96 Outback Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Hey guys, been doing lots of reading and starting to go bug eyed. I just need clarification on a few things and if I missed the answers I appologize. I have read that the 04 sti strut/spring combo should give about 1" of drop and the WRX strut/spring combo is about .5".... Am I correct to assume that is not based on an Outback stock ride height? Would that then mean I would get an additional 3" drop on a 96 outback with removal of the body mount spacers as well? Also will I run into the wheel rub on spring perch issue I have read about? Open to any other info I will need to know for this swap as well. Tia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I have read that the 04 sti strut/spring combo should give about 1" of drop and the WRX strut/spring combo is about .5".... Am I correct to assume that is not based on an Outback stock ride height? That is true. WRX Strut/springs will lower much more than 1" on an outback Also, if the body mount spacers you are referring to are the saggy butt spacers, you will need those in the rear to level it out. 3/8" should do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 Outback Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 That is true. WRX Strut/springs will lower much more than 1" on an outback Also, if the body mount spacers you are referring to are the saggy butt spacers, you will need those in the rear to level it out. 3/8" should do it The spacers are something I read that are supposed to be in the OB's between the suspension/subframe and body iirc to correct the driveline axle angle with the taller suspension. It may have been misinformation though.... Also do you know about the wheel and tire clearance on the sti struts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zues Marine Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 yeah, there are body spacers in the OBs read this to lower the Outback the correct way: Ok, let me start this off by saying this project is not for the wimpy. I have a lift and every tool imaginable at my disposal. There are a few advantages to doing this to your car. 1. Suspension options A: BD/BG can use any GT/L or GDB length strut without compromising suspension angles B: BH/BK can use GT/L or JDM GT-B/B4 suspension without compromising suspension angles. 2. Increased chassis stiffness lower center of gravity and faster suspension response. I've done this project to my BH and BG out back they are very similar. The parts that make an Outback an Outback: Front: Cross member spacers, dropped rear control arm mounts, longer cross-member bolts, longer steering coupler, longer strut bodies. Center: Longer Pitch stop, Dropped transmission cross members, dropped rear shifter bushing (5mt), lowered drive shaft carrier bearing, heat shield spacers. Rear: Cross member spacers, front diff mount spacers, longer cross member bolts, dropped front trailing link mounts, dropped sway bar mounts (BG/BD), longer strut housings. Front process: Jack the car up and support the front frame rails so you can get to the rear control arm bolts. Remove the rear mount bolts and remove the front bolts from the control arms. Let the arms dangle. Remove the rear bushing and replace it with a standard unit (RS/WRX/ALK). Repeat on the other side. Support the front cross-member with a jack at the jack plate (a friend would be helpful here). remove the two 17mm nuts holding the passenger side of the cross-member up. remove the drop bolts from on top of the frame rail. Lower the jack slowly. when there is a gap in between spacer and the cross-member. The spacer is held to the frame rail with a plastic clip (BG/BK) or with bolts (BH/BK). Remove the spacer. Replace the drop bolts with standard units (RS/WRX), jack the cross-member up and reinstall the two 17mm nuts loosely. Remove the two steering coupler bolts. Secure the steering wheel in the straight position. In the BH/BE you can opt to replace the steering rack with a WRX or 04' STi unit (fine splines) and coupler (no rag joint). You will have to collapse the steering column slightly (tap on the end with hammer) and invert the key spline in the steering coupler. In the BG/BD you can use GC8 racks (coarse spline). Remove the two passenger side 17mm nuts and let the jack down till you can remove the spacer. The steering wheel coupler will have to be removed to drop this side. Replace the steering coupler with a Legacy L/GT unit. lift the cross member back into position and tighten the four 17mm nuts. reinstall the steering coupler bolts. Reinstall the control arms. Once you've reinstalled everything underneath you can replace the struts with the replacement of your choice just make sure they GT/L length. Center Process: Remove the center heat shield. Support the transmission with a jack. Remove the transmission cross member. 