OE suspensions to fit '95 Legacy LS?

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Hey guys. A lot of you might know me from RS25, NASIOC and i-Club, but honestly this is the first day I learned of LegacyCentral.
Weird.

Anyway... my wife (XineDC) has a '95 LS, and I'm wanting to do some upgrades. I asked on NESIC but don't have any definitive answers yet. Basically, one of the first things I'd like to do is change the suspension. I don't want aftermarket, though, so I'm hoping to find out what OE stuff will fit, and be an improvement for her car (which is stock). This includes struts/springs/tophats. (I won't do GpN tophats in her car.)

I've many other, relatively simple plans for her car, but for now that's it, suspension-wise. Eventually I'd like to pick up some WRX or GT wheels, find or fabricate an intake, do a cheap 2.25" catback upgrade, and find a new grille for it. But that's not suspension, is it?

I do, however, have some RS front brake calipers I'll be slapping on the car this summer, as soon as I can afford WRX rotors for my RS.
Thanks, guys!

-S2-

[evolutionmovement]

What do you mean by aftermarket and what kind of upgrade do you want?

KYB GR2 struts are a great upgrade and cheaper than OEM with greater longevity. They're not a track upgrade, though and are perfectly suitable for stock springs. My guess is you're looking for something more intensive. For OEM, there's not much. Some people have used Impreza springs/struts and like them, but the designs aren't ideal for the Legacy's extra weight and different distribution. However, they may work fine going by what others have said. I don't know if anyone has gotten GTB suspension from Japan, so I don't know how well they'd work. My guess is they'd be a little stiff for some parts of the US with our horrible roads.

Steve

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Aftermarket = anything not Subaru in my case, I guess.

No, I don't want anything "intensive." My wife's not a performance driver. I have an STi V5 suspension in my RS, GpN tophats to come, and something like that is too much for her car.

KYB AGX are nice, but too expensive. (Those are the ones Impreza-folk use a lot... Are the ones you mention similar?) Less expensive than NEW OE stuff, yes.... but used OE suspensions, that might fit, go for far less than any aftermarket setup.

I can clarify a little: No STi stuff. I'm looking to find out what old/new age Impreza/Legacy/Forester/whatever suspensions will fit this car, and make an improvement in ride. Stiffer, sure, but anything will be stiffer than an LS suspension!

i.e. RS, WRX.... I want to know what'll fit. You say the Impreza stuff isn't ideal... Anything else, though?? Was the Legacy Turbo's suspension any different? Would it work?

Something from EDM/JDM would be okay, but basically I want to keep this car ideal for commuting and road trips.

-S2-

[evolutionmovement]

Someone else would be better qualified to discuss the differences as all I've got is GR2s for now. You can search threads for this though as I know its been discussed. There may be some interference with the Impreza spring perch with certain tires IIRC.

The GR2s are like the AGXs, but not adjustable and a lot cheaper. I'm not sure what setting the GR2s equate to on the AGXs, but I know its been mentioned, too. Either way it may be the perfect upgrade if all you want is a little more stiffness without any noticeable loss in ride quality (if any). They even help with the bottoming out problem the back of my wagon used to have with new OEM struts. With the GR2s, the rear end didn't even drop with a turbo Legacy engine in the back. Plus they work well with the stock springs.

Steve

[Siper2 & XineDC]

I don't really want to keep the stock springs, though. I imagine that the GR2s, even though they're not aggressive as you say, probably deserve something slightly better than OE LS springs.

[THAWA]

well gr2's are struts. The problem with sticking with oem parts is that the other oem parts are for a different model. so they have different rates. How that will affect your wife is unknown but AFAIK all the gd/gg 02-present impreza stuff will fit directly on your wifes bd or bg whatever it is.

[Siper2 & XineDC]

well gr2's are struts.

Yeah I know, that's why I said I don't want to match them to OE springs. I'd likely be overdamped, even though the GR2s supposedly aren't very aggressive.

If the GD parts fit... that's what I really want to know, indefinitely.
Because a used, new-age WRX/RS/whatever suspension will cost a heck of a lot less than aftermarket stuff. Even if the GR2 sets are comparatively inexpensive next to the competition.

[THAWA]

oh hehe, I misunderstood what I read

[Siper2 & XineDC]

No sweat. It's Saturday! Have a beer.

