[deebom]

I have bought a set of 4 Impreza shocks. The queston is, shall I use the springs that came with them (saggy rear end?) or carry on using the Forester springs? (130,000 miles on them.) Or get some whitelines that are for sale on here?

 

[forester200]

you shouldn't use the saggy ones ....when you change the shocks over you will have to get a 4 wheel alignment done so you don't want to be messing around doing that a few months down the line ........ may as well do it properly while your at it :biggrin:

 

[The Black Box]

I'd use the WRX springs long before i'd use the Forester springs. You'll most likely have coil bind.

 

[deebom]

"Coil bind?" I'm assuming thats a jolly mechanical term for people with oil under the fingernails. Whats it mean? :icon_biggrin:

 

[frazerjames1979]

dont use the impreza springs, when you go over bumps at speed it bottoms out and and makes an almighty crash!

 

[The Black Box]

Maybe not the right term but I meant the Forester spring coils will bottom on each other before you use the full stroke of the strut.

Why would the springs designed to work with the struts bottom out?

 

[deebom]

Aha. I see what you both mean. The Impreza springs will lower the car so that It may hit speed bumps. And the forester springs will compress too much and hit against each other. Looks like the whitelines then. Cheers.

 

[The Rookie]

Can't use your rears anyway as they are SLS and you'll end up with the back end in the weeds.

You can't use Forester springs as the Impreza lower spring seat at the rear is 15mm lower than Forester so you'll have built in butt sag.

Impreza springs then!

Simon

 

[deebom]

Ipreza springs it is then. Cheers for the advice. They will be going on in the next few weeks, as soon as the snow has gone for good. I'm gonna do this meself, will post up some before and after pics.

 

[mykp]

have impreza springs on mine, no saggy butt syndrome. Well not on the car anyway :biggrin:

 

[The Rookie]

Depends of course what Impreza springs, STi ones like Mike has are so stiff there is no butt sag.....

Simon

 

[Carlos45]

I read this thread with interest as I'm after something similar:

My car's a 2000 Forester S-Turbo with 130,000 miles on and the usual saggy rear SLS shocks. I only do about 5,000 miles a year and no off-roading so I'm looking for the cheapest option really. Had no luck at all finding second hand parts. Best option so far seems to be about £260.00 (+ fitting) for new non-SLS springs and shocks. So the prospect of using Impreza parts instead, which are in much more plentiful supply, is enticing!

Couple of questions for the experts: should I be looking specifically for parts from an Impreza classic WRX/STi estate or should other models also be OK? (I'd be looking to do front and rear and hopefully improve the handling slightly.) If I give the parts to my local tame mechanic, who's decent but not a Subaru specialist, are they a straightforward fit and does anything need doing to the camber (or wheel alignment generally)? Any experiences with telling the insurance company and how much extra money they want to rob from you also welcome. :icon_biggrin:

 

[The Rookie]

The weapon of chice is new WRX parts, saloon struts and wagon springs (saloon springs give butt sag, wagon struts give camber issues at the front as the wagon is narrower track).

Alternatively convert to non SLS rear with new KYB struts and springs or takeoff springs from a non SLS breaker.

Strut swaps are easy, no different to many other cars, 45 mins a corner max.

Simon

 

[Carlos45]

Thanks for the info - will give my local imported spares bloke a call next week.