stiffer spring with stock ride height?

mexicanzero · Post by **mexicanzero** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:44 am

alright so i'm looking to get a new set of struts and for financial reasons the gr2's are probably what i'm going to go for now. i just realised (by measurements) that my rear end seems to be sagging and after careful inspection on a hoist i determined that it can only be the old tired springs.
so i'm going to replace the springs at the same time as struts. now i really dont want to lower the car so are there any stiffer springs out there that will maintain stock ride height? or whats the least possible drop using a slightly stiffer spring?
i could just get new oem springs but i want to make sure there isnt anything better that i can get.
thanks
-Alex

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:57 am

wrx springs seem to be the same heights. Didn't really notice a drop at all. Not sure if they are actaully stiffer though.

race_to_live · Post by **race_to_live** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:03 am

i am in the same position. i have a 91 ss and i want some stiffer springs but i really dont want to lower the car. what year wrx springs will fit? what about the sti springs, will they fit, how much stiffer are they? i have the gr2's on my car right now but the stock springs are just worn out. i was thinking about stiffer springs but i want the springs that work the best with the gr2's.

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:33 am

The STi springs will drop the car a tad more than the wrx springs.

The problem is, the car sits pretty low to begin with, so any lower, unless you roll the fenders, the rear tires will rub the fender wells on some decent bumps.

Your easiest fit would be to find 04 springs, either an STi or a wrx. I noticed a stiffer ride with the wrx springs, and the gr2's, and maybe a very very minimal drop in stance.
You will need front perches for an 04 in order for them to fit on your Legacy shocks, everything else just stays the same. SOA Part #20323FA000 (2 of these).

legacymax · Post by **legacymax** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:25 am

Bdub wrote:The STi springs will drop the car a tad more than the wrx springs.

The problem is, the car sits pretty low to begin with, so any lower, unless you roll the fenders, the rear tires will rub the fender wells on some decent bumps.

Your easiest fit would be to find 04 springs, either an STi or a wrx. I noticed a stiffer ride with the wrx springs, and the gr2's, and maybe a very very minimal drop in stance.
You will need front perches for an 04 in order for them to fit on your Legacy shocks, everything else just stays the same. SOA Part #20323FA000 (2 of these).

So the STi uses a tapered rear spring design like 91 legacies do correct? So are the rear STi springs direct replacement for the rear 91 springs? I am looking to put STi springs on my 95 impreza, can I use the 91 rear tophat assy to install STi springs?
-Max

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:29 am

Pretty sure in the rear it should be fine. In the front I know for sure you need a new perch.

legacymax · Post by **legacymax** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:53 am

ericem wrote:Pretty sure in the rear it should be fine. In the front I know for sure you need a new perch.

Ended up doing some reading which answered my questions. I already have 02 wrx wagon springs and struts on the car so the springs will swap in fine in the front but I will need the 91 legacy tapered tophat/perch.
-Max

SILINC3R · Post by **SILINC3R** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:03 am

what is a spring perch. sounds like where the spring sits im guessing?

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:14 pm

The perch is under the tophat on the fronts, they sit on top of the spring, under the topmount. It's two separate pieces.
The rear tophats have the perch attached, so it's all one piece, at least on the 90-91 Legacy.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:00 pm

Bdub wrote: The problem is, the car sits pretty low to begin with, so any lower, unless you roll the fenders, the rear tires will rub the fender wells on some decent bumps.

Are you sure? I've got perrin wrx lowering springs on my car and I only had rubbing issues on 16x7 rims. I have a hard time seeing that you'd rub on narrower wheels. I'm not saying it's not possible, but as a rule of thumb I always try and avoid the bumps on a lowered car.

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:20 pm

My car sits pretty low in the rear, slightly lower than the front and its on gr2's and 04 wrx springs.
I run the stock 15's and the 00 RS 16's and there isn't much room between the inner fender and the tire. Perhaps it's just a quirk with my car.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:24 pm

Yeah, it's hard to say but I haven't had issues with my WRX rims. Do you know if the RS rims are 16x7 or 16x6.5?

Bdub · Post by **Bdub** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:05 am

The 00 RS (6 spoke style) are 16x7.

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:27 am

FWIW, I run LGT rims (16x6.5) with 205/55 tires. I have completely bottomed out my suspension in hard turns (read:both inside tires off the ground) and not had any rubbing issues. That was with stock suspension. I have not had any problems with the 04' STi stuff I'm running now either.

98-99 RS rims, the 5 spokes, are also 16x7.

SILINC3R · Post by **SILINC3R** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:29 am

so i keep asking and i think i am understanding maybe. 04 wrx lowering springs will work on a fwd 90 leg. i just need different front spring perches. correct

mexicanzero · Post by **mexicanzero** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:38 am

woah holy shiat! i was never notified by email that there were any replies!
thanks guys you've cleared up alot, so wrx springs and gr2's here i come.
thanks again
-Alex

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stiffer spring with stock ride height?

stiffer spring with stock ride height?