2005-2009 Outback Suspension FAQ

[eggroller]

Originally Posted by phatvw

Legacy GT/Koni yellow cut'n'gut conversion *****need link****

Do you think the Impreza install is good enough? It is same procedure just different length of strut housings. Koni Insert Install Step-by-Step (56K Warning) - NASIOC Insert Install Step-by-Step (56K Warning)

[rockhopjohn]

I love the idea of this, but just want to let you know that our benevolent overlords at Autoguide have limited us to only editing posts for 30 days. So after 30 days you will be unable to edit your first post. So I recommend trying to get as many changes as possible in there as soon as possible.

[Boulderguy]

AFAIK Koni does NOT make inserts for the OB. They make them for the LGT front only, the rear is an entire shock swap. So the LGT version could theoretically be adapted but even if successful there's no rear Koni option for OB's.

[Impatient]

many options, some of which are really for the Legacy, but SUPPOSEDLY fit

rear, in my perceived order of stiffness:

Stock 15mm solid noodle
JDM 20mm hollow...I've heard maybe 50% stiffer (heresay)
Swift 20mm solid (flexy for its thickness) claimed 17-23% stiffer than JDM
Cobb 22mm hollow adjustable:195%-225% (soft-stiff settings) stiffer than 15mm stock??
Rallitek 19mm solid. Somewhere in between Cobb on soft vs stiff settings
Don't know relative stiffness of the following:
AVO 20mm
Whitelines 20mm
Perrin 22mm, and 25mm
Cusco 21mm???
Progress???

All these brands have front bars, except maybe JDM:
stock 21mm solid
Swift 22mm: 23% stiffer than stock
Cobb 25mm hollow: 47% stiffer
Don't know relative stiffness of the following:
Rallitek: 22mm solid
Perrin 22 & 25mm
AVO
Whiteline 22 mm
Cusco 23mm??
Perrin 25mm

Rear mount stiffeners by:
Cobb
AVO
Perrin
Progress

Someone chime in where I'm wrong, and I'll edit

FWIW< quite some time ago OhBe1 (@legacyGT.com) reported re rear:
"FWIW, using vel0mac's dimensions:
Rear, compared to our LOBW's 15mm bar:
16mm solid USDM LGT is 29% stiffer
20mm hollow JDM is 111% stiffer
18mm solid Swift is 107% stiffer
22.4mm hollow Cobb is 263% stiffer

Front, compared to our LOBW's 21mm bar:
25.6mm hollow Cobb is 47% stiffer."

I think he is wrong on some (hollow vs solid), but I may be just as wrong as him.
Some of these may not be available any longer

*****One concern surfacing (mostly from Rallitek) is overdoing things: stiffer rear springs along with stiffer rear sway bar could equal twitchy, oversteering, behaviour, and compromised ultimate traction in the rear.*****

[Impatient]

here are the slim pickings that I am aware of:

rear:
Stock (by KYB): few fans of these
KYB 341443: 18% stiffer rebound, 9% stiffer compression: spec'd for 05-09
KYB 341276: approx stock rebound, 30+% stiffer compression: spec'd for 00-04, but talking about using on 05-09
KYB 341354 non US: 34% stiffer rebound, 46% stiff compression THAN 341443 (60% rebound/59% comp over stock???)
Monroe SensaTrac: unknown specs, but not well liked in reviews
Bilstein BTS 5056: JDM: incl springs: few have them (one guy?), expensive, supposedly the best option for daily street use

Bilstein has unobatainium desireability, KYB 341276 has several fans lately
good luck getting non-USDM KYB's in USA

Megan Racing Coilovers: mixed reviews (some are good)
BC BR Coilovers: make sure to get the longer body vs Legacy version

Or drop down to Legacy suspension and have their Bilstein, KYB, and Coilover options...and limited height / travel.

For the front:
Stock: allegedly not too bad
KYB 339098 -99 somewhat stiffer, I don't know specs
KYB 00-04: even stiffer (at least is 1 direction), different dimensions???
KYB 334374-75 non USDM: supposedly 70% in stiffness (which direction???)
Bilsteins as above (the kit includes all 4 corners: springs/shocks)
the Coilovers above

based on only Schneider's review, the unobtainium Bilstein BTS kit has the highest regard. For the rear, the KYB 341276 (designed for 00-04 but fitted to 05-09) is becoming popular favorite among more affordable options.

Megans' have fans and foes
BC Racing as limited reviews on Outbacks, but evidently a lot of fans amongst the Legacy owners.

non-USDM KYB's hard to acquire, and requie some unknown fitment bits (but probably similar to Bilstein BTS kit)

There, now you know everthing I do. I hope this helps somebody.

DISCLAIMER: I have NONE of these installed (well, I have 100% stock and I hate it)...but not for long. Talk about analysis paralysis

[Boulderguy]

Nice breakdown. I believe the Cobb is the only hollow bar out there.

And it should probably be noted that the LGT front sways will typically fit the OB but some have a tendancy to "walk" to one side & destroy the endlink. This is easily remedied by using a hose clamp attached to the bar just inside the two bushing mounts. See here for a forensic breakdown, or just look at the picture.

[OhBe1]

IIRC, Cobb used to offer the only hollow front; they also had a hollow rear; but they don't offer any bars anymore. But things change, and I could be wrong even if they didn't.
The Subaru JDM hollow 20mm rear bar should still be available.
My numbers assumed all bars have the same geometry, and are made of the same iron alloy (steel), same heat treatment, etc. Relative stiffness calculated by 4th power of diameter. A bar twice as thick would have 16 times the stiffness (1500% increase!).
If anything, I think Swift uses a different alloy, so may be stiffer than the dimensions indicate.
Also recall there are front bar fitment issues between the turbo and N/A models.

[Seabass]

Does anyone that has swapped to the LGT suspension have any alignment specs? There has been some question as to how much it throws the toe and camber off by dropping the height. What I want to know is whether it throws things off to the point that they can't be compensated for with an alignment and whether the toe will be thrown off enough to effect handling and tire wear.

It would be excellent if we could document some real world effects of using LGT struts/springs. It opens up a new world of possibilities, but I and many others are on the fence about the side effects.

[phatvw]

Originally Posted by rockhopjohn

I love the idea of this, but just want to let you know that our benevolent overlords at Autoguide have limited us to only editing posts for 30 days. So after 30 days you will be unable to edit your first post. So I recommend trying to get as many changes as possible in there as soon as possible.

Hmmm do mods have the ability to edit posts later than 30 days?

[Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Seabass

Does anyone that has swapped to the LGT suspension have any alignment specs?

There are a couple guys in the Outback forum over at lgt.com who have done this... They DID get the cars aligned, and they posted alignment numbers.

Maybe this FAQ thread wants to hotlink those threads?

Mods: feel free to delete this post once its usefulness has expired.

Bimmer