ssbtech Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Not sure I'll be doing much with the springs for a while.. I'm looking at $4,000 in engine work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xero287 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Thought I'd bump this. I received my BC's with swifts and installed them the other day. The ride is phenomenal! It is not how a stock legacy feels, but rather how a newer stock wrx feels (a little stiffer on bumps). I've driven many cars with different coil setups and I can safely say that for the extra $300 or so, anyone who gets BC's should definitely get the Swift upgrade it'll make your life and your back that much better. I also got rear control arms =) http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy39/riyaad_ally/100MEDIAIMAG0264.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 The more I'm looking into this the more I'm thinking Bilsteins. I'm really tired of the Megans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 So are the JDM GT wagon pinks "lowering springs" or are they a standard USDM GT height? And should I budget for a roll center kit for the Outback while I'm at it? Hopefully I can have a Megan Racing coilover burning party for new years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Here's what I've come up with so far: ----- Subaruparts.com ----- 20320AG000 Strut Mount F C0u4 ------- 57.24 x2 $114.48 20326AG000 Dust Seal F Strut C0 -------- 3.05 x2 $6.10 20323AG000 Spring Seat F Strut ---------10.80 x2 $21.60 20322AG010 Dust Cover F Strut C -------- 8.74 x2 $17.48 20375AE00A Rubber Seat ----------------12.18 x2 $24.36 Subtotal $184.02 Canada Shipping $38.64 12% sales tax $22.08 Brokerage ----- $10.00 Duty @ 6% (if items aren't US made) $11.00 Total: $265.74 ----- Essex Distributors (www.bilsteincanada.com) ----- Heavy Duty Series (BE5-B832-H0) Rear (24-118323) -------- $119.00 x2 Heavy Duty Series (VE3-B830-H0) Left Front (35-118305) -- $240.00 x1 Heavy Duty Series (VE3-B831-H0) Right Front (35-118312) - $240.00 x1 12% Sales tax $85.16 Shipping: $15 Total: $819.16 ------------ So far for shocks/struts and installation hardware $1084.90 Need springs, spacers +$100 alignment +any other recommended hardware. How badly screwed up will the camber be with this and what bits will I need to correct it to acceptable (factory) spec? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thought I'd bump this. I received my BC's with swifts and installed them the other day. The ride is phenomenal! It is not how a stock legacy feels, but rather how a newer stock wrx feels Sounds like the BC's are a better bet than the Megans. My XT with the Megans crashes and rocks over bumps like a drunken donkey. I'm still leaning towards the Bilstein setup. Just need to figure out the rest of the bits I need and start saving... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xero287 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Not bad at all. If you're worried buy some camber bolts for the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xero287 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Sounds like the BC's are a better bet than the Megans. My XT with the Megans crashes and rocks over bumps like a drunken donkey. I'm still leaning towards the Bilstein setup. Just need to figure out the rest of the bits I need and start saving... The BC's feel better than my RCE blacks did. The RCE blacks felt great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 See this is where I'm a little concerned. So far the feedback and reviews on the BC coilovers have been good, but everyone has their own definition of good. I was driving a 2012 Outback for a week and the ride quality was great but a little too floaty on the freeway. Sways would have fixed that up a bit. Otherwise the ride was firm but never even bordering on jarring. Certainly much better than the stock suspension on my 05 XT which as you all know is very floaty. I'm hoping the Bilstein setup would be comfortable like the 2012 Outback was but with a little more body control. My worry with the BC coilovers is that they'll end up like my Megans - mismatched damping between them. When I hit a bump on the highway the car bounces more on the passenger side than the drivers side. Same with speedbumps too. It's all very unsettled. Same damping adjustment and preload on each corner. Our roads aren't bad but they're old and have a lot of sections where tree roots are pressing up the pavement, slightly sunken manhole covers and lots of dips around storm drains. Every one of these has my car shaking and rattling and the ride is nearly unbearably harsh. And the coilovers are set not far from full soft. Any softer and it floats too much while still riding harsh. I don't really mind spending the money but it's important I get it right the first time because I don't have money and workspace to be experimenting with springs and spacers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 I've seen the shock dynographs for the BCs... They have a great initial hit, but after the first oscillation they diminish greatly. The other issue I've seen is that they are inconsistent on the shock dyno, even from the same set. Oh and depending on where you live, coilovers (any of them) will be an issue with salt/etc. Take that for what it's worth. -Mike Paisan http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thanks Mike, I think you hit the nail on the head. Salt isn't too much of a problem up here but the roads can certainly be unforgiving on the suspension with lots of little ripples. Inconsistency is another concern as that's a big problem I have with the Megans. The front passenger corner bounces much more than the front driver's corner on things like freeway expansion joints and speedbumps. You don't deal at all with STi Pink springs, do you? