Easy Suspension Question

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by Bug-Rex, Apr 19, 2010.

  1. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Before I buy some stock struts,

    Will 2003 struts fit on an 2002? Just want to make sure before I buy and have them shipped.
     
  2. Jake

    Jake Active Member

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    any year wrx 02-07 and 04 sti suspension are interchangeable
     
  3. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    ditching the CO's already?
    they are the same
    If buying used I hope you know who you are buying from, otherwise it may be a waste of money
     
    #3 b reel, Apr 19, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2010
  4. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    I am tired of being so low and scraping everything. They are incredibly stiff to.

    I am ready to bring it offroad/rallyx again. I don't really ever see myself tracking my car either. I am still keeping them though just in case.

    Thanks for the info.
     
  5. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    And I am finally going to be raising my car too. I said I was going to about 6 months ago, but bought coilovers instead.

    Going to be putting gravel springs on the stock struts and a Jackson Rally lift as well if I decide to sell the coilovers.
     
  6. Jake

    Jake Active Member

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    what kind of coilovers are they? i may be interested in buying them from you. i need something
     
  7. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    They are Sparta's old megans
     
  8. Jake

    Jake Active Member

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    oh yeah i'll buy them if the price is right
     
  9. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    OK Jake, I'll let you know first once I decide what I am doing.
     
  10. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    Just buy some AGX's from Pepboys, they are having a deal on them right now
     
  11. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    KYB's from Pepboys? What kind of a deal?
     
  12. Jake

    Jake Active Member

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    haha me or him? i may buy some cheap struts as a backup set when/if the coilovers ever need a rebuild i love the whiteline springs.
     
  13. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    New question: I may just want to go all in and go with Forester struts and springs. Anyone know what year bolts right up?
     
  14. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    Both of you, it's a rebate program and maybe for the Monroe's only not sure. Either way they are new and adjustable
     
  15. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    same model year, and that's what I have for the same reason. With that setup and rolled fenders you can mount 29" tires. The only problem will be you'll kill that trans
     
  16. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    I won't be getting giant tires, probably just a light gravel tire thats a little bit bigger than stock.

    Breel, did you have to swap trailing arms with a Forester's as well? Or trailing link brackets?
     
  17. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    you'll have to swap those out as well, not to hard
     
  18. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    got it from a pull-a-part, think I paid $150.00 for the whole setup
     
  19. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Trailing arms and brackets?
     
  20. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    Both, not sure if there is a difference in arm length or if the bracket is different will have to look Wednesday when back in town.
     
  21. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    Might want to look at getting some Hankook W409's I-Pike. Make for a good gravel tire, might even put it all back on and drag race the first couple of weekends as they are not points races
     
  22. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Thanks Breel.

    If I can't find Forester suspension, I'll be looking into OBS suspension with JR 1" lift.

    OBS uses the same trailing arm and bracket so its just a direct swap between struts.
     
  23. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    careful with that as if I remember one tucks the wheel up into the fender on the sedans
     
  24. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Wow. Thanks for the heads up. Didn't know that.

    Will wagon rear springs make the rear of the sedan sit the same as the front?
     
  25. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    wagons will have more spring rate than sedans because of the weight bias

    Not sure how the Megans are setup but you may be able to get the desired ride height from them along with the lift blocks you are looking at getting. May also want to look at changing the preload on the springs to soften them up a bit or change springs all together. I know for fact that I can get 4 1/2" of fender clearance running 225/40/18's on my wagon
     
  26. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Yeah I was thinking about that. Do you think the megans can take a little bit of off road fun? I am worried about them getting blown. That would make resale harder...
     
  27. yerrow

    yerrow Active Member

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    i have '07 forester springs in the garage if you want
     
  28. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Just the springs?
     
  29. Jake

    Jake Active Member

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    Do not take coilovers off road. Period. Unless they are built for it.
     
  30. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Yeah, not planning on it. I don't want to mess them up in any way.
     
  31. yerrow

    yerrow Active Member

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    Springs only
     
  32. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

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    All 02-07 struts are interchangeable.

    Now for the rear you have to be careful with what strut goes with what tophat. I know for the bugeyes in order to use 04+ struts you needed a spacer on top of the strut but under the top hat....something along those lines. Get in touch with TiC and they will steer you right.
     
  33. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Thanks CoolRex. I'll be picking up some 03's so not to worry.
     
  34. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

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    Yeah 03 to 02 is a direct swap. Just someone said all 02-07 are direct swap so I wanted to clear that up.
     
  35. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Got it. What do you guys think would happen if I put Forester springs on WRX struts?

    If its even possible...
     
  36. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

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    It'll jack up the car to mud bogger status. WRX suspension in a Forester drops it but I'm not sure if that is becauser of short strut or springs or both.
     
  37. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    So you think its possible to install forester springs on WRX struts? Friends at DI said it would be hard and might damage the strut.
     
  38. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

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    The spring is likely taller so it prolly would damage the strut. I wouldn't do it. You are just screwing with dampening and spring height.....prolly have to compress the crap out the spring to just install it.

    Why you want to do this?
     
  39. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    So I can get back into Rallyx and having some off road fun. I don't see the point in coilovers for me since I have no plans to track my car. Might as well have the nice ride too.

    I am just going to go with stock struts and springs and Jackson Rally 1" lift.
     
  40. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

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    If you want to get back into RallyX then I would do something better than the crappy WRX struts.
     
  41. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    I want to but I found a set of stockers for $150 shipped. I am not entirely sure on what I am doing just yet, but for that kind of money I can afford to abuse them and have some fun.
     
  42. Sparta

    Sparta Active Member

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    Breel I thought you had CO's too? What's this Forester suspension you speak of
     
  43. b reel

    b reel Active Member

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    I bought the setup when I first got the car, been sitting on my back porch ever since.
     
  44. kingwrex

    Supporting Member

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    i may have my stock 99 forester springs and struts ill sell them for cheap if you are interested
    i may even have the tophats to go with them
     
  45. kingwrex

    Supporting Member

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    negative, i guess they were all thrown out at work
     
  46. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

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    Thanks for looking King.

    So I was looking at this FS thread: http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10071

    And noticed the suspension that will be coming with the car.

    So, this is possible to do, but is there a major difference between STi struts and wrx struts to the point where different springs cannot be used on both?
     

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