legacycentral bbs

Newbie of this forum, Arctic white '90 Legacy LS wagon, A/T, 4WD, pwr everything, and sun/moonroof (freshly resealed, thanks to this forum!!), ABS, and it appears it originally came with active supsension?? It has wires and air lines to all 4 strut mounts, but not hooked to the struts (non-factory struts currently installed).

Just got back form the alignment shop, they couldn't do anything to help. here is where it is now:

Lt Front (all within spec's):
Camber -0.2
Caster 3.3
Toe -0.1

Rt front:
Camber -1.5 (bad)
Caster 3.2
Toe -0.21 (bad)

Lt Rear:
Camber -0.8
Toe -0.39 (getting worse)

Rt Rear:
Camber -.01
Toe -1.74 (worst)

Alignment tech said the rt front strut and the rear lateral links are bent. I have access to a parts car, also 90 Legacy 4wd wagon, and will be pulling the lateral links as soon as they get it out of the mudhole it's parked in. Also need to rplace the struts all the way around, as they are shot anyway.

Here's my questions:
#1. After reading the other post on rear alignment will the lateral links be enough to bring this back within stock spec's?

#2. What are the prefered alignment if upgrading from 14" steel wheels to 15" or 16" alloy's? I'd prefer to keep a very drivable, yet sporty set-up. I am an ex-Cirle track racer, and prefer a more aggresive handle, but the wife will also be driving on occasion, so I need to keep it sane.

#3. Recomended tire size for 15" and 16" wheels?

#4. Where can I get a rt front ABS equiped hub? Mine has been replaced with a non-ABS hub, so I get the ABS light the first time I use the brakes. Would really like to have the ABS functional, but not absolutely mandatory.


Sorry for the lenght, but I could really use some help from the "experts", as my last foray into import "sport toys" was a '90 Talon TSI Turbo AWD 5 speed that was a ticket just waiting to happen. Also need more room for additions to the family, so now I drive a wagon .

Did the tech know that there is a camber bolt in the front strut?

I'd recommend the KYB Gr2's as replacement struts.

If the lateral link is bent, putting a new one on should bring things back....assuming nothing else is bent.

I run -1 deg of camber all the way around an 0 toe. You may not want to, or may not be able to run that much camber. However putting a little bit of negative camber in there will improve responsiveness. I'd run 0 toe front and rear.

Try to keep your overall tire diameter the same to the current 14's. So if you go with a 15" or 16" wheel/tire combo, play with tire sizes.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Where do you live. See if there are any junkyards around the area, and just swap the entire front hub assembly.

Located in the Tacoma Washington area, and have check with most of the yards nearby. Either thay don't have any, the wires are cut/sensor broken, or they won't sell just the hub, only the entire side, strut and all. Mine just had all new rotors, calipers, ect. installed, and I will be r2'ing the struts soon, so I really don't need any of that, just a hub.

Some of the guys on the board may have something, check out the parts shed.

Okay, next ignorant question, Subaru's use a 5 on 100mm bolt pattern, correct? if so that's the same as some Chrysler minivans, and most fwd GM stuff. Do the wheels interchange?

Also what is the maximum backspacing that can be run before you start rubbing the struts, assuming a 205/60-15 or 215/50-16 tire?

+53 offset is pretty much the limit.

I run lots of camber, and .01" of toe.

I'd like to get to around -2.5 degrees up front and -2 degrees in the rear. Better for tire clearance of the fender.

Swapped out the lateral links this afternoon, not too bad, only had to blue tip wrench one bolt on the donor car. set the camber bolts at straight up, and have an appointment at 3 pm tomorrow to get it aligned. I can tell already that it handles MUCH better.

Anyone need some slightly used lateral links??

The left link is the driver side, right is passenger for both pic's:

See how bent that right link is? That was killing your toe!

The camber in my vehicle is wacked as all hell. I need to get it up in the air soon and see whats bent. It appears that the car was hit in the rear at one time from the touch-up paint on the right rear bumper.