Just replaced my rear stock stabilizer bar ENDLINKS with some Kartboy solid endlinks to the rear of my 2013 Outback. Here is the model that fits:
Kartboy dot com :: Subaru Impreza RS :: 2008-2013 RS :: Kartboy 2008+ Rear Endlink Kit
While retaining the stock 19mm RSB, I notice a very nice improvement. The rear end feels very well behaved. It's almost like I expected something to "happen", but it's just simply very well composed, almost like it's 'nothing' rather than 'something' to be aware of and attentive to. Before, the rear drew attention to itself with some sloppy action which I'd control with steering. With the Kartboys, the handling of the tail went from something I would 'notice' to 'nothing noticeable'. Now, the tail just goes where it's supposed to and does what it's meant to do, with surprisingly near-perfect precision and neutrality. Feels comfortable and quiet too. Maybe I feel a little bit more of the waviness on road surfaces.
I'm now finding - as somewhat expected - the front of the vehicle now stands out more as being less controlled than the rear. It feels like I'm needing to give somewhat more turn-in of the steering wheel when going through a turn (understeer from a too-good back end?). Either that, or perhaps I'm just more willing to turn it sharper as the car stays flatter. It is also feeling more fun to hit the gas coming out of a turn, whereas before it felt more ill-mannered.
If someone else wants to do this, let me save you maybe a half-hour of time under your car fussing with fitting the spacers.
I used the following spacer/washer order with the Kartboys for very good correct vertical placement, but you'll need to order two additional 1/4" spacers, and get two additional flat washers:
Rear endlink spacing for Kartboy endlinks on 2013 Outback:
Top of link, from OUTSIDE toward INSIDE:
- NOTE: You'll need to put top bolt in position before installing lower bolt, or it won't clear enough for you to install it. This would have saved me a lot of messing around with having to unbolt lowers after already bolting them on.
- Kartboy bolt (replaces stock bolt) >
- Flat washer (needed to hold bushing in) >
- Kartboy endlink (NOTE: End with small dot drilled in mounts on lower bolt) >
- 1/4" aluminum spacer >
- Flat washer (use the slightly thicker one here if you were given two thicknesses) >
NOTE!! See my posts below, posts #13 & #15. 1/2" spacer might be better than 1/4" spacer + flat washer. You want both links to be close to vertical and parallel with each other - do your own fine tuning here.
- Go through Rear Stabilizer Bar mounting hole >
- Kartboy nut outide RSB mouting hole.
Bottom of link, from front of car to back (this is a perfect confirmed fit on my 2013 Outback):
- Reuse Stock Bolt - Place into control arm mounting hole from front >
- 1/2" wide aluminum spacer - just inside of mounting hole>
- Kartboy endlink (dot on one end goes at bottom) >
- 1/4" wide aluminum spacer >
- Bolt exists control arm mouting hole toward rear >
- Reuse stock nut. DO NOT try to use a Kartboy nut here - it's a different threading.
NOTE: The stock spec for torque is 24 lbs. Apparently you can go to 40 with the Kartboys. I just did 35 lbs. , which I recall reading somewhere as recommended.
One further tip: I noticed the mounting holes on the Suby parts were a bit oversized. Rather than tighten it down completely where it first mounted (which it could slip a little from) before it settled into the normal position, I snugged up the bolts slightly loose, drove down the street to let the parts settle into position, then came back and tightened everything down. You'll be working near your exhaust, so be careful of heat. If you only drive it a short distance, it will likely only be a little warm to the touch.