Best Rallycross Setup

Struts, spring, anti-rollbars, braces and the like.

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atvtrailrider
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Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

I am fairly new to my Legacy but am setting it up for Rallycross. The suspension info is a little confusing as some people are setting up for Rally, some for autocross, some for the street.

So I have a 90 legacy ls AWD n/a 2.2. I am thinking I want to be legal in the Prepared all wheel drive PA class.

The rules say:
2. Any sway bars and their mounting may be used or removed
7. Front and/or rear strut tower bars are permitted.
8. Any dampers may be used but the damper must mount to the original
mounting position using unmodified mounting points. Springs may also be
replaced, but they must be of the same type and use original mounting
points. Threaded collars and camber plates are allowed.
So I may be wrong but pretty sure a coil over setup is out but probably more than I want to spend anyhow.

Not sure if the sti setup is legal or not?


So recommendation from any other Rallycrossers????
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

I believe it also states somewhere that non-adjustable shocks may not be replaced with adjustable.
The STi's are a good way to go as they have the large diameter inverted bodies. There is a company in CA (Feel suspension) that'll re-valve them to your specs.
Combine with stock springs, disconnect front swaybar (and/or replace rear with SS/TW), and go dominate!
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
Legacy777
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by Legacy777 »

I'd suggest keeping the front anti-sway bar, and just upgrade the rear, if you can.
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
atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

would regular Impreza WRX struts work good also or are the sti struts completely different?

So a larger sway bar in the rear sounds like it would be in order?

How about strut braces?
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

atvtrailrider wrote:would regular Impreza WRX struts work good also or are the sti struts completely different?

So a larger sway bar in the rear sounds like it would be in order?

How about strut braces?
STi struts are inverted and have a large body diameter making them significantly stronger. Keep in mind though, only '04 MY will bolt on without modification.
Anything that will stiffen the chassis can't hurt, including strut braces. Check on class legality, though.
Legacy777 wrote:I'd suggest keeping the front anti-sway bar, and just upgrade the rear, if you can.
There is an ongoing debate about this very topic on DI. I think the current consensus is, it depends. If the course is fairly smooth and flat, its better to run a FSB. If the course is rough or particularly bumpy, people have had success disconnecting the front to let the suspension work better independently. Personally I'm too lazy to crawl under my car to disconnect it, so I can't comment on the difference.
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

Well I have started. This week I installed 2004 STI struts with the stock Legacy springs on the front. Front ride height is now almost 1 inch higher than before. Does anyone have ground to fender measurements on a stock Legacy? I am thinking that my Legacy was sagged to start with given the front struts were already blown.

What an amazing difference. The car is very firm but not harsh. I went for a test drive on some dirt roads and really like it. We will see next month how it is on the Rallyx course. But before then I have some 15" snow tires to mount.

And yes I removed the inserts and repacked them with grease before installing.
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

When is your first rallycross?
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

May 14th
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
Legacy777
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by Legacy777 »

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
atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

Thanks Josh. Right now mine is measuring 16 inches in the front at 14.065 in the rear. So it seems I am sitting about 1/2" higher than stock in the front withe 04 STI struts and stock springs. I haven't done the rear yet.
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

The perches on all '02-'04 WRX struts is a little higher than earlier struts (I think). You could measure the distance between the perch and the lower mount and compare the two.
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
SILINC3R
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by SILINC3R »

You could also use Fwd struts as we found out they are just a bit taller.
Tony
90 LS Spec rio red sold
91 SS rio red R.I.P
90 Mazda Miata
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atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

Well I don't think I actually want it any taller. I was surprised that it was taller. I expected it to be about the same height as stock.
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

'05+ WRX springs would drop it just about an inch and give you a bit more spring rate.
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
czei
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by czei »

beatersubi wrote:
atvtrailrider wrote: There is an ongoing debate about this very topic on DI. I think the current consensus is, it depends. If the course is fairly smooth and flat, its better to run a FSB. If the course is rough or particularly bumpy, people have had success disconnecting the front to let the suspension work better independently. Personally I'm too lazy to crawl under my car to disconnect it, so I can't comment on the difference.

I have the same setup, STi struts with stock springs, and it works great. I've tested over two seasons with and without the front anti-sway bar connected, and with the bar disconnected the back end is *really* loose. Its great for tight turns, BUT is hell on the slalom or even just braking. If you lift, even just a little, or brake in something other than a perfectly straight line and the back end steps out dramatically. I've driven lots of rallycross cars, and its the loosest in the back by far. Hell, now that I've removed practically all the interior, and with the front bar connected its still the loosest car on the field.

I haven't done any tests to measure, but the theory is with the bar disconnected the car gets looser because the front is gripping more, thus the back is gripping less.
atvtrailrider
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by atvtrailrider »

czei,

Do you have them in the rear also? I am planning on doing the rear soon also.

How about a bigger swaybar in the rear? I have heard that helps

I sure like the front sti struts with stock springs. I had second fast time in the afternoon sesion at the last Rallycross.
--
90 Subaru Legacy n/a AWD - Rally Cross Car
86 Toyota Pickup - Rock Crawler
2005 Subaru Baja - Wifes Car
1997 Tahoe - Fishing and Exploring Rig
1990 F250 Diesel - Tow Rig
beatersubi
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Re: Best Rallycross Setup

Post by beatersubi »

Czei, thanks for the great input. Have you tried running with both disconnected?
93 legacy wagon L, 22T swapped (TW imitator) now with five forward speeds. (Gone, but never forgotten)
johndrivesabox wrote: Rally, my kyboard is brok, his has nohing o do wih h liquor.
Originalcyn wrote:Apparently everyone hates Gabe.
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