Lowered outback thread

[willisnz]

Awesome, cheers for the info! Am looking at this as an alternative to picking up a BP legacy as I will know the car history etc..and possibly get a deal on it, so not wanting to do anything excessive beyond making it more like a legacy:)

[sobanoodle]

Would standard Legacy arms fix the camber issue or it's something to do with overall Outback suspension set-up (subframe spacers etc)?

[JGM]

@willisnz 

 

I'm assuming it's a 3.0 OB? Would you look to keep the existing OB rims or possibly get a set of Legacy rims? No need to do any guard work if you stick with 7-7.5" rims (factory width).

 

@sobanoodle

 

Good question! I'm going to say no because see here.  8th photograph down on OP, the upper control arms are the same length.  *However, swapping the upper control arms to the Legacy ones would prevent the need to swap the bumpstops.  This is a dumb solution though because the bumpstops 'should' be easier to swap than the upper control arms (although I had a lot of trouble removing my bumpstops, they were welded in there by years of dirt build up).

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/info-ob-gt-suspension-geometry-removing-spacer-180579.html?p=3883358

[willisnz]

It's a 2.5 sadly, would love a 3.0   In an ideal world I will find a 3.0R or a 2.0 GT legacy. Or even a 2.0R...most cheap imports are 2.0i and we already have one of those (wife's car).  In all likelihood I would keep the stock rims if I go ahead, will be hard enough to get lowering the car past the wife, nonetheless getting some new rims!

[JGM]

@willisnz 

 

Nothing wrong with the 2.5 

[willisnz]

@JGM true, is it only the older EJ25s that have head gasket issues? (starting to get off topic, haha)

[ADIKT]

18 minutes ago, willisnz said:

@JGM true, is it only the older EJ25s that have head gasket issues? (starting to get off topic, haha)

The news ones are all good. Just look after it and it will look after you

[SpeedySub]

20 minutes ago, willisnz said:

@JGM true, is it only the older EJ25s that have head gasket issues? (starting to get off topic, haha)

From what I have read and heard its only the DOHC 2.5s from the previous generations that had an issue. The SOHC are all good

[JGM]

@willisnz

 

I believe it may be an issue with all years (contradicting what @ADIKT & @SpeedySub have said).  I was warned by my mechanic prior to purchasing mine, he inspected it and said it's fine.  Nevertheless I'm keeping an eye on it!

 

If you know the history of the vehicle (i.e. it being your mates), then you should be sweet.  Just get it checked out first.

[willisnz]

23 hours ago, JGM said:

Originally I lowered on Bilsteins with STi pinks with Legacy bumpstops, no issues whatsoever (bar a bit of a saggy rear end)

 

Forgot to ask about this, was sagginess due to the pinks being sedan springs or because OB is heavier than Legacy?

[JGM]

@willisnz

 

Fark knows... Bought them off a guy who said they were factory out of his 3.0R.  I had them in my 2.0R previously and that was raking as well.

[willisnz]

Sweet, that sounds like sedan springs if it sagged on your 2.0r...came across the issue when looking into pinks for my BH wagon..Just wanted to check the sag didn't have something to do with legacy struts/springs on an outback!

[JGM]

@willisnz

 

I know about the issue, I specifically asked if if they were out of a wagon, which he said they were...

 

Anyway, they did the job and were much firmer and handled better so I wasn't fussed.

[willisnz]

All good, didn't mean to imply you didn't know about the issue, more just thinking out loud about what this all means for me:)

[JGM]

@willisnz

 

No worries bro, there are some photos earlier in the thread of it on the Bilstein/pink combo.

[ADIKT]

Went to my mates batch in the far north for new years after 2 weeks in Perth for xmas 

 

 

 

Painted a friend of a friends dad's batch in the Whangaroa Harbour in exchange for a day out game fishing on his boat (didn't catch anything)

 

 

My exhaust didn't like some of the bumpy bits lol

[stev0]

Beautiful cars guys! 

 

Question, you guys on Outback or Legacy coilies?  There seems to be a different end result lol. 

 

I've been on the fence in just replacing the KYB's with stock OB units or going Legacy KYB and then finding some springs, but the coilies has my attention too. I just can't find many people who have actually fitted the BC specific Outback coil overs to confirm overall drop height. 

 

Makes me want to drive mine more often. 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2017 by stev0

[ADIKT]

35 minutes ago, stev0 said:

Beautiful cars guys! 

 

Question, you guys on Outback or Legacy coilies?  There seems to be a different end result lol. 

 

I've been on the fence in just replacing the KYB's with stock OB units or going Legacy KYB and then finding some springs, but the coilies has my attention too. I just can't find many people who have actually fitted the BC specific Outback coil overs to confirm overall drop height. 

 

Makes me want to drive mine more often. 

 

 

My coilovers (d2's) are technically for a legacy (BL/BP) 

 

Welcome to clubsub btw

[JGM]

@stev0 

 

Have never come across Outback specific coilovers in NZ (only seen guys in USA talking about them).  They're only ever labeled BL/BP, the way I see it when they're talking about OB specific, they would be referring to the spring rates not the design of the strut.  

 

With adjustable damping and ride height my thoughts are that having the exact/correct spring rate wouldn't alter the performance greatly (my opinion/thoughts only - open to discussion).

 

[A_J_T]

I cant see it making much difference. aren't the Outback and Legacy basically the same weight? Besides slamming an outback to the ground is not exactly something one does in the pursuit of comfort and performance. its done casue it looks bloody fantastic haha, that being said  MCA would do you a set with custom spring rates and what not for an Outback and get it super comfy while riding low... but pay a petty penny for their gear as previously discussed in other threads. 

[JGM]

Couldn't have said it better @A_J_T, the cost would outweigh the benefit.

 

EDIT: ps. I'll have a look in my manual for weights after work.

[stev0]

Curious, when fitting the Legacy coil overs, did you fit the Legacy trailing arms too? 

[ADIKT]

11 minutes ago, stev0 said:

Curious, when fitting the Legacy coil overs, did you fit the Legacy trailing arms too? 

I am pretty sure the trailing arms are almost identical between legacy and outback they just have different mounting brackets

 

I haven't changed any arms yet. I have a set of adjustable upper control arms for the rear to go in at some point (same as what @JGM has in his)

 

 

 

 

[JGM]

 

[stev0]

You guys are going to cost me a some money in the coil over department.