PeterD Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 ok i found a set of GR2 struts on a legacy in the pull-a-part today. i just yanked the springs and all so i could just mount them right up. i have the rears all together and then took a nice drive. they are so stiff.. i was really liking the soft ride of the stock struts. how stiff are these struts suposed to be:confused: you know the shocks that were on the car could have been toast... as its feels like my parents outback.. wich dosn't have a very soft ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 They are much stiffer than stock. I put new KYB all the way around and its not the same Outback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 GR2's were installed on my '91 Legacy wagon at 73K miles by the previous owner. I bought it at 95K and have always liked the ride. Now at 182K the car is still extremely stable. I think much of that is due to the GR2's. Did you pull them off the white '93 at Lynnwood PAP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 GR2's were installed on my '91 Legacy wagon at 73K miles by the previous owner. I bought it at 95K and have always liked the ride. Now at 182K the car is still extremely stable. I think much of that is due to the GR2's. Did you pull them off the white '93 at Lynnwood PAP? nope it was a white 91 wagon in Spokane. it dosn't seem like we have many options for struts. i installed a set of Monroes on my friends 94 legacy and it didn;t ride nearly as stiff. the struts that were on the care were comfortable but im not sure if they were blown or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 They are much stiffer than stock. I put new KYB all the way around and its not the same Outback. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Is that a good thing or a bad thing? nipper my whole deal is now the car isn't very comfortable:-\, it rides just as stiff as my VW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petersubaru Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 unfortunately many aftermarket parts are not produced the same as the original manuf...that is one way the car manuf. keep you coming back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MountainBiker Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 GR2s have some damping, the stockers don't! If you want near stock bouncing action (and plush, I'll agree), then try Monroe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDW25gt Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 ok i found a set of GR2 struts on a legacy in the pull-a-part today. i just yanked the springs and all so i could just mount them right up. i have the rears all together and then took a nice drive. they are so stiff.. i was really liking the soft ride of the stock struts. how stiff are these struts suposed to be:confused: you know the shocks that were on the car could have been toast... as its feels like my parents outback.. wich dosn't have a very soft ride. You changed two things if I understand correctly. Struts and springs. Yes?? No?? You could be feeling difference due to springs?? I have put KYBGR2s on 2 cars. I would not call the ride stuffer in either case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 You changed two things if I understand correctly. Struts and springs. Yes?? No?? You could be feeling difference due to springs?? I have put KYBGR2s on 2 cars. I would not call the ride stuffer in either case. well as far as i have read there is no option for springs on the early legacys... with the tapered springs in the rear except for whiteline but these are not lowering springs, just black coils. i would take them off and use my springs but the front strut bearing nut is all Fked up, i cant get the strut mount off because the spot were you put the allen wrech is all rounded out. unless I had air tools it would be very hard to remove. then i would also have a tough time puting the nut back on and getting it tight enough. maybe i should install the fronts and then drive it around a while.. could possibly need some miles put on them as they were on a car that was on stands with the struts fully extended. :-\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 well all the KYB struts are mounted on the car.. its not too stiff, althought it would be nice to have it just a hair softer. i'll just lookinto OEM struts in the future. the current struts were relplaced about 100k miles ago acording to my records of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 11, 2007 Author Share Posted January 11, 2007 no i change my mind. its too freakin stiff for me. this was ment to be my daily driver cushy/comfortable riding car. now its as stiff as my sporty vw. I will be removing the GR2s... keep an eye out in the classifieds. i'll possibly look into finding a rear swaybar that will help counter some of the body roll in the rear. To each his own I guess, I;ll deal with the boat like ride till i can get some OEM struts. But im not after a car for track days or AutoX. sorry the GR2s are stiff as hell and there not comfortable.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixon Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 It feels stiff 'cos your old struts were knackered. Struts start to lose it after 40,000 miles. (koni recommend 20,000 miles). You want plush and floaty? Great, until you float into the ditch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Just for your information, the OEM stock struts are made by KYB; maybe not to the same specs as the GR2's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 It feels stiff 'cos your old struts were knackered. Struts start to lose it after 40,000 miles. (koni recommend 20,000 miles). You want plush and floaty? Great, until you float into the ditch! The car is well behaved, my records show the struts were replaced at least once since the car was new ( owner stated some of the records were missing ) . It dosn't float around and bob up and down like it has blown struts. It dosn't feel dangerous, at all. I also know KYB makes the factory strits. Most people seem to act as if subaru didn't get it right from the factory. ive ridden in plenty of cars with blown struts.. the ones on the car have a bit more life left to give, and when there time comes and finances are good i'll get OEM KYB struts all around. :cool: its not a race car, it dosn't need stiff struts when its used as a daily driver. ok i'll quit my blabbing...to each his own i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86ruguy Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 what year legacy and how much for the KYB's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron917 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I have to agree that the GR2s are too stiff. I put them on my '99 Outback, and find them barely tolerable. My 17 year old son loves them, however - guess I'm getting old. I REALLY wish Bilstein made struts for my car - I've had Bilstein HDs on VWs and Volvos, they are excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterD Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share Posted January 14, 2007 I have to agree that the GR2s are too stiff. I put them on my '99 Outback, and find them barely tolerable. My 17 year old son loves them, however - guess I'm getting old. I REALLY wish Bilstein made struts for my car - I've had Bilstein HDs on VWs and Volvos, they are excellent. Yes. Bilstein HDs on my VW were amaizing. i loved them... too bad i sold them and put stock shocks back on.. strapted for cash last year:-\ Bilstein makes IMO the best shocks you can get:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moodybluesr Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 My '97 OBS has GR2's now, and they are definately stiffer than stock. I find them tolerable, but my previous daily driver was a Honda Accord lowered with H&R sports and Koni specials, so I was used to STIFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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