BD: Bilstein + USDM Sti springs? Still trying..

[d1giPhux]

I'm STILL trying to get the perfect suspension height / characteristics for my car. I'm wondering if the USDM Sti springs can be used with the BG5 bilsteins?

When I put the bilsteins / GTB springs on my car.. i think the car sat too high, and was also not stiff enough. I really REALLY like the stiffness of the eibachs I currently have, however, I just wanted to go up about.. maybe 1/2" all around. Maybe a bit less.

So.. i have these bilsteins sitting around. They have the shit GTB springs that I don't like. Was wondering.. what would happen / if its even possible to put USDM Sti springs on them? Would it work? Now, if it DID work, here are some questions I have.

1. With the Bilstein + USDM Sti Springs, would the height of the setup lower a bit as opposed to the GTB Springs? Or will the height still be jacked up a bit because the bilstein struts are made for the GT-B wagon?

2. If i used the USDM sti springs w/the bilsteins, would I need to cut the bumpstops in half?

3. Anyone have any clue what would need to be done to use the eibachs / bilstein setup.. and maybe where I would be at with that combo?

If anyone has ANY info about doing this setup / where it puts you in terms of height level.. that would be SICK! This IS going on a BD (Sedan) Legacy. I'm just a bit confused if the GTB springs are keeping the bilstein setup 'too high' or if the bilsteins are also keeping the setup too high, and would continue to do so even with lowering springs.

This is the stuff I currently have to play with:

USDM KYB GR-2 (Legacy GT Specific)
Eibach Pro Kit (Legacy GT Specific)

Bilstein BG5 GTB Struts (JDM)
GTB Springs

Thanks!

[Huffer]

Just put some rubber spacers in your Eibachs or get the Paranoid Fabrication "saggy butt" spacers (1/4") and install those. You'll get the raise you want...until you change your mind.

[d1giPhux]

In order to use the spacers however, I think i would want something with 1/2" at least. I have a couple of questions about em.

In order to use new top studs on the strut mounts.. do you have to drill out the current studs and replace them with longer ones in order to use a spacer of this size?

Also, does this cause the ride to be any harsher, or anything like that as opposed to just getting proper suspension setup?

Still wondering what would happen with the bilsteins if you put the lower springs, or sti springs on them. And if the bumpstop needs to be cut!

Thanks!

[Huffer]

Spacers dont need new studs in tophats.

[d1giPhux]

Apparently the ones over 1/2" do though? I'm pretty sure. I mean.. how is it really possible you could use them WITHOUT making the studs larger? They even sell the studs with some of the kits!

[Garrison]

I dealt with him directly, you do need the longer bolts that he sells to make a 1/2" spacer work.

[d1giPhux]

Did you take any pics of your install? What size you get?

[Navi271]

Sorry gonna try to bring this back to life. Back to the original question tho. Would USDM sti springs, lets say from an 04 sti, work with Legacy Bilstein struts?

Also, I'll try to answer some of your questions. I think the Bilstein struts alone do raise the car up a bit. I have my stock L springs on my Bilsteins and the car sits higher than it ever did with the same stock springs and stock struts.

The Bilstein springs seem to raise the front of a USDM legacy every time. I think the front springs have to compensate for the heavier twin turbo setup overseas. The lack of weight in the front on our cars in the US makes it sit higher. Then the rear seems to be at a decent height. So the jacked up front end and decent rear end looks weird... I wouldn't use the stock Bilstein springs either.

I've also wondered what H&R's or Eibach springs would look like on Bilsteins. I think the car might be a touch higher than using KYB GR-2's. I had s-techs on my bilsteins once upon a time and my car looked like some of the cars around here that ride on KYB GR-2's and H&R springs. Usually the Tein s-techs would be lower, I think...


And if the bumpstop needs to be cut!
My Bilsteins don't have exterior bumpstops. They're INSIDE the strut, took some research to figure that out.

There are some Legacy specific sti springs you can get on japanparts.com, but I would also like to know if I could throw on some impreza sti springs on my legacy bilstein struts. That would be much cheaper than the legacy specific sti springs.

[d1giPhux]

You can't even get the legacy specific JDM springs anymore. I've tried, and asked everyone if they could.. they said that they could not. Even that japanparts.com site.

Interesting..so the Bilstein + Eibach setup seem to be good in the rear, but not so much in the front eh? We'll.. maybe a couple of spacers could fix the rear possibly. Might be cool to have eibachs but a BIT more fender gap.

Currently I run eibach + KYB's. Pretty much the perfect combination, however if i had like another 1/2 of clearance, or maybe as little as 1/4" would be pretty good. Either way.. eibach + kyb is the best combination I've felt so far.

how do you like your Bilstein struts? I have the GTB springs.. they are junk in my book. If i put the bilsteins back on this summer, I think I will run them with the eibach springs to test out.

