02 LGT with H&R's and TSW's

[stoggy]

Hi guys, just installed a set of H&R sport springs with new OEM struts and threw on a set of 17x8 TSW Zolder 5 wheels in gloss gold. It afforded me a modest drop with spectacular handling improvement. Also threw in an Addco rear anti-sway bar with Kartboy rear end links. Sorry, no pics of the anti-sway bar or end links, but I'm sure you can imagine what they look like lol.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/exterior_rims_lowered_4-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/exterior_rims_lowered_3-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/exterior_rims_lowered_2-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/exterior_rims_lowered_1-1.jpg

[Greavesy]

I've literally just ordered a set of H&R springs for my wagon. cant wait to get them fitted now I've seen that!

[grayguy]

Looks great! That's the perfect amount of drip as far as I'm concerned

[Huffer]

Very driveable! Nice!

[SativaMan04]

Looks good! Not too low at all. How low did the springs drop the car?
How do the springs feel with the stock shocks? I've been wanting to get a set of H&R's and just put them on my stock shocks as well.

[stoggy]

These springs are actually wagon springs so they don't drop the rear as much on a sedan as they would on a wagon, obviously because of the lack of extra weight.

It dropped the front just about 1.5" and the rear a solid 1.25". The rear will settle another 1/2" from what I hear though so it should match the front. As it is I can't stick a finger in the front wheel well lol.

They work very well on stock struts...everyone uses KYB GR-2's but those are not an upgrade, they are an aftermarket replacement part. There is nothing special about them so I chose to buy new OEM units. They perform great, not incredibly stiff like a billstein hd or anything but the ride comfort is great.

Cheers.

[Huffer]

Should have gotten Bilstein units for the BE/BH chassis - great shock upgrade and rebuildable.

[stoggy]

Not worth the money IMO....I don't ever beat on this car so for me I couldn't justify it. If this car was a weekend warrior or more of a heavily driven car I most def would've put billsteins in but honestly I drive this car about 50km a week lol.

[LIMITED]

looks sweet.
H&R sport springs for wagon? Any problems with the install??

[stoggy]

H&R claims that kit number 29443 fits both BE and BH chassis right out of the box. They do not. You MUST upgrade the Front top hats to model number 20323FA000 (02-07 Impreza sedan/wagon, non-WRX, non-STi). The springs fit and look great on either the BE or BH however on the sedan you will notice a less significant drop in the rear due to the fact that the springs are not radically shorter, like the front.

[Greavesy]

Did you fit camber bolts to the rear when you fitted the springs?
I've been reading up on how to do this and due to the change in camber a number of people have reccomended ftting camber bolts to the rear? Aparently there's no need for them on the front as the extra camber improves the handling?

- Dont know if it's all true, just what I've read.

[stoggy]

I didn't have to buy anything extra in terms of alignment. My alignment guy said it was out on the front only by like 1/4 of a degree so he just corrected that. The back was good I guess.

[STIdarkside]

How much wheel gap do you have in the back in comparison to the front?

[stoggy]

I have less than one finger gap in the front, and about 1 1/2 finger gap in the rear. The springs should settle a bit but it looks kind of nice with a rake.

[Greavesy]

Stoggy, your Legacy seems to have dropped alot more than more, or at least appears too. I wonder if its cos your on 18's?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/SAM_0850-1.jpg

[stoggy]

It does look lower...weird. I'm sitting on 17's, 215/45ZR17...maybe it's the thicker sidewall, yours look quite a bit smaller than mine. What setup do you have? I also cambered my front as much as possible.

[jzignig]

Silly question BUT, still plenty of clearance to change oil without a jack? this is the first car I've had like that, and is the ONLY thing keeping me from lowering. Its so nice. less than 20 minutes for a change? YES! (especially when you change it once a month.)

Yeah, I'm more worried about practicality.

This looks great though! :smt023

[stoggy]

Good question, haven't had to do an oil change yet with the new setup. Shouldn't be an issue though. I normally use staggered wooden blocks to drive on anyways to get more ground clearance and I can still drive on these with the lower suspension without rubbing or anything....I use 10" wide x 18" long x 1" thick blocks of wood and I've screwed them together so they are offset by 8 inches. Then screwed supporting blocks underneath..works really well.

[Huffer]

Silly question BUT, still plenty of clearance to change oil without a jack? this is the first car I've had like that, and is the ONLY thing keeping me from lowering. Its so nice. less than 20 minutes for a change? YES! (especially when you change it once a month.)

Yeah, I'm more worried about practicality.

This looks great though! :smt023

You can still drive up a set of ramps and have plenty of clearance.

[rougeben83]

get some planks of wood, put it in front of the ramps.

[Guig'z]

Greavesy, its true, you seem on stock Legacy struts, weird!

This is my 02 BH Outback with 225-45-17
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/07/IMG_1391-1.jpg

[Greavesy]

Guig'z since that photo was taken (literally after I'd dropped it off the jacks) it has dropped further. I'll put a new picture up tomorrow.

Lovin' ur outback by the way, it looks mint!