5mt cars, replace the rear shifter bushing. Replace the transmission cross member with a standard GT/L one. Remove the heat shield spacers. Remove the drive shaft and replace with a standard unit. For this to save cost I simply removed the mount bushings and secured the shaft to the floor again. You will get a tad more noise inside but this is how GC8's are. Rear Process: Support the front of the diff with a jack. Remove the front diff mount bolts. lower the jack and remove the spacers. Jack up the diff and install GT/L length bolts. Remove the bolts from the front trailing arm mounts, then remove them from the trailing links. Replace them with L/GT/WRX units. Reinstall the bolts Disconnect the rear sway bar end links. (BG/BD) Support the rear of the diff with a jack. Remove the cross member bolts. Lower the jack till you can remove the spacers. Jack the cross member back up to meet the body then install L/GT/WRX/RS length bolts. Replace the rear struts with the L/GT/GT-B/B4 length struts. BG/BD owners will have to swap out the rear sway bar mounts for L/GT/RS units. Reinstall the rear sway bar end links. Common Parts (BH/BK/BD/BG): Cross member Complete AT 41011AE00A (Auto Trans Cross Member) Cross member Complete Front 41011AE020 (5mt Cross member Front) Cross member Complete Rear 41021AC240 (5mt Cross member Rear) Cushion Rubber-Gear Shift 35036AA010 (Rear Shifter Bushing) Front cross member drop bolts 20540AA030 Transverse Link Bushing- RH 20201FA050 (Rear Control Arm Bushing) Transverse Link Bushing- LH 20201FA060 (Rear Control Arm Bushing) Rod Assembly-Pitching Stop 41040FA000 (Pitch Stop) BE/BH Specific Parts list: (00' BH/BE GT Part Numbers) Universal Joint Assembly 34170AE040 (Steering Coupler) Trailing Arm Bracket- RH 20540AE000 (Front Trailing Link Mount) Trailing Arm Bracket- LH 20540AE010 (Front Trailing Link Mount) Flange Bolt 901000179 (Rear Cross Member Bolt) BD/BG Specific Parts: (96' BD/BG GT Part Numbers) Universal Joint Assembly 34160AE010 (Steering Coupler) Trailing Arm Bracket- RH 20520AA030 (Front Trailing Link Mount) Trailing Arm Bracket- LH 20520AA040 (Front Trailing Link Mount) Flange Bolt 20540FC120 (Rear Cross Member Bolt) Bracket-Stabilizer- RH 20520AA001 (Sway Bar Mounting Bracket) Bracket-Stabilizer- LH 20520AA011 (Sway Bar Mounting Bracket) Still working on some good quality pictures, not the best photo guy If I missed anything let me know. -Dylan @ DS1 Motorsports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) ^Awesome thanks for sharing. I am definitely wanting to do this now. But that has no mention of a body spacer between strut and body as was asked previously. Is that built onto the outback strut? Or is it just a taller strut without a spacer? Edited August 6, 2014 by joshmikesad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zues Marine Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Just to clarify; The outback struts are taller, there is no spacer increasing the ride height. Spacers may be needed to level out the aesthetics of the car due to the larger diameter of the front wheel well, compared to the rear one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 Outback Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Thank you Zues that is awesome info and brought up a few things I hadn't thought of. I did figure out the body lift spacers, if thats what you want to call them yesterday when I replaced the rear hard brakelines....Not a fun job on jack stands and dealing with rusty fittings by the way.... Still have a question regarding wheel/tire clearance with the 04 sti strut, will I need to go to a lower profile tire than the stock outback size? I ask for two reasons, one being speedo calibration, other is we get snow in the winter and a taller tire would be nice during those months if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) I recently acquired a set of Megan Street Coilovers, that were for an 03-07 Forester. I know they will fit the knuckes, but will the tops of them work on the body? I am fairly sure that the front will, it is the rear that I question. It is just a large round plate with a small flat on one side. It also does not have the rubber boot at the very top (megan Street coilovers for WRX 02-07 do have the rubber boots at top for reference). Again I am wanting to put (Megan Street coilovers for an 03-07 forester) onto a '97 Legacy Outback. Edited August 9, 2014 by joshmikesad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cale Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 yeah, there are body spacers in the OBs read this to lower the Outback the correct way: Is all of this necessary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdriver04 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Wish there was more on lifting Subarus, I always lowered my subarus, I decided to go the opposite direction with my 96 L (Section on turing your L into outback ride height, still poking around threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Wish there was more on lifting Subarus, I always lowered my subarus, I decided to go the opposite direction with my 96 L (Section on turing your L into outback ride height, still poking around threads. Maybe some lift blocks from Subtle Solutions to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zues Marine Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 forester suspension is also what most people are running to lift these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTAaron Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I'm still confused on this. I have an 06 Legacy GT. Will 02-07 WRX Coilovers fit? Sorry, I just dont see any direct answers. Or will I need WRX tophats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 im not sure about the 06 models, we are mostly 95-99 models here in this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTAaron Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Sorry, I misread the subforum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05subileggygt Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 So I found some 02-07 wrx tein lowring springs. Just springs. What all is required to make them bolt up to my stock strut assembly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98legwag Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 So I found some 02-07 wrx tein lowring springs. Just springs. What all is required to make them bolt up to my stock strut assembly I am not 100% sure but I believe you will need the wrx spring perches and top hats. I would also just get some GR2/Excel G struts for a wrx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PingPong Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Impreza rear suspension will only work on 99 and older Legacy's. 04-07 Impreza OEM springs need strut mounts to mount on Legacy struts. 04-07 Impreza LOWERING springs need strut mounts and strut assemblies for the Impreza. The Legacy strut has more travel and lowering springs are not tall enough to fill the full extended range of the Legacy strut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) I have KYB GR2/Excel-g for a WRX and 04 STI springs. This setup was previously used on my 04 Forester XT with my stock XT tophats. I converted my FXT back to stock which included using its tophats. I would like to install these on my 97 Legacy Outback But Im pretty sure the stock outback tophats will Not work? (Im pretty sure?) So I am in search of any tophats that will work (WRX or Forester will both work I assume, or maybe even newer legacys?). If anyone ready this has any for sale, please PM me Edited December 16, 2014 by joshmikesad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Wagon Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 02-07 tophats interchange with legacy tophats..btdt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 02-07 tophats interchange with legacy tophats..btdt I was informed at some point in time that the diameter of the springs were different and/or the very end of the spring on the topside was located at a different orientation along the circumference. Thanks for you input, I will try to measure and compare everything today for peace of mind since Im putting the car on jackstands today to install short shifter, bushings and TiC Linkage update, as well as new tranny mount and cross member bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 '98Wagon, Are you saying that I can use my stock 97 Legact Outback tophats with the 02-07 WRX Struts and 04 STI springs? If so that would be awesome. OR are you saying that I have to use 02-07 tophats and they will interchange/fit on the 97 body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Wagon Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 '98Wagon, Are you saying that I can use my stock 97 Legact Outback tophats with the 02-07 WRX Struts and 04 STI springs? If so that would be awesome. OR are you saying that I have to use 02-07 tophats and they will interchange/fit on the 97 body? sorry for not being clearer. I'm saying that wrx struts are a bolt in. So bolt pattern in the top hats is exactly the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Wagon Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 sorry for not being clearer. I'm saying that wrx struts are a bolt in. So bolt pattern in the top hats is exactly the same. That being said, I didn't notice a difference. I think they are the same in every way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmikesad Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Looks like you have a Legacy Wagon and mine is an outback. I should see a noticeable drop and stiffness especially with the STI springs. Still insearch of tophats 02-07 WRX, Forester, Legacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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