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Old 07 September 2010, 11:22 AM
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Comboflip
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Default Weight saving on a WRX

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and I drive a WRX blobeye as a daily. I want to try strip as much weight as possible, but still keeping it looking OEM.

Spare wheel + holder and tools removed, also rear carpet. Not sure on weight saved but it was quite alot.

Front and rear door cards removed to see if there is any soundproofing I could remove. Sadly only a tiny bit on the rear doors, the 3rd pic below, this reflective soundproofing. Shown next to the door handle for size comparison. This weighed 70g per door, the rear speakers also removed which weighed 300g's.


(Rear door)






Front had no soundproofing I could remove, not even behind the speakers, just bare metal! So no weight saved on the front.







Have I missed anything out on the doors? Can the membranes be removed? I was hoping to have more weight saved but I couldn't find anything I could remove. The door cards weighed quite alot (I guess around 2-3kgs) but I still want the OEM feel and look not the stripped out look (not yet anyways lol)


I then started to remove the front passenger carpet. Found some purple underlay to remove (70g). Also this huge plastic bit, not really sure what it does? Maybe direct heat/aircon to the rear? it weighed 300gs anyways.







The main soundproofing I found was this stuff. It weighed quite alot, and it was applied throughout the footwell all the way near to the handbrake! I managed to tear peices off. I removed the ECU cover and it was directly under the ECU also. I wasn't sure to remove this incase it acted as a shock absorber? Can someone confirm? With the peices I torn off it weighed 800g and there was tons left to remove.





Sadly it was getting dark really quick so I didnt have time to do the drivers side. I had a quick look at the roof lining, but I couldn't see any soundproofing there either? Just baremetal?

Also under the bonnet is a massive peice of material, looks quite heavy. Is this purely soundproofing? Or it is heatprotection also? Can it be removed?
All in all I really couldn't find much to remove, I was hoping to remove a few kg's at least from all 4 doors but 140g's in total was very disapointing! lol

Anyone removed the aircon and how much weight roughly would be saved?

Let me know if you have stripped out your WRX and where to find the weight saving stuff

Cheers.

Last edited by Comboflip; 07 September 2010 at 12:35 PM.
Old 07 September 2010, 11:27 AM
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brendy76
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Spare wheel?
Are you tracking the car or what? If not, Id just up the boost a psi and keep the comforts! haha.
Old 07 September 2010, 11:28 AM
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JonMc
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I've ran mine without the heat shield under the bonnet for a couple of years without an issue. Also consider the engine and gearbox undertrays. The airbags in the seats are quite weighty so either lightweight seats, or STI ones without airbags. Could also consider things like the aircon, ABS etc depending upon just how extreme you want to go.
Old 07 September 2010, 12:56 PM
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Comboflip
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Cheers guys.

The spare wheel is removed, I will remove the heatshield also then under the bonnet then

The airbags and aircon I was also considering to be removed and will get some lightweight seats eventually.

Just at the mo, I wanted to do this for "free" and I was just hoping some more soundproofing to be found hidden away somewhere I checked the boot, and it was just bare metal again!

Might have a look at the undertrays as you say, but running on coilies im worried going over any bumps etc.

I wouldn't mind tracking the car, at least with the rear seats for the kids, I can just take them out before going to the track.
Old 07 September 2010, 01:04 PM
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Tidgy
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get th rear windows limo tinted and pull the back seats out
Old 07 September 2010, 01:06 PM
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WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A PUNCTURE OR WHEN YOU ARE GOING OUT IN IT DO YOU ONLY PUT A FEW QUID FUEL IN IT TO SAVE WEIGHT?? PERSONALLY IF ITS BEING USED EVERY DAY I WOULD NOT BOTHER BUT KEEP MY COMFORTS

Last edited by scooby1929; 07 September 2010 at 01:08 PM.
Old 07 September 2010, 01:08 PM
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The Zohan
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How much do you weigh? - perhaps a diet and shed 30 lbs????


It all seems a little academic, what happens when you take a passenger or two out in it???

Spend some money on suspension and brakes and maybe a little on engine, keep the std parts on and enjoy the benefits.

Last edited by The Zohan; 07 September 2010 at 01:10 PM.

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Old 07 September 2010, 01:12 PM
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brendy76
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Tyre weld weighs a lot less than a whole spare.
Smaller battery, keep little screen wash etc.
Really though if you want a light wrx it's time to swap to a type ra really.
Old 07 September 2010, 01:18 PM
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what about the air con ?
Unless you're tracking it , I wouldnt go too overboard.
Old 07 September 2010, 01:25 PM
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Tidgy
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have to say though i agree with whats said above, saving grams is a waste of time, you need to be looking at dropping kg's.

its the kinda thing you either need to do and realy do it or not bother with.

stripping out, removing sound deadening, light weight body panels, plex windows etc.

tbh its not something i'd want to do in a daily driver. be better off remapped, suspension and brakes being done.
Old 07 September 2010, 01:32 PM
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TingTongPJ
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what happens when you want to sell it in the future and you have butchered out the sound proofing ??

what is all the weight saving for ?
Old 07 September 2010, 01:49 PM
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Carpets, seats, headlining, grind off towing eyes, electric windows motors, fog lamps, air con.

As said above, all or **** all.
Old 07 September 2010, 02:13 PM
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Comboflip
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Cheers for your comments guys

Forgot to mention, the brakes, suspension and engine have been mildly done/tuned. But that's not the point of the thread.

Want to show how much weight CAN or CANNOT be saved without spending £100's, or even pennys. Just abit of time to save 2kg's....a saving is a saving in my eyes.

