2011 STI pillow ball LCA bushing fits the Legacy?

After reading the reviews released this morning on the new 2011 WRX STI, there was a fair bit of discussion about the new front lower control arm bushings that have been replaced with a "pillow ball" style bushing for 2011. Based on the photos provided in the reviews, it looks like that these bushings would fit into the lower control arms on the Legacy as well. What does everyone think about this? Do we now have a superior OEM replacement that can be used instead of the pricey Group N bushings or going poly? Does anyone know if the part numbers for these have been released yet?

 

Both Autoblog and Jalopnik have great reviews and photos of the new "pillow ball" bushing versus the old "tennis ball" rubber style that has been gradually failing on the Legacy.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-first-drive/full/#3183761

 

http://jalopnik.com/5590328/gallery/21

yes, they will fit. the 08+sti use the same front susp compnents as the 05+lgt.

Saw this today as well. Looks like a good replacement for people with torn bushings.

I'll try to get the PN tomorrow and post it.

I'm guessing since it's a 2011 it won't be available yet. But please post the part numbers, I have a WALK on order but it seems like these ought to do the job just fine...

I haven't checked to see if the 2011 parts catalog has been posted, but it should be soon.

 

Also, this isn't the same as an ALK, or close to what other companies offer. This is, essentially, a urethane potted spherical bearing. It won't add or subtract any caster, but it should prove to be more reliable than a standard bushing. I've wanted to do the front control arm bushings, so I'll probably order these as soon as they are available. I don't think they'll be that expensive. It looks like the WRX uses the standard bushing.

word. i also PMed FredBeans who I will be ordering from. I know these won't allow for the castor to be adjusted, i can live with that. My first choice was the group n bushings but I decided to get the WALK because rallispec doesn't have any and I didn't want to wait a couple months to get them. I'm guessing it's going to be at least a couple months before these are available. But i've been wrong lots before...

History has shown that parts are available (but not in stock at a dealer necessarily) a month or two before the vehicles hit the lots. Someone will crash one almost immediately, and require parts. The dealers have to be able to meet those requests.

The Part # is 20204FG000 There are 60 available for order in the country.

MSRP = $32.92ea Our Price will be approx $27.00 ea.

 

Thanks.

ahhh.. now if they could make a set of these that are offset to get more caster.. I would jump on that

Been really pleased with my SuperPro offset ones so far

I got mine ordered already!

Mine are on the way as well. Not sure when I'll install them. I should probably do the front LCA bushing too, but I don't know which one I want. Probably just the whiteline one. Anyone know the part number for that one?

Mine are on the way as well. Not sure when I'll install them. I should probably do the front LCA bushing too, but I don't know which one I want. Probably just the whiteline one. Anyone know the part number for that one?

 

You mean the rear or front Front LCA? (there are two bushings on each front LCA).

 

I am confused by your statement as the new 2011 STI piece refplaces the rear one, and the front one TTOMK has no WL replacement for it. But maybe they do now?

The Whiteline front bushing for the front LCA is W0506. Found here: http://www.fredbeansparts.com/index.php/whiteline-subaru-legacy-gt-front-inner-control-arm-bushing-kit.html

How could my statement be confusing?

 

There is only an LCA (lower control arm) in the front of our cars. There are 2 bushings and a ball joint on it. There is a rear bushing (which is what this thread is about), and there is a front bushing. If I said I wanted to do the front bushing too, then it's is obviously NOT the rear bushing. How could I want to do the front bushing, but not know which one I want or the whiteline PN for it, when I JUST said that I ordered the 2011 STi rear bushing?

 

*sigh*

 

Thanks FBP.

 

I wonder how much NVH both of these bushings is going to add.

This shows the front suspension:

 

The front arm in questions is #4

The bushing that the 2011 STI piece replaces is #6

The only other bushing you can replace is #7

 

Is that what the link is to mister FBP?

 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg194/littlebluegt/frontsuspension.jpg

How could my statement be confusing?

 

There is only an LCA (lower control arm) in the front of our cars. There are 2 bushings and a ball joint on it. There is a rear bushing (which is what this thread is about), and there is a front bushing. If I said I wanted to do the front bushing too, then it's is obviously NOT the rear bushing. How could I want to do the front bushing, but not know which one I want or the whiteline PN for it, when I JUST said that I ordered the 2011 STi rear bushing?

 

*sigh*

 

Thanks FBP.

 

I wonder how much NVH both of these bushings is going to add.

 

 

By front bushing, I didn't know you meant the front bushing on the front bar. You obviously know what you are talking about, sorry. (if you had a distinct avatar I would know who you were [more a visual person])

 

At any rate, I also am curious how much NVH the front bushing that goes on the front LCA adds. May as well do both at once, if they don't add too much.

The only other bushing you can replace is #7

 

Is that what the link is to mister FBP?

 

 

Yes sir.

 

My gut-feel is that the NVH increase will be considerable when compared to stock, negligible when compared to setups with just the poly "rear" bushing, and still far better than with the Perrin PSRS since the new STI pillow-ball is still isolated with a small amount of rubber.

I agree on doing both at once. I just hate NVH... Obviously no one is using the 2011 bushing yet, but there HAS to be someone using the front LCA bushing. AVO makes one, and that whiteline one that FBP posted.

 

I can't see the pic at work, but the LCA has only 3 pickup points on the car. The bushing the 2011 STi bit replaces, the ball-joint location, and a final bushing at the front-inside point. That is the bushing I'm talking about, and that FBP posted a link to.

 

I guess I could change my Avatar. I never noticed that I didn't change it. It's not even the right car! (I have an 09 XT, not an 05 2.5)

I'm ordering the "front" LCA bushings from an STi as well. Based on the comments from ifbiker in this thread they appear to be stiffer than ours.

If the LCA (new bushings and all) would fit the LGT, this would be a good option to up grade to aluminum LCAs with Pillowball bushings in one go !!

 

Fredbeans, will you guys be getting this whole assembly also?

If it's an SOA-stocked part number, we can supply it!

 

I will update my catalog with the 2011 info and try to find a number for you ASAP.

 

-Rick

Bad news...

 

Jeremy from FredBeans called. Apparently the new bushings are much larger in diameter than the LGT bushings. bummer...

The ball joints? What about the rear bushing?

Bad news...

 

Jeremy from FredBeans called. Apparently the new ball joints are much larger in diameter than the LGT bushings. bummer...

 

So does that mean that the entire control arm is different for the 2011 STIs in order for the diameter of the bushing to be larger? Or are you just referring to the diameter of the stud that protrudes out of the bushing that would go into the front subframe and/or body of the car?

So are we out of luck to get this to work on the Legacy?