FNG is confused and needs suspension help

[VR6 Eater]

First my name is Sean. Hello to all. Just bought a 90 legacy ls awd wagon. My 91 Galant vr4 just got totaled so I bought this for the wife. If anybody know any gvr4 guys that needs parts let me know.

Anyways, I bought the car knowing something was wrong with the air suspension. Just didn't know what. Should've looked closer. I didn't care since it's only got 101,000 on it and looks good. I knew the height button was not working, checked fuse and it was there. Noticed 3 wires cut and twisted back together. Yes bare wires in the driver's kick panel, kinda scary. I started lookin at the car while talking to my neighbor and noticed the left side was alot lower than the right. Probably 1.5 inches. Don't know how I didn't see that. So I take of the strut covers under the hood and find all the connectors to the discharge soleniod unplugged, discharge soleniod is missing, and the plastic tube(hose) has a Vise-Grip clamped on it so that what ever air that is inside the air bag doesn't leak out. Find the same thing in all four corners. But the back still has the solenoids on the struts. They work too. Put 12 volts to the pass. side one and air came out. So I start measuring. Front ride height was off about 2 inches. Bank was about the same. So I thought I'd let air out and even it up a bit. OMG, was that the wrong decision. It was so bouncey I felt like it was lowrider. It looked like it too. So I grab the air hose and pump the pass. front back up. But the driver's wont take any air. Don't know why. Goin' to be a rough ride to work tomorrow. So what do think. Upgrade time? That' s what I thought.

I read a bunch of post on suspension and I am confused on the whole bc/gd/bg or whatever thing. Tell me WTF is up with that.

For the price of going the stock route I would rather go agx's and whiteline's or h&r's. I read the post about not being able to use the fwd rear stuff on the awd rear. So what are my options.

I know I need struts, and springs. Am I going to need different strut mounts also? Tophats also?

Give me some suggestions. I need a proven setup for this car. I have to order parts in the next couple of days and put it together asap. I just want something that works. I don't car if it lowers it a bit from stock. I have no idea what the stock height is anyways. I would have to find another car and look at it since my car is slammed to the ground. I have probably a grand to throw at this right now. I don't to spend that much, but 500 to 700 I can deal with. I have to get this done. My wife's due date is this week. She was driving the Galant when it got hit. Kinda freaked on that. I can not leave the car like this. My wife calling and bitching at me about driving a lowrider while my 2 year old and newborn are screaming in the back will not work. I have to fix this, please give a returning Subaru nut a hand.

I used to own a 1981 GL auto 1.8. Then I got a 1984 GL 5-speed 1.8 Then I got a 1984 GL-10 auto 1.8 That car was sweet. Turbo power everything, manual height adjustment. Wife wrecked that one too. I rallied the others to death.

[THAWA]

if you need it quicklike and dont wanna spend much I'd say just head on diwn to the jy an pick up struts coils and tophats just to be sure. could probably get it all for 100 or so depending on where you go. Or you can get someones Impreza RS take off's for like 100-200 on nabisco or iclub or something. Then again you can get gr-2's with some springs, dunno which, anything that'll fit gc/gf will work, for like 400 total or something.

b = legacy chassis
g = impreza chassis
c = 1st gen sedan
f = 1st gen wagon
d = 2nd gen sedan
g = 2nd gen wagon

and so on.

[eastbaysubaru]

KYB GR2's will run $257 shipped from TireRack.com. They're a little stiffer than stock and are a great replacement/upgrade. For springs, I would look in the JY as Thawa mentioned. You could probably find tophats there as well.

I didn't think they had wagons in '90. I thought they came in '91, but I've been known to be wrong from time to time. Regardless, the early Legacy's had tapered springs in the rear which most people get rid of because there's not many, if any, aftermarket springs that will work with those. You're probably better off looking for the rear suspension from a later model Legacy wagon.

-Brian

[Legacy777]

yup...they had wagons in 90

[evolutionmovement]

First off, those '84's are great! What body style was the 5-spd?

Second, yes they made wagons in 90' - mine's one.

Third, I second a set of new GR-2s - the best bang for the buck and much better than the stock. Pick up the rest at a JY - the springs are matched to the top mounts so if you get them together they'll match. You could sell what air parts work on ebay after and maybe make a few dollars back. Plus the height control button could be cool as a foglight switch or something.

Steve

[VR6 Eater]

Well I got air back in them today so it rides normal again. I'll hit the jy's and get the springs. All the other subaru's I've owned were GL's. The 2 doors with a trunk. I loved those things.

[greg donovan]

i agree gr2 w/stock springs is the way to go. the old stuff is fun but the legacy is such a well built car. except for that damn air susp. setup. what a terrible idea for the long term. they were great when they were new though. i love my 90 sedan.

[evolutionmovement]

I want a 5-spd 2-door hardtop '84 real bad! I had a sedan 5-spd and an auto wagon. Still have the 8-spoke factory alloys just waiting for it...

The '84s were more tossable, but once the Legacy's dialled in, you'll love it. I also recommend an aftermarket or other Subaru sport steering wheel and some more solid shift knob for improved feel. When I changed steering wheels I felt like I no longer had power steering feel-wise.

Steve