Help me !

[mattmro444]

My 2002 WRX Wagon and a 2003 Outback Wagon.



Both cars have leaking shocks, the Outback front and rear, my WRX fronts only.



Both cars are looking for a better ride quality.



I don't want to lower either much, if at all... But almost everything aftermarket seems to have some kind of built in lowering, so whatever.



I've heard good things about Bilstein shocks, but I have also heard that they require spacers to fit the rear of most subies. Would these work on the outback at all, anyone have any experiences with them, and where should I get a set for both cars?


thanks

mrosupply

[Dead91silvia]

I hate my Bilstein's, love my KYB'.

[98legwag]

I love the Bilsteins on my 4th gen. I also love the wrx spec KYB GR2s on my second gen. The Bilsteins will cost a lot more than GR2s which are essentially the same as the OEM struts, just a little stiffer.

[Reason]

I loved my Bilsteins

[Yamazaki]

It's true- Bilsteins are awesome. However, you have a 2003 Outback. Bilsteins don't work so well on them. You will have serious rubbing issues unless you also reduce the size of your tire, which will then throw off your speedometer A LOT. I still have a set of Bilsteins that I used for a short time on my 2002 Outback because I would like to put them on again after I've made all the adjustments necessary to fit them. When I had them on the tires got shredded until I put on a smaller size tire. But then my speedo was waaaay off so I just put original suspension back on.

Here's a picture of the Bilsteins side-by-side with the outback struts and you can see why you'll have issues: http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php ... 46#p301046 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?p=301046#p301046)

[rkrenicki]

If you do not want to lower them, then just pick up KYB Excel-G's. They are OEM replacements and will not lower your cars in any way. If you have leaking shocks/struts, then putting new ones will improve the handling quite a bit.

Here are links to the ones you would need for your cars:

Outback 2000-2004
Front Left: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QNDXFK
Front Right: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QN94HG
Rears (Need two): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EQ8GRE

2002 Impreza Wagon:
Front Left: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C40RX4
Front Right: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C3ZCLM
Rear Left: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C44C3K
Rear Right: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C40RXO

[Wiscon_Mark]

I'm not sure how true this is for BH outbacks, but KYBs on the SG Forester ride quite a bit stiffer than OEM struts.

If ride quality is what you're looking for, OEM is the way to go, usually.