Would BL/BP Lowering springs fit on a BE??

[04Legacy]

I know that the BL/BP lowering springs will fit the rear suspension on a BE. Would they fit on the front suspension then??

Thanks,
Nic

[Wiscon_Mark]

I don't think the front suspension has ever changed on the Legacy model, but I'm less familiar with the 05+ Legacy models. Anyone want to confirm that?

[Huffer]

BL/BP models are Macpherson fronts, multi-link rears. Physically, they're the same as the 00-04 generation... but whether or not they will actually fit correctly is debated. I've never seen a 3rd gen owner successfully install a 4th gen suspension setup, and the debate has always centered around the rear setup.

If you have definitive information about the rears, I'd love to see it! :)

[chuckthefuk]

PM JoeT if I recall he managed to fit BL suspension in the back .. but its been sometime since I've spoken to him so who knows.

-Chuck

[02_Legacy]

If you have definitive information about the rears, I'd love to see it! :)
I second this I have been trying to see proof on this for awhile but all I'v ever found is people saying that it fits.

[04Legacy]

So i might be trying to get a cheap set of new and real Tein H-tech Lowering springs for the BL/BP

What do u guys think about the H-tech's???

[Huffer]

The H-techs are ok. They are better than S-Techs... for what that's worth.

[Bhatman]

There is a guy on the Subaru outback forums who was able to put BH suspension on his BL Wagon. So technically they should be swappable.

EDIT: Found the post:

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/81- ... -08-a.html (http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/81-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension/40328-problems-new-04-kyb-shocks-my-08-a.html)

[omahasubaru]

That thread is about fitting just dampers. I can see that easily interchangeable.

However the 00-04 Legacy has different upper spring perches than most Impreza and even the same body style JDM Legacys. So just know that if you're getting BP/BL springs, you may need the matching upper spring perch to make it work.

This is a big reason why back in '05 it was a big deal that iON performance offered springs for USDM BE/BH guys. No one else had anything (aside from H&R) that fit w/o changing the front upper perches out for Impreza ones.

I've been on iON springs since '05 (rebranded king springs). Just a year ago I changed out the GR2s for Bilstein Sport dampers. I'm actually thinking of selling it all off for coilovers in a few months.

Jon

[Bhatman]

So technically in order to use BL/BP items you would need that upper perch? I know that the newer BL/BP has a different coil design than the older 3rd gen and that was the issue they had over on the other site. The fronts should match up while the rears just need certain parts....

^(Im getting Bilsteins + H&Rs for my BH, hows the ride set up/height on your car?)

[omahasubaru]

Honestly, the car rode better on the KYB GR2s I had on before the Bilsteins are stiffer valved and in some scenarios are over dampened. It's likely the nature of the progressive rate iON springs. I think the shocks over power the spring it's first 1" or so of travel on un-even roads or crappy ones. If the bumps are harder/sharper or I'm pitching the car around it is very solid and planted and feels good. Non progressive springs would work better with the Bilsteins I think.

I'm wanting to go to coilovers so I can get the car height exactly where I want it and try and fit a bit more wheel/tire under it.

Here is the best pics I have online, they're quite a few years old, but the car hasn't changed since then really. link (https://picasaweb.google.com/113105415761623842045/02Legacy)

[Huffer]

Jon, nice to see you around!

I didn't realize iON springs were rebranded Kings? Are they still doing this or are they out of business?

[omahasubaru]

Jon, nice to see you around!

I didn't realize iON springs were rebranded Kings? Are they still doing this or are they out of business?

Nice to be back sort of. I've been using what was my wife's DD as my own for a couple years now and I'm at the point where I want to tweak it some more for my own enjoyment.

No clue if they are still in business. I did email them yesterday just to see and haven't heard back at all yet. I will update if I do.

I know they were re branded Kings when I got mine in 2005. They had King stamped on them when they showed up. The finish didn't hold up well so I scuffed them and repainted them when I installed the Bilsteins last year (pics are in that link above). I put in new upper KYB mounts front and back at that time too. But they have been put to use for 7 years in the midwest all seasons so take that into account.

They are still a great choice. I just think it is a matter of bilstein valving clashing w/ progressive rate springs. I considered having the Billys revalved at $100 a corner, but after spending $700 on them, didn't seem cost effective. I then gave consideration to a coilover conversion kit like ground-control and go with fixed rate springs... but now I'm actually looking at STANCE GR+ *gasp*. A local guy has them on his '12 STi and they actually ride quite well and the quality appears 'decent'. With swift springs in the rates of my choosing, I'm sure they'd do the job well.

I was originally wanting to do AST 4100 or the new 4150s as I've used their suspensions in autox/track/rallyx since '08, but I can't justify that much $$ for a DD setup. One advantage to the STANCE is the knuckle being threaded on the shock body, so you can keep travel while adjusting ride height like the Tein Flex. Something the AST won't support.

Here is an old link to my review of the iON springs from almost 7 years ago on NASOIC. link (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750470).

Thanks - Jon

[Bhatman]

I looked at the iON springs, saw no one was carrying them, so im now looking at the H&R's. I figured that the Bilsteins would be a bit more stiff than stock and KYB's.

- Back to the topic...isnt there another post with some info in there too? (I believe chuck bumped it...)

[omahasubaru]

I looked at the iON springs, saw no one was carrying them, so im now looking at the H&R's. I figured that the Bilsteins would be a bit more stiff than stock and KYB's.
Yup. want to buy my setup? PM me.

[STIdarkside]

I looked at the iON springs, saw no one was carrying them, so im now looking at the H&R's. I figured that the Bilsteins would be a bit more stiff than stock and KYB's.
Yup. want to buy my setup? PM me.

After everything settled, how much of a drop did the kyb/ion setup create?

[omahasubaru]

Here is an old link to my review of the iON springs from almost 7 years ago on NASOIC. link (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750470).

Thanks - Jon

I posted height measurements in that thread.

[STIdarkside]

Here is an old link to my review of the iON springs from almost 7 years ago on NASOIC. link (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750470).

Thanks - Jon

I posted height measurements in that thread.

Unless I overlooked it, I didn't see height measurements from the fender to the ground... Can you please provide these measurements. Thanks!

[omahasubaru]

Unless I overlooked it, I didn't see height measurements from the fender to the ground... Can you please provide these measurements. Thanks!

You can measure your stock car, then you can subtract the numbers I put in that thread and you'd know exactly where you would sit.

Fender to ground wouldn't be accurate do to wheel/tire variances. I could do wheel center to fender sometime, but the above method would give you want you need now.

[04Legacy]

So to revive this thread a little bit. Found a set of Tein S-techs that im going to try and get. only thing im worried about is getting the front spring perches from a BL/BP. What are they and how much do they cost??

[rougeben83]

I bought a set of Spec B bilsteins for BL/BP to try and retrofit them into my BE. The rear springs on the BL/BP are a good 2 inches shorter over your stock ones, otherwise they technically will "fit" into your rear strut. You need the entire strut spring assembly, it bolts up directly to the stock mounting points however, the suspension linkage design is slightly different, thats why the BE/BH strut has a slightly longer stroke with the longer spring.

The front BL/BP springs are a completely different shape on the top than BE/BH or impreza front springs (the JDM/EDM BE/BH's use an impreza type front spring, you need to use the impreza top perch vs. the USDM BE/BH). I did not get a chance to dismantle the front strut assembly as my spring compressors can't fit over the springs with the bigger lower perches on the BL/BP front strut, so I can't give you a measurement of the springs uncompressed. The lower spring perches will work, like I said, you'd need the BL/BP top perches, and I'm not 100% sure they'll fit on the BE/BH strut.