How-To- Cheap Front Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies

[DevC]

So I tried to install new fron endlinks on my 93 Turbo Wagon. I am cheap and bought cheap oem replacements. One broke in half on install.

Wanting something better, but not wanting to blow $200 on aftermarket ones I looked at some 4th gen Legacy and other newer subaru endlinks and compared to the stock ones.

http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/8bee1bd647c711e29f1422000a1fbc0e_7.jpg

They are a couple bucks cheaper, all metal with ball and socket ends vs the plastic with rubber bushings that are stock on older cars. This means they should result in more responsive sway bar function and stronger design.

Heres a pic of one installed on my 1st gen with the car sitting on the ground.

http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/c825e48c47ca11e2b7d622000a1f968a_7.jpg

As you can seen the lower control arm mount was modded with a hammer to bend the inside tab out of the way and the hole was drilled out larger to fit the larger stud on the endlink. Other then those 2 minor changes, it was a direct bolt on using the stock contol arm and stock sway bar.

Potential future concern is the strength of the control arm mounting tab, may need to be re-inforced especially with upgraded bars, but I'm going to keep an eye on it.

Edit- Adding some control arm comparisons to this original post

The old endlink style contol arm. Alot more then a tack weld on there.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/_MG_0018-1.jpg

Heres a contol arm of an 05 ish wrx that uses the type of endlink I'm using. Theres not a whole lot of difference if we are looking at how beefy the mount is.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/10_49194250-1.jpg


And if it cracks or breaks, I will just weld a new mount on, no big deal and no bigger expense then a failed endlink.


And of course aluminum uses this type of endlink anyways

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/T2eC16RzQE9s3ssOOGBQndWGsfw60_1JPGset_id-1.jpg

[chuckthefuk]

Lets see you try that on a Aluminum Control Arm . heheeh..

Way to be thrifty.. i am not a big fan of these types of mods but whatevz

[lord flashheart]

Or......

www.buyhardrace.com/product/hardrace-fr ... gd_83.html (http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hardrace-front-sway-bar-end-links-steel-impreza-gc-gd_83.html)

[DevC]

Or......

http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hard ... gd_83.html (http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hardrace-front-sway-bar-end-links-steel-impreza-gc-gd_83.html)

I'm still at half that price, and it took me 5 mins per side to do and they are in stock locally at most parts stores.

[98legwag]

Or......

http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hard ... gd_83.html (http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hardrace-front-sway-bar-end-links-steel-impreza-gc-gd_83.html)

I saw this and was like "I can't pass that up." I now have a pair ordered.

[lord flashheart]

Nice mod if your on a tight budget.

[Huffer]

Interesting mod... and yep, I'd be really concerned about the durability of the mount now that you're only using 1 tab to transmit/spread the torsional load. I am wondering if you simply upgraded one part to have a more expensive one fail later because of it.

This is why I like to use stock endlinks with upgraded swaybars. If a link breaks, cheap fix. If a control arm or swaybar mount goes...

[anothernord]

You're basically doubling the force that the tack weld on one side of the bracket has to hold. Still, clever.

[lord flashheart]

be nice flashheart.

I ment it in a nice way. But reworded it.


Thank you.

[phi11]

I'm going to put this in here.

How-To- Cheap REAR Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies
I bought FRONT ENDLINKS for a 2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 Turbocharged
ADM614 (AD-M614)
ADM612 (AD-M612

these are solid aluminum and cost $34.11 NEW w/new hardware.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/link_zpsb09121da-1.jpg
the only thing is the holes are off by 1/2"

I saw a guy running these on a RS and I had to try it.

[DevC]

The old endlink style contol arm. Alot more then a tack weld on there.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/_MG_0018-1.jpg

Heres a contol arm of an 05 ish wrx that uses the type of endlink I'm using. Theres not a whole lot of difference if we are looking at how beefy the mount is.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/10_49194250-1.jpg


And if it cracks or breaks, I will just weld a new mount on, no big deal and no bigger expense then a failed endlink.


And of course aluminum uses this type of endlink anyways

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/T2eC16RzQE9s3ssOOGBQndWGsfw60_1JPGset_id-1.jpg

[DevC]

Thanks Phi11, I ordered some of those audi endlinks to try out too.

[phi11]

Thanks Phi11, I ordered some of those audi endlinks to try out too.
yeah, it has to be one of the best mod i've done in awhile, no more body roll!

