How I swapped WRX Springs/Struts on to my '93 Turbo Legacy.

[vrg3]

I definitely think the v7 suspension is appropriate for a daily driver.

I didn't bother trying without the washer, so I don't know if the washer really is necessary. But a grade 8 5/8" washer from my local hardware store fit perfectly. Its outer diameter almost exactly matched the indentation in the top mount, and it was about a quarter inch thick.

If you buy a set of fully assembled v7 strut assemblies, you will need to buy the rear strut tops as well as the rear spring perches (both the rubber and the steel parts). These pieces:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/pics/perches.png

I believe these can come off any 92-94 Legacy or 93-01 Impreza.

[THAWA]

you are right. the shop had some issues, becuase this was their first pre-98 RS car that they were working on. anyways, my wagon is a 91, and i understand that changes were made for 92-94 cars (to the bottom spring perches, correct?), but i'm trying to resolve the problem on my 91... i'm considering getting kyb's and whitelines, but should i get 91 specific struts (gr2's only) or can i get 92-94 spec kyb agx and appropriate whiteline springs?

the springs i gave them were 02 sedan/wagon springs (both).

The changes were made to the top perches. You can use whatever they're using right now to put those wrx springs in.

And it does seem a little underdamped in the high-but-not-very-high frequency range -- I guess this is what people mean when they say STi suspensions are "bouncy."

I noticed the same thing, especially in the rear. I've seen a lot of people who put 400+ lb/in ground control springs on STi struts, and don't see how that will work well at all.

Apparently the valving on the STi struts is really stiff. which is why it feels the way it does, and why you can use such stiff springs with the stock struts and not cause as many problems as you would if you used them with a different stock strut.

i had v7 sedan struts/springs on my 02 wrx, and it was a perfectly fine daily driver. when you put it on your heavier 91 ss, it should ride a bit better, i think. i really want to put some sti takeoffs on my car cause it'll be cheaper than getting kyb agx's and whitelines...

An ss isn't that much heavier than a wrx if at all.

[narenji]

I definitely think the v7 suspension is appropriate for a daily driver.

I didn't bother trying without the washer, so I don't know if the washer really is necessary. But a grade 8 5/8" washer from my local hardware store fit perfectly. Its outer diameter almost exactly matched the indentation in the top mount, and it was about a quarter inch thick.

If you buy a set of fully assembled v7 strut assemblies, you will need to buy the rear strut tops as well as the rear spring perches (both the rubber and the steel parts). These pieces:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/pics/perches.png

I believe these can come off any 92-94 Legacy or 93-01 Impreza.

so what i'll need to fit v7 sti suspension on my 91:
rear top mounts, rear spring perches, all from 92-94 legacies or 93-01 4wd imprezas. that's it?

the fronts bolt on right? the rears, i'll have to take the rear sti susp apart, and substitute older bits to make it fit...

now where do i find these rear top mounts and perches? anyone got rear susp that they're not using??

[jamal]

I'm not sure if the 92-94 perches will fit or not. I have some stock rear perches, but I want to keep them to go back to stock if I need to in the near future. If you buy the V7 suspension, you're welcome to see if my 93 perches fit those springs. But, again, if these are going on a wagon, your rates will be all wierd, and it will sit lower in the rear and not handle as well as it could.

[narenji]

i understand, but ggb wagon sti susp is hard to come by... in your opinion, what's better, v7 sedan sti susp or gr2s/whitelines or agx/whitelines? are the gr2s close to sti level, or is that only the agx's?

the agx's will be more expensive, and they're only for 92-94s... which means i gotta get new rear perches correct??

thanks,
-naren.

[vrg3]

That's correct, narenji. Every bit of it. I am using Group N top mounts for 93-01 Imprezas and my stock 93 perches on the rear.

And yes, the front assemblies bolt right up.

For all four struts, the brake lines won't attach correctly to the new struts, so you'll have to come up with another way of attaching them. I used zipties to secure them and some heater hose to prevent chafing.

I can sell you a pair of rear top mounts if you like. I have two pairs to choose from: the old stock ones from my 93 turbo or a brand new pair manufactured by Monroe. The rubber in the Monroe ones seems to be a lot tougher than the stuff in stock mounts. I don't know for sure how they compare to Group N, but they're definitely much stiffer than stock.

As for the perches, you might post up in the Parts Shed or in NASIOC's Wanted forum. Or ask someone who generally has a lot of parts to sell -- Blackbart comes to mind.

It's funny... a lot of this same stuff is being discussed right now in this other thread:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22913

[vrg3]

Oops, I didn't see your last post.

You can use AGXes meant for a 92-94, but if you use springs meant for a 90-91 you'll end up with more ride height in the rear and less in the front. If you use springs meant for a 92-94, the ride height should be correct. In either case, you need to use the rear perches that go with the springs.

[narenji]

ok got it... i think i get it... i need 92-94 rear perches no matter what... how much for your tough monroe mounts vrg3?

[THAWA]

I definitely think the v7 suspension is appropriate for a daily driver.

I didn't bother trying without the washer, so I don't know if the washer really is necessary. But a grade 8 5/8" washer from my local hardware store fit perfectly. Its outer diameter almost exactly matched the indentation in the top mount, and it was about a quarter inch thick.

If you buy a set of fully assembled v7 strut assemblies, you will need to buy the rear strut tops as well as the rear spring perches (both the rubber and the steel parts). These pieces:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/pics/perches.png

I believe these can come off any 92-94 Legacy or 93-01 Impreza.

so what i'll need to fit v7 sti suspension on my 91:
rear top mounts, rear spring perches, all from 92-94 legacies or 93-01 4wd imprezas. that's it?

You can include 98-01 Foresters.

[THAWA]

i understand, but ggb wagon sti susp is hard to come by... in your opinion, what's better, v7 sedan sti susp or gr2s/whitelines or agx/whitelines? are the gr2s close to sti level, or is that only the agx's?

the agx's will be more expensive, and they're only for 92-94s... which means i gotta get new rear perches correct??

thanks,
-naren.

Definately go with STi Struts if you can get a hold of them. Mono-inverted suspension is great.

[vrg3]

I'll PM you, narenji.

[narenji]

ok guys this is what i've got:
CAR: 91 Legacy L Wagon, 4wd, 5 spd

Susp parts:
V7 sti spec c Full takeoffs (fully assembled- struts/springs/tophats, even bolts)
92-94 rear top mounts from VRG3 (monroe brand)
92-94 rear top perches from blackbart

I should be all set right? Ill need to dissassemble the rear strut/springs of the v7 and swap in the top perch, and the mount... Please tell me this will work!!

[vrg3]

Looks good. But I would add one more thing -- camber bolts. You'll want to put camber bolts in place of the stock upper strut-to-hub bolts on the rear, so that you can achieve negative static camber.

And have some heater hose and zipties around to fasten the brake lines to the struts.

[Busdriver]

Good luck with your swap!!

Could you let me know how satisfied you are with the end result, as well as the cost and time invested?

I have the same wagon as you only ruby mica not that awesome black! My suspension is a little bouncy and the body rolls a bit too around corners, so I am thinking about upgrading my suspension as well.
I don't want to drop the height will this setup drop a bit?

[narenji]

thanks vrg... i'll keep you guys posted after its done...

when i had my wrx wagon and switched to v7 sti spc c, the ride dropped a tad, maybe 1/2 in the front and 1/4 in the rear. not very significant. i dont know how much itll drop it from a stock 91 wagon susp- im hoping for a 1in drop, as it sits way to high right now...