North American Motoring - Detailer's Domain: 2008 STI Mega Write Up!

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Detailer's Domain: 2008 STI Mega Write Up!

Here is the long awaited DD Subie Write up.

Where should I start, the mods I guess. Here is what I did before the complete detail was done. I researched and found all the parts I wanted to make this car look and handle a bit better.

Take a look at the work done, I did just about all the install work myself less the AV system and a few bushings (needed a press to get some of the stock ones out)

This car was a treat I never really did any of the wrenching myself so this was a great learning experience. One big lesson, the right tools and a lift are a HUGE Plus

Take a look:

Tuning mods:
Harman DP (removed when the car was traded in) not installed yet -installed and loving it 3/17/09
Harman Motive CAI
Magnaflow CBE --> removed
Invida Q300 CBE installed 3/2009
Access Port (stg 2)
Group N Engine Mount- installed 4/21/09
STI Heat Sheid

Exterior/interior:
Rally Armour Mud Flaps.-->deleted
Rear Bumper cargo strip (incoming) -
Arm rest extension (incoming) -installed 3/17/09
Rear Cargo Tray (incoming) - installed 3/17/09
Piaa Xtreme White Plus High Beams (9005)- installed 3/09
Piaa Plasma Ion Yellow Fogs -installed 3/28/09
Perrin Super Shorty Antenna - installed 3/28/09
Harman Motive Rear Overlay - installed 4/27/09
Valentine One - hardwired 4/27/09

Suspension:
BC BR CO's installed 3/2009
Whiteline Front Sways (22 mm) - installed 3/29/2009
Whiteline Rear Sways (20 mm) - installed 3/29/2009
Whiteline Sway Bar Support Brace - installed 3/29/09
Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit - installed 3/29/2009
Perrin Front End Links - installed 4/21/09
Perrin Rear End Links - installed 4/21/09
SPT STI Front Strut Bar - installed 4/27/09
SPT Lower H Chasis Brace - - installed 5/1/09
Whiteline 08+STi Positive Traction Kit- KDT902 - installed 5/1/09
Whiteline 08+ WRX Rear Differential Mount Inserts - KDT903 - installed 5/1/09
Whiteline rear camber adjusting kit 08+ wrx/sti hatchback subaru-kca326-- installed 5/1/09
Whiteline Steering Rack Bushing kit 08+ - ksr207 -- installed 5/1/09
Whiteline Rear Trailing Arm Bushing * W0568 -- installed 5/1/09
Whiteline Front Control Arm Bushings - W0507 -on the way

Stereo upgrades:
Kenwood DNX 7140 installed by Mobilewerks 4/7/09
JDM AV Panel installed 4/17/09

The car in stock form
At the dealer before delivery:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-1.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...mbnails-10.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...mbnails-11.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-4.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...thumbnails.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-9.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-8.jpg

The STI at its first mobile detail job nice and dirty after a couple snow storms

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8544.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8546.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8547.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8554.jpg

Let the mods begin...
First up the CO's, Exhaust, and Removal of the Mud flaps
The BC Coilovers:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc1.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc3.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc4.jpg

instructions and adjusters:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstructins.jpg

Install pictures:
Frt stock:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/stockfrt.jpg

Set up and install:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstallshot.jpg

Loosening up and removing

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...cktogether.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../frtsusoff.jpg

After shot:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstalledbc.jpg

Adjusters on the front
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...sti/frtadj.jpg

Rear install:
before:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../rearstock.jpg

after:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...sinstalled.jpg

Rear adjuster:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rearadjust.jpg

Wheels and Tires
Uber Wheel/Tire/Wheel Well Kit see below for more of the wheel write up.

