Air ride conversion cheaply??

[JohnP]

Ok. I'm giving my my 92 legacy to my sister. In July and buying a newer on for myself. I am going over the entire car to make it dependable for her. It currently has the air suspension on it and the only problems are everytime it comes down off a lift, the rear suspension is completely lowered with the wheels in the wells. If I hit the height button it returns. Is this common with everyone who has these? Is there a cheaper solution to converting to springs? I don't want to see my sister get shafted for repairs. Its got to haul her from Arizona to Indiana.

I have 150k on the car and recently changed both the transmission and rear diff to the 4.11 ratios and put my newer imprezza 17" wheels on it to spruce it up a bit. Awd is going to be great for her in the winter months and I've been telling her to drive the subie forever..

[92wagon]

I would say the cheapest solution by far is converting to strut and spring.. I too had air suspension in my 94. The front end was totally SHOT. Looked up pricing for the air struts via subarugenuineparts.com. The total before shipping was roughly $$1,700....$433 a piece!!!. You can find a good set of 4 strut and springs for the price of one new air!

[JohnP]

Is there another car for parts to make an affordable swap? Say the same year without the bags? Or is the spring conversion really special? Stock ride height will be fine..

[rallyak]

The air ride cars are exactly the same body an suspension geometry. I've converted my old car to struts and springs, I went with 92-94 legacy wagon complete pull offs and just bolted them on.

[92wagon]

^^^ Exactly. You can use 90-94 Legacy Strut and Springs and be fine. Get to a salvage yard and pull off completes and bolt them right into the air ride body.. While doing this though be sure to have the air ride set to low position and when you cut the air wire to the bag it will still hiss out air and scare the crap out of you. At least that is what happened to me.

[JohnP]

Excellent info. Thank you.
JohnP.

[Legacy777]

Here is some more info on what other spring/strut combos may fit.

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=2153
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22419

[JohnP]

So I have found a 95 wagon localy. Its the only one in a 100 mile area of me. Will this work without any modifications? Given of coarse I buy the entire assembly.

[JohnP]

I got the fronts converted. So just trying to match the fronts. I have read the spring thread. But im looking to match by buying the entire assembly out of a junk yard with out having to miss and match parts to get it to work.
Just a thought for or clarification. Thanks guys.

[92wagon]

I would think whole 95 assemblies would work fine without mis-matching parts.

[mike-tracy]

I would think whole 95 assemblies would work fine without mis-matching parts.

The rear has a different bolt pattern on the 95. The only cars that are direct swappable without any changes are awd 90-94 legacy, and 93-01 Impreza. Not saying others can't be made to work, they just aren't straight bolt on.

[JohnP]

for the 93 to 01rear struts Impreza to work does it have to be a wagon or sedan to fit a 92 wagon

[mike-tracy]

Sedan and wagon both work. The wagons have beefier springs to deal with the heavier ass end, but I believe the struts are the same.

[JohnP]

would I be better off just buying a new strut bearing and getting the struts and springs off the 95 wagon? remember I need the springs as well

[mike-tracy]

What do you mean by strut bearing?

To make the 95 wagon suspension work in your car, you'll have to swap the rear tophats with those from a 1992-1994 non-air ride legacy. That's it as the fronts are straight bolt on.

I have doubts that 19 year old struts will be any good however. I bought a 1996 Legacy with "only" 120k miles on it in 2006, and the suspension was done for even then.

Here's my recommendation:
-brand new KYB struts for your wagon
-the 1995 springs
-the 1995 front top hat assemblies
-the 1995 rear spring perches
-1992-1994 legacy non-air ride rear tophats.

This will be a decent setup, and handle comfortably on all kinds of roads.