2005 Legacy GT wagon sways/endlinks (non-dirt)

[rollo]

So to start, the LGT doesn't do dirt racing; although it does occasionally venture down dirt roads on camping trips and excursions and whatnot, it's primarily a daily driver and now-and-then auto-x car.

It just turned 65,000 miles and it's time to do some work (next weekend). Here's what I have ordered so far:
- New axle.. stupid downpipe heat burning up inner CV boot
- Whiteline anti-dive/caster correction kit (rear LCA bushings are TOAST, torn up and wobbling about :unamused:)
- Whiteline front LCA bushings
- Whiteline rear diff mount inserts (they were cheap and I figured why not)
- Serp belt
- Kartboy lightened crank pulley (I wasn't going to bother until I saw this (http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119248) :shock:)
- Kartboy rear subframe bolts (they were cheap and I figured why not)

So.. I'm thinking usually people seem to do sway bars and end links on Subarus. I'm a big fan of Kartboy stuff but they don't have front end links for the wagon, and I don't know if it's worth messing with that stuff since the suspension is still stock. The primary complaint about the car is "too wallowy".

Thoughts? Do end links and sways now? If so, which ones?

cheers

[rollo]

I should know better than to post on a Sunday.

Okay now it's the week, surely someone can tell me something about a good sway bar/end link combo...

[subyspawn]

- New axle.. stupid downpipe heat burning up inner CV boot


You should just be able to replace the boot....and, BTW I have a tip for you that may prevent this in the future...I will try to finds some pics first.

and...the only advice about sways I can give you is take them off :mrgreen:

[rollo]

You should just be able to replace the boot....and, BTW I have a tip for you that may prevent this in the future...I will try to finds some pics first.

and...the only advice about sways I can give you is take them off :mrgreen:

Yeah, I know. The boot's been split for months though, so I'm not really satisfied that the joint is still in good shape. The axle was only a hundred bucks too.

I might reboot the one I take off the car if the joint looks okay (aka I'll put it in a box in the corner for two years and then chuck it in the trash :D ).

Is the tip to heat wrap the downpipe (optionally with space shuttle material)? :D I'd thought about that as an option. I think there are also aftermarket downpipes with decent heatshields.

As for the sways... very helpful :lol2:

I guess I'll see how the car handles once all the Whiteline stuff is in, then adjust as necessary.

[Rally OBXT]

Phil, since we have the same car, I have good knoledge to what's good on the leggy and what's not.

Sways: I would say get a rear sway 1st and see if you like it. Special note on our rear sway bars....you probably want to get a mounting re-enforcement bracket. Our stock mounting points on the rear are WEAK. Check this out....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05+-Legacy-GT-Rear-Sway-Bar-Reenforcement-Brackets_W0QQitemZ310181462276QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_i d=&itemid=310181462276

Endlinks: Don't be a ricer Phil, they do nothing. :lol: Seriously though, I am still on my stock ones and they are holding up just fine and I beat the crap out of my car. You know this.

Bushing: DO IIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTT. If you stock one's are toast, why not?

Oh yeah, my belt was well on it's way to being shredded. I caught it in time though.

[lminette]

More like I cought it!!;):oops:

[rollo]

Phil, since we have the same car, I have good knoledge to what's good on the leggy and what's not.

Sways: I would say get a rear sway 1st and see if you like it. Special note on our rear sway bars....you probably want to get a mounting re-enforcement bracket. Our stock mounting points on the rear are WEAK. Check this out....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05+-Legacy-GT-Rear-Sway-Bar-Reenforcement-Brackets_W0QQitemZ310181462276QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_i d=&itemid=310181462276

Yeah I was looking at those (well the AVO one but much the same idea). Will definitely do the rear sway next then. Any hot tips on size/brand?

Endlinks: Don't be a ricer Phil, they do nothing. :lol: Seriously though, I am still on my stock ones and they are holding up just fine and I beat the crap out of my car. You know this.

Ricer eh.. :D Interesting.... the stock ones look so weedy, but yeah I know the abuse the Trout gets.

Bushing: DO IIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTT. If you stock one's are toast, why not?

Yeah they're on the dining room table just waiting :D

Oh yeah, my belt was well on it's way to being shredded. I caught it in time though.

Yep... when I took that stupid cover thing off, I could clearly see that the front drive belt is in very poor shape - and missing three of the five V tracks :shock: - since it looks very easy to replace them, this seems like it should be an "every 30k" thing - at least. $32 for both belts from South Coast Subaru. Not bad at all.

The crank pulley looks in reasonable shape but I don't want any part of that delamination problem, so the Kartboy one is going on for sure. I'll keep an eye to see if all the debate about whether it's an important harmonic balancer is for real or not.

[Rally OBXT]

Yeah I was looking at those (well the AVO one but much the same idea). Will definitely do the rear sway next then. Any hot tips on size/brand?

I have the Cobb myself and like it and I got it for a screamin' deal (used). If you like the hollow bar theory, I would go with Cobb. I am sure other aftermarket bars are good too though. If you want a more mild upgrade, you can go with JDM sways. They are just a little thicker. Just remember, sways are one of those things that you can get used and it will work like new. I would check out the LGT for sale forum and see what pops up.