Lowering a high rear end

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

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

So the other day I swapped out my stock blown suspension, I swapped it with a full set of gr2's and 2.5rs eibach prokit springs. The springs are supposed to lower, and it did for the front (about 1.5") but not the rear (hight stayed about the same.) Anyone know how or why this happened? Or how to fix it?
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
thewaterboy
First Gear
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:57 pm

Lowering a high rear end

Post by thewaterboy »

Have you driven it at all? Often, springs will settle and seat after being driven

Otherwise... Image
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

yeah, it's my DD, so i guess i'll wait longer.

Cutting with no gloves, Jesus. lol

I'm wondering if the spring perches are wrong?
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
thewaterboy
First Gear
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:57 pm

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by thewaterboy »

Did you rotate the springs until they sat correctly in the perches?
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

Were the GR2 struts meant for the Legacy or 2.5RS?
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
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

@thewaterboy, yes, that was the first thing I did.

@Josh, They were meant for the legacy.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
jamal
Vendor
Vendor
Posts: 2485
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 11:34 am
Location: Missoula
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by jamal »

Which year legacy? I think 92-94 should be the same as GC, but I could be wrong.
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

It's a '93.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
thewaterboy
First Gear
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:57 pm

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by thewaterboy »

Gc Coilovers bolted right into my 93 wagon with no issues at all
jamal
Vendor
Vendor
Posts: 2485
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 11:34 am
Location: Missoula
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by jamal »

Yeah a whole setup goes right in but the spring perches aren't welded onto the struts at the same place on all the cars. So sometimes mixing and matching results in odd ride heights. I was under the impression that that was only a problem mixing 90-91 and 92-94 stuff, or from other generations.
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

Okay, so I was trying to see if anyone else had this problem on the forum, and I ran into a picture of stock ride hight that Legacy777 posted from his website.

For an AWD sedan,
Stock front: 15.47"
Now: 13.5"

Stock rear: 14.33"
Now: 14"

I think the fact that it looks weird (the rake of the car) is that the front was origanally 1" higher then the front. And now it's the opposite.

So maybe I should take the rears off again and see where the perches are?

EDIT: Okay, so I did the math and it turns out the front wheel arches are 1' taller then the rear WA's, so this means the front and rear are only .5" differant in height. So i guess i'm complaining for nothing lol
BUT, I think I was thrown off because the car slopes down to the front (door panels, fenders) thus making it look like the car was FDAU :-D

Anyone got anything that might prove me wrong?
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
familywagon
In Neutral
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:22 am
Location: Bay Area,Ca

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by familywagon »

I'm curious to know the stock wagon fender measurements. Mine seems pretty high and I have gr-2s
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

Pick your poison ;)

I don't have the 91 scan, but it should be the same as the 90.

1990 Legacy Wheel Arch Measurement
1992 - 1993 Legacy Wheel Arch Measurement
1994 Legacy Wheel Arch Measurement
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
familywagon
In Neutral
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:22 am
Location: Bay Area,Ca

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by familywagon »

Mines a 93 wagon. Are they the same legacy777? Just thinking about the front perches on the earlier legacy.
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

You would want to look at the 92-93 scan.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... 2-1993.jpg
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
familywagon
In Neutral
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:22 am
Location: Bay Area,Ca

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by familywagon »

Thanks legacy777, I appreciate it
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

So I measured the side skirts, nearest to both wheels today and the rear is about 1" higher then the FRONT. looks like my theory was wrong.. :( :(
Last edited by Danteandsoob on Wed Jan 21, 2015 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

I think you may have mis-typed something....so is the rear higher or lower?

Did you take measurements on your car to compare against the fender arch measurements of stock?
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
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

Yep, I sure did haha. The rear is still higher then the front. Yeah, I was measuring against stock arch specs.

Here is what the car looks like, I'm sure the spring have settled by now.
Image
The car is one a slight incline, so don't look at the top of the car, but at the side skirt.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

Yeah, I agree that does look a little bit high. Are you positive everything is seated/installed properly with the springs/struts?

Without taking the springs/struts (mainly the struts) it'd be difficult to test/compare. Do you still have the stock struts/springs? I'd be curious what the ride height is like with the stock struts & Eibach springs.
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
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

Legacy777 wrote:Yeah, I agree that does look a little bit high. Are you positive everything is seated/installed properly with the springs/struts?

Without taking the springs/struts (mainly the struts) it'd be difficult to test/compare. Do you still have the stock struts/springs? I'd be curious what the ride height is like with the stock struts & Eibach springs.

Yeah, I mean everything should be. I do have stock stuff, but the stock struts are blown. the current ones are silver GR2's.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Legacy777 »

I'd try the stock springs on the silver GR2's. If you still have the issue or it's worse then you know it's the rear struts and you possibly got the wrong struts.

Can you find the part # on the rear struts and post it?
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
RoughDiamond
First Gear
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:39 am
Location: Akron, OH

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by RoughDiamond »

Did you undo the bastard bolt or any of the lateral links when swapping the struts?

I mention it because if you torqued the link bolts while the suspension was unloaded, the bushings could be "stuck up" and not letting the suspension settle. The FSM also says to torque after wheels are back down.

(You can load up the suspension by putting a jack under the rear knuckle and raising it until it starts to raise the car. Then tighten it down)
1991 Legacy SS (BC) EJ22T // 4EAT // Pewter Metallic (Sold)
1991 Legacy SS (BC) EJ22T // 5MT // Rio Red (Sold)

1991 Legacy SSRS (BC) EJ20G (Full COP and AWIC Swap) // 5MT // White Pearl Tri-Coat Africa Rally replica in progress.
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

Legacy777 wrote:Yeah, I agree that does look a little bit high. Are you positive everything is seated/installed properly with the springs/struts?

Without taking the springs/struts (mainly the struts) it'd be difficult to test/compare. Do you still have the stock struts/springs? I'd be curious what the ride height is like with the stock struts & Eibach springs.
So I do have a question, is the "dead coil" section of these springs ( http://www.rallysportdirect.com/Eibach- ... 2001-2-5RS ) supposed to go on the top of the bottom? Because I currently have them on the bottom.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
Danteandsoob
First Gear
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Lowering a high rear end

Post by Danteandsoob »

Or I might just swap the stock top hats with whatever is on the rears right now, and see if that helps at all.
- '93 Metallic Blue Legacy L, DD w/lots of mods
- '91 Mazda Miata, Autox fun car
Post Reply