Question: Lug bolt pattern for US 2004 STi vs 2005 Sti.

I just bought a 2005 STi (USA) and then bought a set of snow tires and rims from a guy who had sold his 2004 STi. I assumed the lug bolt pattern for the 2004 and 2005 STi's would be the same.

Nope!

The rims will not fit, the diameter of the bolts is much smaller than my 2005. I'm now have a set of rims that don't fit that I'd like to sell on ebay. Before I do, I'd like to be certain that these were from a normal US spec 2004 STi.

Could one of you fine, upstanding citizens of the USA measure the diameter of the bolt pattern on your 2004 STi so I don't make an expensive boo-boo when I list them on ebay.

Thanks loads for your help!

Philip

Reply to
Philip Procter
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Are you sure they were off of an 04 STi? The 05 is supposed to be the same

Reply to
FNO

They're different. '04s are 5x100, '05s are 5x114.3.

Don't let anyone tell you different :)

Reply to
Patrick Fisher

05's have larger bolt patterns than 04's.
Reply to
Xtranet
04 STi wheel specs from service manual:
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PCD is 100, is this what you mean?

Cheers, Jason (remove ... to reply) Video & Gaming:

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Reply to
Gadgets

Yes. PCD is bolt circle diameter (I forget what the P really stands for), or the second number in 5x100. The '05s have a bigger PCD - 114.3. Both have five lugs, hence 5xPCD

Reply to
Patrick Fisher

Any idea why they changed this?

-Matt

Reply to
Hallraker

They switched to wider wheels as well - 17x8, rather than 17x7.5. I suspect they felt the larger bolt circle would provide a bit of added robustness to the hubs and wheels.

The net impact is that us '04 STis are left with relatively few choices of wheels in which the offset and spoke design will clear the brembos, and it's now a dead-end line to bother making more. Meanwhile, the '05 guys get screwed with very poor aftermarket coverage of their bolt pattern in subaru-specific offsets for the time being.

Oh well. I'm happy with my sets of wheels :)

Reply to
Patrick Fisher

From the press release: "A unique wheel mounting and bearing design produces optimum strength and stability between axle and wheel, raising the cornering threshold." Doesn't seem like something they'd change for little reason, so long term we may see all models go this way...

Cheers, Jason (remove ... to reply) Video & Gaming:

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Reply to
Gadgets

I think the wheel mounting has always been "unique". I know from my recent two flat tires ordeal that spares from several other makes and models will not fit.

-Matt

Reply to
Hallraker

Given the expense for BBS to retool for a new wheel and for Subaru to carry a spares inventory of two sets of wheels, rotors etc. , I, too, can't believe Subaru made this change without reason. I'd just love to know the reason!

It could be a subtle improvement in 'cornering threshold' but the evil in me suspects warrantee returns due to some design weakness.

Speculation is fun, that's my moto!

Philip

Reply to
Philip Procter

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sell them to someone with a Voyager? P = Pitch.At least Subie cente bore is smaller than most other things they couldtheoretically fit.

Reply to
hippo

Who knows...

Are the WRX wheel sizes still the same? Maybe next year, the WRX will bump up to a 17x7 wheel.

I finally put some 17x7s on my 04, and yowsers...no, I don't need to be thinking about suspension *anything*, not for a while. The immediate need became "how do I secure all this crap in the trunk", which suddenly became extremely mobile, on every drive.

World of difference to those tire/wheel sizes.

Reply to
CompUser

bigger wheel hub bearings.

a common point of failure on subies pushed hard in the corners.

Reply to
Ken Gilbert

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