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Thread: Which axles with R180?

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    "FNG" Michelle's Avatar
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    Which axles with R180?

    If I wanted to purchase new hubs that would directly fit the Brembo rear calipers and rotors from an STi, I would need to use 5x100 STi hubs from a 2004 STi or JDM variant that was also 5x100 (just for wheel fitment because I've heard strut mounting is the same for the rears.). Since all STi's used R180 rear ends, this would force me to upgrade my rear end and axles, or else the stock axles I have wouldn't fit into the spline of the new hubs. I'm okay with that because I want to upgrade to the R180 anyway.

    Comparing axle lengths on RockAuto.com between the 1999 Legacy and a '04-'07 STi, it seems that the length is a little off, not allowing me to use off-the-shelf WRX STi parts. Does anyone know what I could use? Watching the Gramps build on MCM, they don't really even mention the axle change requirement. In fact, they hardly mention anything regarding the particulars of that swap.

    So, do I just use R180 STi axles?

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    "FNG" scoobydo2.0's Avatar
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    The track for the 2nd Gen Legacy is the same as a GC chassis and the GD wagon, you would need to run STi lateral links to use the R180 axles because of shaft width. The alternative is to stick with the rear 04 STi brake (5x100) gear, continue to use the R160 and change the gear ratio to accommodate the 6 speed trans FD so you can run GD wagon axles (same width as the Legacy) that will bolt right in. That's the beauty of the swap is it can be done cheap or über expensive.
    2005 BL Legacy 2.5GT (Wife's VF52 powered Grocery Getter)
    1997 BK Legacy GT Wagon (2.1 Stroker Build in progress)
    2004 GD WRX (16G Panty Dropper)
    1991 SW21 MR2 (Camry V6 powarrr)
    1992 1Gb Plymouth Laser RS-T AWD (Unicorn)

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    "FNG" scoobydo2.0's Avatar
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    @Michelle, I've done a few different transmission swaps so you have any questions about what parts work PM me and I can walk you through it.
    2005 BL Legacy 2.5GT (Wife's VF52 powered Grocery Getter)
    1997 BK Legacy GT Wagon (2.1 Stroker Build in progress)
    2004 GD WRX (16G Panty Dropper)
    1991 SW21 MR2 (Camry V6 powarrr)
    1992 1Gb Plymouth Laser RS-T AWD (Unicorn)

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    "FNG" Michelle's Avatar
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    Thanks for the help. While I am looking to go to an R180 for strength purposes (and the fact that my current R160 is an open differential), I am curious about the GD wagon axle scenario you mentioned.


    STi 5x100 rear hubs and stock R160 would require GD wagon axles. This is the part that doesn't make sense. I understood that the STi rear hub was pretty much the same between the 5x100 and 5x114.3 as they were both made for the R180 spline axle and to fit Brembo calipers with the larger e-brake. Is this not true? Is the '04 STi effectively the same thing as the rear hub we have now? Or is it somewhere in between?

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    "FNG" scoobydo2.0's Avatar
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    You are correct in thinking that the 5x100 is the same regardless of whether it's a Legacy, WRX, or an STi. It was only when they switched over to the 5x114.3 that things stopped being interchangeable.
    2005 BL Legacy 2.5GT (Wife's VF52 powered Grocery Getter)
    1997 BK Legacy GT Wagon (2.1 Stroker Build in progress)
    2004 GD WRX (16G Panty Dropper)
    1991 SW21 MR2 (Camry V6 powarrr)
    1992 1Gb Plymouth Laser RS-T AWD (Unicorn)

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    "FNG" Michelle's Avatar
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    The same with the lone exception that an STi rear hub fits a Brembo caliper, right?


    Edit*

    When I search the rear hub alone (without the bearing) on RockAuto, I do see that the hubs are the same between the WRX and the WRX STi of the 2004 model year. So I suppose that supports your claim. But there is no offering for a rear hub/bearing on the STi. That tells me that the bearing must be what's different. So I wonder if the bearing is larger as well to support the added power.

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    "FNG" scoobydo2.0's Avatar
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    *** EDIT *** The knuckle is what fits the Brembo caliper, the hub is shared by other 5x100 lug Subaru's. The 04 USDM STi 5x100 rear knuckle was originally the rear knuckle for the GC JDM STi's that used the Subaru 4 piston calipers (Commonly referred to as Group N calipers), same as 06-07 WRX with red 4 piston calipers. That's the reason why the knuckles aren't the same as a BD, BG Legacy or USDM GC or 02-05 GD Impreza. I should add that I have run the 5x100 hubs on my WRX with upgraded calipers and never experienced the bearing issues that some STi owners complain about, but then again I didn't just throw HAWK Black pads in and stand on the brakes when I'm about to cook sweeper at the track. This is the reason that Subaru went to a 5x114.3 hub and bearing because the bigger bearing and was able to resist more heat.
    Last edited by scoobydo2.0; 10-11-2016 at 02:02 PM. Reason: Add info / clarification
    2005 BL Legacy 2.5GT (Wife's VF52 powered Grocery Getter)
    1997 BK Legacy GT Wagon (2.1 Stroker Build in progress)
    2004 GD WRX (16G Panty Dropper)
    1991 SW21 MR2 (Camry V6 powarrr)
    1992 1Gb Plymouth Laser RS-T AWD (Unicorn)

  8. #8
    "FNG" Michelle's Avatar
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    Thanks for the help and the info!

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