I have a 93L with a 1.8 that is getting swapped out for a 2.0 usdm wrx motor. I thought I remembered reading that all the subaru x-members are interchangeable and will bolt into any Impreza 93-current, and that a turbo x-member (rhd or lhd) is required when putting a turbo motor into a n/a Impreza. I also remember reading that if you use your old steering rack with the newer wrx ps pump/motor, the lines need to be modified. After reading this, I figured that I could just bolt a turbo x-member into the 93 and use the 93L steering rack. Well, here's the dilema.
I got a 2004 RHD turbo x-member from an STi. It looks nearly identical to the 93 n/a x-member, except for the indentations for the up pipe. When we went to put the 93 steering rack into the 04 x-member, we saw that the body of the steering rack is square where it mounts to the 93 x-member. The STi rack and x-member are round where it all bolts up. So long story short, the 93 rack won't bolt into the 04 x-member. Does the fact that it is a RHD x-member have something to do with it? Which steering rack will I need for that x-member (02-06 WRX, STi) or will that x-member ever work for a LHD car? I can take pics if that helps, but I didn't want to add to an already long post if someone already knows. Thanks

i used my 95 1.8 rack in the sti crossmember. it should go just fine. do you have the bushings in the right spot? im not sure why it won't fit. need pics or something. should just bolt in. --keith

Here's some pics:
93 x-member
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/e0fb1bac.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/2434ae67.jpg
93 rack
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/21ee2a20.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/ce6a0a7b.jpg

RHD STi x-member
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/73f746ec.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/9a98acce.jpg
RHD STi rack
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/6a12dac8.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/JWhitten123/d6c614a9.jpg

This is a shot in the dark, but I am going to take a guess that it has nothing to do with RHD or LHD but with model year. I am guessing that since it is an '04 x-member it won't work. There are a number of other things that changed in '04, and when I look it up on my online wholesale account they are listing separate racks for '02-03 versus '04-06. I think that's where your problem lies.

You could try and make the '04 rack work, but it's going to have tie rods that are too long for your chassis. The only way I could see it working is if you put your GC tie rod ends onto that rack. And I don't know for a fact this would work. I am only presenting possible solutions and not known fixes. But someone has to be the first one to try something, right? :devil:

I've got a '94 leggy turbo x-member for sale if you want to go that route. One of the sway bar mounts is slightly bent, but a rubber hammer should fix it. $125+ freight, including the sway bar.

Hey Matt, Does that x-member have the square mounting points like the 93 Impreza one that is pictured? Or, do you know if the 02-03 rack has the round body that would fit into the STi x-member above?

olders should be square not round. if you have bothe tie rod ends check their length vs each other. the length diff. may be the rack shafts. but model year seems like the problem. mine were both GC's so i guess i was ok. going from gc to gd is most likely the problem as matt said. --keith

my crossmember looks just like a 1.8l crossmember, but with a cutout for the up-pipe. A BC x-member is the same part as a GC crossmember...

You could try and make the '04 rack work, but it's going to have tie rods that are too long for your chassis. The only way I could see it working is if you put your GC tie rod ends onto that rack. And I don't know for a fact this would work. I am only presenting possible solutions and not known fixes. But someone has to be the first one to try something, right? :devil:



I've done this before - its actually not that hard to just suck the 04 tie rods down a little extra so they'll line up with the '93 knuckles.

So to use the turbo x-member I have, I need an 02-06 rack?

Hey Matt, Does that x-member have the square mounting points like the 93 Impreza one that is pictured? Or, do you know if the 02-03 rack has the round body that would fit into the STi x-member above?
02-03 have the square mounting points


<---using a 2002 WRX Cross member and stock RS rack

also using 02 wrx crossmember on stock RS rack...everything fits with no problem.

So to use the turbo x-member I have, I need an 02-06 rack?

Nope. You need an '04-06 rack...

Should I just go with an 04-06 wrx rack, or shoot for an STi rack? Thanks Matt

If it were my car, I would just source another x-member...

I'm using an 92 turbo legacy cross member with a 98 rs rack. everything fits great.

Just a little update. From what I've gathered, the 93-01 GC cars, the 02-06 WRX and the 04 STi all have the steering rack with the square body/mounts. The 05 and 06 STi have the steering rack with the round body/mounts. Please correct me if I'm wrong.