FAQ Legacy vs WRX Suspension swap questions

[elsanto]

just curious how can you say the spacers do not add height to the car? they are 1" metal spacers that are on the outback, and not the non outbacks..

I highly recommend NOT taking them if your trying to lower the car. On my swap in progress I took them all out ( front subframe, transmission xmember, rear diff carrier, outriggers etc etc etc.. ) I had to replace more bolts, and strange items than anything to get it right. including the steering column, steering u joint linkage. outrigger brackets. front subframe bolts that drop down through the frame etc..

so yeah. if you have an outback. leave em in! end of story.

WRONG! There are no spacers, the Outback/SUS gets its extra inch from stiffer/taller springs + A beefier longer strut.
*edit* Ok so I was kinda wrong here.. there are body spacers on the Outbacks, I saw them when replacing my rear subframe, but its to keep everything aligned not for any type of lift.

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[spdracr00]

true, the spacers are only there to make sure all that stuff lines up. i was still able to lower my outback while leaving all the spacers in place. but on the other hand, if you want to raise your legacy you still wont need the spacers, it will only help with the angles of the axles, driveline and steering.

[JoKerNZ]

semi-relevant so I will post it:



Pretty sure they are JDM specs but should roll-over to USDM (no guarantees)

[ford141]

Ok, so I am a noob here, I just read the entire post through and although my head is spinning I think I got the idea.

I (actually my fiance) just purchased a very clean 99 SUS with 42K miles on it. She wants a set of wheels for christmas and I made her a deal that I will buy her wheels and tires for it if she will let me lower it to improve the stance. Since I am doing everything at once (drop, wheels and tires) I am trying to save money where I can so I don't murder my budget. So heres the setup that I am considering:

02-03 WRX stock struts/springs from WRX sedan, can get for $200. Plan to run a decent (strong) 17" wheel with probably a 215/45/17 tire on it. My goal is to improve the stance without making the car so harsh that she will complain about it, and I don't want her to have problems with rubbing when she hits bumps. I'm going with a strong 17 and a 45 series rubber to prevent her from destroying the wheels on bumps. Basically I want a bulletproof, everyday driver with a decent stance for under $1000.

So my questions are: Compared to a Legacy GT sedan of the same year, how much lower will the WRX setup sit? Will I have rubbing/bottoming issues with the 215/45/17 tires? Will I have camber issues with this setup? Is this stock WRX setup harsh compared to the SUS setup?

From reading the posts, it seems like the WRX swap works great on sedans, so that is the reason I am considering doing this. I have completely ruled out using the WRX STI stuff because I do not want the car harsh, and it sounds like it will be too low anyway. If I am going to end up with rubbing/bottoming/camber issues though, I am going to go with GR2 struts for LGT and LGT springs so that it will sit at a stock legacy GT height. Just trying to avoid the cost of buying new struts/springs if I can use low-mileage used stuff for half the price. Thanks for the help for the noob.

[spdracr00]

nope, you got it all figured out. you will drop the car about 2.5 inches with wrx stuff, but it works great. i never had any problems getting my 99 outback aligned.

[ford141]

Thanks spracr00. Your posts here have helped me out a lot on this issue, and I appreciate the reply. I read a lot of later posts where you highly discouraged anyone from going the WRX route on the leggy's but it seems like that only applied to the wagons because of the saggy butt.

Is the WRX setup stiffer than the SUS setup?

Excuse my ignorance, I've grown up working on Ford trucks my whole life (I'm an active member on F150online) but this is my first jaunt into the Subie world.

[deadlydave]

Originally Posted by ford141

Is the WRX setup stiffer than the SUS setup?

They're probably about the same. There's something you have to keep in mind when swapping though--the WRX front struts are taller than the rears, whereas the 95-99 Legacy Sedans are pretty much the same size. My sedan had a saggy butt on stock sedan springs. During Autocross, I could get rear inside tire to lift off the ground with fron suspension depressed in a corner and rear suspension at full extension. WRX wagon rear springs could most likely fix the sag.

My setups ('95 Legacy LSi Sedan)
1st - 2002 WRX Sedan Springs, 2002 WRX Sedan Struts(KYB GR2's), 2004 WRX STi front spring tophats, Stock '95 Legacy strut mounts on all 4 corners. Alignment was not a problem.
Pic:



2nd - 2002 WRX Sedan KYB GR-2's, 2004 STi front tophats, Tien S-Tech springs for 2005 2.5RS/WRX, Legacy front strut mounts, 2005 2.5RS rear strut mounts. Saggy butt was GONE, because the rear springs were only slightly lower, but MUCH stiffer. And the front wheels were tucked a little bit.

