94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

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

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1994BC
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94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by 1994BC »

Here's what I ended up with.

07' WRX fronts complete swap (spring/strut/mount) swapped with zero issue.
92' Legacy FWD wagon rear springs and 94' Legacy KYB ExcelG struts and reused stock mounts.

Stock spring rates
F 123 R 129

Swap spring rates
F 163 R 179

Center hub to fender bottom measurements

Stock blown struts + ~100lbs in the trunk
F 15.25" R 13.75"

07' WRX 92' Wagon swap
F 15.25" R 14.5"

Makes for an excellent ride that's more level, ~35% stiffer, while still being very comfortable and best part I can keep my tools in the trunk.

Some pics of the rears
Left to right
07" WRX awd, 94' Legacy fwd, 92' Wagon fwd.

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Just thought I'd share here as well since I gained the most info here, I'll post back with a picture of her done when the sun shows up again.
Legacy777
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Re: 94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by Legacy777 »

Welcome to the BBS, and thanks for sharing.

If you have any before & after pics that would be great.

Thanks
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
1994BC
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Re: 94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by 1994BC »

There is a slight slop towards the driver side rear on the pavement.
Also swapped out the trunk for $20 with no luggage rack and trimmed down the wagon exhaust for a tight/clean fit.

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1994BC
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Re: 94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by 1994BC »

Next up sway bars.

Being the runt of the litter (92-94 L) I was not graced with a rear sway bar.
Luckily I'm resourceful and found a 95' Legacy awd 2.2L wagon with everything I needed(except for proper lateral links). I noted when comparing it the another 96' awd wagon that the 95' had the same bump/hump on the underside spare tire recession as first gen. Legacy's. Also the bar has a bend in it at this location and is 1mm thicker (16mm vs 15mm) than the 96' making me believe it is possibly the same as first gen's. Plan to just cut off the mounts from laterals and weld in place. That is unless I;m mistaken and the 95' legacy laterals are the same.

I also grabbed a 98' Forester's front which is 1mm thicker (19mm) along with bushings/end links. All the while pondering why the Forester was there with an EJ253 (maf). I smell a swap in the future :)

I'd like to thank Jamal and Legacy777 for all the useful information they have left here.

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Legacy777
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Re: 94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by Legacy777 »

You should be able to just swap the lateral links with the brackets for the sway bar.
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
1994BC
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Re: 94' Sedan fwd suspension upgrade

Post by 1994BC »

Put the rears on yesterday was more of a task than I'd like. First mount bolt to frame broke the weld on the nut so I had to go in for surgery. Of course it had to be behind the filler tube and I just so happen to have a full tank of gas which I rarely do.
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The rest was pretty straight forward. Cut the tabs off the Forester lateral links and weld into place. I did goof and thought the links were from the 95' Legacy so I mounted them the same as the Forester exactly 1" from the end joint. They do mount on the inside tab only. However I noted that the bar lined up perfectly to the mount tab so I'm going to omit the plastic end links completely once I find a nut/bolt.

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Incredible difference is an understatement. I am experiencing a little more lift on the front though a full tank and lots of tools swinging from the back can do that to you. Swapping in the 19mm on the front should offset that some.
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