The Official Coilover/Strut swap fitment guide!

[chuckthefuk]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-2001-SUBARU-Impreza-GC8-JSK-Shock-Spring-Coilovers-/350606689643?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51a1c9856b&vxp=mtr
Will these fit my '92 Legacy L Wagon?

yes.

[chuckthefuk]

Original post updated! More info added.. Anyone with BE/BH BL/BP and multi link info please post up.

[JBethell80]

Just to make sure I interpreted everything correctly. I have a 99LGT (BD?) and I'm buying RaceLand coilovers.

I'd get the GC's, and rotate the front tophats??

[chuckthefuk]

No you would get the GD and rotate the front top hat. BUT! The camber adjustments will not line up.

You can use the GC but the rear top hats are useless so unless you source GD rears the GC coils are out of the question.

[JBethell80]

No you would get the GD and rotate the front top hat. BUT! The camber adjustments will not line up.

You can use the GC but the rear top hats are useless so unless you source GD rears the GC coils are out of the question.

Hmm...so if I could get RL to sell me a set with GC Fronts, and GD rears, that would do the trick, correct? And the camber adj. will still be right?

[chuckthefuk]

Ummmm.... yes.. but spring rates maybe off..

[JBethell80]

Ummmm.... yes.. but spring rates maybe off..

Forgive my stupidity, suspension is not my forte.

If the spring rates were off, would it make a huge difference? This car won't see a track, and isn't really even driven hard.

Thanks.

[chuckthefuk]

Its fine .

[JBethell80]

Its fine .

Sounds good, thanks a lot for the speedy replies!

[chuckthefuk]

Just to add you can get away with using complete GD coilovers but request or acquire GC front camber plates.

-Chuck

[1055]

Not sure if its mentioned somewhere in this thread.. but op is wrong about the 3rd gen usdm coil fitment, Specifically the 4th gen fitment on the 3rd.

The fronts: the upper top hat will need to be changed, no denying that.. the lower mount holes are also a larger diameter than the eccentric bolt used for camber adjustment. So, you adjust camber by moving the knuckle where you want and tightening the bolt (has been working fine for me for years).

The rears: they are listed as not fitting. They are shorter than stock BE/BH lengths, but any 05-09 rear coilover is a direct bolt in. No swapping top hats no any of that.

[chuckthefuk]

do you have any proof to support those claims?

I listed the front BL/BP needed different top hats.

2000-04 (Includes BE = Sedan (Includes Outback) | BH = Wagon (includes Outback) | BT = Baja (Truck / UTE)

NOTE: -Rear Suspension is Multi-Link not MacPherson struts

////////Front///////Rear
GC 93-01 yes///////no <-- front = direct bolt in
GD 02-07 yes////////no <-- Rotate front top hat
BL 05-09 yes////////no <-- Requires BD/K/G/E/H or GD front rotated top hat.

..

however I did not know about the eccentric bolt and the rear fitment. Not trying to call you out. Just looking for real facts.

[1055]

Daily driven proof and experience. Lowered 4.5" front and rear on 05-09 megan street xt coilovers with BE front top hats and megan solid upper rear mounts that came with the coilovers.

[chuckthefuk]

Good info . Thanks

[blanquelm92]

How exactly do u have to rotate the top hats? Just until they fall into place?

[chuckthefuk]

The front top hats have bearings built into them. They just spin freely .. twist and insert into strut tower .

[Blitzen_wishin]

Ok, I haven't done much on my '03 BE, but I have been reading a ton. I am still not quite clear on which parts I can pick up that would work as far as suspension wise. A strait forward answer would be sincerely appreciated as I have been reading these boards for the past few days and paging through each post is just plain tiring. (That sounds bad, sorry) Any help would be appreciated. Not really looking to go coilovers or insane autox setup, just something that'll give the sedan a little more aggressive look. Also, with the stock 16'' silverstone rims, should i get wheel spacers to achieve that flush look? Thanks again guys.

