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Login to post Forums » $2012 Classifieds » WTB WRX wagon suspension takeoffs or cheap coilovers

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Aug. 16, 2011 12:22 p.m. Duke SuperDork

My daughter has an '02 2.5 TS (wagon) and I'm looking for a budget suspension upgrade. Looking for stock WRX wagon takeoffs, or maybe a set of coilovers that somebody has upgraded away from. Also interested in OEM WRX wagon swaybars, or used stiffer aftermarket pieces.

Car is a DD and part-time autocrosser. Wouldn't hurt it to move down an inch but what it really needs is more spring rate and roll stiffness. Adjustable camber would be a plus.

SVREX, I remember you saying you had some interesting bits, but those may have been for the previous generation (she used to have a '98).

Thanks!
Aug. 16, 2011 2:02 p.m. PseudoSport Reader

I think I still have a Whiteline 22mm adjustable rear swaybar off my 02 WRX that should work. It’s rusty but should function fine. Make me an offer.
Aug. 16, 2011 2:11 p.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

Duke - I have a stock '02 WRX Wagon setup.
Pseudo - I'd like that bar.

Duke - If you don't want the bar, give PS what he wants for it, have it shipped to me, I'll ship my stuff to you. If that works for everybody. Kind of a GRM WRX Circle of Life kinda thing.
Aug. 16, 2011 2:14 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Sorry to skate over Pseudosport, but if you don't want his rear bar, I have an IPD (Subie Solutions) 22.5 mm adjustable rear bar that I offered here last week for $100.

I also have front and rear skid plates and a set of WRX wheels with Pirelli Snowsport tires.

Actually, I have an entire WRX with the Premium Package (power sunroof, heated seats mirrors and wipers and rear spoiler) for sale if anyone's interested:
Aug. 16, 2011 3:41 p.m. Duke SuperDork

Wow, OK, lots to digest here.

Dave: How many miles on your setup? I think the struts may be the same across all wagons but I haven't confirmed that. Springs are stiffer on the WRX so maybe I just need the springs, though if your struts have moderate mileage that would be worth just replacing them as units. Looks like I want one or the other of the heavier rear bars - the 17mm WRX wagon rear bar is stiffer than the TS, but not as stiff as a sedan 20. Looks like there is only 1 stock front bar diameter anyway. Think about what you want for your parts.

Psuedo: I am interested - I'll PM you in a bit.

Woody: Dave may want the 22.5 mm bar instead of the 22? I'm concerned that would be a little stiff for my application. I don't want the car too tailhappy for her.

Anybody got the stock 20mm rear bar from a WRX sedan, and will it fit?
Aug. 16, 2011 3:47 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Duke wrote:

Woody: Dave may want the 22.5 mm bar instead of the 22? I'm concerned that would be a little stiff for my application. I don't want the car too tailhappy for her.

This made the car more neutral, far from tail happy. Not even in the rain.

I would have loved tail happy.
Aug. 16, 2011 3:57 p.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

Duke wrote:

Wow, OK, lots to digest here.

Dave: How many miles on your setup? I think the struts may be the same across all wagons but I haven't confirmed that. Springs are stiffer on the WRX so maybe I just need the springs, though if your struts have moderate mileage that would be worth just replacing them as units. Looks like I want one or the other of the heavier rear bars - the 17mm WRX wagon rear bar is stiffer than the TS, but not as stiff as a sedan 20. Looks like there is only 1 stock front bar diameter anyway. Think about what you want for your parts.

Psuedo: I am interested - I'll PM you in a bit.

Woody: Dave may want the 22.5 mm bar instead of the 22? I'm concerned that would be a little stiff for my application. I don't want the car too tailhappy for her.

Anybody got the stock 20mm rear bar from a WRX sedan, and will it fit?

Miles - a bunch. Probably 180k +/-. That said, when I put on the SPT dampers expecting an "OOH! AAAH!" experience, I instead got "Well, that might be different." In other words, either the stockers were still fine, or the low mileage SPT ones were not.

I want Woody's bar, but I can't spend the dough. If I can horsetrade this stock stuff for a bar, cool. If not, no biggie.
Aug. 16, 2011 4:01 p.m. Duke SuperDork

OK, cool. Let's see if we can work something out. My stock pieces only have about 70k on them. I may just want your springs.