[ford141]

Thanks a bunch man, I really appreciate the help!

[ford141]

Deadly Dave, just curious as to why you used the WRX STI front tophats? Was this just what you had access to or is there some advantage to using this setup?

[spdracr00]

STi tophats are stiffer than the other tophats which are all the same btw.

[deadlydave]

Originally Posted by ford141

Deadly Dave, just curious as to why you used the WRX STI front tophats? Was this just what you had access to or is there some advantage to using this setup?

Originally Posted by spdracr00

STi tophats are stiffer than the other tophats which are all the same btw.

They were All i had at the time .

I'm not sure if they were stiffer or not, haven't seen WRX ones. They were black, with just a part number stamped into them, no obvious stuff like an STI logo or anything, to tell.

[KrisG]

I am a noob here, I just read the entire post and i still dont get it.

can someone please confirm if this is the right Top Hats for my vehicle
i have a 99 Legacy GT and i installed GR2 strut specifically for BD and a H&R sport springs.


Front Tophats
https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...roducts_id=654

Rear Tophats
https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...roducts_id=655

Thanks

[Kawikid20o2]

I am sure that the front one will fit, I am not sure about the rear though.

~Justin

[deadlydave]

Originally Posted by KrisG

I am a noob here, I just read the entire post and i still dont get it.

can someone please confirm if this is the right Top Hats for my vehicle
i have a 99 Legacy GT and i installed GR2 strut specifically for BD and a H&R sport springs.

Thanks

Ok, the GR-2's and Struts of for your model of car?
The Link for the fronts looks good. The rears will bolt to your car, but your springs will probably NOT fit correctly into the top of them.

Legacy Springs + Legacy Struts = you need legacy top hats/mounts
WRX Springs + WRX Struts = WRX front tophats, only need wrx rear mounts if it's newer than 2003(to match the spring).

[jamal]

Originally Posted by KrisG

I am a noob here, I just read the entire post and i still dont get it.

can someone please confirm if this is the right Top Hats for my vehicle
i have a 99 Legacy GT and i installed GR2 strut specifically for BD and a H&R sport springs.
Rear Tophats
https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...roducts_id=655

Thanks

That should work.

02-03 Impreza and 92-99 Legacy have the same rear spring diameters from everything I've heard.

[KrisG]

thanks all for the reply
i just ordered it today anyway and see if it fits.

[Kyle86NA]

I have a pretty good understanding on this, so dont flame me: i Jsut want to verify before I buy. 98 Gt Legacy will swap with an 06 WRX, my buddy is selling the tophats springs and struts for a lot cheaper than I can buy "the upgrades I want new"

Since we are both the second gen chassis as long as I use those tophats, or buy group N mounts that match 06 WRX struts, I should be okay?

Thanks!!!

[spdracr00]

if its the full unit then yes, it will work. is he taking apart the old stuff? cause if you got them assembled its a drop in operation.

[Kyle86NA]

Yeah, he is buying Coilovers, so He is getting rid of the entire set up... i really want to get an STI set-up with group n mounts, but this is local and a lot cheaper... and will be a good fix for my work out suspension. Use the money I save and replace drivetrain parts

Thanks a bunch

[Kawikid20o2]

1997 BK, 2.5GT (wagon just in case)

Running MR coilovers designed for a WRX year 2003 and no modifications to tophat or any fitment issues.

However, Brake line clips do not work so i am working on a way to change that.
Wheel speed sensors are screwed in just fine.

any questions, Feel free to PM.

~Justin

[jamal]

zip ties or wrx brake lines. Glad to see everything worked.

[Lee MD]

Nice looking wagon. I have the same color.

[Kawikid20o2]

Originally Posted by jamal

zip ties or wrx brake lines. Glad to see everything worked.

Im doing STI Brembos and goodrich stainless lines so that should solve that issue, thank you for your help Jamal!

Originally Posted by Lee MD

Nice looking wagon. I have the same color.

Thank you, Red was not for me, untill found a 5sp 2.5GT wagon in red... now i love the color.

[jamal]

Off topic, but don't bother with the Brembos unless you spend a lot of time at the race track. Subaru 4-pots are a much cheaper alternative and won't mess up your brake bias.

[Kawikid20o2]

car will be tracked and the price is 1000 with wheels tires and brakes from a good friend.

How bad we talkin with the brake bias tho