GC8 STi control arms on 95 L?

[monkeyposeur]

Not a first gen question so I apologize. I want to swap 4/2 pots on my 95 L before installing a 22T/205 w/STi rods & .020 Wisecos.Will JDM Subaru WRX STi Ver-6 GC8 control arms w/knuckles be a direct swap?

I currently have 16" WRX wheels and planning on using 5mm spacers until I get a nice 17" setup. Thanks.

[PhyrraM]

The control arms will be a straight bolt on. They are not required for the brake upgrade. The front 4 pot setup is a bolt on to your factory front knuckles.

The rear 2 pots will require either a factory disc brake rear knuckle and Kartboy adapters or '06-'07 rear WRX knuckles.

[monkeyposeur]

Great! Thanks for the quick response.

Even if the GC8 arms aren't necessary, will they be an upgrade over the L arms? One reason I would by the package is that it would be around $750 which isn't much more than ordering the front calipers new from flatirons tuning and I would get low mileage knuckles as well as the brackets.

[subaru_styles]

The rear 2 pots will require either a factory disc brake rear knuckle and Kartboy adapters or '06-'07 rear WRX backing plates.

[monkeyposeur]

Backing plates? Are those the dust shields? I have looked at USDM WRX upgrades where they remove the dust shields to get the setup to fit.

[jamal]

The dust shield is spot welded to the backing plate. The backing plate is specific to either 1-pot or 2-pot rotors, and then the dust shield is made to clear the rotor. So like if you try to put bigger 290mm rotors on a car you'll need to remove it. What they are talking about is that the 2-pots and 1-pots have different mounting holes, so to put the 2-pots on you need to switch the backing plate or get an adapter bracket. Or swap the whole complete upright.

And yes the control arms will go right on. Make sure you keep the cones that sit between the ball joints and arms. For awhile they were backordered and can be hard to track down.

[PhyrraM]

I said rear knuckles because you need to press out the hub from the knuckle to install the backing plates. For me, between the cost of the backing plates and the labor to do the pressing it's usually easier to source the proper knuckles.

Of course, if you can do the pressing yourself.......

[mike-tracy]

The control arms are stronger than stock, but this is pretty much an unseen "bling" upgrade IMO. I still want a set

[monkeyposeur]

I'm pretty set on purchasing them. I've heard the only problem is the sway bar endlink. The GC8 control arm endlink mount angles on a 45 degree while the stock goes straight up. But I'm sure it's possible to make it work.

[jamal]

The difference is that there is just a single tab, so you need "sedan" endlinks.

And I want the newer sti arms that add caster and widen the front track.

[monkeyposeur]

I agreed to get the front control assemblies and I asked the seller if he ever comes across the rears. He said he had the complete rear assemblies off of the same car and threw them on the shipping pallet. Unfortunately the rears are not two pots but will still be a massive upgrade over the crappy L brakes that I am used to.

Ill post pics when they arrive in a few days. They appear to be in mint condition. Any fitment issues I need to now about concerning the rears?

What SS brake lines will be the best fit? Are the Ver 6 STi bushings nice? I hope so, otherwise Ill consider replacing them. Will the hill holder still work? Thanks guys!

[Legacy777]

As long as you don't do anything with the master cylinder or clutch setup, the hill holder will still work.

[monkeyposeur]

Cool! Thanks again!

[oldscoobyturbo]

I did the 06 sti wider control arms on my 98 forester
the only mod was to shorten the sleeve for the front bushings its too long to fit into the stock crossmember
will add the pic later I'm on vacation right now