Rio struts + '10 wrx springs

[rollertoaster]

after driving over some railroad tracks today I think the rio struts are in fact blown. I'm gonna have to replace them soon, I will probably get some camber bolts and maybe cut the springs a tad. I'm thinking I may want it a little lower than stock

[Safety Guy]

Well I went out and took some pics of my '04 Rio strut mounts, from the top.



Above you can see that only one of the studs is in the Festiva/Aspire position. Two of them are NOT positioned exactly across from one another. That would have been too easy, eh?





In the two pics above, you can see that the thin "gasket" thingie that sometimes is on the strut mounts makes a nice template for direct comparison. It looks to me like the Rio three studders would be unlikely to fit into the very cramped Festiva/Aspire strut tower top. Someone good with metal work and welding could easily enough widen that area (perhaps as little as about 1/4 of the strut tower flat, keeping most of the structural rigidity naturally intact), but for many of us that isn't a practical option.

To be absolutely sure, I'd really need to fit the Rio struts up into an open Festiva tower. It *might* just fit. But it would be very very close.

Looks to me like we'll still need to use the early two stud Rio strut mounts. Fortunately, you can buy them new.

Karl

[Safety Guy]

At Rockauto, '01 Rio front strut mounts are $30 for KYBs and $41 for Moogs.

Here's the page from Advance:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Strut-Mate-Mounting-Kit-Monroe_15740263-P_1193_R|GRPCHASAMS_1529997477____#fragment-1

If this includes the strut bearings, this sounds like a great deal! (Plus, 20% off!)

I'd call first to confirm what comes with the "Monroe Strut Mate Mounting Kit." Maybe just a cheap little crescent wrench and a couple nuts. I think I'll call on this tomorrow and ask for clarification. Oh, I used '01 Rio to check on parts since '02 was divided up into two different types, so I'm just being safe to avoid store confusion over the cutoff date (7/'02).

Karl

[KingFish]

Same part as above w/pic

[Safety Guy]

King, did you intend on a link here?

("Same part as above w/pic.")

Karl

[91mcnasty]

What exactly are the perks of upgrading to the "roller bearing" rio struts mounts. I've heard easier steering but not much else.

[Safety Guy]

Probably just easier steering, but also newer strut mounts. Figure Aspire mounts (same as Festiva) will be dating from 1997. Compare with the oldest Rio mounts from 2001. Four years newer. Another thing to consider is not as easy to tell: mileage. Old Aspires will doubtless have more than 100K miles on them. Rios are often parted out due to their timing belt breaking at just under 100K, so they will probably have less wear and tear on their parts. Unfortunately, since their odometers are electronic, I don't know how to check them in junkyards.

However, new Rio strut mounts appear to be quite a bit cheaper than Festiva/Aspire mounts too. Around $10 to $20 cheaper each. Nothing to sneeze at! Just make sure they come with the bearings in them. On the other hand, new Rio front struts are more expensive. That's why you get a good set used if you can. I paid $60 for my '04 strut pair.

One more reason to get used Rio struts is that you need the spring topper from them. I haven't seen any new ones for sale. This is the part just under the strut mount and it holds the top of the spring in place. I'm hoping to use them off my '04 struts. Perhaps the Festiva/Aspire part can be used, but I think that's iffy because the size and shape of the strut shaft hole is different and may not be compatible.

Karl

[rollertoaster]

so now that I'm shopping for a new set of front struts, what's the consensus on using 04 rio struts on 01 rio strut tops. I figure the knuckle bolt patterns is the same, but what about the upper spring seat hole? can I use older (01 rio) strut tops on a new strut?

[Safety Guy]

Until I do it I really can't answer that. I suspect it will work, but sometimes car companies change things that make no sense to us.

I won't be taking my '04 struts apart until my new strut mounts get here. I might have this figured out within two weeks, when I plan to put together my newer struts with the new mounts and these newer Rio springs cut 2 coils to see what height it gives on Aqua.

Karl

[rollertoaster]

I'm curious if the top of the strut is cut in a D shape like the festy/aspire/1st gen rio. I guess thats the only possible problem as long as the lower mounting tabs look the same. I'd really like the heaviest dampening possible and I want to get this project finished in time for a rally near the end of the month.

On a side note i took another look at my ride height once the car was parked on level ground. It was too high, so I attempted to cut out one coil. I ruined the springs, cutting just one coil was so much that the spring is loose under full extension. So much for that, I just cut 1 1/2 coils off my rio springs and slapped it back together. Seems to be sitting about right now.


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[Safety Guy]

Okay, Roller, I'll try to get these struts apart to look at them and take more pics at least. I want to make sure the strut bearings are the same, too.

You say 1.5 coils off the Rio spring seems to be a good height? I was going to begin at cutting two coils off. Right now I'm running Aspire springs cut one coil at each corner.

Karl

[rollertoaster]

I'm shooting for stock ride height right now so I went conservative to start. I may torch and bend the first 1/2 coil when I change the struts just to get it to sit better and further dial it in.

Thanks for looking at the struts for me. I'm gonna try and order struts friday, so it still up in the air as to 1st or 2nd gen rio fronts

[Safety Guy]

I just got the email answer from Advance Auto Parts that the "Monroe Strut Mate Strut Kit" does NOT come with the strut bearings. Oh well. I hope to use my '04 bearings in them then--if they fit!

Karl

[rollertoaster]

I think the strut mate kit is just a nut, boot and bump stop. You could probably just put a festy or aspire upper mount on the top


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[Safety Guy]

Ha, it better not be just some "parts." The part number picture off Google (no pic from Advance) showed strut mounts and two nuts per. I did expect, however, that it may not come with bearings in them.

If they ain't mounts, I'se sending 'em back.

Karl