Suspension parts from other chassis that cross over to BE/BH

[Downshift1]

I'm compiling a list of suspension parts that cross over to the 00'-04' Legacy (BE/BH).

I'll update this post as I try new things. :grin:

05'+ Legacy (BP/BL)

Rear End Links (GT for GT, Outback for Outback) = Works
Rear Sway Bar = Testing this week
Rear Sway Bar Braces = Testing Soon
Spec B Bilstiens = Testing this week

93'-01' Impreza (GC/GF)

JDM aluminum Control arms = Works
N/A Front Sway bar = Works
Front Sway Bar End links = Works
Steering Rack Bushings = Works
Whiteline ALK = Works

02'-07' Impreza (GD/GG)

Front Struts = Works
Front Brake Lines = Works
Front Knuckles = Works
4 Pot Front Calipers = Works (stock 00' Outback wheels clear!)
2 Pot Rear Calipers = Works (needs adapter brackets and 06'-07' rear rotors)

08'-09' Impreza (GRB)

Rear Sub Frame Isolators = Testing Soon

Dylan @ DS1

[Huffer]

I'm compiling a list of suspension parts that cross over to the 00'-04' Legacy (BE/BH).

05'+ Legacy (BP/BL)

Spec B Bilsteins = Testing this week


That'll be a very interesting one. If the BL/BP susp. goes in without major mods, that opens up a whole new realm for our multi-linked brethren. Good man!

[brizzlebaby]

this will be interesting i agree!

im curious as to if the BL/BP upper spring perches can fit the 03 BE tophats.

if you do check out the springs, can you check how small the upper spring perches are for the BL/BP? can you check if they are smaller than the WRX? i would like to know because i have Bl/BP springs, and i want to see if it will work on my 03 BE.

[KAG]

Dylan - This is great stuff. Keep us updated.

Something I'd like to throw out there: the 08+ Impreza now has the rear multi-link suspension as well. If by any chance you can source some struts/springs from a GRB, see if they match up to your BH. I'd love for some more spring options for my BE :smile:

[Downshift1]

I was thinking the same thing about the GRB.

The thing that sways me away is the difference in the suspension mounting points:

BE/BH and BL/BP mounts on the rear struts on the trailing link

GRB mounts the struts on the lower control arm

http://www.agency-power.com/catalog/wm.php/images/ap08controlarm5a.jpg

-Dylan @ DS1

[rougeben83]

Dylan, check out the adjustable rear trailing link (front of the link that the shock attaches to) for the BL/BP that someone sells over on lgt.com I was asking him for measurements as the part is very similar to the BE/BH chassis but I never got further than a couple of PM's.

Also, the rear 05+ LGT rotors are interchangeable with the rear 06-07 WRX 2 pot rotors.

[J.R.]

I'm compiling a list of suspension parts that cross over to the 00'-04' Legacy (BE/BH).

Spec B Bilstiens = Testing this week


I'm also interested in this. I have a set of springs from my old Spec B sitting in the garage that I would love to be able to put on the L.

[brizzlebaby]

i just put on some Bl/BP lowering springs on my L Special Edition BE. so the springs do work, you just need different upper spring perches from the spec. B. they have a different style than the earlier models.

[J.R.]

i just put on some Bl/BP lowering springs on my L Special Edition BE. so the springs do work, you just need different upper spring perches from the spec. B. they have a different style than the earlier models.

Is that for the front or rear?

[brizzlebaby]

it's only for the front. the rears are just plug and play.

[J.R.]

it's only for the front. the rears are just plug and play.

ok, so I need:

Spec B front Springs
Spec B upper perch
Stock/Sti strut mount
Strut that fits BH chassis

Correct?

[brizzlebaby]

you do need the spec. B upper spring perches.

the struts should fit right on, i got some KYB GR2s for all 4 sides, and they went on with no problem. the spring was shorter than the original spring, and everytime i bring up the car i have to arrange the springs to fit right on the perch. before i lower it back down.

[GTBGUY]

Not to piss on the parade guys, but seriously. Do it right and get the CORRECT parts made specifically for the BE/BH chassis. This mixing and matchng back-yard stuff will (a) make it a real pain when it comes time to sell your vehicle (b) to source parts later on if you forget how it was mix'd and match and (c) isn't design properly to work with the chassis to provide correct levels of travel, dampening, compression, rebound etc.

[deadlydave]

Not to piss on the parade guys, but seriously. Do it right and get the CORRECT parts made specifically for the BE/BH chassis. This mixing and matchng back-yard stuff will (a) make it a real pain when it comes time to sell your vehicle (b) to source parts later on if you forget how it was mix'd and match and (c) isn't design properly to work with the chassis to provide correct levels of travel, dampening, compression, rebound etc.

Just to let the thread starter know: The entire front suspension from a Baja will bolt up (if getting height is your thing).
The Rears...Not a clue. I'd be willing to ship my entire set of struts, springs, and tophats, assembled to a BE/BH owner for test fitment if they paid the shipping back to me.

[5U8ARU03]

So brizzle, you pulled off the vogtlands or were these different? Sorry I never got back on here after I said I got them, as you found out it was a hassle with fitment, I still haven't got the right perches, I've been told about 4 different specs on the right perches and haven't found the right ones, you're saying Spec B's work? Where did you get them?

[J.R.]

So did you ever get those Bilstiens on?

[Downshift1]

Sorry I fell a little behind on this project as my car was t-boned by a teenager in an SUV :smt013

I picked up a new shell (Green L auto) and have a little bit of work to do to get back to where my White wagon was.

