What springs for my GR-2's

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

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Post Reply
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

What springs for my GR-2's

Post by KC0514 »

I've been all through the SEARCH function, and honestly, my head is spinning with all this info.


1991 AWD legacy turbo:

Just bought 4 new GR-2's for a 92-94.

What springs should I use?

Will the 92-94's in my 91 make it too high?

Sorry if this is redundant to this forum. I'm honestly baffled at all the info, and can't figure it out.
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
scottzg
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 2278
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 8:19 am
Location: Saint Joe, CA - Redlands, CA

Post by scottzg »

ideally, you will get a 92-94 spring with ~150lbs per 1 inch compression and you will get the spring seats (front and rear) from a 92-94 as well. Stock 92-94 springs will work, but they will be slightly more damped than stock, and thats ok, just ride a little firmer. Sticking them on your car using existing stuff will make the nose a bit high and the rear a bit low. No biggie, but if you care enough to replace the struts, you prolly care enough to make it not look funny.
[url=http://www.thawa.net/gallery/albums/album108/DSCF0330.jpg]90 legacy of awesomeness[/url]
LaureltheQueen
Spelling Nazi
Spelling Nazi
Posts: 4644
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 7:14 am
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Contact:

Post by LaureltheQueen »

I'd personally suggest a set of whiteline springs, but the wait is horrendous.
Laurel Tuning Stage 15
92 Touring Wagon 5MT 16G
[quote="NICO I WRX U"]the streets are my track[/quote]
eastbaysubaru
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 1312
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 10:44 pm
Location: Northern Sonoma County
Contact:

Post by eastbaysubaru »

^for some ;)

-Brian
'04 PSM FXT
LaureltheQueen
Spelling Nazi
Spelling Nazi
Posts: 4644
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 7:14 am
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Contact:

Post by LaureltheQueen »

do you have connections?

**jealous**

stupid 17 weeks of waiting
Laurel Tuning Stage 15
92 Touring Wagon 5MT 16G
[quote="NICO I WRX U"]the streets are my track[/quote]
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

Post by KC0514 »

17 weeks to wait for springs........ That is horrendous.

I'm going to return the 92-94 struts and pay the extra for the 91's. That way I can just do a simple swap, and drive the car again.

By the time I source, springs, spring seats and top mounts.........

Sounds like I'm better off dropping the $400 for the correct GR2's.
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
206er
Fifth Gear
Posts: 2590
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:24 pm

Post by 206er »

maybe legacy wagon rears and WRX fronts? thats 190lb/in and 163 lb/in respectively. thats what I'll be running on my GR-2's. got the rears here, just need fronts.
1994 Touring Wagon: ruby mica, 5mt swapped
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

New struts turns into PROJECT...

Post by KC0514 »

Okay, so I call and my distributor doesn't even show the KYB part numbers for the 91 AWD.

So now I'm back to sourcing the parts needed to use the 92 struts.

Changing struts SHOULD NOT be so difficult........ :x
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
Brat4by4
Stratified
Posts: 1608
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 6:52 am
Location: NE Ohio

Post by Brat4by4 »

Its not hard. Just get whatever spring you want for the 92-94's. Did you want to drop it all? If not you might want to try to pick up a used set from off one of the members here. The rubber seats and rear topmounts can be picked up from the dealer.

Unless you wanted to go with rear STi topmounts for a GC, those can be picked up from any Subaru performance website. And while you are at it, I would put in newer WRX front topmounts in while you are at it. I have a set if you want them, they will bolt right into your car, same thing just newer.

Unfortunately, you have an older car and a rare model, and the rarest of the rare model at that. Everything isn't going to be pick it up at the store and call it a day. Thankfully, gobs of cross-research has been done on parts already for you.

If you want to make it the easiest, just upgrade everything to a WRX wagon suspension. Get the struts/springs/perches, new rear 92-94 topmounts, and it will all bolt right in. Then your options on the struts and springs are almost limitless.
1993 WMP BC6 5MT EJ22T 9psi 3.9:1 213k 205/55R16

62.6 m/s @ 0.66 bar. Gotta love boost. :)
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27926
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Post by Legacy777 »

17 weeks.....that's nothing.....I had at least 6-7 months of waiting, and I changed vendors due to the first one not providing the feedback I wanted.
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
206er
Fifth Gear
Posts: 2590
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:24 pm

Post by 206er »

KC0514 wrote: Sounds like I'm better off dropping the $400 for the correct GR2's.
the gr2's are a little over $250 shipped from www.tirerack.com
1994 Touring Wagon: ruby mica, 5mt swapped
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

Post by KC0514 »

If you want to make it the easiest, just upgrade everything to a WRX wagon suspension. Get the struts/springs/perches, new rear 92-94 topmounts, and it will all bolt right in. Then your options on the struts and springs are almost limitless
So, I can pick up a set of used 2002 WRX Sw struts with springs and bolt them right in, except for the set of 92-94 topmounts...right?

Thanks for helping out an old man.....
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

Post by KC0514 »

Actually I just found this.


http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=19316

I never thought going the WRX route would be easier, but it looks like it is.

Thanks again for the help. Looks like I'll return the KYB's and find some WRX struts. Although it sound slike I need a set for a Sedan, since my car is also a sedan.
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
scottzg
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 2278
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 8:19 am
Location: Saint Joe, CA - Redlands, CA

Post by scottzg »

the wrx is much more nose heavy than the legacy. The wagon struts are closer to what you want.
[url=http://www.thawa.net/gallery/albums/album108/DSCF0330.jpg]90 legacy of awesomeness[/url]
Brat4by4
Stratified
Posts: 1608
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 6:52 am
Location: NE Ohio

Post by Brat4by4 »

Our cars come with even spring rates, front and back. Part of the reason being our different weight balance and lower rear roll center. Impreza stuff has much stiffer front springs compared to the rear.

So the idea is that the wagon spring rates which are closer together would suit our cars better. That's the only reason you see people recommending WRX wagon stuff on sedans. I have yet to see if this actually works in action, the wagon springs are sitting in the barn.

And remember that you want the whole strut assembly off of a wrx. That means springs/struts/upper spring perches and associated rubber for the perches. Get whatever springs and/or struts you want performance wise, but you need the other little bits to make it all work correctly (and make it cake when putting it in). But don't be afraid the upper spring perches and rubber seats are inexpensive even from the dealer. And yes, you need the GC (same as BC 92-94) rear upper strut top mounts. Whether you go Group-N STi or plain jain OEM units is up to you. Price I would guess to be around the same.
1993 WMP BC6 5MT EJ22T 9psi 3.9:1 213k 205/55R16

62.6 m/s @ 0.66 bar. Gotta love boost. :)
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

Post by KC0514 »

Just bought 4 used 2002 WRX SW struts for $200.


I'll return the GR2's and use them.

Thanks,
Mark
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
scottzg
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 2278
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 8:19 am
Location: Saint Joe, CA - Redlands, CA

Post by scottzg »

strut assemblies? Just struts will give you the same problems.
[url=http://www.thawa.net/gallery/albums/album108/DSCF0330.jpg]90 legacy of awesomeness[/url]
KC0514
First Gear
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2003 1:21 am
Location: Ma

Post by KC0514 »

The WRX struts come complete with springs.
"Better to be a racer for a moment, than a spectator for life."- unknown

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway
Post Reply