but they said GT struts bolt right up to my outback...

[XBW]

sometimes the internet is wrong I guess.

I read somewhere that BG/D Legacy /GT struts are a direct bolt on to a BG/D outback, and thereby instantly lowering by 2 inches or whatever.

ordered all four corners and when I pulled out the rears... surprise!!!! the distance between the spindle mount and spring perch is easily 4-6 inches shorter than outback as most of you probably know. (meaning there is no way im can fit my wheel in there)

I cant even comprehend how they fit on regular legacys, does the spindle mount come up a few inches to meet the strut? (if so I will just get spindles)
also wondering if the fronts are basically the same size (they look it)

thanks in advance for your factual answers

[elislider]

be careful when lowering an outback, there are spacers in the subframes of the car that raise the entire chassis all around; its not just the suspension that raises the car. same thing applies to a forester. so if you were to just drop it a bunch with different springs/struts, you could more easily screw up the entire suspension geometry. be sure to get it aligned!

having said that, im not quite sure im following your terminology. what is a "spindle mount" ? and upper or lower spring perch? i guess pictures would help if you have any

[impreza_GC8]

You cant fit Outback wheel/tire setup on an Outback that has the non-extended shocks, first of all.

[XBW]

ok, are legacy and outback spindles the same? front and rear?
years 96-2000

impreza_gc8- that is exactly my problem, only a 10inch wheel with low pros would fit if i installed the shocks, im wondering how that is even possible when the body is the same... just looked through the wheels section and how are people fitting 18in wheels + tires on their legacys?

I was under the impression that the shock swap only lowers the car down to gt height, which is what 2 inches lower?

looks like GC8 rears are similar to legacy outback height (from pictures on KYB) true?
im not looking for an aggressive drop, just a little more civilized than outback

[DarkPhoenix]

What spring are you using? I know LGT struts work on an OBW. I have them on my car now with the stock OBW wheels and 205/65/15 tyres. I am using the stock OBW springs until I swap out for a Forester suspension.

[XBW]

lolololololol
i am a dolt
heres what happened; I removed the rear wheel and got a good look, i then looked at the new front strut thinking it was the rear, and such began my troubles.

I now have it all sorted out.
gt fronts are approx. 1.2 inch shorter where it meets the tire (this is a fact I measured them with a ruler)
gt rears are approx. 1.5-2 inches shorter where it meets the tire
see pics for yourselves
fronts- old is outback, gr2 is GT/ regular legacy
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1372-1.jpg
rears- old is outback, gr2 is GT/ regular legacy
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1364-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1363-1.jpg
stock clearance in front
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1350-1.jpg
still clears GT/ regulars in the front (my total wheel size edge to edge is 26in, and it looks like the GTs will fit anything up to 27in without spacers)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1374-1.jpg
rears do not fit! needs to be at least an inch higher (my total wheel size edge to edge is 26in)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1366-1.jpg
dont let this photo fool you, the wheel is slightly angled out making it look like its only a quarter inch away from fitting, but its actually at least an inch too big to fit in there
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1367-1.jpg
but my summer wheels do fit
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1369-1.jpg
So I will be keeping the fronts and sending the rears back to KYB (at my expense) then I will need something that's just a tad lower than the OB, gotta go search up on BC's, GC's, and 2nd gen imprezas/wrx

[02_Legacy]

Umm... I just tried viewing your first pic in that last post and the website it brought me too tried to download a virus. Maybe that is why a direct link isn't working, something isn't right there.
I'm not blaming you and saying you were trying to do that but just a warning to others.

[XBW]

sorry about that, imageshack is now on my black list.

got pics up but resizing right now

[02_Legacy]

no worries I have norton and it took care of it, I just wanted to give you a heads up, and this is good info to have on this site, thanks for contributing not only the measurements but the pics too.

[chuckthefuk]

:shock:

So the internet did not lie, the struts are direct bolt-on... the interwebs was not detailed enough to specify the low profile tire need for this application..

-Chuck

[XBW]

lol somethin like that

[Bhatman]

I would recommend looking at using 06 WRX KYB sedan or wagon struts(anything 06 and below will work). I had a set of 06 WRX sedan struts on my 98 OB and when I got into an accident, my right rear strut was kaput...went on to Tire Rack and got the same strut (Its called a KYB Excel-G) worked perfectly with my STi springs and a spacer I had got from paranoid fabrications.

[XBW]

I dont want the rear to be stiffer than the fronts, and with these winter tires, as of right now on stock struts i only have 1 inch between the tire and strut, so im thinking of sticking with outback struts in the rear, at least i know it wont have saggy butt...?

i have the fronts in and wow, what a difference, even without the rears the car feels 10x better in handling, acceleration and braking... cant wait to get new struts in the rear.

how about something like this, stock outback struts with wrx tophats? wouldnt that lower it at least a half inch or something... edit; it appears BD and GD tophats are exactly the same, so maybe sti...

[elislider]

any 02-07 impreza rear struts should be direct bolt on, for a 95-99 legacy/outback
but do keep in mind the outback has spacers all across the chassis (front and rear crossmembers and the transmission crossmember) so the whole chassis is raise about 2" except where you put the lowering suspension, so it could screw up the geometry. i know people do this all the time (lower outbacks) but still something to think about