Keep original springs with GR-2's?

[schspeedster]

Got a deal on a set of GR-2s, now have to decide on everything else on a tight budget. 93 L AWD sedan with 195K miles. I would like to keep original height and not transfer too much pothole impact to rest of car & my butt, not to mention not throwing away a perfectly good set of springs. Seats & trunk looks like new, I doubt this Legacy was used to haul much weight.

Is there a ride height spec that can be measured to determine if springs still good?

If springs are best removed, what aftermarkets are a good match for GR-2s that preserve original height?

[DLC]

Springs will usually last a long, long time if they're not overloaded. They'll work just fine with the GR2s.

[greg donovan]

keep the OEM springs they will be fine.

[JasonGrahn]

ditto, oem springers work w/ the GR2s.

measure the distance from the center of your hub to the fenderline before and after your strut install. You'll probably find that the new struts raised the car a tad.

[Kelly]

After 195k miles, I gauentee, those are not a "perfectlly good set of springs".

[schspeedster]

After 195k miles, I gauentee, those are not a "perfectlly good set of springs".

That is what I thought, that after all the years & miles some loss of tension would have to occur. What replacement would you recommend?

[rallysam]

I never found any spring options that didn't drop the car a fair amount. Worse than that, most options that people kick around are for the Impreza and so they actually drop the front end by a different amount than the rear.


The stock springs are fairly stiff and feel pretty nice on Gr2s or AGX. Why do you want to go stiffer if you are not lowering?

For the street - this setup is great.
In RallyCross, you'd might even do better with the softer stock rate than a stiff aftermarket rate.
In autoX, you're going to get bumped to a class you won't be competitive in (because you've replaced the springs without reaping the benefits of lowering while all your competitors in that class presumably are).

[schspeedster]

I think I will keep the original springs & use the money to add a rear sway bar. Time to take the GR2s out of the boxes & put them into the springs. Have to get the final parts list together first.

The front strut mounts are beginning to show cracks. Havent had a good look at the rear mounts or dust boots, do those go bad?

Any fasteners that are likely to need replacement, that arent already in the GR2 box?

[rallysam]

They probably come with the one fastener you need for each strut (a nut to connect the damper rod to upper mount). At least, my AGX came with them. I didn't need anything else.

[schspeedster]

After 195k miles, I gauentee, those are not a "perfectlly good set of springs".

Rallitektech's guarantee was correct. Removed rear struts today and discovered the top coil of one rear spring is rusting thru. Time to buy springs.

[LaureltheQueen]

yeah. a 200k mile car deserves new springs.

[schspeedster]

All back together with new OEM springs, GR-2s, Whiteline front swaybar links & steering rack bushings. Feels like new, a real blast to drive!!!

[greg donovan]

glad to hear it. have fun. old cars w/new stuff are a so rewarding.