Spring Length Comparison?

Are the OBXT and LGT strut spring lengths the same or different? I can't seem to find a definitive answer on this. I'm looking at simply getting the KYB LGT struts and reusing my existing springs/tophats. It wouldn't make any sense to me that they'd be different but ya never know.
It seems most people who have done the LGT strut swap have swapped the complete assemblies.

From my research the springs are different lengths. The OB's have more travel so you need longer springs to go with the longer struts.

Cheers,
Jim

good question. anyone know how much longer the springs are compared tot he LGT?

for the OP, they make outback specific KYB gr-2 so you dont need the legacy version and dont need to worry about fitment.

Originally Posted by whitetiger

for the OP, they make outback specific KYB gr-2 so you dont need the legacy version and dont need to worry about fitment.

Yeah, I like the idea of retaining the tire to spring perch clearance with the outback struts.
My goal is a lower ride height but I want to keep my options open. I was thinking that if the Legacy springs are a bit shorter than I could simply get the Outback GR-2s and add some Swift Springs to drop the car ~2 inches. Swift claims a drop of 1.3" F and 1.0" R for the Legacy. If I decided later to sell the car I could just put the stock springs back on and have the stock ride height again.
I simply cannot find the specifications for the OEM springs...?

I put on legacy wagon springs and a set of bilsteins with 1/2 spacers in the rear about two weeks ago. The car sits at what I consider a perfect height now and handles like crazy.

I have the oem legacy and outback springs/struts still in my garage. I can take a look and see what the difference is.

Originally Posted by OutbackXT05

I have the oem legacy and outback springs/struts still in my garage. I can take a look and see what the difference is.

That would be great! Thanks.

Sorry for the wait but I have a few pics.

The rears Id say its ovious the springs are different lengths. You can just see that its different and the outback one has more coils:

For the fronts since my outback ones didnt have all the hardware its hard to say, but they might actually be the same but im not 100% sure:

Thanks. That answers the question of being able to put aftermarket LGT wagon springs on the OB struts. The rears would be dropped further than the front due to the differences in stock spring length.

Yup i remember seeing someone putting tien s tech's on an outback. They are all the same shape jusr ever sp slightly different.

Stating the obvious, on the rears, looks like the overall height difference is due to 1) higher perch, and 2) longer spring.

But from your picture, I would guesstimate an inch of it is due to the spring, and the other 1.5 in is due to the perch height. (Isn't the ride height difference 2.5" total??)

So if someone put the leggie spring on the outback strut, they would reduce height, and travel by 1 inch. Sound reasonable???

This assumes same spring rate. Are the wires the same thickness? Anyway you can measure (micrometer??).

ONE MORE THOUGHT: If someone started with an Outback spring, and cut off 1/2 a coil on the bottom, would they end up with a Legacy spring equivalent??

Regardless, thanks for providing the pictures.

Assuming again a 2.5" difference between Legacy and Outback, I'm thinking the strut does a bit more than 1/2 of that, so the spring must do the rest. So the spring might be softer, or shorter. Can't tell from this picture.

There could be other factors at play, but can someone lend their opinon after looking at these pics: OB Struts are ~ 1.25-1.5" longer from lower mounting holes to perch. The remaining ride height difference (ASSUMING 2.5") must be due to shorter/softer Legacy spring.

Or what???

Originally Posted by OutbackXT05

Sorry for the wait but I have a few pics.

The rears Id say its ovious the springs are different lengths. You can just see that its different and the outback one has more coils:

For the fronts since my outback ones didnt have all the hardware its hard to say, but they might actually be the same but im not 100% sure:

is it possible to take pics of the springs alone, not installed on the struts. i ask because when a spring is installed, it is preloaded and compressed some. the best comparison would be just the springs alone.

Hmmm....this is getting interested.

So...how would the KYB shock/struts stand up to having shorter springs on them? Do you guys think this is a recipe for short lived dampeners?

Cheers,
Jim

Generally speaking yes a shorter spring would add addition work on the strut but just how much I do not know.