NewMexEgo Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 First of thanks, and hello. I'm new here and an happy about my newly purchased 90'Subaru Legacy wagon. The strutts feel blown out and I'm going to get new or used ones tomorrow. There is a 99 Forester that I know of that I can get the top hats, springs etc. I would like a small lift if possible with undated strut design. Not afraid to buy new parts for longentivity, but I need to know what year/model parts to purchase. It would be nice to buy the strut spring assmebly that would slightly lift my car and give it new legs. The 99 Forester seems to way about the same as my Legacy and that seems like a plus but I'm not sure about interchangeability. There really is allot of info on the internet and I seem to find threads that are hijacked by Gen 2 owners. Maybe there is no difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2 suspension. In that case I'm ignorant, and that's why I'm here. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtdash Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 (edited) Hi, more searching you'll find the answers, but I get that there may be 'too much'. '90-'94 FRONTS are the same - as far as fitment - on all Subarus Legacy, Forester and Impreza from '90-'08+ for the most part. But there are differences in HEIGHT between the Outback/OB and Forester as both are 'lifted' from the factory - but they'll all bolt-on. But the '90-'94 Legacy AND '93-'01 Impreza share the same rear TOP strut mount bolt pattern. '95+ Legacy are the same as Forester. In '00 Legacy/OB changed to a multi-link rear suspension that is not swappable. The Forester rears will need your '90 top hats, but I don't know if the Forester springs will work as the '90 may be tapered from bottom to top...Search on that . If you don't mind the ghetto option, drill some new holes/enlarge the others to just install the Forester rear struts 'as is'. ...search on that, too. Also, if yours is truly an LS model, they had the AIR suspension. I'm fairly sure it's an easy swap but you may have to remove some extra wires/lines from the compressor, etc. to get the replacements in there....but by this time maybe they've already been swapped out? Edited December 1, 2017 by wtdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 yes, the 90 Legacy LS had air suspension (regular L did not). I had an LS that I did convert to standard Legacy struts some years back. The air strut assemblies will have to be completely removed (which requires either disconnecting or cutting the air lines to each strut) You will want to mark the lower strut bolts for alignment purposes - mark them in a way that will be easy to put back when installing the replacements - otherwise you are looking at getting an alignment when you are done. One of the lower bolts is cammed for toe adjustment. You will need COMPLETE strut assemblies to replace the air struts - struts, springs and tophats - you can not reuse any of the air strut parts. The air compressor lives behind the drivers side front fender, tucked up in the small space below the battery. I simply disconnected the electrical from mine and left it in place (too much of a headache to try to get to it to remove it completely). that said - the 99 Forester strut assemblies 'should' fit (i used 98 Foz struts on a 95 Legacy) You may want to unbolt the sway bar from the frame (not at the wheel end) to make things a little easier on yourself (ie: pushing the lower arm down far enough to get the strut bolted up) You put the tops in first, get the nuts on the tops threaded on - just finger tight is good to start with, then bolt up the bottoms - hopefully, you marked the bolts for easy realignment before you took them out - make sure they are in proper orientation, and then tighten everything up. Don't forget to tighten the top nuts too - but do NOT go strong-arm on those - torque value is pretty low.. otherwise you might break them (ask me how I know) Reattach the sway bar to the frame, put your wheels back on, and done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMexEgo Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 I'm currently working on the car now, - in the dark- of course. I grabbed some good looking assemblies out of a 98 outback. Fronts in. Rears working on now. I removed the trailing arm bracket to hopefully line things up. Also but the longer trailing arm bracket. Pics soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMexEgo Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 I believe someone already removed the air ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 I believe someone already removed the air ride. very possible - the air struts are ridiculously expensive, if they can even be obtained anymore... far cheaper to replace with standard struts/springs and is/was a common conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR'sLonewolf Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I made my air strut compressor into an air inflation system for my tires while off roading. Simple push of the button inside the cab activates the compressor that has an inline shut off set for the PSI of my tires. Attach to valve, push a button and done. Pretty cool, if you actually have a compressor that works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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