GD Suspention peices in a GC?

[Wayne_Coots]

I am in the process of shopping for parts to do a full swap on my 93. My consern is the suspention. The wider track width will help handling, how much will the extra width effect the sus. geometry, and what effect would these changes have on the driving feel of the car?

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[supermarkus]

You may experience problems with your ride height in the rear if you put GD suspenSion on a GC, IIRC the GD rear spring perches are around 3/8-1/2" higer than the GC. I'm not exactly sure on how the extra track would change the overall feel of the car though. I'll let the experts handle that.

[Wayne_Coots]

I was planning on GC struts with the GD arms and links.

[BongMan]

My understanding is the GD Sedan struts will not give enought negative camber in the front on GC or GG (wagon) with stock lower mounting points. I could be wrong, but I've seen people with m8 take offs and they can'ts get more than 1 degree without camber plates.

[Wayne_Coots]

If you read the above post you would see that I don't want to use the newer strut. I want to use the older strut in the older GC body with the Newer GD control arms, trailing links and lateral links. Will this work? What will the over all effect be?

[Jaxx]

well first the GD control arm mounting points are wider than the CG (won't bolt on)

[akcel]

im curious about the rears as well

[MPREZYA]

Rumor has it that the sti rear trailing links and lateral links for the GD wagon will fit the gc/gf/gm. I haven't fully confirmed it but am looking into them also.

[akcel]

thatss what I wanna hear. they're always fs

[dwx]

So the inner mounting point on the front control arm is wider on the GD chassis correct? I have an extra set of AL control arms I wanted to use on a GC8 chassis, but if they won't work then I'll sell them off. I think I've read of someone using the GC8 AL arms on a WRX Wagon since the track is the same, but having to shim that mount since the mouting portion itself was too large.

The rear stuff I'm pretty sure is all the same, not including the 05 STI of course. I used a WRX rear knuckle on a GC8 car so I know the bottom trailing arm mount is the same.

[akcel]

wonder if the lat links and stuff would change the alignment specs a bit though

[Wayne_Coots]

Thats what I am asking about is the effect on the alignment and the coresponding effect on performance and driving feel. By the way the fronts will work, If you are talking about the track width issue thats what I want. If you are refering to them not bolting to the cross member, it has to be replaced when you do a turbo motor swap so why not use the front cross member from an 05 STi?

[tbd]

I only know of a few folks here have actually tried what you're considering.
One would be Sunrisecityrider in FL: full WRX into old body swap. (may have got the name wrong) The other would be a guy who did a full STI w/ Cobb block transplant into a 90's L. You could search for them in this forum & ask them how alignment & longevity have faired.

Since I've been playing w/ this idea also, here are a few observations.

The GD strut tower braces are a tad wider than ours, suggesting the strut top geometry spacing is wider. (unless brackets are shorter)

The strut to knuckle mount ear tabs extend further outward. Those along w/ the control arms extend the track by those few millimeters. Not sure if this was by necessity due to the widened track, or desire for inner tire clearance, or both.

Since the hubs and trailing arms, cross members & subframes are interchangeable, (up to 04) you'd likely want to keep the struts & control arms matching. (old body or wagon VS GD sedan)

Plan to use axles from a sedan, WRX, STI or 02+RS. Not sure if ours might result in premature wear w/ the widened track.

[MZM]

You may have a problem with tires and fenders, especially rear, when you use components for a wider track. On my 93 L, I have rolled the fenders to the max and use 50mm set back wheels, along with ver 5 struts and STi rally springs (taller). Still there is a slight rubbing during high gee turns on 235x40x17 RA-1 tires. YMMV.

Mike McBride

[tuna]

GD front ally arms will fit a GC, all you need is purswasion with a rubber mallet, and the line up fine, front track is wider 10mm a side, i run 03 sti spec-c struts n springs with 225/45R17 RE070 tires and have no clearance or rubbing issues.

rear GD ally arms from the 05 sti (or it could be 06 sti for the USDM) will not fit under GD wagons or GC, they bump the track out around 15mm for 225/45R17 tires and will rub. 01-04 GD rear arms will fit without issue.

pros: front turn in is vastly improved
cons: bump steer goes out a bit, car is a little more nervous then running standard GC arms.

[Wayne_Coots]

Thanks alot tuna! That was the kind of help I was looking for.

[Wayne_Coots]

Tuna, Did you use GC or GD struts and springs?

[MPREZYA]

Wayne they'd have to be GD because there was never a spec C GC chassis. They were Type R and Type RA back then.

[Wayne_Coots]

Thanks, I should have read that a little closer. What would be the differance in running eather the GC or GD struts and springs? Is it possible to run coilovers intended for the GC but use the GD arms and links?