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Thanks Mike, I think you hit the nail on the head. Salt isn't too much of a problem up here but the roads can certainly be unforgiving on the suspension with lots of little ripples. Inconsistency is another concern as that's a big problem I have with the Megans. The front passenger corner bounces much more than the front driver's corner on things like freeway expansion joints and speedbumps. You don't deal at all with STi Pink springs, do you? Cheers. Unfortunately we don't. We usually source them through Rallispec. They aren't cheap but well worth it. -Mike Paisan http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 What about stock USDM Spec B sedan springs on the Bilstein HD shocks/struts for the Outback XT? I'm assuming that the USDM Spec B struts and shocks are the same length as the HDs. After seeing this (http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4173858&postcount=419) Outback on stock USDM LGT wagon suspension, I figure it's the perfect height for mine but I want some better struts/shocks than the LGT. I figure if the Spec B springs would work on the HD struts, I won't have to worry about spacers between the top hats and body. It's too bad the pink springs are all for lowering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 IMO the stock USDM spec.B springs are really nicely mated with the stock USDM spec.B Bilstein's. Maybe look for someone parting out a still good stock spec.B suspension? 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 I haven't driven that setup, but from what I'm hearing here the Spec B setup is too soft to begin with, hence why people are upgrading to the HDs. I wonder what the ride and handling will be like with stock Spec B suspension on the heavier Outback. And what's the diamater of the Spec B tires? Will the spring perch clear the tires up front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I feel that the 'softness' of the stock spec.B suspension is over stated. I'm not going to lie there is some squat and dive, but with a set of swaybars I feel the setup offers a great all around performance. It will be softer than anything else discussed in this thread. My personal concern with stock spec.B springs and HD's is they might be over dampened. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 What about stock USDM Spec B sedan springs on the Bilstein HD shocks/struts for the Outback XT? I'm assuming that the USDM Spec B struts and shocks are the same length as the HDs. After seeing this (http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4173858&postcount=419) Outback on stock USDM LGT wagon suspension, I figure it's the perfect height for mine but I want some better struts/shocks than the LGT. I figure if the Spec B springs would work on the HD struts, I won't have to worry about spacers between the top hats and body. It's too bad the pink springs are all for lowering. I would go with Konis personally. Lifetime warranty, etc etc. Bad thing is you have to find front LGT donor struts. -Mike Paisan http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natoli4 Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 spec b and stock legacy's use the same springs. only things that change are the struts.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 I would go with Konis personally. Lifetime warranty, etc etc. Bad thing is you have to find front LGT donor struts. -Mike Paisan That's their cut-a-strut thing? I don't have the tools/resources available for that kind of swap and from what I've read here the Konis aren't the best on the Outback. I'd still need to find taller springs, spacers and as you said Legacy struts to hack up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 spec b and stock legacy's use the same springs. only things that change are the struts.... That's what I thought, and I know Subaru went with softer dampers to better suit eNorth American tastes. Still probably a hell of a lot better than the OEM Outback ones That and the price of admission for the USDM Spec B dampers from Subaru is through the roof compared to the HD struts. I have no problem with the HD struts, in fact I'm almost certainly set on them. It's finding springs that are tall enough to not drop the Outback any more than 1 - 1 1/2" . All the good springs that work well on the HDs are for lowering a Legacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 These spacers aren't going to work on the SpecB top hats, will they? http://www.subtle-solutions.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_98_116_119&products_id=167 The round opening looks too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Are the "Pink" springs considered lowering springs when used on the HD struts/Shocks? If so, will the lower height increase strain/reduce the life of the shocks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Are the "Pink" springs considered lowering springs when used on the HD struts/Shocks? If so, will the lower height increase strain/reduce the life of the shocks? The pinks are pretty low. I know the Konis are setup to handle the lowered springs, I would think the bilsteins HDs would be as well. -Mike Paisan http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/145749898/original.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://www.whiteline.com.au/images/logos/perf1.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssbtech Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Hmm.. Ok, thanks. Regarding spacers, can spacers be used between the spring and upper perches or can they only be used between the tophat and vehicle body? I'm not keen on the idea or running the shocks outside of their optimal travel range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAC5.2 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 You should never run a spacer between the spring and perch. That's just bad practice. Did I ever send you pictures of the spacers like you asked? I either forgot to send them, or forgot that I did send them. [URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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