I have heard opinions on both sides of the fence saying that it can or can't be used. Some say it bolts in, some say it doesn't work at all, some say you have to shim the control arm bushings to remove some slop.

I'm beginning to believe that shimming is necessary. yamarocket said you could just use the WRX wagon control arms or have the WRX control arm bushings pressed in and it will work without a hitch. I haven't been able to get him to confirm this.

How did you get it to work in your car? Using the turbo Legacy crossmember probably isn't an option for me right now since I don't want to pay the extra $200 to get one.

-Jon

for my I-Speed swap, we used the USDM 02 WRX crossmember on my '99RS. Bolted right up to the frame. We did have to shim the lower suspension arms. No big deal. You just have to use the suspension bolts from the 02 seeing as they're longer than the original bolts.

Anybody else have any comments on this?

-Jon

The cross member has extra "tabs" that the WRX uses for a stiffer body. The RS doesnt have spots for these, but they dont bother anything (no need to remove them).

The cross member has extra "tabs" that the WRX uses for a stiffer body. The RS doesnt have spots for these, but they dont bother anything (no need to remove them).

I have one on my car. It fits fine, you do need to shim the control arms. I didnt at first and I was getting some horrible noises from the control arms moving around. I really dont think you could get away with not doing that. I did use the same bolts and I dont remember noticing they were short. The little plastic splash guards under the front bumper also do not clear well. Mine are just hanging down. However, Im sure five minutes with a blade would solve that problem.

How did you guys rig up the shims?

-Jon

You can use washers to take up the slack.

anyone have a pic with the USDM WRX crossmember all shimmed up?? ide like to see. Ill probably go this route if i like what i see.

I would reccomend a 91-94 turbo Legacy crossmember as they fit the stock RS control arms....part#20100AA111..that way you don't have to shim up the arms....:D..the 91-94 Bolts right in...no problems...
List price for this is 366 bones....but you can probably get a used one for less than a hun....Happy wrenching



Bill

I know the Legacy crossmember works; heck, I've installed one in my car before. I had found it for $150 and that was back when they were just barely starting to disappear.

I'd much rather be able to use the new-age crossmember that I will be receiving with my engine.

I have heard that the wagon's control arms actually have the same dimensions are the GC/GF arms, but they just use a thicker bushing where it mounts to the crossmember. Anybody actually investigated this to the fullest?

-Jon

I have heard that the wagon's control arms actually have the same dimensions are the GC/GF arms, but they just use a thicker bushing where it mounts to the crossmember. Anybody actually investigated this to the fullest?

I've heard something similar to this from a friend in the business, but I can't confirm it.

Paul G.

I called the dealership today and the RS control arm and the wagon control have different part numbers. However, she did mention that they both come with the front bushing (the location in question). The only way to know seems to be a direct comparison.

In this thread here, (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=353582) Leonardo says:

Well the GC8 body controll arms fit the new WRX wagon. It's the WRX sedan arms that are diferent.

Unforunately, the from control arm bushings are NOT available for individual purchase. You must buy the entire control arm. The dealership doesn't have the WRX wagon control arm in stock so I can't compare them anyhow. Looks likes it's shims unless somebody has some cheap and creative way to acquire WRX wagon control arms.

-Jon

Originally posted by stimpy
yamarocket said you could just use the WRX wagon control arms or have the WRX control arm bushings pressed in and it will work without a hitch. I haven't been able to get him to confirm this.

How did you get it to work in your car? Using the turbo Legacy crossmember probably isn't an option for me right now since I don't want to pay the extra $200 to get one.

-Jon


Jon... I shimmed my control arms, I did not change the bushings or control arms, because I only had one good control arm and bushing. The bushings will fit, but you need special tools to press them in and out. The WRX wagon control arm is the same as a RS control arm, just with a wider bushing, therefor a different part number.

Here is another thought for you. Instead of switching out control arms or using shims. Go out and get a 2.2 Legacy turbo cross member.

This is the ticket, fits perfectlly without shims, and you can drop in any EJ20 motor from USDM or JDM.

my 2 cents

Originally posted by stimpy
Using the turbo Legacy crossmember probably isn't an option for me right now since I don't want to pay the extra $200 to get one.