[DevC]

I installed those audi endlinks, they bolted right in for me with the stock bar. Friend with an sti bar tried them and seemed to have an issue, perhaps the sti rear bar is slightly different.

[Baddog]

I'm going to put this in here.

How-To- Cheap REAR Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies
I bought FRONT ENDLINKS for a 2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 Turbocharged
ADM614 (AD-M614)
ADM612 (AD-M612

these are solid aluminum and cost $34.11 NEW w/new hardware.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/link_zpsb09121da-1.jpg
the only thing is the holes are off by 1/2"

I saw a guy running these on a RS and I had to try it.

So are those part numbers for the front or rear?

Front links are a dogbone I thought o.O

[phi11]

How-To- Cheap REAR Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies
I bought FRONT ENDLINKS for a 2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 Turbocharged

[Baddog]

Ohhh. For the rear. Got it. Already have solids. Looking for fronts.

[phi11]

I picked up these:


Or......

http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hard ... gd_83.html (http://www.buyhardrace.com/product/hardrace-front-sway-bar-end-links-steel-impreza-gc-gd_83.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/01/linkofthepast_zpsf859f777-1.jpg

my fronts were shot. I was going to make a set, but decided to buy the hardrace once.

[legacy360.]

How-To- Cheap REAR Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies
I bought FRONT ENDLINKS for a 2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 Turbocharged
what did you mean that they were off by 1/2? im really interested in these

[phi11]

you can see in the photo that the holes are different distances.
the audi endlink is smaller.

[legacy360.]

would this cause problems ? or could it work out?

[ctbrighton]

would this cause problems ? or could it work out?
it's fine, look up why people run adjustable endlinks.

[ctbrighton]

Finally picked up a pair of the Audi/VW front endlinks for the rears, such a big improvement over stock endlinks.

[Odycee]

Or make these Fatboy for all my Subies, big, fat, and chubby. Next is rear C link.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/04/IMG_20140318_172357_zps28cbc352-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/04/IMG_20140310_174846_zpsdfb8dfe9-1.jpg

[98legwag]

I'm going to put this in here.

How-To- Cheap REAR Endlink Upgrade for 1st/2nd Gen Legacies
I bought FRONT ENDLINKS for a 2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 Turbocharged
ADM614 (AD-M614)
ADM612 (AD-M612

these are solid aluminum and cost $34.11 NEW w/new hardware.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/12/link_zpsb09121da-1.jpg
the only thing is the holes are off by 1/2"

I saw a guy running these on a RS and I had to try it.
It anyone is looking for cheap metal rear endlinks, Rock Auto has off brand Audi ones for $13 each plus shipping.

http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,carcode ... _Link.html (http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,carcode,1379594,parttype,7580,d,2002_AUDI_A4_3.0L_V6_Stabilizer_Bar_Link.html)

[KNaph]

Just FYI, if anyone wants to buy the ÜRO Parts Audi endlinks, they're threaded on one end.

I bought them and had to drill/dremel out the threads so I could get the OEM hardware through.
Also, there is a nut cast into one of the bushings, you could probably cut it off but I didn't bother with it since there seemed to be enough threads showing through.

Example of what I mean:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/09/EV0IBWCjpg1-1.jpg

The top bushing is the threaded one that I had to grind out, and there is still that cast nut that the bolt is butted up against.

[camroncamera]

I was asked to update this thread with my experience. I purchased a pair of VAG front endlinks for my rear GT wagon swaybar upgrade (upgraded to an Outback bar from the Pick-n-Pull). Cost for the endlinks was around US$35 from my FLAPS down the street. My endlinks were unthreaded and no drilling, cutting, or modifications were needed. I did use a couple stainless washers as spacers. Setup has held up great for several months. The VW part numbers I used are:
8D0 411 318 D - Passenger Side
8D0 411 317 D - Driver's Side

[Hinyo]

pictures for the curious can be found here

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/koni-adjustable-strut-inserts-ground-control-coilover-conversion-bk-wagon-223142.html?p=4797801#post4797801

[Wiscon_Mark]

I bought them and had to drill/dremel out the threads so I could get the OEM hardware through.

I just bought a grade 8 bolt that worked (much easier). I think it was M8x1.25, but I'd have to double check that to be sure.