STi Sway Bars On a BK

[Granny]

Hey guys I just put on a 2004 STi front sway bar on my 97 Legacy L and I thought I would post some pictures. I am going to see if I can get the rear sway bar to fit tomorrow.

I put my stock endlinks and mounts on the STi bar. The parts in my hand is what came off the STi bar.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4746-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4747-1.jpg

Difference in size.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4749-1.jpg

Mounted.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4744-1.jpg

[mike-tracy]

how does your steering feel now? Mine became heavier and I felt more connected to the road. This was just by putting outback sways on my L. The back wasn't as big of difference in feel.

[Granny]

I'm in the middle of turboing my car so I will tell you when I drive it.

[Granny]

Ok so I started to size up the rear STi sway bar by replacing the Legacy torsion bars with the STi ones (these fit fine). I checked the length of the Sti sway bar and it also looked like it will fit (I will know for sure tomorrow when I do the rest). For this to work you need STi torsion bars, STi rear sway bar (duh), STi rubber bushings, STi endlinks (these work with the STi torsion bars), and Legacy metal sway bar mounts.

To hang the STi sway bars I had to use the STi rubber bushings with the Legacy metal mounts (STi bushings fit the bar, Legacy mounts fit the car). The STi rubber bushings have a lip so to make them fit the Legacy mounts you need to grind the lips down like so.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4751-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4752-1.jpg

From there I could mount ONE side (you will see why I said one in a second) of the sway bar and test fit it with the STi torsion bar.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4754-1.jpg

Now the reason I could only mount one side is the spot where you put the spare tire is in the way. I started to cut at it tonight and I'll finish it tomorrow.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4756-1.jpg

Size difference.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4750-1.jpg

Hope this helps. I will update this when I get further along. Not sure how far I will get tomorrow with the Superbowl going on.

[Garrison]

I'll be dammed. I always thought the front bar had clearance issues, and mandated using a tribeca front swaybar instead.

Well done!

[Granny]

The front is really tight.

[Huffer]

Be prepared for those bars to continue hitting the body of the car when the vehicle is loaded with torsional stress. There's a reason that the stock bars have so much clearance.

[Granny]

I will make sure I cut plenty of space for it.

[Granny]

I just made spacers for the sway bar mounts to give the bar enough clearance. I could only put the drivers side on tonight because the other side has some things that needs to be cleared before I can take off the mount. Here is what the drivers side looks like.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMG_4766-1.jpg

[phi11]

Axe!

[jamal]

I'll be dammed. I always thought the front bar had clearance issues, and mandated using a tribeca front swaybar instead.

Well done!

the front bar has clearance issues on a non-turbo- the n/a headers and turbo fsb occupy the same space.

Also, if you use a WRX front crossmember, you won't have to modify the bushings.

[Rubie_25GT]

how does it ride? has it hit the body at all? I'm looking at putting in a rear wrx perrin adjustable sway bar on