Pedders top hats and subaru camber bolts... results.

[7 skulls]

A few days ago, I installed pedders top hats and subaru camber bolts. Today, I had my alignment checked. -2.19 camber on the drivers side front and -1.91 on the passenger side with everything else in spec. The mechanic didn't have to touch a thing. So far, so good. The steering is a little heavier but the fron grip is much improved. No more feeling the front tires roll over during hard cornering.
Big thanks to the DIYs and torque specs on this site.

[Muskoka800]

Glad to hear your positive impressions.
I have similar parts awaiting installation ASAP.

[norcalpb]

I am very interested in these, thanks for the review.

Did they come with dust covers for the strut opening?

And how you noticed any popping noises?

[churchx]

So pedders tophats are worth ~ -2dg. That's more then single set of camberbolts of ~ -1.5dg.
Imho these, if they will last (unlike whiteline Com-Cs), might make good combo with single set of camberbolts, to together be able to dial front camber anywhere 0-3dg, sufficient for basic track setups at budget (and w/o NVH issues). Dual camberbolt set nets less cumulative negative camber (-2.3) and i guess might be less strong then such combo.

OP: Do you track your car too? Can you report here later on after having these for longer time, how they stood up after longer mileage (hopefully including track use), if bearing won't bind and such?

[7 skulls]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

I am very interested in these, thanks for the review.

Did they come with dust covers for the strut opening?

And how you noticed any popping noises?

Dust covers are reused from the stock tops. I followed all the torque specs and had replacement subaru nuts for 3 on the top hat mounts and the nut at the top of the strut since these are all one time use. I also had new subaru 14mm camber bolts and nuts. No poppings noises, no grinding, all good so far. 250 km today over some rough roads, no problems.
I will try to do up a parts list of the nuts needed and post it here.

[7 skulls]

Originally Posted by churchx

So pedders tophats are worth ~ -2dg.

OP: Do you track your car too? Can you report here later on after having these for longer time, how they stood up after longer mileage (hopefully including track use), if bearing won't bind and such?

Pedders states the tophats are good for -.75. I also used the stock subaru camber bolts (14mm) top and bottom. So -2 is a combination of both.
Pedders warrenty on these is 2 years or 24000 miles.
No tracks in these parts but I do auto X once in a while. The rest of my driving is spirited back road runs. I will update as the miles increase.

[churchx]

Well, "subaru 14mm camber bolt" is normal bolt, and if it's as in stock location, i.e. lower hole, then it acts as what it is - normal bolt that is, with no extra adjustment provided. Only when one uses this smaller diameter bolt in upper, 16mm, hole, there is adjustment, IIRC slightly less but comparable to lobed camberbolts.

Hmm, so offset range is a bit less then i expected. So i guess to reach -3 one still will need camberbolts in both holes + these topmounts, or single set of camberbolts + these topmounts + powerflex eccentric control arm bushing.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by 7 skulls

Dust covers are reused from the stock tops. I followed all the torque specs and had replacement subaru nuts for 3 on the top hat mounts and the nut at the top of the strut since these are all one time use. I also had new subaru 14mm camber bolts and nuts. No poppings noises, no grinding, all good so far. 250 km today over some rough roads, no problems.
I will try to do up a parts list of the nuts needed and post it here.

I ordered the pedders top hats.

20327CA010 x6 for the top hat nuts. I've never replaced them but I might do it this time around.

I will pair them with new OEM x4 crash bolts (901000394) and x4 nuts (902380008) to see if I can gain front camber similar to yours.

[BlueWhelan]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

I ordered the pedders top hats.

20327CA010 x6 for the top hat nuts. I've never replaced them but I might do it this time around.

I will pair them with new OEM x4 crash bolts (901000394) and x4 nuts (902380008) to see if I can gain front camber similar to yours.

Please report back your results, as I am also quite interested in this.

[7 skulls]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

I ordered the pedders top hats.

20327CA010 x6 for the top hat nuts. I've never replaced them but I might do it this time around.

I will pair them with new OEM x4 crash bolts (901000394) and x4 nuts (902380008) to see if I can gain front camber similar to yours.

I think 20327CA010 is the strut top nut. You only need 2 of those. 902350027 is the top hat mount nut. You need 6 of those. I ordered extra just in case. It definitely helps to put the sway bar back on the strut before using the camber bolts. You will also need a pass-through socket wrench for the strut top nut. I picked up a cheap spring compressor from princess auto.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by 7 skulls

I think 20327CA010 is the strut top nut. You only need 2 of those. 902350027 is the top hat mount nut. You need 6 of those. I ordered extra just in case. It definitely helps to put the sway bar back on the strut before using the camber bolts. You will also need a pass-through socket wrench for the strut top nut. I picked up a cheap spring compressor from princess auto.

902350027 is the strut top nut. When you google it you can see it described as "self locking nut"



I'll rent some compressors just be on the safe side.

[churchx]

Hmm, why not reuse original nuts? I doubt a bit them being that often bolted on/off for thread to be stripped ..

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by churchx

Hmm, why not reuse original nuts? I doubt a bit them being that often bolted on/off for thread to be stripped ..

Normally I’d say reuse them, but in my case I have 130k miles on these nuts and I’ve taken them off and on dozens of times. Might be worth it for me to just to spend the $6.

[gpvecchi]

Not really related to this thread, but... genuine top hats do have an orientation?