performance suspension?

[Calgaryturbo]

Heavy wagon I know but anyone know what is the best way to reduce body roll? I have noticed more lately. Springs struts or both? Does just replacing struts make the suspension stiffer?

[Psychoreo]

replace the springs/struts/top mounts, as well as getting thicker sway bars. check the stickies to see what fits.

[Calgaryturbo]

from what I have read KBY's would be my best bet?

[Calgaryturbo]

OK but what if I just do the struts will I have less body roll?

[jamal]

You should match struts to springs. Stiffer springs will make the car all bouncy, as the struts will be unable to properly damp them, and too stiff struts will not allow the spring to work properly.

This page explains it well.

Stiff springs will reduce body roll, and so will bigger swaybars, but you shouldn't overcompesate with one or the other.

Here's a great article about swaybars.

I suggest reading as much as you can, searching these and other forums, and deciding how you want your car to handle. Mine corners great, but is uncomfortable at times, and it's not even that stiff compared to some setups.

Here are some helpful links and articles:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... highlight=

[Calgaryturbo]

OK I follow but my question remains; will stock springs and better struts give me a better ride and less body roll? Assuming my sprins are fine which I think they are. I just want thehandeling to feel a bit less sloppy. I think my setup is original. No plans to race or anything. Feels like the car is floating a bit lately.
What struts do you recomend?
What are you running jamal?

[Calgaryturbo]

I read all the stuff about anti roll bars and typs of suspention. Thanks for the links thay are great. I guess my real question now is this: what is the cheapest way to make my car handle better and feel more controled?

[jamal]

I have 04 STi take-offs, which are stiff, and require a bit of modification to fit. They're about the stiffest springs you can get short of coilovers, and there are sections of freeway I really don't like. It's well worth it to me, though. You can read about what I did here and here.

With a wagon, you need to get wagon-specific springs. I think the popular inexpensive choice is Whiteline control springs with KYB struts. The springs are available at PDM racing. They have all sorts of other neat stuff, too. Kastle's Korner also carries whiteline. From what I hear, the control springs go well with GR2s or AGXs. The AGXs are more expensive, and adjustable. Tirerack and shockwarehouse.com I think are good online sources for struts.

[THAWA]

What's your budget, that's the best way to go about this.

[drewdogg]

I just put Eibach Pro kit springs, KYB GR-2, and STi Group N top mounts on my impreza. For my needs, which is just a nice non race-ready performance daily driver, it's perfect. I've heard alot of people say it's too soft for them and not enough drop. It is little bumpy at first, but i replaced shot struts so it takes some getting used to, but i LOVE IT. Best bang for your buck as far as I'm concerned, but again not sure what fits legacy wagon.

[professor]

here is my rating of things I did, and how much they changed control / body roll, out of 10 possible
10 points
new struts (KYB AGX) front especially made a huge difference
3 points
slight cut to springs don't do this if you don't know how
3 points
new sway bar bushes stock parts, no urethane squeaky for me
5 points
18mm rear sway you already have this
6 points
new ball joints not so much sway, but steering control
5 points
steering rack wear in tie rods makes steering yucky

rack bushings not sure, did as part of rack swap
3 points
random bushings urethane kit for WRX
9 points
16" WRX wheels/tires huge difference

note that I did all this for about $800, but I did get a hell of a deal on the used rack from a low mjileage '97 GT.

the car feels nearly as good as my dad's 2001 Legacy now. It was a bag of crap when I got it, you couldn't keep it on the road, now I'm ready for 100,000 more miles.