FAQ Legacy vs WRX Suspension swap questions

[integra_drk]

Originally Posted by Azlegacy

No not that I have ever heard of. Post pics of ur wagon here tomrw! Congrats. I have a '95 L wagon .

Was a pile of **** so I didnt end up getting it haha. Still on the hunt for a clean specimen!

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[dvancleve]

There is a lot of stuff in this thread and clearly some folks put in some time and effort. That said, my take-away from it is that the WRX sedan to Legacy sedan swap is great and the wagon to wagon not so much. However, based PMs exchanged with several guys who've lowered BG Outbacks with WRX wagon stuff they all seem pleased with it. Am I missing something? It also seems that WRX or STi rear struts allow keeping the stock Outback size rear tires while going with regular Legacy struts requires requires a 205/55-16 or equivalent to clear the rear spring seats. After owning it since new, I finally want to lower my '97 LOB and with what I know right now, my cost matters ideal would be a complete low mileage '07 WRX wagon take-off set...

Doug

[spdracr00]

there isn't really anything "wrong" with a wagon to wagon swap, it just looks like you have a saggy rear end, even though you really don't. That's all due to subaru's bigger front fenders. you can now get saggy butt spacers from places like Primitive Racing to help even out the gaps. just remember sedan rear springs are shorter and have a softer spring rate, so always keep wagon to wagon, sedan to sedan.

[outbeezys11]

Can you use 02 wrx wagon springs with 99 legacy outback struts?

[Azlegacy]

Anyone have pics of stock wrx suspension on Legacy L model with srock 14" wheels? The closest I have seen was the outback above but they have a 75 series tall tire on.

[granny]

How much will wrx suspension lower a 97 legacy L?

[dvancleve]

I have not found any instances of somebody admitting they tried this or any pictures, but it should work. The pre-03 WRX springs are not tapered, so it should be possible to just replace the OB springs with the WRX springs and reuse everything else (or put in new OB KYBs and reuse the rest). If you try this, please report back and include some pictures. It seems like this should lower an OB, just not sure how much... Doug

Originally Posted by outbeezys11

Can you use 02 wrx wagon springs with 99 legacy outback struts?

[dvancleve]

Is there consensus on what spacer thickness makes things look even? I am pretty much locked in on getting either a complete WRX wagon take-off set or everything but the struts themselves and getting KYB GR-2/Excel-Gs. Obviously, it would be best to do the swap then drive it a while before measuring, but it would sure be nice to avoid pulling the rears twice if I can just order the correct thickness spacers first...

Thanks, Doug

Originally Posted by spdracr00

there isn't really anything "wrong" with a wagon to wagon swap, it just looks like you have a saggy rear end, even though you really don't. That's all due to subaru's bigger front fenders. you can now get saggy butt spacers from places like Primitive Racing to help even out the gaps. just remember sedan rear springs are shorter and have a softer spring rate, so always keep wagon to wagon, sedan to sedan.

[240benzo]

Originally Posted by Azlegacy

Anyone have pics of stock wrx suspension on Legacy L model with srock 14" wheels? The closest I have seen was the outback above but they have a 75 series tall tire on.

i put on 16" rs wheels but still stock wheels with wrx coilovers
nothing modified-straight simple swap

[Azlegacy]

Damn it looks low. I want it a bit taller. Makes me second guess getting this set up. I want to be able to go off road and not worry about scraping.

[dvancleve]

Originally Posted by Azlegacy

Damn it looks low. I want it a bit taller. Makes me second guess getting this set up. I want to be able to go off road and not worry about scraping.

Notice, 240benzo says they are WRX coilovers. I assume the car is lowered a lot, looks like it to me... Doug

[240benzo]

true. stock struts wouldnt reallly be much different than legacy stocks

these coils are for a wrx and i had to extend them out alooot from the bottom mounts just to fit right
i can easily go like 4" lower if it were something reasonable to do ha
in this pic of the rears im about 1.5" lower than this and all the way up in the front

[Djdownfall43]

I have Koni's with GT springs on mine,

Sorry just throwing what I have out there.

[dvancleve]

Going way back to this vintage post on spring rates: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...&postcount=128. If I assume Outbacks had similar spring rates to same year Legacy wagons (132 F, 190 R) or at least a similar front to back balance, going to WRX wagon springs will result in a much lower spring rate in back (132 man, 144 auto). STi springs would be a better match with 194 lb/in in back. Any thoughts on any of this? I assume that the stock Legacy wagon springs are stiffer in back for load carrying rather than for any handling related reason and that the STi springs are the way they are (224 F, 194 R) for handling reasons. Not sure how the WRX wagon ended up with 163 F, 132/144 R other than it is a bit stiffer than the sedan in back...

