Legacy 3.0R SpecB - help please

[Orangecurry]

Hi.

I've finally found a manual estate SpecB. But they are so rare I've gone for one that needs some work.

1) front suspension bushes need replacing. Standard or something else?
2) it'll need new pads and possibly discs - what works best on the 3.0R?
3) tyres too the specified size is 215/45/18 - any recommendations in that size or other sizes that work well?

Step 2
4) any worthwhile engine upgrades?
5) exhaust? I know H&S do a system?

Thanks!

[Ved]

Orangecurry said:

Hi.

I've finally found a manual estate SpecB. But they are so rare I've gone for one that needs some work.

1) front suspension bushes need replacing. Standard or something else?
2) it'll need new pads and possibly discs - what works best on the 3.0R?
3) tyres too the specified size is 215/45/18 - any recommendations in that size or other sizes that work well?

Step 2
4) any worthwhile engine upgrades?
5) exhaust? I know H&S do a system?

Thanks!

Standard is best
Pagid or brembos
No idea, sorry
Good fuel and a filter
H&S, yes.

[Orangecurry]

Thanks Ved - air filter do you mean?

[RB Will]

Had a Cosworth panel filter in mine. It had the Prodrive back boxes which gave it a nice but non intrusive burble.
Not really much you can do to improve performance. Think there are a couple of slightly iffy supercharger kits available but they will cost more than the car itself. I have only heard of 1 guy doing re maps on them too and I don't think the results are worth the money on this model.
Be wary with the bushes on the front. Unless you can see that they are worn out. If you can hear a knocking then it may well be one or both of the shocks. Had this on mine. Took a while to diagnose the problem as until they really fall apart the shocks show no signs of being broken but we ruled out all the bushes, links etc and the forums mentioned the Bilteins as a relatively common fault which are a bloody expensive Subaru only part (unless you are lucky and can get a set off ebay). Be sure to check all the bushes first or you could spend a few hundred £ on bushes etc only to find you need to spend another £400-800 on shocks.

Just to add regarding tyres if you are on a budget. I cant remember which way it goes but it is on the UK Legacy forums. The standard tyres are an awkward size if you adjust one of the measurements one way or another it suddenly makes the tyres about £30 a tyre cheaper! Example using the Hancooks I put on mine 225/40 (£131 per tyre)instead of 215/45 (£105 per tyre). Keep the 18inch diameter though.

I did not have to replace discs while I had mine but for brake pads I just got them from local Subaru dealer. They offered me the non genuine pads as they were a lot cheaper and turned out to be Ferrodos which have been great. Think they were only about £40.

Edited by RB Will on Monday 15th October 14:00

[Orangecurry]

Thanks Will.

No knocking, just an advisory from the recent MOT, and the front tyres are wearing much more on the edges than the centre.

Tyres are never about price for me - but in 225/40 there is a huge choice over 215/45, so if changing the rolling radius very slightly has no ill effects, I'll be fitting 225/40s.

[Ved]

Orangecurry said:

Thanks Ved - air filter do you mean?

Yes a good panel filter. You won't get any extra performance but its always to sort the breathing out at both ends. Great cars and I'll have one as soon as the GTI is sold.

[Watchman]

Orangecurry said:

Hi.

I've finally found a manual estate SpecB. But they are so rare I've gone for one that needs some work.

1) front suspension bushes need replacing. Standard or something else?

Powerflex does a full set for the Leggy but beware of their caster-adjust ones for the front wishbone (rear mounting). They look fabulous but both of my inner sleeves have disconnected from the moulded ball. This means that I can no longer adjust them (although they're bang-on still from the original installation).

I have been offered replacements for free but the re-installation and set-up costs would see me out of pockeet by about £200 so I've left them in.

Whiteline does something similar which the guys on the UKLegacy forum seem to like.

Orangecurry said:

2) it'll need new pads and possibly discs - what works best on the 3.0R?

Again, beware of anything other than standard. I fell for trying the EBC red pads on their Ultimax discs and I need to get the discs lathed to stop the judder after only 6 months.

I did get that on the original discs but only after 18 months or so. I'm not sure why this happens so readily - perhaps they are under-spec'd for the weight/speed of the car.

Orangecurry said:

3) tyres too the specified size is 215/45/18 - any recommendations in that size or other sizes that work well?

Depends what you want to achieve. I softened mine so bought 50 profile tyres. Rides better now.

Orangecurry said:

Step 2
4) any worthwhile engine upgrades?

Remap might release a little but it won't be significant.

I'm waiting to see someone try supercharging an H6.

Ooh, check our JGM's H6 twin turbo Impreza on this forum. It's from an SVX though, rather than a Leggy.

Orangecurry said:

5) exhaust? I know H&S do a system?

I have their centre "Y" piece and a a pair of Prodrive back boxes. It's too loud to commute in, quite honestly, and drones on and on in the car. The H&S centre could probably do with a bigger silencer. The one they fitted looks like a cherry bomb - and seems to act like one.

Beautifully made though.

[Orangecurry]

Thanks Watchman....great info.

I've tried various EBC pads in the past and didn't get on with them. A friend tried some Redstuff on a Volvo 850R estate (similar weight etc) and they were awful in normal road use.

I've already sourced some new 225/40 tyres.

Exhaust info is brilliant - thanks. Prodrive don't seem to do parts anymore, so I'll have to watch the 2nd-hand market.

[RB Will]

A new y pipe piece might be a good idea at some point as I don't know if it was a common thing but mine got a hole right in the crevice of the y pipe. Did have 135,000 miles on it though.
As for EBC I would stay clear. Never known anybody to have good experience with them, the only benefit being they are dirt cheap.
As Watchman said Whiteline do some good parts for Subarus. I had a set or ARBs and bushes on my Impreza and was very pleased with the effect and quality.

[Watchman]

RB Will said:

A new y pipe piece might be a good idea at some point as I don't know if it was a common thing but mine got a hole right in the crevice of the y pipe.

TADTS

They all do that sir..!!

Mine went at about 60K miles. Welded and rewelded but eventually there was nothing to weld and he made up the metal with weld.

[Watchman]

Orangecurry said:

Thanks Watchman....great info.

I've tried various EBC pads in the past and didn't get on with them. A friend tried some Redstuff on a Volvo 850R estate (similar weight etc) and they were awful in normal road use.

The pads are actually OK, and suit the car well but the discs have "warped" (friction hotspots) already. Not pleased with them.

[Orangecurry]

Watchman said:

he pads are actually OK, and suit the car well but the discs have "warped" (friction hotspots) already. Not pleased with them.

Not necessarily the fault of the discs - if the pads put deposits down too readily I'd be more inclined to blame the pad material/compound.

[Watchman]

True enough. There is a layer of "bedding in" material when the pads are new but something didn't work and they're horrible now. I've got 2K miles to the next service - I'll get them lathed although they will probably go bad again quickly now I'm past the initial bedding in layer.