[THAWA]

I'd rather have some alize

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Some what?!

Never heard of it.

[THAWA]

omg so good: http://www.alize.com/

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Looks very.... fruity!

I'll have to give it a shot.


BUT! Back on topic....

[greg donovan]

i have gr2 w/stock springs. ride is good and handles nice. car is a 90 fwd sedan. i rallycross it and they work great. i think these are designed to work w/oem springs.

also have the agx on my 95 wagon w/stock springs and 15" wheels w/195/55 712's. handles very good. my wife loves it and we have a 2 yr old and a 3 mo. old and it isnt to rough for them. if i remember right the agx is designed for the imp and just happens to work on the leg. i have them set to 2 in front and 4 in rear. the gr2 feels a little stiffer than this setting.

my borther has gr2 in his 95 imp w/stock springs. the ride height increased abit. it handles very good. and the ride is good too.

[THAWA]

if i remember right the agx is designed for the imp and just happens to work on the leg.

While that was what kyb did, it's not really true . The agx's "just happen to work on the leg" because the impreza is nothing more than a shortened legacy. So actually the agx's were designed for the legacy chassis that was shortened for the impreza

[greg donovan]

that is a good way to look at it since we all know how much cooler legacies are.

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Considering the new '05s as added ammo, I wouldn't necessarily disagree.

How about cornering?? Still better with the GR2s even using OE springs?? Don't really want to raise the ride height, though...

[greg donovan]

Considering the new '05s as added ammo, I wouldn't necessarily disagree.

How about cornering?? Still better with the GR2s even using OE springs?? Don't really want to raise the ride height, though...

i think the GR2 corners very nicely w/oem springs. but i have nothing to compare it to. the ride height thing is minimal as the oem struts on my bros. imp were totaly worn out so i think it initially may have been a bit lower than stock.

my sedan sat at the same height as before.

hope thats as clear as mud for you.

[evolutionmovement]

With mine (GR2s, stock springs), the back no longer sags with weight in the rear, but ride height is unchanged. Ride is OEM with better turn in, flatter cornering, mid-corner bump control, and better balance. The rear comes around easier than with the OEM struts, but in no way is it tail happy. It seems the Legacy was designed for the GR2s as the only changes are beneficial.

Steve

[greg donovan]

With mine (GR2s, stock springs), the back no longer sags with weight in the rear, but ride height is unchanged. Ride is OEM with better turn in, flatter cornering, mid-corner bump control, and better balance. The rear comes around easier than with the OEM struts, but in no way is it tail happy. It seems the Legacy was designed for the GR2s as the only changes are beneficial.

Steve

that what i was trying to say. just had a massive blank out on the vocabulary.

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Sounds like the GR2 might be the way to go. I'll do some price-hunting, and see what comes up.

So eventually I'll have the suspension, soon the RS front brake upgrade, new pads all around, and hopefully some 16"s for summertime. Now all I need to find is a front grille and the OE front and rear underspoiler lips I've seen on a few cars...

(Plus the OE rear wing, I'd like one of those. )

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Okay, well.... TireRack goes for about $250 for the set...



Not too shabby. That's what I paid for my STi Ver.5 struts, but that was back in '01 before the price hikes. Now they're $800-1k.

[greg donovan]

Sounds like the GR2 might be the way to go. I'll do some price-hunting, and see what comes up.

So eventually I'll have the suspension, soon the RS front brake upgrade, new pads all around, and hopefully some 16"s for summertime. Now all I need to find is a front grille and the OE front and rear underspoiler lips I've seen on a few cars...

(Plus the OE rear wing, I'd like one of those. )

i got one of the gt wings on my 95 wagon. totally changed the look of the car. what color is yours? mines taupe. the tinted windows look really good too. i did it myself and it looks ok. no bubbles but i touched it a little too much and i shut the door too soon and the gasket peeled it back. and some corners are peeling a little on the doors.

[Siper2 & XineDC]

Well mine (er, my wife's!) is white, but it's a sedan. I've seen some of them with the wings, and I like them a lot. It does improve the look!!!

If it'd fit, I'd be tempted to slap my RS sedan wing on the car, as I'll be picking up an RS coupe spoiler soon (taller version).