Is there any other way to do a 5 lug swap? There is almost no hope in hell of me finding a damn XT6 up here. Does the XT have 5 lug wheels? Is there a way of bolting in legacy parts instead?

legacy parts will work in front but will not work in the rear.

 

-=Suberdave=-

http://www.suberdave.com

The lagacy front bits require just the same amount of work as xt6.

 

For the rear there is an aussie site selling adapter hubs and other parts to use legacy rear brakes on ea81/82 cars. But they are a bit pricy by my standards.

 

 

www.crossbredperformance.com

Me Too ...

Yeah, thats what I said...

Yea! ...

but Still is a Very Interestin´ Idea & Website!

Even using EJ parts in the front, unless there has been a new discovery I am unaware of, you still have to use the XT6 control arms ans possibly tie rod ends.

I've heard of reaming out the hole in the control arm larger to accept the EJ/XT6 ball joint.

 

My question, what's different about the XT6 tie rod ends than the EA82 ones?

I've heard of reaming out the hole in the control arm larger to accept the EJ/XT6 ball joint.

 

My question, what's different about the XT6 tie rod ends than the EA82 ones?

 

the tapered stud that fits into the knuckle is different. Larger IIRC. but uses the same threads as EJ cars, so no need for XT6 rod ends.

 

and yes, the only difference between EA82 control arms and XT6 ones, is the ball joint size.

 

 

the problem with the rear is the newer cars (with the exception of the 99+ legacies...which are even more complex) use mulit-link suspension, using lateral links, struts, and suspension knuckles, whereas the older cars use a simple trailing arm with a shock bolted to it. AND the EJ cars have a small drum brake inside the hub for the ebrake, making the hub and knuckle a much more complex design than the EA stuff.

 

 

 

oh yea, and 4-cyl XTs are still 4-lug.

I did a test fit of the tie rod from an ea81 non power rack, to a legacy knuckle. The tie rod tightened up perfectly, just like in an ea81 knuclke.

ea81 tierod ends are much better to use with legacy/xt6 front knuckles on ea8* cars because they are shorter and allow full adjustment of toe and steering center

btw xt6 and early legacy share the same tie rod end...31320GA190 RHS and 31320GA200 LHS and ball jount 21067GA050

 

Legacy/impreza rear discs fit perfectly on XT6 rear hubs but naturally require an adaptor plate to relocate the caliper bracket to fit the larger disc..

 

I see no reason why reaming out an ea8* lower arm to fit the legacy/xt6 ball joint is any issue, plenty of meat on the boss in the control arm, but if you want bolt up you'll need the xt6 lower arms..they also have the bigger RX tension/compression or leading rod..

 

If one purchaces crossbredperformance's adapter bosses for the rear backing plate the legacy/impreza backing plate and caliper mount is almost bolt on which means any legacy/impreza rear upgrade would also be an ea8* upgrade as well as the rear handbrake shoe setup..

 

Also Legacy or impreza knuckles in the front from any year (04 backwards if using sti parts ) means front brake upgrades all the way up to 04 sti brembos...and no adjustment to the shock absorber mount bracket required to fit legacy/impreza struts to xt6 knuckles..

 

As proved by suberdave, legacy coil-overs for late model legacies with the non impreza 5 link require minor modifications to bolt to ea82 bodies...again as long as you use the legacy/impreza front knuckles..

 

Kaz

the tapered stud that fits into the knuckle is different. Larger IIRC. but uses the same threads as EJ cars, so no need for XT6 rod ends.

 

and yes, the only difference between EA82 control arms and XT6 ones, is the ball joint size.

 

 

the problem with the rear is the newer cars (with the exception of the 99+ legacies...which are even more complex) use mulit-link suspension, using lateral links, struts, and suspension knuckles, whereas the older cars use a simple trailing arm with a shock bolted to it. AND the EJ cars have a small drum brake inside the hub for the ebrake, making the hub and knuckle a much more complex design than the EA stuff.

 

 

 

oh yea, and 4-cyl XTs are still 4-lug.

 

Thats actually not totally correct. If you compare the EA82 tie rod ends to the XT6 tie rod ends, you'll notice that even though they are shaped the same, the XT6 ends are longer, more stretched out compared to the EA82s. Its not a lot of difference but I just compared them again when I put the 5-lug into my coupe yesterday and that was the main thing I noticed.

Thats actually not totally correct. If you compare the EA82 tie rod ends to the XT6 tie rod ends, you'll notice that even though they are shaped the same, the XT6 ends are longer, more stretched out compared to the EA82s. Its not a lot of difference but I just compared them again when I put the 5-lug into my coupe yesterday and that was the main thing I noticed.

 

sorry, and thanks for the correction. I should have said that I don't know for sure. But from the legacy stuff I pulled from my EJ donor, that's what it looked like. Good to know the tie rod I bought over break will still be usable!

 

 

I think the biggest reason that reaming the ball joint hole out isn't very common, is the difficulty involved in matching the pitch of the taper. I don't know what exactly would be involved....but I do know you can't just whip out a drill bit and make the hole bigger

I think the biggest reason that reaming the ball joint hole out isn't very common, is the difficulty involved in matching the pitch of the taper. I don't know what exactly would be involved....but I do know you can't just whip out a drill bit and make the hole bigger

You just get a hand reamer, and do it by hand. The pitch of the taper doesn't matter so much, as long as there is a taper. You also want the smaller diameter of the hole to match exactly the smaller diameter from the XT6 control arm.

 

If it were me and I were doing a 5 lug on an EA82, I'd get the XT6 control arm.

 

Some one over on XT6.net just rehashed a horror story where reaming out the control arm hole weakened the control arm. Owner hit a curb, and ripped the knuckle right off.

 

Would rather not take chances, aye?

that and the stabilizer rod that goes from the control arm to the tranny mount is larger in diameter...