Baja Struts

[kamesama980]

About to start beating my head on the wall...

 

Picked up my Baja this weekend with 136k, struts are so-so. Doesn't feel like a 60's caddy yet but I can feel the truck moving around more than it ought and the not-too-old tires are wearing unevenly in ways usually attributed to weak dampers.. Fronts *may* have been replaced, rears I'd bet are original. I'd like to maintain ride height, maybe go a little stiffer on the spring (I do plan on occasionally using it to truck) and it'll almost certainly hit the autocross track a few times. On top of that, I'll admit I'm a bit of a damper snob: Gabriel's junk, Monroe's slightly better, KYB's ok but GR2/excel-G are their bottom line and that's about it for what's available. The snippits of parts compatibility I've come across usually revolves around using Baja parts to raise other Subarus. Is there anything better short of spending a few Gs for a decent coilover which may or may not last or be happy with or do I just put on "normal" replacement parts and cry quietly in the corner?

[1 Lucky Texan]

there 'may' be a way to retrofit Koni yellows inside the old KYBs. Common enough mod on Imprezas but, you might be in new territory on that Baja. (search for DIY or videos)

 

for more exotic ideas, one source for some legacy platform go-fast bits, is boxer4racing.com . I have only bought an axle back from them in the past for my WRX but, very accommodating folks. website is so-so, I emailed Mr. Teague (i think that's the name?) and got great answers.

 

I THINK I have read of some Tokico parts fitting some soobs - but I don't recall any details.

Edited March 8, 2016 by 1 Lucky Texan

[987687]

You're right, Gabriels and Monreos are garbage, however the KYB GR2 is actually a very decent strut. I have at least a dozen rallyXs and driving like a maniac on bumpy old logging roads on a set of them, and they're doing fine.

 

If you have excessive negative camber in the rear that's wearing your tires, it probably isn't the struts, it's likely the upper arm bushings. Not sure what you call them, the link between the top of the knuckle and the subframe. My outback (same rear suspension as he baja) had very worn bushings in that arm causing horrible tire wear. I junked the car instead of fixing that, along with everything else, but it's likely your problem.

[kamesama980]

I used to work in a shop that carried Monroe. Kinda felt bad for ppl when the replacement shocks were only marginally firmer than old parts with 75k miles on them. One case of an S10 with the offroad package that had Bilsteins that actually rode better with 100k on the Billies than the replacements (though the high speed valving was going).

 

My tire wear is slight feathering and cupping full-width on all 4 tires (just enough to make them HOWL). Neither the front or back feel too bad but I can tell the rears aren't damping well going over bumps while driving. I'll take a look at the bushings too next time I have the wheels off.

 

Just did a search on fitting the konis: darn that's simple! Will have to do some measurements/comparisons to see if they have something that'll work for the Baja.

[idosubaru]

Stick with Subaru if you don't find another solution. Most subarus people use KYB and love them.

 

If all 4 tires are wearing bad is it alignment or cheap or questionable tires? Alignment driven uneven tire wear is way more common than strut driven.....and that's in a terrible economy state accustomed to high mileage bouncy struts.

 

all 4 sounds uncanny unless they rotated all the tires through one bad strut and left them on the same length of time.

[Fairtax4me]

Just because GR-2s are the lowest on KYBs line-up doesn't mean they're bad parts. I've always been very satisfied with KYB Excel and GR2 struts and shocks.

 

If you want stiffer springs, King makes heavy duty standard height and lift springs for the Baja and second gen Outback. You can get them through Primitive racing.

[kamesama980]

Regarding the GR2s: Hey, that's why I ask.

 

 

Both rears are just a bit mushy.. front's aren't obviously bad but likely have 136k. Tires are middle-ground all-terrains (BFG rugged terrain) The type of wear (cupping) doesn't indicate alignment issues, moreso struts or bushings, and all-terrain tread blocks don't help. The wear isn't bad actually, juuuuust enough to howl An alignment will be in order after springs/struts.

[Fairtax4me]

What size are the tires that are on it? 

 

If all 4 are worn the same, I wouldn't suspect an alignment issue. More likely that the tires are under/over-inflated, or the tire size isn't appropriate for the wheel size. 

[kamesama980]

yep, size/inflation is another probable contributor to the wear: 235/60R16 on 16x7 at 30psi. slightly oversize plus being ATs the tread'll be broader than others of the same size with bigger blocks so they make more noise when they do wear.

 

As the tires belly out a little all around I assume the door-jamb inflation pressure is a compromise: biased for comfort in a relatively stiffly sprung vehicle and a bare minimum to prevent damage with the OE tires.