My rear suspension has gotten so soft, I get tire rub accelerating out of corners if I have any extra weight in the car. A friend has the OEM struts from his '03 WRX wagon and offered to let me install those. Does anyone think this might work?

you can post this under the New Generation forum, it will probably get more input. a search should provide some useful information. i ended up wanting the same thing for my 97 OBS as well and found some useful information on here. try using the search function. Zapar has a recent thread about "sagging a$$ end" or something like that in his impreza, some excellent info on that thread, try to find it. from what i remember you want WRX rear springs, but impreza 93-01 struts. but, i do also recall that there are two styles of WRX rear struts, some are tapered and some are not. i do not know exactly what that means, just regurgitating what someone told me.

 

i'm picking up a set of 04 WRX rear struts tomorrow for mine, so i'll know soon what will and won't work. if the entire struts don't swap i'll use the WRX springs with new impreza struts.

Same prob with my 98 OBS, but I think its just 4 blown shocks. Have the new shocks/struts sitting in the garage, just waiting for the time. If there's cheap spring upgrade though I may wait and try to get the springs.

 

Anyone know what bushings/bearings should be replaced when replacing struts?

i wouldn't replace any bushings or bearing if replacing struts/springs on an average late 90's subaru. find that thread i mentioned for upgrade info. the rear suspension of the OBS is not up to snuff, they typically sag. i'm not a suspension expert so i'm not sure of the cause, but i'm interested in an upgrade to avoid it in the future. either the struts or springs are weak in the OBS.

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll check the strut tops for compatibility and give it a shot. More to follow.

I believe it to be due to weak springs. Thats why the wrx springs are a good upgrade.

if the WRX springs are tapered i'm pretty sure they won't work. there are two varieties, though i'm not well versed on what the differences are or what models/years they were on, except to say i've been told not to use the tapered variety. picked mine up this weekend from a board member, be a week or two before i get them in.

Spring transplant from '03 wrx to '97 obs worked. Front struts went in with no modification. Rear springs were swapped onto old struts because '03 tophats are different. No more saggy back end. Thanks for all the input.