installing a 18mm rear sway bar
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installing a 18mm rear sway bar
Ive picked up a bar from a SS and im wondering what else I will need and where to get it. Can I just use my old hardware and pick up some new bushings? this is going on a 91 with the 16mm bar. thanks.
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- quasi-mod-o
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If by 'bushings' you mean the ones on the body that the swaybar mounts to (I always called those mounts), then yes, you will need to go to the dealer and make sure you get turbo bushings. If you mean the bushings in the endlinks, no, your originals are fine, assuming they're in good condition.
You did get a swaybar from a 91 turbo right? I hope you did...
You did get a swaybar from a 91 turbo right? I hope you did...
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- quasi-mod-o
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- Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:06 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL
Oh boy.
Chances are it won't work and there's 2 reasons why:
Use this pic for reference. The top one is the stock 16mm bar off my Legacy, and the bottom one is a stock 16mm bar off a 93 Legacy, that was mistakenly sent to me as a turbo one.

1) I believe the endlinks changed in 92, definitely for 93. See the picture and compare the two ends of the bars, and see which ends your new bar has. This CAN be fixed, but I'm fairly certain you will have to change your rear control arms in order to make them fit the new endlinks. Someone else can confirm or deny that for me.
2) This one CAN'T be fixed. You see the extra kink in the 91 one on the top? That's there to clear a strange bump in the spare tire well. I have no idea why it's there, but it was on 90-91's and I don't think it was there on 92-94's. I can tell you personallly from trying to install the 93, that the bump will not clear it. I guess you COULD fix it if you wanted to pound that bump out, but I definitely don't recommend it.
Basically, if you want to avoid all these problems, just find a 91 turbo swaybar
Chances are it won't work and there's 2 reasons why:
Use this pic for reference. The top one is the stock 16mm bar off my Legacy, and the bottom one is a stock 16mm bar off a 93 Legacy, that was mistakenly sent to me as a turbo one.

1) I believe the endlinks changed in 92, definitely for 93. See the picture and compare the two ends of the bars, and see which ends your new bar has. This CAN be fixed, but I'm fairly certain you will have to change your rear control arms in order to make them fit the new endlinks. Someone else can confirm or deny that for me.
2) This one CAN'T be fixed. You see the extra kink in the 91 one on the top? That's there to clear a strange bump in the spare tire well. I have no idea why it's there, but it was on 90-91's and I don't think it was there on 92-94's. I can tell you personallly from trying to install the 93, that the bump will not clear it. I guess you COULD fix it if you wanted to pound that bump out, but I definitely don't recommend it.
Basically, if you want to avoid all these problems, just find a 91 turbo swaybar

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- Fourth Gear
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The end links on the bottom one are the same on my 91 NA rear swaybar.
1995 Polo Green Subaru SVX (189k miles - 08/2007-Present)Manarius wrote:The Neo-Cons would call me a defeatist. I'd call me a realist. I'm realistically saying that a snowball has better chances in the blazes of hell than democracy has in Iraq.
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- quasi-mod-o
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Just get longer bolts. It'll work fine.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
yeah, the kink goes under the spare tire well, but I think they all drop down low enough to get under it. It's just that the later ones were kind of a smooth bend. Also, is the swaybar different, or just the endlinks? Is there any reason you couldn't use a 92-94 bar with 90-91 endlinks?subyluvr2212 wrote:stuff
peter@functionauto.com
The kink was done away with because it's a more complicated (costly) bending process then just making a smooth bend. They fit either way.
As for the mounts.....see my post above about the longer bolts.
They bars are swappable.
As for the mounts.....see my post above about the longer bolts.
They bars are swappable.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- quasi-mod-o
- Posts: 6000
- Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:06 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL
The mounting bushings on the 90-91 MY's are a little thicker then just the bar on the 92-94's. So longer bolts may be needed.
That's weird the 93 wouldn't work.....
That's weird the 93 wouldn't work.....
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
whiteline
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm