Maintenance Stuff (Suspension)

Hello folks, ive hit 130K miles on the ol gal so ive been doing all the routine stuff (VC's, brakes, fluids) now its time for suspension, yay.

 

Parts list:

KYB Excel-G all around (339097 L, 339096 R, 341353 x 2)

KYB rear mounts (SM5214 x 2)

OEM Front mounts (20320AG00A x2)

Tein-Htechs Subaru Legacy GT Specific

 

 

More parts showed up

 

Now if only the front mounts would......

 

All for $661.72 shipped not bad considering the springs were $220:redface:

 

Paired with the 225/45/17 N5000's + solid 20mm RSB + rear tower bar +strut tower bar+ tribeca fsb ought to be firm in the corners!

 

Ill be building the struts on the bench and simply bolting them in, followed by a trip to the alignment shop.

 

Ill be selling the fronts for the Koni crowd

 

 

Any suggestions before the stuff arrives? I have spring compressors, air tools good hand tools. I am wondering if there is a particular orientation the springs should be placed on the perch to prevent the chirping some user complain about.

 

 

***Assembly

 

Did the rears while I wait for my front strut mount

 

Tools:

3/4" (19mm) socket

6mm hex key

1/2 and 3/8 inch drive ratchets

Spring compressors

17mm wrench

**Note

I dont have a vice nor workbench to clamp the assembly into so I use my kitchen table and an extension to prevent the shock body from turning while tightening things up/compress-decompressing springs

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1538_zps6ca30789.jpg

 

Compress your springs by placing the compressors on each side of the spring (180 degrees apart) and alternate the coils clamped. Also make sure not to use the bottom coil as it will result in the spring resting against it when decompressed and you wont be able to pull it out.

 

Good:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1531_zps1ea64008.jpg

Bad:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1530_zpsd15bae7c.jpg

 

Alternate tightening the clamps to evenly compress the coil. Once finished place the spring on the shock.

 

**Note the tightly wound coils are the top while the not so tight coils are the bottom. Also the bottom coil fits right into the notch on the lower spring perch use this as a guide to keep the mount, rubber and coil aligned when decompressing the spring.****

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1532_zps6d6253f5.jpg

 

Then place the spring rubber (that what I call it maybe b/c im a NASCAR fan ) and mount atop the coil.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1533_zps5abe1856.jpg

 

Use the supplied lock nut and add a washer to the mix (my KYB's only came with the lock nut no washer:mad:).Hand tighten. Now this is the part where a vice and bench will make your life much easier but if you are like me or assembling in the parking lot use a 3/8 extension or bolt and place the whole assembly such that the shock body wont turn.

 

I placed it in the tray that the compressors came it then used my 6mm hex socket and a 17mm wrench. The trick is to hold the nut with the wrench and turn the hex (the shaft) inside the nut to tighten.

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1536_zps39d493f8.jpg

 

The mout and spring rubber will be tilted this is fine once the nut is tight the mount will be level.

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1535_zpsbf542dae.jpg

 

Once the mount is tight back the tension off but not all the way as you need a little play in order to align the two body stud correctly. This doesnt need to be 100% perfect but you can get it VERY close. I used the extension to represent the axis of the control arm bolt. The two studs be perpendicular to the bolt head.

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/GEE-OTTO/IMG_1521_zps7ea51400.jpg

 

Once aligned back the tension all the way off making sure the lower coil rest at or near the lower spring perch notch.

 

 

Done with 1/4" saggy butt shims on top!

 

 

Fronts are complete all 4 corners are installed whoever said the rears where "cake" must not have been installing on a Legacy they were the worst even with the shock top mount disconnected and the RSB off the suspension doesnt drop. It is like the trailing arms have elastic torsion bushings or something. I had to use a jack in order to align the suspension with the shock bottom mout and by that I mean push the rear assembly down with a scissor jack to meet the bottom mount.

 

Other than that it was a breeze the front took about 20 min a piece to install the rear took 1.5 hours 1 hours on the first side then using my newly gained knowledge .5 for the other

 

Only issue i have is that the front passenger side sits a tad higher, Im hoping this settles out over the next 500 miles if not i guess ill have to go back in and see whats up.

Pictures coming SOON!

I have to stress this: be VERY VERY VERY careful with the nuts for the tophats. I've snapped them twice. I think they only need like 12 ft-lbs. I can confirm when I get home since I have the full service manual (unless you already know the specs).

 

And I hope the H-techs don't reduce your suspension travel to the point where you're hitting the bump stops on bumpy roads. That's why I got rid of my Vogtland/Koni setup.

Yeah I've talked to a few owners with the same setup in this area and they all have had positive experiences and DC metro area roads can be bumpy.

 

 

You mean the three strut studs??

12 ft/lb sounds about right

Yea, the 3 nuts where the strut bar would go. Confirmed in the manual it's 14.5 ft-lb.

Yea, the 3 nuts where the strut bar would go. Confirmed in the manual it's 14.5 ft-lb.

 

Searched thru my FSM yesterday. Ive had them off before to install the tower brace and they are hand tight. I had that problem on my old GA GT. I put Intrax suspension in place of stock garbage sheared the rear shock studs off using an air ratchet to tighten, it was the mount but added a half day finding a GM dealer that stocked it.

Yea, the 3 nuts where the strut bar would go. Confirmed in the manual it's 14.5 ft-lb.

 

One more Q's should I buy spacers?? 3/8 or 1/4 ?

I've never used spacers on my suspension. Why do you need spacers? Do the H-techs cause a saggy butt?

I've never used spacers on my suspension. Why do you need spacers? Do the H-techs cause a saggy butt?

 

No I thought that was just what people did when replacing OEM suspension.

 

However I would like the rear to sit a tad higher than the front so...maybe yeah:redface:????

Up to you man. From what I've seen, the H-techs provide a pretty even stance. I feel like a raked stance on this car would hurt handling and braking stability a bit.

Up to you man. From what I've seen, the H-techs provide a pretty even stance. I feel like a raked stance on this car would hurt handling and braking stability a bit.

 

Good point and after 1-2K miles they will "settle" in

Definitely saggy butt with the H-techs... I could probably snap a pic if you would like. If I had it to do all over again I would have gotten the spacers. I'm curious why you're replacing the mounts... just to be able to assemble on the bench? Sounds a little expensive, I did this about 6 months ago and purchased the springs for $180 on ebay and the struts for $220 shipped to my door from Amazon.

lots of good stuff there. if you need any help with the installs let me know, id be happy to help

Definitely saggy butt with the H-techs... I could probably snap a pic if you would like. If I had it to do all over again I would have gotten the spacers. I'm curious why you're replacing the mounts... just to be able to assemble on the bench? Sounds a little expensive, I did this about 6 months ago and purchased the springs for $180 on ebay and the struts for $220 shipped to my door from Amazon.

 

Well i went with new mounts as insurance incase the old ones are beat to shizzle but I realized I cant assemble ahead of time b/c i need the upper cap piece that is on the OEM suspension. The fronts are no question getting replaced as that bearing is prone to failure that you get the "clunk" the rears I may reuse if they are in good condition and simply return the new ones to the store.

 

If possible can you get a pic of the saggy az-butt:redface:

lots of good stuff there. if you need any help with the installs let me know, id be happy to help

 

You know I just might lol

I was actually looking at the doing the same exact set-up havnt gotten the struts yet since we dont get same deals in canada but i do have the htechs and 3/4 butt spacers...looking forward to see the look and feel if you upload pics

I was actually looking at the doing the same exact set-up havnt gotten the struts yet since we dont get same deals in canada but i do have the htechs and 3/4 butt spacers...looking forward to see the look and feel if you upload pics

 

 

Yes as soon as FredBeans ships my OEM strut mount I can begin. 3/4 spacers are thick! Im going with 1/4 shims in the rear to net a slightly higher rear end once the H Techs settle (1-2K miles) Def will have pic and install notes up!

Well i went with new mounts as insurance incase the old ones are beat to shizzle but I realized I cant assemble ahead of time b/c i need the upper cap piece that is on the OEM suspension. The fronts are no question getting replaced as that bearing is prone to failure that you get the "clunk" the rears I may reuse if they are in good condition and simply return the new ones to the store.

 

If possible can you get a pic of the saggy az-butt:redface:

 

Sorry, been out for a few days... let me see if I can get on tonight, I'll post it up.

 

You can see how just a little bit more in the back would level things out...

[attach]149116[/attach]

 

You can see how just a little bit more in the back would level things out...

 

Yeah that is what I feared, but no worries I already have spacers (1/4"

) but that sag makes me wonder if i needed 3/8

Pics with the H-techs please!! I have an 09 as well and I've narrowed the debate to either coils or h-tech springs.

[attach]149116[/attach]

 

You can see how just a little bit more in the back would level things out...

 

Pics with the H-techs please!! I have an 09 as well and I've narrowed the debate to either coils or h-tech springs.

 

The above picture is a 2.5i on Htechs :lol:

i ordered the 1/4 spacers for mine, Have the same setup as OP. Leveled out the ride really nicely. Got spacers and longer stud bolts from

http://www.paranoidfabrications.com

Any advice on which type of tool i need to stop the strut shaft from spinning? I have the 6mm hex key but i dont have a pass through or deep socket boxend to secure the 17mm crimp nut. VERY annoying might I add as ive got both struts out and my 17mm wrench wont fit down in the recess to stop the nut while i turn with the hex key

Found the answer to this one of course I'll have to go get more stuff dammit

 

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/a1/a1bc6700-6c7e-4069-a2fb-a8231954257c_300.jpg

 

the only other way is to take a grinder and flatten two sides of your least favorite 17mm deep socket and use adjustable wrench or closest size wrench to stop it from turning the strut rod.