1991 Legacy LS Wagon with the INFAMOUS air-ride :D

[clark kent]

Hello All,

I'm a cast off from NASIOC. I have an 04 WRX thats really modified as off this past year, so I decided to purchase a winter car. I found a 1991 Legacy LS wagon/ auto (bleh) for $450. It even has a pioneer HU worth more than the car, haha. I did research the car and this site before buying the damn thing because I know the air-ride suspension is a headache. If worst comes to worst, I have my OEM strut/spring/tophat assemblies from my WRX to install, since they are just in the garage taking up space.

My question to you guys is where can I access online the repair diagrams/ manuals for the suspension? I found the parts and diagnostic OEM subaru stuff on NASIOC, but I can't find the specific scans of the manual. I'm thinging I can repair the car, because there is a hose that is cut coming off the compressor that isnt hooked up to anything...it just blows air. I have a $100 parts car of the same year and make that will rise up and hold air for a few days, but that isn't in my possession currently. Also, can anyone with the air-ride suspension send me pics of the engine bay of thier car? I think in my car someone clipped the lines because their are just wires headed to each strut, no tubing.

THanks!!

Ck

[Legacy777]

To be quite honest, you'll spend more time hassling with the air suspension then if you were to just put normal springs & struts in.

I really don't know of any online manuals specifically for the suspension. I have a few manuals/scans on my server. Feel free to peruse through them. I don't recall exactly what's all on there.
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... ual_scans/

[clark kent]

Thanks! I know they are a headache, but I figured I'd give it the old college try before I convert. If I pull the strut assembly and use an air hose to inflate the strut, then seal it, is this a good method of determining if its the strut that is bad, or something else?

Ck

[Legacy777]

If you can isolate the strut and pressure it up via a new hose or something like, then yeah, that's probably a good way to test whether the strut itself is holding air or not.

[clark kent]

I cut the airstruts out and converted. Looks good and can post pics if anyone is interested. If you anyone needs help on this, let me know. The snag I ran into, that wasn't really clear on the forum is you cannot use the airstrut rear tophat B/C it doesn't have the spring perch. Luckily, I found a member near by that gave the rear tophats and perches for free The car rides great now!