[1055]

There are no springs that will really lower your car that much. Most you will find specific for a BE is 1.5" drop. You can probably find some 4th gen springs that would drop it much more, but you would need fourth gen struts, with third gen front top hats and 3rd or 4th gen rears. IIRC, the struts are a wee bit shorter and you can snag 2" springs.

Upgrading the rear sway bar is the single best thing you can do to the BE. The 13mm coat hanger strapped in the rear is JUNK.

You can either go 3rd gen legacy specific or try and find a GD wrx sedan rear swaybar. I will be doing a DIY on how to fit the rear swaybar on a BE shortly. It takes a little work but Is fantastic and cheap.

[1055]

And I'm not familiar with the silverstone wheel you mentioned.. snow flake maybe?



Here is my car (on coilovers) with the snowflakes. Lowered about 3" at this point. Lowering your car will statically induce camber, so whatever you're thinking spacer wise, you have to factor in that camber when you drop. 3" added about -1.2* front and -2.0* rear as kind of visible in this picture.

Also to keep in mind, you will need extended lug nuts for anything more than 3-4mm of spacer. I would recommend saving yourself the headache of spacers and getting lower offset wheels.



Here is my same car, lowered 4" with a 17x7.5 +42 wheel.

Not sure if any of this helps but I'm trying

[Blitzen_wishin]

idk why I thought they were called silverstones, anyhow, yes; the snowflakes are what I have. I figure I will grab the basics, strut tower bar (rear and front). Once i get it dropped on the springs I will get an alignment so tire wear is even. Just to summarize what you've said; 1.5'' is achieved by dropping it on springs(where to buy other then eBay?) and (stock) struts? I might have been misleading when I referenced "flush", I had just meant that I dont want the wheels tucked deep in the well. Definitely not going for a stanced look, just more aggressive. Thanks again for the help.

[chuckthefuk]

Please make a thread for this topic. this thread is strictly coilover information.

[Blitzen_wishin]

I thought the post said coilover and strut swap fitment guide. I'm asking about which struts I can buy from other models that will fit in my 2003 sedan. I read most of the previous replies and didn't really understand the lingo since I'm not familiar with model codes all the B's. Do I still need to create a different topic?

[chuckthefuk]

The first post explains what the B chassis codes are and which struts swap in for you. Talking about springs and quality of ride you want needs to be moved to another topic.

Plain and simple currently the only documented alternative to 2000-2004 BE/BH suspension is the 2005-2009 BL/BP suspension with the BE/BH top hats as "1055" posted above.

-Chuck

[Blitzen_wishin]

Thank you for the clarification. Will make sure I post in the appropriate thread from now on. Thanks again.

Daniel

[Workman217]

So I know I am probably beating a dead horse asking this but will BL/BP springs fit on my BH struts? I have looked at both style struts and they are both similar.........

[Jacobpockros]

Does anyone know if Rear Suspension on a BG is interchangeable with Rear Suspension on a BE if Top Hats are changed out?

[chuckthefuk]

No so sorry..

Gen 1 / 2 Legacy BC/BF/BJ/BD/BK/BG do no use rear multi-link suspension.

Gen 3+ BE/BH/BL/BP/BM/BR Legacy share the same style as each other. Similar to the 08+ Impreza/ 09+ Forester

[fogls]

So this thread confused the shit out of me. I am about to order some coilovers for my 98 gt sedan. If I order the 02-07 WRX coils will they bolt in or do I need to swap top hats?

[86bratman]

Order the 02-07, you can bolt them in without modification. However, if you want the front camber plates to be adjustable you will need to swap sides on the front hats.

[chuckthefuk]

Order the 02-07, you can bolt them in without modification. However, if you want the front camber plates to be adjustable you will need to swap sides on the front hats.

How exactly does this swap work without having the camber plates out of spec>

No matter the orientation from left to right you still need to rotate the hat 180 degrees which will still cause the plate to be out of spec camber/caster instead of just camber.

The correct method is to buy coilovers for a GD and swap the front plates with GC fitment .

If I am mistaken please let me know

-Chuck