sactojesse

Red LGT wagon spotted this morning around 8:45 on northbound I-5 getting off at the Garden Highway exit in Sacramento.

There are are 05-09 LGT sedan and LGT wagon Swifts. I believe the only difference is in the length of the rear springs. Google for vendors. I came up with quite a few vendors on e-Bay.

Swifts, like pinks, are designed for use with Bilstein style front top hats, but are rated at 1.2" front drop/1" rear drop vs. .6" drop F/R for the pinks. Don't run a spring that's rated for the USDM KYB-style top hats (e.g., Epics, Eibach, Rallitek, Cobb, etc.) or your front will be 1/2" to 5/8" higher due to the Bilstein top hats.

Yes or swap out all four for a set of wagon-specific Swifts or Pinks. The JDM vs. USDM top hat issue only affects the front ride height.

The Spec B/JDM LGT/Bilstein-style top hats are what's making it run higher in front than advertised. If the Teins are designed for use with USDM LGT/KYB-style top hats, then the result when paired with Bilsteins (and Spec B top hats) is a 5/8" to 3/4" higher front end than advertised. That's why Bilsteins should be paired with JDM style springs like Swifts or Pinks.

Knee Deep makes some great beer!

That was probably me getting groceries at Bel Air.

Saw a stock-looking silver (BSM) 05-06 LGT wagon headed WB on I-80 near Roseville at around 3:30 p.m. on Memorial Day (yesterday). Middle-aged Asian gentleman driving. I passed you on the left in my LGT wagon.

No. Because Epics (like Ralliteks, Cobbs, and Eibachs) are designed for use with KYB-style USDM LGT struts, the rated drop already takes into account the use of a KYB-style top hat. Thus, they would have a 1" drop with Koni inserts or stock KYBs and KYB-style top hats. If you were to use them with Bilsteins and your Spec B top hats, you'd get 5/8" less drop, i.e., 3/8" drop. Bilstein HDs are an aftermarket replacement strut for the Spec B and should work fine w/ your stock springs. If you want the adjustability of the Konis, I'd look for some Tokicos, which also are designed for to go with Spec B top hats.

My understanding is that the Epic springs (like Eibachs, Ralliteks, and Cobbs) are USDM springs designed to work with the USDM LGT (KYB-style) top hat. Therefore, the advertised 1" drop in front already takes into account the KYB-style top hat. In other words, you won't be getting additional drop by switching to KYB-style top hats. You'll also have to buy some non-Spec B LGT front struts to cut up for the Koni inserts. Also, IME, the difference in ride height between using Spec B (Bilstein-style) top hats and KYB-style top hats is more like 5/8". Not that it matters if you're going to be running Epics with KYB-style top hats. IMO, since you already have a Spec B, the most logical route would be for you to go with Bilstein HDs.

Yesterday at around 12:30 p.m., I saw at silver 05-06 LGT wagon with Oregon plates at 18th and K St. in Sacramento. Looked pretty stock.

At around 1:30 p.m. today, I saw a 05-06 blue LGT wagon w/ roof mounted bike racks on L Street near 16th Street in Sacramento.

Saw a really mean looking 05-09 OB XT parked at the Confluence at the Auburn State Recreation Area on Sunday morning. It was stock height, gold and black with black wheels, and had dark tint, a roof rack, and a DC shoes logo.

No such animal. KYB GR2s are essentially a stock replacement and not a good match for your Progress springs. Either go w/ Konis with your stock top hats or Bilstein HDs with Spec B top hats. JDM Bilsteins and Tokicos also use Spec B top hats.

Bumped into Scotty at Joe's Alfas Subarus yesterday afternoon. Nice to meet you!

There are no Spec-B specific Swift springs, only wagon and sedan, the difference being the length of the rear springs. All Swift springs for the BL/BP generation Legacy are designed to work with Bilstein-style (i.e., USDM Spec B) struts and top hats. Thus, the advertised drop in front assumes the use of those top hats. Same is true of pinks. That's why people who put pinks on their stock LGT KYB-style front struts/top hats ended up with about twice the advertised 15 mm (.6") drop in front.

Pick your spring depending on your intended strut, not the other way around. Bilstein HDs for Swifts. Swifts are designed to work w/ the Spec B top hat and thus should be used with Bilsteins and the Spec B top hat to get their advertised drop in front. If you go with a Koni and the stock KYB-style top hat, the fronts will be dumped approximately 5/8" lower than w/ Bilsteins and the Spec B top hats.

On Sunday, 10/16, around 1 p.m., I saw a stock looking silver 05-06 LGT wagon parked in front of the pizza place in Downieville.

On Saturday, 4/30, around 1:30 p.m., I saw a blue 05-07 LGT wagon headed south on Highway 49, on the twisty section just south of Auburn. I was headed north w/ my bike on back.

Was I picking my nose?

I saw a silver/gray LGT sedan w/ roof racks w/ bike attachments on westbound US 50 near Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento. I waved, but the guy was apparently driving with irrational exuberance, so he didn't notice.

I saw a blue (looked like Atlantic blue, not regal blue) LGT wagon w/ Nevada plates at Kirkwood yesterday.

Are you still on stock struts? If so, your ride is likely harsh because the stock KYB struts have insufficient dampening w/ stock springs, much less lowered ones. If you want a stock height w/ better dampening, your best bet is to run Konis w/ stock springs or Bilsteins w/ JDM LGT springs.

White LGT limited wagon w/ black interior spotted at Downtown Plaza in Sacramento at approximately 3 p.m. today. Looked stock.

That was me and I definitely wasn't driving an OBXT! Picking up some grub at Chipotle.