Good tip on the bump stop as well.. anything else cool you can tell me about these?

[Reason]

When it comes to bolting things up all you need is a full nut.

[d1giPhux]

^ huh?

[Navi271]

You can't even get the legacy specific JDM springs anymore. I've tried, and asked everyone if they could.. they said that they could not. Even that japanparts.com site.

Interesting..so the Bilstein + Eibach setup seem to be good in the rear, but not so much in the front eh? We'll.. maybe a couple of spacers could fix the rear possibly. Might be cool to have eibachs but a BIT more fender gap.

Currently I run eibach + KYB's. Pretty much the perfect combination, however if i had like another 1/2 of clearance, or maybe as little as 1/4" would be pretty good. Either way.. eibach + kyb is the best combination I've felt so far.

how do you like your Bilstein struts? I have the GTB springs.. they are junk in my book. If i put the bilsteins back on this summer, I think I will run them with the eibach springs to test out.

Good tip on the bump stop as well.. anything else cool you can tell me about these?

What?! That's so stupid! why are the pink springs still on the website....
And what I said about the Bilstein/Eibach setup is what I THINK. I actually have no idea what it will look like for sure. And I was looking on this site and found a couple BH legacy's with Bilsteins and H&R springs. The cars look pretty low, not sure if the bilstein's actually do raise the car up at all. I guess the only way to find out is to try it. I might end up buying some H&R springs for my Bilsteins. I really love the bilstein struts and how they handle bumps. I would really like to find a spring that lowers my car slightly, not Tein s-tech low, not even H&R low, just something between stock springs and H&R.

I figured out the bilsteins don't need exterior bump stops after I bought new ones lol. The dust boots just snap onto the top of the strut. Luckily I found some bilstein dust boots on ebay.

It seems like sti springs and struts were the easier way to go tho! Oh well!

[Reason]

Why not save the headache and but coilovers. Adjust them to the height you want and be done.

[Navi271]

That would probably be the best thing to do, but I always thought most coilovers were too harsh for daily driving?

[d1giPhux]

cause coilovers are TERRIBLE for daily driving. unless you like feeling like your riding on bricks down a cobblestone road! :lol:

[Reason]

....... yea I can see how that's hilarious... Then have fun changing out your suspension and asking the same questions over and over again.

[Huffer]

I keep telling you people. If you want a spring designed specifically for the chassis + engine combo you HAVE to buy King Springs.
They list applications for the EJ22 + BK, EJ20 + BK, EJ25 + BK, EJ20H + BK, blah blah blah.

I purchased King Springs Low for the EJ25 (normally aspirated) and the BG chassis. Even drop all around on KYB GR2 struts. No need for spacers and the ride is what you expect for progressive wound coils and a 30-40mm drop. It's not cheap, but I don't have to fuss with anything and I know what to expect.

If you monkey around with hybrid applications and repurposing springs and spring rates designed for different chassis', you will continue to have to monkey around.

The only change I would make to my setup (which is not ideal for everyone but for a DD it's certainly doable for just about anyone) would be to use BG specific Bilsteins or hack my stock struts to put in Koni inserts.

[Navi271]

Where did you get the king springs? I was on their website, idk if I'm stupid or what but I couldn't find anything for 2nd gen legacy's on their catalogs. Do they even ship out of Australia?
EDIT
Are these the springs you have? (KING LOW [9/03 ON] LIBERTY WAGON 4TH GEN MY04 [FRONT:KSFL-42SP REAR:KSRL-29])

I was looking at your car and I really like how it sits on those kings.

[Huffer]

Where did you get the king springs? I was on their website, idk if I'm stupid or what but I couldn't find anything for 2nd gen legacy's on their catalogs. Do they even ship out of Australia?
EDIT
Are these the springs you have? (KING LOW [9/03 ON] LIBERTY WAGON 4TH GEN MY04 [FRONT:KSFL-42SP REAR:KSRL-29])

I was looking at your car and I really like how it sits on those kings.

Kings Springs Australia do ship out of Australia, and their distributor in NZ does also:
http://www.georgestock.co.nz/Springs.asp

Here's the application I have on my car:
http://www.georgestock.co.nz/King-Sprin ... ake=Subaru (http://www.georgestock.co.nz/King-Springs-Catalogue.asp?VehicleMake=Subaru)
MAKE: SUBARU MODEL: Legacy Station Wagon 4WD YEAR: 1994-98
FRONT LOW: KFFL-25
REAR LOW: KSRL-25

[Navi271]

Thanks! Do you happen to remember the price you paid for the springs? And didn't you pick them up from NZ when you were there or something? I bet shipping springs overseas is costly.

[Navi271]

Just for people wanting to know. King SpringWorks quoted me at about $650 USD for all 4 springs shipped from australia to my door in IA. Probably going to look at other spring options first before spending that much.