92-94 Legacy strut swapping info

[SubaruFred]

I've been searching for coil spring struts to replace the failing air struts on my recently acquired 93 Legacy LSi AWD wagon and thought I'd share some info that I have yet to see posted anywhere. This info comes directly from Monroe but should also apply to OEM, KYB, Gabriel, et al. I looked up the part numbers for various known interchangeable struts and cross-referenced them to Monroe's mounting and length charts. This should either be stickied or added to any appropriate suspension tech info.

 

Front:......................Strut body length..compressed..extended...travel

 

92-94 OE Legacy........13.750"...............13.750"........20.500".....6.750"

 

93-01 Impreza............13.875"..............14.125"........20.750".....6.625"

 

96-98 Outback

& 98-02 Forester.........15.250"..............15.375"........21.625".....6.250"

 

 

 

Rear:........................Strut body length..compressed..extended...travel

 

92-94 OE Legacy

& 93-01 Impreza.........16.375"...............15.375"........23.125".....7.750"

 

98-02 Forester...........17.500"...............17.500"........25.125".....7.625"

 

96-98 Outback...........17.875"...............17.500"........25.500".....8.000"

 

Please note that this data comes from Monroe and not me. IMO Monroe mixed up the body length and compressed lengths for the 92-94 Legacy & 93-01 Impreza struts. Body length should always be shorter than or equal to the compressed length. Either way, this data is still useful for determining which struts suit your application best.

Edited December 9, 2010 by SubaruFred

[Legacy777]

Myself and some others have collected some similar strut information from KYB.

 

http://www.bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17352

 

We found that there's some difference between the 90-91 front struts and the 92-94 front struts from KYB. The spring perch mount is different and causes a "jacked up" look in the front.

[SubaruFred]

Myself and some others have collected some similar strut information from KYB.

 

http://www.bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17352

 

We found that there's some difference between the 90-91 front struts and the 92-94 front struts from KYB. The spring perch mount is different and causes a "jacked up" look in the front.

 

I saw that thread while searching for strut info. Almost everything I know about swapping subaru struts came from places like this and Legacy Central. After learning which struts interchange I just looked them up to get actual dimensions. I believe this is useful supplemental data to add to what's already scattered around. After seeing how long the OB rear struts are I opted to go with Forester rear struts instead.

[SubaruFred]

I have another question about swapping different struts into my Legacy. I've read that it's recommended to use the 92-94 rear strut mounts but Forester rear strut mounts appear to include the top spring perch while the 92-94 Legacy mounts don't. So, do I need to buy 92-94 Legacy mounts and spring perches? Will Legacy spring perches work with Forester springs? Anything else I might need like a spacer? TIA.