Strut Options

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by Darren

Hiya Nate, I have been in contact with Bilstein (I use them for motorsport) and also my contact in Japan neither can find any reference to a unit made for the Alcyone.
Where did you get this info or can you get part numbers?
Maybe it's from another JDM model that just happens to fit?

Cheers
Darren

Nothing was confirmed, but IIRC they were "pulled" years ago like so many other "aftermarket" parts that were available in Japan that never even had a chance to hit the western world.

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by dbarnblatt

I have found this site, Bilstein-Japan distributor?

http://www.ennepetal.co.jp/index.html

Here is a direct link to the page listing the struts for the SVX (the first listing):

http://www.ennepetal.co.jp/01ss/poli...per/page1.html

Here is a blogger installing them.

http://blogsvx.exblog.jp/968078

And a nice shot of them:

Seeing that "blog" was really cool. Nice find!

[Darren]

That will be priceless info, I can now tell them they DO make them for the JDM market.
The guy I speak to said they keep all tooling so if there was a demand they would always do a batch run.

I have also found out Nipparts in Japan make an OEM unit for both front and rear.

[injuhneer]

Update III:

SVX92 is putting together a care package for me including front and rear struts with mounts (top hats).

With these I can verify the cartridge style embedded in the OEM package strut as well as dimensions for the new cartridges.

More to come.

-Mike O

[Stevebsy]

I am picking up a set of oem 05 STI struts w/ oem springs, which according to smc can be made to fit with minimal modification.

I know he had coilovers and not oem, but I got them cheap enough to make it a worthwhile experiment.

Will post the results soon...

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by Stevebsy

I am picking up a set of oem 05 STI struts w/ oem springs, which according to smc can be made to fit with minimal modification.

I know he had coilovers and not oem, but I got them cheap enough to make it a worthwhile experiment.

Will post the results soon...

Just want to make sure that unless you figure out a solution, you will lose the front sway bar attachment points. One solution is to move the attachment point to the control arm, by welding on a bracket to the arm, however due to the geometry, the swaybar action will be reduced.

Also I think that OEM ones might not sit at the right height, and not have the right amount of damping for the weight of the car. Coilovers are adjustable in height and either firmer damping or adjustable, so they will work regardless of the stock setup, once modified to fit. However, I too think it is a worthwhile experiment and will look forward to the results.

[Stevebsy]

I don't it expect it to work 100% immediately, but I can get a set of GC for the STI OEM struts and make it work that way if need be.

Regardless they will be better than my 20 year old struts

I can mill, weld, or otherwise fabricate a bracket for the sway bar, I'm not so worried about that part.

I think this can be made into the most affordable solution, as STi stuff is everywhere, new and used.

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Just want to make sure that unless you figure out a solution, you will lose the front sway bar attachment points. One solution is to move the attachment point to the control arm, by welding on a bracket to the arm, however due to the geometry, the swaybar action will be reduced.

Also I think that OEM ones might not sit at the right height, and not have the right amount of damping for the weight of the car. Coilovers are adjustable in height and either firmer damping or adjustable, so they will work regardless of the stock setup, once modified to fit. However, I too think it is a worthwhile experiment and will look forward to the results.

[injuhneer]

Originally Posted by Stevebsy

I don't it expect it to work 100% immediately, but I can get a set of GC for the STI OEM struts and make it work that way if need be.

Regardless they will be better than my 20 year old struts

I can mill, weld, or otherwise fabricate a bracket for the sway bar, I'm not so worried about that part.

I think this can be made into the most affordable solution, as STi stuff is everywhere, new and used.

A definite improvement. I thought about this too but after looking at the OEM struts the modification to accept a replacement cartridge looks easier.

-Mike O

[Stevebsy]

I picked up the struts over the weekend. Next week is vacation and I'll be doing the work on this project.

[jetboy]

Long live DIY.

How about the Aragosta coilover set? Has anyone ever tried it? Let's say price wasn't really an issue.

Is this a SVX specific set or a generic one that needs additional fabrication?

[injuhneer]

The used struts have arrived. At first glance this looks like it will be much easier than first suspected.

-Mike O

[theflystyle]

Originally Posted by injuhneer

The used struts have arrived. At first glance this looks like it will be much easier than first suspected.

-Mike O

Just found this thread and I am interested in hearing what happens..

That Japanese blog looks interesting and I will have to take a look when at home.

[EdWindows]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Just want to make sure that unless you figure out a solution, you will lose the front sway bar attachment points. One solution is to move the attachment point to the control arm, by welding on a bracket to the arm, however due to the geometry, the swaybar action will be reduced.

What about the endlink mounts that 92 SVX has in this thread?
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...=58974&page=13

It seems like a very neat and simple solution to mount the front swaybar onto coilovers. You would just have to make sure that the thread pitch and diameter is correct for whichever coilovers you use.

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by EdWindows

What about the endlink mounts that 92 SVX has in this thread?
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...=58974&page=13

It seems like a very neat and simple solution to mount the front swaybar onto coilovers. You would just have to make sure that the thread pitch and diameter is correct for whichever coilovers you use.

That is an excellent idea. I'm jealous that I didn't think of that. :P If someone could fab a batch that work with an existing set (or several sets would be even better) of aftermarket STi coilovers, then that could certainly solve that problem.

[EdWindows]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

That is an excellent idea. I'm jealous that I didn't think of that. :P If someone could fab a batch that work with an existing set (or several sets would be even better) of aftermarket STi coilovers, then that could certainly solve that problem.

While searching around earlier today I found that D2 uses the same thing for their Tiburon coilovers, and they also make STI coilovers. If Tiburon end link mounts are the same diamater and thread pitch as the STI coilover shafts, you could simply order just the end mounts from them for all 4 coils.



EDIT:
Did some more Google searches, and found that there are also end link mounts on Honda Fit coilovers as well. This increases my suspicion that (almost) all of D2 coilover shafts are generally the same diameter.