91 FWD NA Suspension opinions - Please help!

[realfinn]

Hey guys, since the nice weather is rolling around again it is finally time to start project Sue Bee. The stock suspension is shot. I would like to increase the handling of the car. My inital fealings were to go to a GR-2 setup. But I was wondering if you guys had opinions. I am looking for better handling. Since this is a summer FUN car only...I am not that concerned of what the ride is like. Just gettin through the turns and laying power to the pavement.

I am up for just about anything that keeps the car FWD. I'd like to go with all new struts and springs...maybe swaybars if need be. What do you guys think?

[greg donovan]

the GR2 will be a fine upgrade and is really your only option on the FWD car because of the design of the rear suspension.

[realfinn]

Any ideas on springs to increase stiffness? What should I hunt for.

Any good ideas as to using 92-94 struts springs on the 91? Whats the best option?

I know there is the suspension sticky...doesn't do much for FWD guys.

[greg donovan]

Any ideas on springs to increase stiffness? What should I hunt for.

Any good ideas as to using 92-94 struts springs on the 91? Whats the best option?

I know there is the suspension sticky...doesn't do much for FWD guys.

i know of some places that can get custom wound OEM type springs in any length and rate that you want.

i thinkyou can use AWD springs on the FWD cars.

IIRC the only difference between the AWD rears and the FWD struts is the lower mounting point. i think the lower spring perch on the FRD is at the same height on the strut as on the AWD strut.

i used to know all that stuff about the FWD cars but since i have gotten a AWD car it has been pushed out of mty mind.

[greg donovan]

found my old thread:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... hlight=fwd

here is the pertinent info from it:

1. AWD springs will work on FWD struts, front and rear.

2. however you will need to have the correct top mounts on the rear to fit the AWD springs. not sure exactly which one you will need to fit different springs onto your car though.

i think the 98-01 impreza RS springs would be a very good rate for the GR-2 struts on your car.

that is what i was going to use on mine before i got my SS.

[Binford]

i think the 98-01 impreza RS struts would be a very good rate for the GR-2 struts on your car.

I've got a set of these springs if your interested.

[realfinn]

Does anyone have any good pics of how the suspension mounts on AWD cars? I'm wondering if its possible to make a mount on one of our mills/lathes.

[realfinn]

found my old thread:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... hlight=fwd

here is the pertinent info from it:

1. AWD springs will work on FWD struts, front and rear.

2. however you will need to have the correct top mounts on the rear to fit the AWD springs. not sure exactly which one you will need to fit different springs onto your car though.

i think the 98-01 impreza RS struts would be a very good rate for the GR-2 struts on your car.



that is what i was going to use on mine before i got my SS.

Have any idea as to the ride height after she has RS springs and GR-2's? I want to get rid of the nose to the sky look it has right now (I'm tellin ya the rear suspension is toast!).

Anyone out there have any ideas as to the top mount that I would need to use the RS springs?

[greg donovan]

found my old thread:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... hlight=fwd

here is the pertinent info from it:

1. AWD springs will work on FWD struts, front and rear.

2. however you will need to have the correct top mounts on the rear to fit the AWD springs. not sure exactly which one you will need to fit different springs onto your car though.

i think the 98-01 impreza RS struts would be a very good rate for the GR-2 struts on your car.



that is what i was going to use on mine before i got my SS.

Have any idea as to the ride height after she has RS springs and GR-2's? I want to get rid of the nose to the sky look it has right now (I'm tellin ya the rear suspension is toast!).

Anyone out there have any ideas as to the top mount that I would need to use the RS springs?

are you refering to the wheel gap being bigger in the front than the rear?

if so that is a subaru design characteristic on every car they have designed.

if the rocker panel behind the front tire is higher than the rocker panel in front of the rear tire then you have a problem.

could you post some side profile pictures of your car?

[realfinn]

The rocker panel does sit a little lower in the rear than in the front. Probably 1" on a level cement surface. I would imagine this is from the tired coil springs. The car has about 90k miles on it. But it was owned by a navy officer that died outside of combat - kind of strange. There was a big investigation into his death so all his belonging were held until the investigation was over. The car pretty much sat in one place (nice california suny parking lot) for about 6 years. Never moved. So I would imagine that the springs have taken a set from the lack of displacement. A lot of the rubber is eaten up too. I would imagine from the heat of the sun. So I wouldn't be surprised if the coil springs were the only thing holding the rear end up. This is my best guess...

God, I'm babling again.

The most important thing is to at least restore the ride height to stock or at least balance it with the front end.

Do you guys think I should use the RS springs all the way around?

[greg donovan]

use the RS all the way around.

[realfinn]

So, I would probably have to buy rear upper mounts for a 98 RS to fit the RS springs. Will the mounts bolt right up in place of the old ones? Is there any additional items I would need to make them fit?

[AWD_addict]

Rear mounts for a GC Impreza (98 RS) will bolt right into your 91.

I have a set of STi Group N rear mounts I could sell you.

[realfinn]

Rear mounts for a GC Impreza (98 RS) will bolt right into your 91.

I have a set of STi Group N rear mounts I could sell you.

Thanks a lot man. Looks like this is going to come together easier than I thought.

[AWD_addict]

Sure, these should work great with RS springs.

[realfinn]

Alright guys, I have AWD_addicts upper mounts and greg's coil springs and all new GR-2 struts sitting here. I haven't touched the project car yet...but I am guessing that I will need the spring perch's for the rear end (I am guessing this is the item refered to as the upper spring seat in the GR-2 manual). Does this sound correct?

Anyone have a pair that I could get off of them to make it all fit together with the RS coil springs? I think these are the last pieces I need.

[AWD_addict]

Probably correct.

Here's what the 90 fronts look like
http://thawa.net/gallery2/v/AWD_addict/ ... 4.JPG.html

rears
http://thawa.net/gallery2/v/AWD_addict/ ... 0.JPG.html

[realfinn]

Thanks for the pics man. Got any ideas on where to find the parts?

[AWD_addict]

A good source of OEM parts is:
http://www.subarugenuineparts.com./

Or look around NASIOC for used stuff.

[realfinn]

Alright this has been a long process (workin so much I don't have time to mess with my cars like I want) but I found some old parts laying around for the RS suspension. I notice that as stated, the front springs will fit perfectly. But the rear springs are a little bit smaller than the 91L perch on the strut. If I get the spring to sit in the seat in the right place (the groove that is stamped into the plate) is it going to be bad to have the spring be a little smaller than the bottom perch? I haven't compressed the spring to see how much smaller the spring is than the perch but if my eye is calibrated right it looks like the spring will sit about 1/2" at most inside the spring perch. I was planning on putting the spring in there and just having it offset a bit towards the car.

What are your guys recomendations?