Rear Strut tops, Single or Multi Part?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:40 am

Im beginning to wonder about something. From what information I have seen so far it seems that some models use a single part rear strut top while others have a setup similar to the front.

Can you post your experience on this please? A parts diagram would be excellent!

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:51 am

From what Legacy777 and I were discussing when trying to find a way to get non-tapered springs to fit a tapered car, the rear struts use a top mount/spring seat assembly, and the front ones come with separate top mounts and spring seats. They have to b/c they attach with a bearing that allows them to turn inside each other for steering purposes...

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 3:20 am

Fudge crackers. The STI parts are multi part, so that means I need to track down the other half

Anyone have a parts diagram so I could order the rest of the parts?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 3:36 am

Okay, this is crazy. I just found a JAPANESE page of someone who owns a BF legacy that did the STI conversion and it has part numbers

Goto http://babelfish.altavista.com and translate http://www.legacyworld.net/mylegacy/rep ... ort10.html from japanese to english

So Im trying to figure out exactly what parts to get, what do you guys think?

edit: I put 20373AA200 into subaruparts.com and it said "Spring Seat Upr R" which I would assume means its intended for the rear but not side specific?

Also I guess I would need 20375AA030 Rubber Seat Upr R which is the rubber peice that protects the spring and mount from scratching each other?

If this is right you need the following three parts for the conversion (note I havnt tried it yet)

STI GC8 rear mount 2032044140
Subaru Upper rear metal plate spring seat 20373AA200
Subaru upper rear rubber ring spring seat 20375AA030

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 3:20 pm

You do not need sti mounts for the spring seat....it's just a metal plate that holds the spring....oem will do fine.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 7:23 pm

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to write.

From what I can tell the "spring to body" connection consists of four parts.

The rubber part at the top that your strut tower bar would bolt to
A cone shaped washer just below that
A metal "bowl" that the spring is held by
A rubber ring that protects the spring and bowl from scratching.

Its only the Cone Shape Spring Seat that comes in one part.

The STI GC8 rear mounts can be had fairly cheap from some of the online vendors, not only that but its an upgrade so why not?

Ill confirm part numbers and create a list for anyone to follow who wants to upgrade.

edit: Okay here is what I just ordered from Subaruparts over the phone

rubber ring 20375aa330
spring seat "bowl" 20373aa200

We will see.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:12 pm

ciper, are you describing the front or the rear?

I know the fronts are most definitely like this. The rears on my car (w/ the conical springs) are not like how you described. The rubber portion and the metal spring holder is one unit......just to clarify.

On the non-tapered rear springs......that is what you're desribing, correct?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 10:09 pm

On all other subarus up to the current models the REAR spring seat is a similar design as the front, except that you have no bearing. Also acording to subaruparts no washer either. Just three parts.

I ordered them for about 60 dollars, I plan to install the stuff on the 14th.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 4:56 am

cool....thanks for the clarification

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 9:09 pm

So I got all the parts for the conversion. I only have one small issue.

The new spring seat is a rubber ring and metal plate. They fit fine but top surface of the spring is not flat.

This causes the metal plate to sort of rock back and forth between the two high spots.

I trimmed the rubber part slightly in order to reduce it. It had small raised portions that I sliced flat.

Take a look at these images to see what Im talking about
http://www.chez.com/ciper/strut/top.html

Is that really a problem? Should I have not trimmed the rubber? Or should I trim it a little more in a wedge shape so that it fits easier around the spring?

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 3:28 am

hmm....yeah that is weird. I think the main job of the rubber is to cushion the spring, and help with noise. You will notice some noise from the progressive coils. I know I do.

I don't think it would hurt things to trim the rubber a little. I think when you got it all together and under compression, it won't really matter......or shouldn't matter......

I guess you don't have a stock set of the 'fat' springs to compare them to the whitelines do you?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:31 am

Nope, but since these are impreza tops I shouldnt have a hard time finding someone on NASIOC that could post an image

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Rear Strut tops, Single or Multi Part?

Rear Strut tops, Single or Multi Part?