I'll update this post as soon as I can.

-Dylan @ DS1

[gryffinwings]

Are there any updates to this, definitely valuable information.

[acjx880]

Great post guys!
Can somebody help me with something...
The front springs on my BH needs to be replaced, which Subaru models' front springs would be a direct swap w/o any additional parts?
Thanks for the help!

[KAG]

Great post guys!
Can somebody help me with something...
The front springs on my BH needs to be replaced, which Subaru models' front springs would be a direct swap w/o any additional parts?
Thanks for the help!
Are you sure it's the springs and not the struts that need to be replaced?

[shipjumper]

rear trailing arm bushings????

my BAJA needs them... any idea what fits?

[omahasubaru]

Anyone ever try the 05+ billys yet?

As long as the spring perch is basically the same on the struts up front, should be a direct swap w/o needing other springs, etc.

I'm willing to try it on my BE w/ iON springs if anyone one has some laying around.

[ben g]

I dont see anything for the BH but im picking up some 04 sti struts and springs and am going to go for it next week i will let you guys know how it turns out

[Zac]

ok so on a 00-04 legacy you can run 05+ legacy springs?

Do you still use 00-04 struts and top hats and all you need is the 05+ top spring perches?

[fail wagon]

im curious to this as well. anyone have an idea of what bp/bl s. techs would look like on a bh? i was thinking the rear would sag but im not sure

[Huffer]

I dont see anything for the BH but im picking up some 04 sti struts and springs and am going to go for it next week i will let you guys know how it turns out

You'll fail. The rears will NOT work. Multilink suspension on the rear of the BH does not equal the Macpherson struts on the 2004 STi.

[ben g]

fabrication my friend

[Huffer]

I dont see anything for the BH but im picking up some 04 sti struts and springs and am going to go for it next week i will let you guys know how it turns out

You'll fail. The rears will NOT work. Multilink suspension on the rear of the BH does not equal the Macpherson struts on the 2004 STi.


fabrication my friend

^^ I'd like to see you fit a full size strut from an 04 STi into the MUCH smaller and compact area on the rear suspension end of a BE/BH.
Really. :smt017

[ben g]

If it doesn't work you sell the suspension no big deal

[ben g]

Screw even trying that shit too much money bh5 after market suspension just bolts right up correct?

[Triple T]

Just the thread that I was looking for!
I am currently searching for poly bushings or crossover parts from a STI or B4 chassis for the rear suspension of my 2000 Legacy GT.
I would like to upgrade parts as the rear suspension was totally neglected by the previous owner.

[Triple T]

Really great stuff!
Will these work on a BE chassis? http://www.nengun.com/sti/suspension-link-set

[LIMITED]

Looking for a way to lower 1" the BE GT front?
Which springs work?(STI,WRX,BL) which years?
Is weight a consideartion?
Any suggestions are helpful.
Thanks

[chuckthefuk]

bump for more info.. this thread had a good start.

[omahasubaru]

93'-01' Impreza (GC/GF)

JDM aluminum Control arms = Works
N/A Front Sway bar = Works
Front Sway Bar End links = Works
Steering Rack Bushings = Works
Whiteline ALK = Works


All this works without any modification? Shoot where have I been? I thought the BE/BH had specific front swaybars that made Impreza ones a non-option.

[chuckthefuk]

same as any non-turbo subaru :-D

its the rear that has the multilink and makes it specific.

[omahasubaru]

Sure looked different me when I tried last. but it's been over 6 years ago. lol.

Thanks - Jon

[chuckthefuk]

the wheels are turning..

time for some visual evidence.. anyone care to post up?

[jamal]

one of these is a BE, one is a BL:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/mainphpg2_viewcoreDownloadItemg2_itemId2-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/mainphpg2_viewcoreDownloadItemg2_itemId2-2.jpg

can you tell which is which?

[chuckthefuk]

1st is the BL.. dual exhaust.. finned rear diff cover.. cleaner...

[Bhatman]

This quote is from Omahasubaru on another post regarding BL/BP suspension:



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.


So yeah in the pictures they look really similar, but all that needs to be done is change those perches....

[jamal]

in the rear the perches/upper mounts are the same from BE to BL. it is the front where the BL perches are different. And the spec-b tops/perches are different still.

[Caboobaroo]

We'll I've had a chance to try my hand at putting a set of '07 SpecB Bilsteins in my '04 sedan (it's an Outback but same as any other BE/BH chassis.

Tried test fitting the struts into the car as they're were preassembled. Top hat bolt pattern is larger and the center hole for the hat needs to be larger by about 1/2" in diameter. I then pulled both my factory strut and the SpecB strut apart to swap parts around to make it work. That was a failed attempt as well. The portion of the strut rod that pokes through the top hat doesn't have the length for the nut to seat down enough. This is because the SpecB top hat doesn't use a conical washer to ride on rather then bearing was redesigned to use the perch as the same thing.

While I had the one strut apart, I noticed that the moron that installed the Tein S-Techs damaged the threads and spring perch so that was lovely. So I have figured one of two options to make them work properly. First I could modify the strut tower to accept the larger top hat by cutting the center hole out larger with a cut off wheel and redrill the bolt pattern. Second, I found that you can have the top of the strut cut off and rewelded back on by Bilstein. I have yet to call them but I'm thinking if I sent them down, I might be able to have the taller stud welded onto the end of the strut.

I will hopefully update this when I figure out what I plan to do...