Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

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tomato_88
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Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

Has anyone else noticed that it is hard to find replacement struts? At first I could not find any, but then I noticed some prospects if I search using the 2003 model year. Just a couple of years ago I ordered KYB replacement struts for all four corners without issue! Hmmm.
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Guacamole
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by Guacamole »

What makes it even worse is that the suspension is different between the 03 & the 04-06. I see rockauto has quite a large list of struts for the 03 NA, but then has a bare bones list for the 04, and only rear struts for the 05s & 06s. My local NAPA doesn't even have the Baja model in its database. 'Tis the trouble with older rare cars.
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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

From what I understand (from lots of reading a couple of years ago) the struts from all years of Baja (03-06) are the same. The difference is in the spring setup. I am banking on that at this point. I am about to pull the trigger on struts that are listed for the 03 Baja only. (I have a 2006)
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Guacamole
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by Guacamole »

03 struts & springs are different, 04-06 share the same parts though. They'll fit but you'll lose about an inch of ride height on your 06.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3481&p=19854#p19854
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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

I have considered going with the Koni struts that will retrofit using the OEM strut housing. Requires a little fabrication, but may be a good long term solution. If I recall the Kono's have a lifetime warranty.

Koni 8610 1447- Front
Koni 8010 1053- Rear

http://www.koni-na.com/en-US/NorthAmeri ... nce/Sport/

These are listed as being for the 05-09 Legacy, may work?

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Guacamole
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by Guacamole »

Just from comparing how the Baja & Legacy struts look...
04-06 Baja: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru__/STR ... AE44A.html
06 Legacy: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2006_ ... AG00A.html
06 OB: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2006_ ... AG04A.html
... if the link you gave is a picture of the 2610 1447 strut, the KONI part is definitely shorter than the Baja OEM front strut. I'm not 100% certain these will fit since they're for the next-generation Legacy model.

Anarchy did the suspension on his 03 2 years ago (I should've linked all this in my first post, sorry)
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3175&p=17789&hilit=koni#p17899
His suspension looks like it's still at about the 03 height though.

Starr did his with KYB struts & Baja springs 2 months ago.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2520&p=19952#p19952

Reverend also just did his though with OEM struts & 1in spacers, maybe shoot him a reply/PM for more info?
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3596&p=20167#p20167

EDIT: I was just browsing the other OB model struts & they all look extremely similar... the only visible difference is the placement of the flange to secure the brake line hose.
Last edited by Guacamole on Mon Feb 12, 2018 11:53 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

Guacamole wrote:Just from comparing how the Baja & Legacy struts look...
04-06 Baja: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru__/STR ... AE44A.html
06 Legacy: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2006_ ... AG00A.html
06 OB: https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2006_ ... AG04A.html
... if the link you gave is a picture of the 2610 1447 strut, the KONI part is definitely shorter than the Baja OEM front strut. I'm not 100% certain these will fit since they're for the next-generation Legacy model.

Anarchy did the suspension on his 03 2 years ago (I should've linked all this in my first post, sorry)
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3175&p=17789&hilit=koni#p17899
His suspension looks like it's still at about the 03 height though.

Starr did his with KYB struts & Baja springs 2 months ago.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2520&p=19952#p19952

Reverend also just did his though with OEM struts & 1in spacers, maybe shoot him a reply/PM for more info?
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3596&p=20167#p20167
Thanks for all the links. I will do some reading before bed tonight.

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BajaTim
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by BajaTim »

I ordered KYBs (listed under 2003 Outback search) from Carid.com - part # was same for 2005 Baja which is what I have (don’t think they had part# for Baja but another site had same KYB # for both).

I went with 2003 OE Outback springs as I wanted to lower my Baja by 1”.


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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

I pulled the trigger and purchased struts for all four corners and new top hats too. KYB stock replacements. Same as I had on my 2003. I don't daily drive it, but don't want to deal with too much NVH from a stiff setup like coil-overs. I feel like I got a good deal, just over $400.00 after tax and shipping at Shocks.com.

Any suggestion on other items I may want to replace while I am working on the suspension?

I will check the ball joints, swaybar bushings, endlinks...
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kamesama980
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by kamesama980 »

tomato_88 wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 12:07 am I pulled the trigger and purchased struts for all four corners and new top hats too. KYB stock replacements. Same as I had on my 2003. I don't daily drive it, but don't want to deal with too much NVH from a stiff setup like coil-overs. I feel like I got a good deal, just over $400.00 after tax and shipping at Shocks.com.

Any suggestion on other items I may want to replace while I am working on the suspension?

I will check the ball joints, swaybar bushings, endlinks...
replace the mounts and bumpstops along with the struts.

also check the brakes, wheel bearings, CV boots...
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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

kamesama980 wrote:
tomato_88 wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 12:07 am I pulled the trigger and purchased struts for all four corners and new top hats too. KYB stock replacements. Same as I had on my 2003. I don't daily drive it, but don't want to deal with too much NVH from a stiff setup like coil-overs. I feel like I got a good deal, just over $400.00 after tax and shipping at Shocks.com.

Any suggestion on other items I may want to replace while I am working on the suspension?

I will check the ball joints, swaybar bushings, endlinks...
replace the mounts and bumpstops along with the struts.

also check the brakes, wheel bearings, CV boots...
Thanks!

I ordered mounts at the same time I ordered struts. Makes sense to change them since they have to come out anyways.

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tomato_88
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Re: Baja Suspension- Hard to find?

Post by tomato_88 »

I purchased four new KYB struts and top hats. They shipped quickly and arrived in good shape. Needless to say it made a huge difference to replace the (probably) original struts with 200k miles on them. Night and day difference!
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