Thanks, Woody. I'm interested in that bar too. Lemme cipher a bit.
Aug. 17, 2011 9:05 a.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

If Dave doesn't want to break up the spring/strut set, I've got a set of just 02 WRX wagon springs sitting in the garage. They've got about 50k on them.
Aug. 17, 2011 9:13 a.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

If you don't want my dampers, then Osterkraut probably has the easy button.
Aug. 17, 2011 9:15 a.m. sachilles Dork

What about those raceland coilovers grm reviewed a while back. They are about $400 which is pretty reasonable.
Aug. 17, 2011 12:36 p.m. Duke SuperDork

Osterkraut wrote:

If Dave doesn't want to break up the spring/strut set, I've got a set of just 02 WRX wagon springs sitting in the garage. They've got about 50k on them.

How much would you want for those?
Aug. 17, 2011 12:43 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

DILYSI Dave wrote:

If you don't want my dampers, then Osterkraut probably has the easy button.

Though I don't want to snipe your sale!

Duke wrote:

Osterkraut wrote:

If Dave doesn't want to break up the spring/strut set, I've got a set of just 02 WRX wagon springs sitting in the garage. They've got about 50k on them.

How much would you want for those?

Hmmm... $50 plus shipping?
Aug. 17, 2011 1:07 p.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

No sweat. I don't feel like pulling the assemblies apart.
Aug. 17, 2011 2:19 p.m. Duke SuperDork

OK, that sounds all right. I'll take them.

And PseudoSport, I will take that bar, too.

Dave, sorry it didn't come together that way.

No rush. Thanks, everybody!
Aug. 17, 2011 4:39 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

Send me a PM with your address. Do you have a preferred method to ship? If not I'm going to try to cram them into a flat rate box for $14.
Aug. 17, 2011 6:05 p.m. ValuePack Dork

I'm late to the game as always, but FWIW:

Strut valving is the same for RS/TS/WRX/OBS in the bugeye era. Sedan front struts will work fine on wagons unless you want more negative camber than stock(you do). Wagon rear struts have higher spring perches than their sedan counterparts.

TS front springs are soft and weren't used on anything else, as far as I know. RS/WRX sedan and wagon all use the same stiffer, lower front springs. Rear springs, in order of rate from soft to stiff: TS, RS/WRX sedan(manual and auto), WRX wagon with manual trans, WRX wagon with auto. Supposedly the rear free length is the same on all but the OBS.

20mm sedan(RS and WRX use the same part) rear sway bar is THE budget upgrade for the TS, I wouldn't go out of my way to find the 17mm WRX wagon version.

All Impreza models '02/03 use a 20mm front sway bar. FSBs from the sedans won't fit wagons and vice versa(same goes for N/A to turbos), due to the difference in exhaust headers and track widths. AFAIK, the only factory budget upgrade for the RS/TS is the monster Tribeca front bar, available online for less than $60.

Happy hunting!
Aug. 17, 2011 6:55 p.m. Duke SuperDork

And that's why I love this place. Thanks for the great information. Sounds like I'm on track with this stuff. All I need now is that B9 front bar. Her current struts are fine, I think, but are the WRX units adjustable for camber while the TS units are not?

Osterkraut, what ever is cheapest and most convenient for you is fine. Thanks.
Aug. 17, 2011 6:59 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Holy crap!

I wonder if i could get a thread going like this for Mazda GD chassis stuff.
Aug. 17, 2011 7:12 p.m. Taiden HalfDork

Woody, what's the deal with those snows?
Aug. 17, 2011 7:14 p.m. Woody SuperDork

They have at least one more winter in them. The wheels are in good shape. One tire has a plugged hole.
Aug. 17, 2011 7:16 p.m. Taiden HalfDork

Email me what you're looking to get for em. Are you anywhere near Maine?
Aug. 17, 2011 7:17 p.m. Woody SuperDork

If by "Anywhere near Maine" you mean "Connecticut" then, yes.
Aug. 17, 2011 7:17 p.m. Taiden HalfDork

That's "anywhere near maine" if you can meet up in beantown
Aug. 17, 2011 7:24 p.m. Woody SuperDork

How about Sturbridge?

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