Originally posted by stimpy
I know the Legacy crossmember works; heck, I've installed one in my car before. I had found it for $150 and that was back when they were just barely starting to disappear.

And for what its worth, to change the crossmember, the control arms are all but out of the car anyway.

-Jon

Interestingly, the FSM gives procedures for removing the front bushing so it definitely comes out with the right tools. I'm not quite sure why they would allow the removal if you can't do anything but replace the entire control arm.

I can, however, source the control arms at $50 each.

-Jon

jon .. just to complicate your world a little more ..

i bought STi hardened a-arm bushings from VT sports car for ~35 each

i plan to put them in when i swap my cross member out

Excellent. That is the front control arm bushing and not the rear one, right? Are you just going to have the Subaru dealership press those bushings in?Have you compared these bushings to your current ones to confirm that they are, in fact, a little wider?

[edit] Son of a gun:
RST-2021 -- Front Control Arm, Front Bushing Pair-- $41 from www.rallispec.com

-Jon

i actually bought both front a-arm mounts and rear (same location as an alk)...
when i am done there will not be any rubber in the front suspension of my car... :)

sorry i haven't compaired them

How were you pressing those bushings in?

Also, when do you think you would be able to compare the bushings to confirm they are correct for the USDM crossmember? :)

-Jon

I don't suppose that anyone has any information about how the USDM crossmember would fit on a forester?

-Duncan

I believe the crossmember is the same since the Forester is supposedly based on the Impreza chassis. Should bolt up fine.

The bushings have almost completely fallen through. As per Wayne at AV Sport, neither SOA nor SOJ sell the front control arm, front bushings seperate from the control arms. Rallispec is looking into Powerflex for me. Aside from that, it's shims, Legacy crossmember, or WRX wagon control arms.

-Jon

I have a crossmember from a GDA STI 7 in a 98 RS. The fitment was fine, no cutting the tabs off, but I did have to shim it to get the "slop" outta the front end.
Frank

Jon,
The dealer may not mind you ordering a set, or just one, control arm to take a look at and make a comparison... If you want to check into it call Chad at Mark Miller Subaru and he may be able to help you. 268 3734
Worth a try any way.

I believe the crossmember is the same since the Forester is supposedly based on the Impreza chassis. Should bolt up fine.

Phew, That's good news.

-Duncan

how did you guys shim the control arms?

W/ a bunch of washers.

that's all it takes? Do you know what size so I can buy them before hand.

I don't know the size off-hand. If I remember right, I took the nut from the end of the control arm w/ me to the hardware store and used that as a guide.

The reason I haven't accepted that solution yet is it seems like a bandaid to me. Rather than finding the correct bushings to go in there, we are placing multiple washers in there. Seems like it could possible introduce a problem due to the forces that would act on that area. I may be paranoid though.

-Jon

Originally posted by stimpy
The reason I haven't accepted that solution yet is it seems like a bandaid to me. Rather than finding the correct bushings to go in there, we are placing multiple washers in there. Seems like it could possible introduce a problem due to the forces that would act on that area. I may be paranoid though.

-Jon

Hence the reason I am using a legacy turbo xmember.....NO fitment issues...

i am using a legacy turbo cross member and 1.8 throttle body on my project.. the top of the throttel body is VERY VERY close to the hood

hopefully she will start this weekend :)

Awesome Jared!

Does anybody have a source for a Legacy turbo crossmember for a decent price? There aren't any turbo Legacies on copartfinder.com and NOBODY has any wrecked WRX's.

-Jon

Jaxx, glad to hear your car maybe running so soon.

Jon, Pam had one for a great price in the classifieds around a month ago. if you're lucky she may still have it.

That one that Pam had, she doesn't have it any more as it is sitting in my house in the corner with the rest of my parts for the swap. :D

Rob

Doh! to slow :D looks like Jaxx will have to keep on looking...

I may just do the washer thing if it comes to it, but I'm going to keep on the lookout for those $50 wrx wagon control arms that I saw a week ago. Eventually, I'm sure I'll be able to find the bushings I need to make them fit properly in the WRX crossmember.