Interior and Glass
Adam's Glass Cleaner and Uber Glass MF Towels
Leather Master Foam Cleaner (alcantara)
Leather Master Nubuck Protection (alcantara)
Leather Master Strong Cleaner (leather)
Leather Master Vital (leather)

Engine:
P21S Total Autowash
Adam's VRT Diluted with Water in a Spray bottle

Trim:
Black Wow

Tools:
Infratech 5300
Brinkmann MaxFire
Metabo PE12-175
Makita 9227 Hi Speed Rotary
The Uber Foam Pads (5.5inch)
Tons of "Uber" Microfiber Towels
Uber Drying Towels
Cam Spray 1500A with Cam Spray Foam Gun

Let's start with the wheels.

Here is the set up, I have had the STI now for over 3000 miles and unfortunately I have had no time to give it even a proper wash, actually I haven't washed it yet. The day I figured I had some time it got just too hot to finish it. (98 degrees!)

Anyway here is a teaser. I got started on the wheels and after 3000 miles of caked on brake dust I decided to go all out!

By this I mean wheels were off the car, wheel wells were cleaned and dressed, brakes were polished and waxed.

Products used:

Uber Wheel Kit
Menzerna PO85RD
Sears Jack
19mm Socket
Ratchet
Torque Wrench
Cam Spray Pressure Washer

Now to the pictures:

Before shots of the wheels.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...irtywheels.jpg

Before Brakes and Wheel Wells. (reference left side, forgot to take all the complete shots, both sides were pretty dirty)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...celeftside.jpg

Wheel being pulled off using ratchet and jack.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...eljackedup.jpg

Wheel off the car.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...loffthecar.jpg

Back
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ackofwheel.jpg

P21S Gel on the wheels, I let it dwell while I cleaned the wheel wells and brakes
Back of the wheel
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../backdwell.jpg

Front of the wheel
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...il/p21sgel.jpg

What it looks like after P21S sits for a while, the P21S Wheel Gelis pretty thick.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nomorefoam.jpg

Cleaned both the front side and the back side with the Uber Boar's Hair Wheel Brush, The Uber Spoke Brush, and the Swissvax Wheel Brush, each one helped with the process of cleaning all that brake dust and dirt off the wheels.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...spokebrush.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rushwheels.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...hbackwheel.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...shfrtwheel.jpg

After I applied Swissvax Autobahn on them.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...axonwheels.jpg

Results from all that hard work on the wheels.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...fwheeldone.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...twheeldone.jpg

Now that the wheels were done...on to the wheel wells.
P21S Total Auto Wash was used to cut the dirt and grime off the wheel wells as well as the suspension bits, and brake calipers.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...il/p21staw.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...akedbrakes.jpg

Brushes were used to help clean up the wheel wells etc
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nthebrakes.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...honthewell.jpg

After everything was rinsed and cleaned up, I moved on to polishing the brake calipers with Menzerna PO85RD after I put a nice coat of Swissvax Autobahn on them to give them a nice shine and protection.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...shfrtbrake.jpg

Awesome writeup, love your subie. Great attention to detail

looks like a fun ride. :grin:

isnt..... this..... a .... mini forum?.....

haha nice ride man, that was a whole lotta bushings. love the wrb on gold bbs.

Awww, makes me miss my STi so much!!! We should have an "Ask Detailers Domain" sticky like on NASIOC!! : )

Quote:

Originally Posted by STi2Mini (Post 2996219)

Awww, makes me miss my STi so much!!! We should have an "Ask Detailers Domain" sticky like on NASIOC!! : )

thanks! :thumbsup:

Fantastic writeup. Gives me some solid
info on products to use

Wait, maybe I'm just confused or I missed something, but it looked like your coilovers and strut brace disappeared.

rowdy,

sure thing. no problem.

they did I believe that was the clean up prior to the sale.

Nice looking STi. The front coilovers are installed wrong, the top hat orientation is vital to camber adjustments, and should be facing left to right so you can adjust camber positive and negative. essentially the two allen bolts slots, while looking at the engine from the front should look like =

good eyes, yup noticed it shortly after and fixed it, kept this one for about a year and sold it.

what a trip down memory lane ; )