is where I want to start out on track while I'm waiting on take-off slicks to come back in stock to buy.
So right now I'm just getting some of the wrenching I can do right now out of the way, and I'm waiting on the last little parts.