Doug

[ivanwakeup]

ok, kind of bringing this back from the dead but i just want a definitive answer, i've found a lot of conflicting info:

i have a 99 outback limited wagon


this is i think i'm pretty certain of so far:

-02-03 wrx struts and springs absolutely fit with no problem
-is it the same for 04-07 wrx as well? would those springs/struts also fit with no modification?


thats pretty much it though. my other questions are:

-can i just buy a coilover meant for the 02-07 wrx and have it fit perfectly? this would be the best thing for me if possible
-does the 92-01 impreza stuff fit at all? it sounds like no to me at this point but i want to be sure.
-what other options do i have?

i pretty much want to go as low as possible while still having the car be DDable.


thanks for the help!

[98legwag]

Originally Posted by ivanwakeup

ok, kind of bringing this back from the dead but i just want a definitive answer, i've found a lot of conflicting info:

i have a 99 outback limited wagon


this is i think i'm pretty certain of so far:

-02-03 wrx struts and springs absolutely fit with no problem
-is it the same for 04-07 wrx as well? would those springs/struts also fit with no modification?


thats pretty much it though. my other questions are:

-can i just buy a coilover meant for the 02-07 wrx and have it fit perfectly? this would be the best thing for me if possible
-does the 92-01 impreza stuff fit at all? it sounds like no to me at this point but i want to be sure.
-what other options do i have?

i pretty much want to go as low as possible while still having the car be DDable.


thanks for the help!

Make sure you get top hats to fit what ever year spring you are using. That is where the differences are.

[98legwag]

Originally Posted by Azlegacy

Anyone have pics of stock wrx suspension on Legacy L model with srock 14" wheels? The closest I have seen was the outback above but they have a 75 series tall tire on.

Here is my 98 L on 17s with 205/45/17 with 02 wrx GR2s and springs. Rolling diameter is very close to what it is with the stock 14s.

Originally Posted by granny

How much will wrx suspension lower a 97 legacy L?

The front is about a 1/4 in lower and the back is about 1/2 in lower. The front has settled a little more than in that picture which was after about 40 miles of driving so it could be more than 1/4 in lower now.

[ivanwakeup]

Originally Posted by 98legwag

Make sure you get top hats to fit what ever year spring you are using. That is where the differences are.

so if i were to get coilovers even for a 93-01 impreza, they would fit (because a coilover is all 1 assembly anyway)? based on what i was reading it was looking like they WONT fit, but now you have me second guessing.

would 02-07 wrx coilovers just be a direct swap-in?

or do i need to use my OB top hats on whatever suspension setup i get?

[98legwag]

Originally Posted by ivanwakeup

so if i were to get coilovers even for a 93-01 impreza, they would fit (because a coilover is all 1 assembly anyway)? based on what i was reading it was looking like they WONT fit, but now you have me second guessing.

would 02-07 wrx coilovers just be a direct swap-in?

or do i need to use my OB top hats on whatever suspension setup i get?

If you use the wrx top hats they need to be switched side to side. Left on the right and visa verse. 02-07 wrx should bolt right in. I got my info from www.sl-i.net

[ivanwakeup]

Originally Posted by 98legwag

If you use the wrx top hats they need to be switched side to side. Left on the right and visa verse. 02-07 wrx should bolt right in. I got my info from www.sl-i.net

sweet so if i just bought a set of wrx 02-07 struts and springs rather than coilovers they would just bolt up with my OB top hats?

[98legwag]

Originally Posted by ivanwakeup

sweet so if i just bought a set of wrx 02-07 struts and springs rather than coilovers they would just bolt up with my OB top hats?

Im not 100% sure about using the OB top hats. I used the wrx top hats. SLI will have a lot more info.

[Azlegacy]

Originally Posted by ivanwakeup

sweet so if i just bought a set of wrx 02-07 struts and springs rather than coilovers they would just bolt up with my OB top hats?

If you use wrx suspension, use the complete assembly including tophat. They fit.

[ivanwakeup]

Originally Posted by Azlegacy

If you use wrx suspension, use the complete assembly including tophat. They fit.

do you know if the OB tophats would work though? i only ask because i'm buying aftermarket stuff (not OEM wrx struts/springs) so i wont have the top hats for the wrx- i'd have to source them from elsewhere.

[98legwag]

According to this your top hats work, but it was a sedan:
http://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=3405

[spdracr00]

Originally Posted by ivanwakeup

do you know if the OB tophats would work though? i only ask because i'm buying aftermarket stuff (not OEM wrx struts/springs) so i wont have the top hats for the wrx- i'd have to source them from elsewhere.

Ok, it's really simple. The front strut top is the same on every Subaru from 1990-2007. You will just need the smaller impreza upper spring perch. (metal dish looking thing) The rear's will require matching strut tops to whichever year WRX springs you're going to use. either 2002-2003 style or 2004-2007 style depending on which springs you're using.