Make me a hero (04 STi Struts/Springs on a GC Impreza?)

[Vandal_RS]

I am new here, and just bought a 92 SS. I also have an 2000 RS, and am active on RS25.com also. The SS is going to be my new DD/fun car, and I have been researching cheap upgrades. I believe I want to do 04 STi takeoffs, and the research I have done leads me to believe this is an easy upgrade.

On to the subject matter. Research leads me to believe the following is true:

1. 04 STi struts/springs bolts on to a Legacy and lowers approx. 1 in using just 91 rear mounts to fit the STi's tapered springs

2. 92-94 Legacy suspension is basically the same as the 93-00 (GC) Impreza, and GC Impreza springs/struts will bolt straight up to a Legacy.

If that is fact, it would lead me to believe that 04 STi suspension would bolt on to a 93-00 Impreza with only 91 rear mounts!

If this is true, no one in the RS community seems to know it, and it might make a hero of anyone who tells them. There is not nearly as many cheap suspension upgrades for the RS, and this could be one. Can anyone confirm this? Or at least confirm that my logic is sound?

From research I did on the RS forums when I originally purchased my RS, a very few individuals had used 04 STi springs/struts, but had to fab up a rear mount (we're talking hacking and welding the stock mount), and raised the ride height an unacceptable amount in the rear destroying rear camber in the process. Obviously, that is not a problem on the Legacy.

One last separate, but related question. I have V5 STi (GC Impreza) struts on my RS that I may take off and mount on the Legacy. I have found 04-06 STi springs for $25-50 on nasioc and such. With 91 rear mounts, will those springs fit on the V5 STi struts? If so, can someone guess at the relative ride height (just looking for 'lower/higher' really)?

I sincerely appreciate your responses. This forum seems to have more than its fair share of really sharp members.

[n2x4]

Your logic is correct. That setup will work.

[brand]

I think you'll need camber bolts on the rear to get the alignment right, and possibly need to modify the front struts to get the bolt holes in the right spot. The track width on the 04 suspension is wider than a GC. Check Jamal's threads in the suspension forum (search for "04 sti suspension") if you haven't already, he's gone through all the nuances on a BC and they should all apply to a GC.

[206er]

seriously, nobody has figured out how to put sti takeoffs onto a gc before now?

[Vandal_RS]

Yeah, sounds crazy, but I think it is true. At least no one knows it's that easy. I have been hanging around RS25.com for 4 years and only heard of one guy running STi takeoffs. Anyway, thanks for the info everyone!

[rallyguy_777]

done on my dads car and you SHOULD have cmaber bolts on the rear. It is prob at 0 now.

[jamal]

not particularly new information.

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22575
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920116

pictures in my thread should be working shortly. I had some messed up htaccess settings.

[Vandal_RS]

Edit: nm I figured it out.