AWD ->FWD

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:06 pm

Do awd springs/struts fit fwd? I'd assume they do, but just want to make sure

mTk · Post by **mTk** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:23 pm

Yes they do, but the awd ones in the back will be several inches taller.

MK

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:34 pm

springs or struts? I'm trying to do research for someone wanting to drop their fwd sedan

mTk · Post by **mTk** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:51 pm

struts 100% springs i think so

MK

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:05 pm

I'm interested in this as well... I've been told that due to the FWD nature of my car, it can't be dropped or use AWD struts/springs combo.. does anyone have anything to the contrary? luarel, excuse my egocentric-ness, but would you happen to be researching for me? I still haven't found the right springs yet... I'm gonna check LesSchwab today and see if they'll offer some kind of strut/spring combo... or if they think they can even drop this thing... but my rear struts are definitely blown by now... and for some reason, i still have to carry people in the back to all the parties...
oh well. I'll follow this conversation to see where it goes...
My other idea was that i only need to drop the front end... i hear that replacing the rear struts makes the rear end sag a bit more, having a lowered effect, but the front stays up a bit more.. perhaps i just need front end springs? and where can i find stock springs if i don't want to lower this POS?

mTk · Post by **mTk** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:09 pm

The only way i see it working is if you chance upon a setup that is the right height.

My coilovers were for a AWD subaru. When installed on my fwd legacy, i had to raise the rear up to the maximum to get the ride height i wanted. Which happened to be as low as i could go w/o rubbing. Pics are on my site here.

MK

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:25 pm

Thanks, MK. What do you mean "right height?" and... i don't think i really understand coilovers... i thought that they were the cheap way to put $200 into your suspension to lower your car, and not spend on a strut/spring combo? Then i see coilover setups for approx $1500.. WTF? I'm very confused... could someone direct me to a coilover vs. strut/lowering spring comparison, by price? How do i go about your method, mTK? is there something special about the rear end i have to do? what needs replacing? do you have time for a writeup, perhaps?

mTk · Post by **mTk** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:36 pm

There are two types of coilovers, the real ones are a strut/spring combination the others are the cheap ones that just replace your stock springs only.

Mine were $1300 when i bought them, i wanted as close to the best i could get. The $200 spring only coilovers will get you lowered, but you will sacrifice ride quality and will have to find a set of struts that hopefully matches.

By right height (correct height) i mean either:
1) the height you want to get from your setup or
2) any height that doesn't sit too low and rub on your wheels/tires

As far as installing, if you have the good spring/strut coilovers take off your old setup and bolt the new one in. guesstimate on the height to start with in the front. The rears i would put on the tallest setting to start with.

as far as a writeup, there are spring install and strut install writeups on the BBS. Either one will go through what you have to do to replace the struts/sptings.

MK

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:43 pm

OK, thanks.. after i posted, i remembered the coilover writeup... i feel dumb. anyhow, a good coilover setup might be what i'm gonna look into... it's not a comp car, it just needs to run right everytime... i think i put an emphasis on reliabiliy now... ..and maybe it should look good, too...
Thanks again, i'm still looking..

-=Tris

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:46 pm

WTF? how'd i double-post?? sorry about that, guys...

-=Tris

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:54 pm

it was for you, i realized how long it's been since i responded to you. If need be, and you're curious, we could take one of your rear struts out and one of my rear struts out and see if they are comparable, even though i'm in a wagon. If you're not going to be competing in the car, and arent worried about changing your ride other than to lower the car, I'd recommend a spring/strut combo, just because it's so much less expensive. I'm running whitelines, and agx's(i love my setup) and autocross the car occasionally as well, and have nothing but good things to say about it. I paid $650 for the combo, but most of the cost was in the adjustable struts. If you dont feel you need adjustables, then get gr-2's for less, and you could probably pick up some used whitelines for cheap, I believe H&R also makes stuff for the legacies. You could also go with an impreza setup, the only reason i didnt do so is that i wanted the suspension to be matched to the weight distribution of my vehicle, and not something lighter. Hit me up on yahoo or aim, i'd love to discuss this with you

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:58 pm

mTk wrote:When installed on my fwd legacy, i had to raise the rear up to the maximum to get the ride height i wanted. Which happened to be as low as i could go w/o rubbing.

What is this "maximum" that i have to raise the rear to? What is as low as we can go? Does this refer to the coilover setup? I'm still lost!

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:59 pm

instant message me now!

mTk · Post by **mTk** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:04 pm

91legacy_sleeper wrote:
mTk wrote:When installed on my fwd legacy, i had to raise the rear up to the maximum to get the ride height i wanted. Which happened to be as low as i could go w/o rubbing.
What is this "maximum" that i have to raise the rear to? What is as low as we can go? Does this refer to the coilover setup? I'm still lost!

Coilover setups are height adjustable. if you are usign an awd setup on your fwd, i'd recommend starting out with the rears in their highest position, hopefully it will be high enough.

MK

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:06 pm

See, I've called H&R, since they're only in Bellingham or something.. and they said they can't do my setup... I got a quote on GR-2s at LS today, and it's not too bad, but i still want to have the thing lowered as well... and this whole cross-fitment thing between the impreza and legacy is really starting to piss me off cause no one in the industry wants to acknowledge it and no one will touch my car with an impreza part, cause the application books, as well as the manufacturers refuse to say that the parts are the fucking same! sorry, i'm heated about this... lol. There's too much grey area here and no enough clarity on what works on a FWD.... isn't your TW a FWD, Laurel? anyway, i'm installing AIM now, so hopefully i can get it to work so we can chat about this...
thanks again, y'all...
-=tris

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:39 am

Struts are definitely different.....due to the different mounting point.

Springs may be slightly different however you should be able to use them. I'll find out....because I'm planning on reusing my whitelines.

There really wasn't a different part # for the whitelines between AWD & FWD.....mainly just a difference between wagon & sedan. But I'll find out in a little bit for sure.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:54 am

The touring wagon's an awd setup. Dont worry about anyone touching your car with impreza parts, we'll do it. We all know that they fit, I'm more than willing to help you throw new suspension on the car

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AWD ->FWD

AWD ->FWD