Suspension... Sti strut and spring....

[ScoobySnack]

Interested in swapping my stock 98 strut and springs to Sti struts and springs but I was wondering what year will be a direct fit for the 98 bd sedan? Or will I have to mod to make it work? Let me know guys!

02-03 Wrx strut /springs you have to swap the top hats to leggy ones too, iirc

[chuckthefuk]

2004 STi struts will bolt up. However 2005-2007 apparently have a different bolt design at the bottom of the strut.
-Chuck

[slaytalera]

2004 STi struts will bolt up. However 2005-2007 apparently have a different bolt design at the bottom of the strut.
-Chuck


right, 05+ requires changing the hubs to 5x114 so you need new hubs brakes and rims to go along with the suspension...stick with 04 sti or you can go with any year wrx

[Bhatman]

06 WRX struts work too(got them on my car). Just gotta use the Legacy tophats on the front and then on the rears you can use the WRX tophats+Paranoid Fab spacer to avoid the saggy butt issue. (Unless there different for the wagons)

[Benfolio]

06 WRX struts work too(got them on my car). Just gotta use the Legacy tophats on the front and then on the rears you can use the WRX tophats+Paranoid Fab spacer to avoid the saggy butt issue. (Unless there different for the wagons)

That is incorrect. Front tophats don't need to be changed. I was running '05 WRX struts front and rear on my '97 BD and didn't change a thing. Bolted them right in. Plus I found out the aftermarket part number for a front tophat was the same for both cars.

Also, be prepared to buy some camber bolts for the rear. The WRX has a wider track and without the extra adjustment you will wind up with POSITIVE camber in the rear.

[greenspeed]

06 WRX struts work too(got them on my car). Just gotta use the Legacy tophats on the front and then on the rears you can use the WRX tophats+Paranoid Fab spacer to avoid the saggy butt issue. (Unless there different for the wagons)

That is incorrect. Front tophats don't need to be changed. I was running '05 WRX struts front and rear on my '97 BD and didn't change a thing. Bolted them right in. Plus I found out the aftermarket part number for a front tophat was the same for both cars.

Also, be prepared to buy some camber bolts for the rear. The WRX has a wider track and without the extra adjustment you will wind up with POSITIVE camber in the rear.


The rear shafts on the struts were suppose to be a different size and running BD top hats in the rear would cause the shafts to slap around and tear the bearings out. I'm not 100% sure cause I only did a little research before picking up my 07 sti struts. Even if the bolt pattern is off on the bottom you can make them work. Running the wrx top hats means you may have to notch your struts supports to fit the center section of the hats, also the bolts may be off by just a 1/16th of an inch.

hopefully next weekend I will be putting everything together and I'll do a write up cause this keeps getting asked recently.

[ScoobySnack]

Sweet good to know. Now for the search. Anyone one know how much a drop or raise between the 2004 sti setup and any year wrx? Also, an alignment will be need after correct?

[)2edline]

If you can spot any photos of my car, I'm on 04STi.

I'll edit with photos I find.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG_1143-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG_1135-1.jpg

Due to the offset of my wheels however, I think camber bolts are in line to be gotten. I just don't know how they're installed and adjusted.

[chuckthefuk]

Due to the offset of my wheels however, I think camber bolts are in line to be gotten. I just don't know how they're installed and adjusted.

Camber bolt install -> http://www.sexyracing.com/tilt/howto/wr ... rbolt.html (http://www.sexyracing.com/tilt/howto/wrx/camberbolt/camberbolt.html)

Looks like you need some saggy butt spacers .. maybe 1/2 inch.

-Chuck

[)2edline]

I'm so confused by the camber bolt install. What exactly does the lobe bolt do, and how does the top OEM bolt adjust the camber. Ridonkulous.

[Benfolio]

I'm so confused by the camber bolt install. What exactly does the lobe bolt do, and how does the top OEM bolt adjust the camber. Ridonkulous.

The lobe allows the centerline of the bolt to be adjusted. From what I remember there were NO camber bolts, OE or otherwise in the rear of my BD. I left the bolts in the bottom holes and used the camber bolts in the upper to gain some adjustment. I think you can do it either way.
If you think of it this way, there's a smaller bolt in the top hole allowing some slop to move the strut in and out perpendicular to the knuckle, or wheel, therefore giving you a range of adjustment for camber, or, tipping the top of the tire in and out.

Here's a walkthrough on a WRX

http://www.sexyracing.com/tilt/howto/wr ... rbolt.html (http://www.sexyracing.com/tilt/howto/wrx/camberbolt/camberbolt.html)