Not taking into passengers into account or whether i've ate a few pies the previous day. I'm just talking about weight saving on the car.

Understand some people like the comforts and when it comes to selling what do I say to the new buyer etc. I'll tell them exactly what i've done, like I would with all my mods. I doubt it would decrease the value at all, though i've not heard what it sounds like with all the soundproofing taken out yet.

Since there doesnt seem to be much additional 'useless' in the first place. I guess it really is all or f*ck all.

Last edited by Comboflip; 07 September 2010 at 02:15 PM.
Old 07 September 2010, 02:43 PM
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is this to be used as a daily driver.

1.spoiler off
2.whole interior bar the drivers seat
3.lighter wheels
4.aircon
5.powersteering
6.abs
7.airbags
8.smaller battery.
9.undertray engine
10.seatbelts
11.speakers
12.headlining
13.front spotlights
14.toweye removed
15.sparewheel/toolkit/rear boot cover

this is just some of what i would do to my car if all i was going to do is track it
Old 07 September 2010, 02:46 PM
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here is a good thread to read

https://www.scoobynet.com/west-yorks...s-program.html
Old 07 September 2010, 02:49 PM
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bigsinky
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suspension all round for lightweight coilovers. replace glass in the rear/front with plexiglass, leccy window motors, air con unit, replace front seats with lightweight carbon fibre/ kevlar, carpets, rear seats, door cards, sound proofing under carpets, soundproofing under bonnet, ally bonnet, ally front lower arms, radios/cd, speakers.
Old 07 September 2010, 03:50 PM
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A lightweight battery saves a fair few kgs. Lightweight ones are around 6kg iirc.
Old 07 September 2010, 03:52 PM
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Reducing the rotating mass makes a big difference, lightweight crank pulley, lightweight flywheel.

Last edited by Aztec Performance Ltd; 07 September 2010 at 03:55 PM.
Old 07 September 2010, 04:43 PM
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ANyone know the weight saving going from prodrive sti suspension to bc coilovers? just bought some bc's and pretty sure they are heavier than the sti suspension i stook on?
Old 07 September 2010, 06:07 PM
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I have also taken out my spare wheel and the tools that go with it,i have saved 17kgs by doing this,also you can just put the wheel back in the boot when ever u want for example on long trips... Light weight battery i think that would be next
Old 07 September 2010, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by eggy790
ANyone know the weight saving going from prodrive sti suspension to bc coilovers? just bought some bc's and pretty sure they are heavier than the sti suspension i stook on?
when i bought my car it had tein flex coilovers on.i had a set of brand new inverted bc coilovers in the garage which i bought for my old car but never fitted,so i made the mistake of selling the teins and fitting the bc's.the teins were 1kg lighter each so i had just added 4 kg to the car by fitting the bc's.
Old 08 September 2010, 09:37 AM
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yeh ive realised from holding the box that they are not the lightest of coilovers.. pretty sure they weigh more than the standard suspension
Old 09 September 2010, 06:48 PM
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Anyone know how much the sti spoilers (approx) weigh? on the newage(blobs)... also how do u fill in the holes
Old 09 September 2010, 06:56 PM
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Spoilers fitted for a reason

spoiler removed
Old 09 September 2010, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by b13bat
Spoilers fitted for a reason

spoiler removed

Rear spoiler create positive downforce,which you are need on tracks(on some),but if you are comparing to APR full carbon spoiler(which is fully removable and fully adjustable for full downforce or no downforce at all,and its lighter).
And here is good article about Rear spoiler pros and cons
http://www.torquecars.com/tuning/spo...rodynamics.php

P.S:About this video,how many people driving on track 168MPH or 183mph(this guy driving on EVO 183mph without rear spoiler),probably no one.
If you really want despoiler car,try on safe track how car drive on track without spoiler and after try car how drive with spoiler on track.
Thats my thoughts
Old 09 September 2010, 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by jura11
Rear spoiler create positive downforce,which you are need on tracks(on some),but if you are comparing to APR full carbon spoiler(which is fully removable and fully adjustable for full downforce or no downforce at all,and its lighter).
And here is good article about Rear spoiler pros and cons
http://www.torquecars.com/tuning/spo...rodynamics.php

P.S:About this video,how many people driving on track 168MPH or 183mph(this guy driving on EVO 183mph without rear spoiler),probably no one.
If you really want despoiler car,try on safe track how car drive on track without spoiler and after try car how drive with spoiler on track.
Thats my thoughts
Understood

But they are not just cosmetic on performance vehicles and do effect handling
Old 09 September 2010, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by b13bat
Understood

But they are not just cosmetic on performance vehicles and do effect handling
Yes,Rear spoilers are not for cosmetic reason(but on some cars are,but some people buying and doing worse for aerodynamics and downforce).
If you want create better downforce buy adjustable rear spoiler form APR or other companies...(not cheap from fibreglass which is extremely heavy).
Yes,rear spoiler effect handling etc.(better/bigger downforce -better handling),but effect top speed on straight line(low downforce-higher top speed/handling is worse due no downforce at all

Last edited by jura11; 09 September 2010 at 09:18 PM.
Old 10 September 2010, 02:10 PM
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this is what happens when u take the back spoiler of !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phf_s...eature=related
Old 10 September 2010, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Ginola
this is what happens when u take the back spoiler of !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phf_s...eature=related
ouch.looks to me like he still had a small lip on the boot though.more driver error than no spoiler as the car had been handling quite well up till then.
Old 10 September 2010, 04:42 PM
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The Zohan
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Originally Posted by b13bat
Spoilers fitted for a reason

spoiler removed
Nice car what was the chap thinking would happen when he lifted off and the weight transferred - idiot!


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