-Jon

hopefully the washer thing will work out then :)

do you need an RS front grill? i may have an extra one.

huh/
Doh! to slow looks like Jaxx will have to keep on looking...

??did you mean jon?

doh! i did mean jon :)

I have a 2002 WRX Xmember on my 2000 RS and I don't remember shimming it???

Where did you guys shim this?

I have no slop or noise or play in any of my front suspension...

Zee

Did you retain the RS lower A arms? They're different from the WRX A arms. The rear mounting part is thinner on the RS. So, some shims are needed to fill in the gaps.

Front bushing on the front control arm, not the rear. The rear bushing mounts into a bushing apart from the control arm.

-Jon

Does it matter that I used the complete Front End of the WRX?

I used all the brakes, steering rack, Xmember, Control Arms, Suspension-which I switched back to the VER.5/6 combo because the WRX Suspension Raised the car GC8 and inch...

I think its because I swapped all that was RS to WRX...

Zee

Jon,
isn't the rear attachment of the front control arm where you would use an anti lift kit?

Yeah thats exactly where the ALK goes...

Zee

That is correct suberboy.

Sunrise City Rider, using the control arms is why you didn't have to shim. Did you use the sedan or the wagon control arms?

-Jon

I got a Sedan I believe...The Brakes were bigger than my stock RS...I don't know if the wagons had the same size brakes...I got a clip minus the panels so I don't know if it was a sedan or a Wagon...


Zee

Doht! You're right, front mount, not rear. the rear is the bushing that mounts under the firewall. Sorry 'bout that. Using the whole front clip would mean using the WRX a arms instead of the RS pieces. So, no shimming required.

The brakes between the sedan and wagon are exactly the same. The front axles are exactly the same between the sedan and the wagon. However, the sedan has a 20mm wider track up front. That extra 20mm (10mm per side) has to come from somewhere and its popular speculation that it comes from slightly wider control arms. This is backed by the fact that you can buy the forged aluminum control arms for the sedan but not the wagon. Zee, have you had an aligment recently to see what kind of camber you have? Theoretically, if you had the sedan control arms, you would have some sick camber that you probably couldn't get rid of. Maybe you just got lucky and got a wagon front clip which should be the exact control arms you need.

-Jon

No, I haven't had an alignment as yet as I'm gonna be pulling lots of suspension parts to put this set of Powerflex bushings in...I'm sure your'e right and I have the Wagon...I know that we didn't shim a damn thing...

Zee

Thanks to seven881, we now have a picture of the shims in place.

http://www.xmission.com/~stimpy/ControlArm_Small.jpg

-Jon

You put shims on both sides of the bushing. What made you determine to do that versus either the front or back of the bushing? I haven't yet made any accurate measurements to determine myself if the bushing is offset or not compared to the WRX arm.
Also I don't agree or see how this would affect track width?

If the bushing is merely wider, it probably is just centered within the crossmember so putting a shim before and after only seems natural. The FSM makes no mention of it being offset, but merely being pressed into place. I would imagine you could determine the position by bolting the rear bushing into place and seeing where the front bushing sits in relation to the crossmember.

The shims don't affect track width. That comes from other, yet undetermined, factors. My guess is a difference in control arms between sedan and wagon however others think differently.

-Jon

After months of searching, I finally acquired two WRX wagon control arms. Sure enough, the bushing went from 55mm to 61mm. I haven't compared the control arms themselves to make sure they are a direct swap, but I'm pretty confident it will all work out. I still don't get how Whiteline and Noltec advertise their 55mm bushings for the USDM WRX when they are obviously the incorrect size.

-Jon

that's interesting, good work on the info Stimpy

i bet noltec and whiteline use spacers :P

noah

Im doing a swap but im putting in a 06 sti motor into a 99 rs, so if i went the legacy crossmember way is it going to bolt up to the sti motor? second if i were to use the wrx wagon control arms, what crossmember did you use?

I think the bushings in the WRX wagon control arms would be too big to fit in the Legacy crossmember so you would use a WRX crossmember. It might be possible to put GC bushings in the wagon arms and run the Legacy crossmember but that sounds like more work. I think any turbo motor fits on any turbo crossmember.