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I upgraded my suspension

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 3:10 am
by sullione
Well,
I finally did the suspension upgrade...and am extremely happy with the results! There is a marked improvement in the handling of my car overall. It is lowered but in no way is it slammed IMO. Thanks to everyone who recommended the GR-2s...they are terrific. The H&R's are perfect, also. I love to drive my car again. Isn't that woderful! Now I have to move onto my next project. I'm just not sure what that is yet. Any ideas?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 3:18 am
by ciper
Rear sway bar, or ALK or WRX wheels with some nice tires.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 3:19 am
by czo79
Interesting, you put on H&rs? Did your car have the tapered rear springs? Did you switch strut tops so you could run later legacy springs? Do tell please!
Thanks
Micum

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 3:32 am
by sullione
Yeah, sorry I didn't mention the STi strut tops before but I did use them. I did have the tapered rear springs. They were covered with three year old grime from Alaska and Canada. Thanks Ciper for the response. I will definately consider those upgrades since this has cofirmed that I will keep this car.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 4:56 am
by czo79
So the STI strut tops are for a later legacy? Allowing you to use the non-tapered HnR springs from a later leg? Or do I have it wrong?
thanks
Micum

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 5:14 am
by ciper
My STI tops that I currently use are from the 93+ STI impreza.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 5:56 am
by czo79
Does running impreza strut tops affect your choice of springs and struts? I want STI strut tops...I would also like to run whiteline control springs and KYB AGX's...
Thanks
Micum

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 2:34 pm
by Legacy777
Micum,

You can run the sti top mounts whether you use the tapered springs or not.

I've got whiteline control springs, tapered rear springs with sti top mounts.

You can do it either way, use the tapered or non-tapered springs. If you go non-tapered, all you need to do is pickup a corresponding spring seat for the top of the springs.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 2:35 pm
by Legacy777
In case you haven't seen, here's a pic.

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... pring1.jpg

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 7:31 pm
by ciper
Problem with yours is that you have to get the special STI tops. I can find impreza STI tops at many vendors. I even found one local to me!

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 7:34 pm
by Legacy777
I only had to do it once, I have them now, and got a good price, so it's not really a big deal.

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 3:09 am
by czo79
So josh...
You got a set of STI strut tops specifically for a 89-91 legacy with tapered rear spring? Not the one for the imprezas?
For some reason I just don't seem to be able to figure this whole suspension situation out. I want a little drop, and higher rate springs (thinking whiteline) I would also like simple adjustable struts, like the KYB agx's, and STI tops...But I'm worried about the front wheel to fender gap seeming large with the AGX's...and while some people go with impreza springs...that seems sketchy to me. Ho hum, it will be a will till I get anything beyond strut tops, so I got some time to figure it out.
thanks
Micum

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 2:15 pm
by Legacy777
Yes I have sti strut tops specifically for the 89-91 legacies with the tapered rear springs.

How are the AGX's going to affect your ride height? They are a strut, they are damper. The only way they can affect ride height is if the strut body or mounting perch is different then the stock ones.

You want my opinion.......get a set of whiteline control springs, KYB AGX's, and sti top mounts. (whether you get the ones meant for the tapered rear end or later models really doesn't matter, as that doesn't affect the strut, and you can get the whiteline springs in either the tapered rear form or the fat form.)

I would have the AGX's if they made them for FWD vehicles....but they don't. The GR2's are just about the same as the AGX's middle setting so....I don't see how things are going to change much for your setup over mine.

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 3:07 pm
by vrg3
Legacy777 wrote:How are the AGX's going to affect your ride height? They are a strut, they are damper. The only way they can affect ride height is if the strut body or mounting perch is different then the stock ones.
In my experience, cars with McPherson struts tend to ride on the struts as well as the springs... When the struts wear out the car sits a little lower than it used to. I know when I used some low-offset wheels and got rubbing in the rear, replacing the struts got rid of the rubbing when moving straight.

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:45 pm
by czo79
OK...
I think I am finally beginning to get it...this has been making me feel really stupid. Josh, did you say that you got the early legacy sti strut tops from Z1 performance? Or was it some other place? As for the AGX ride height thing, I thought it had something to do with different spring perches on the front or something...I can't remember, some people have had problems, some not. I have the GR2's now...and perhaps if thats about equal to the mid setting on the AGX's...I will just stick with them, get another pair. OF course, I need a new winter beater, and I just found a sweet deal on a legacy turbo 5mt...newer than mine...and I have actually been thinking it would be nice to have a EJ22T to play around with instead of the EJ20G, which can be a pain in the ass...and I have been really amazed at the power some people seem to be putting out on a EJ22T, and those higher redlines with valve spring swap...
Thanks
Micum

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 10:36 pm
by Legacy777
Yes I got them from z1performance. Call adam, I doubt he has them on his site.

$45 a piece is what I paid.

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:13 am
by georryan
Just to clarify: I thought the AGX's wouldn't work with the tapered springs? Is this not true? I don't recall the reason, I just know they don't sell them for the tapered spring version.

-Ryan

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:56 pm
by Legacy777
There's no reasoning I can see they won't work. I think they don't sell them for the 90-91 MY's due to the tapered springs, and the fact they couldn't "guarantee" fitmant, even though they will most likely work fine. I know someone has put AGX's on the 90-91's.

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 5:16 pm
by georryan
I have a friend that put them on also, but I'm pretty sure he changed to the non-tapered spring design. If it works with the whiteline tapered springs then cool.

-Ryan