Just got a set of stock swaybars from my co-workers 2004 STI. Will they fit on my 2002 WRX? The link below was a little confusing so, sorry if i'm posting a dumb question. Thanks anyways

 

No, the rear will not work as far as I know. They attach to the endlinks differently (actually use different endlinks due to different arms), so I don't think they are interchangeable. Front should fit, but IIRC, it is the same as what you have.

 

+1 fronts will work, rears will not

 

Thats what I thought after doing a bit of research. Crappy....thanks anyways for your help!

 

I heard that the rears can still be mounted with the end links bolted to the inside of the sway bar, reducing its efectiveness. Is that true? Also would it be detrimantal to the handling of the vehicle if the front sway bar was swapped for the STi's and the rear left stock.

 

IIRC, 02-07 RSB are interchangeable (except STI)
fronts on all years should all be interchangeable (except RS's)

in conclusion:

all 02-07 (RS/WRX) RSB will fit
all 02-07 (WRX/STI) FSB will fit

please tell me im wrong if i am

 

also from what i recall, the difference is indeed the mounting of endlinks and their position in regards to the outside or inside of bar. ive never seen this done in person, nor do i know of its effectiveness with it mounted on the inside

 

The STI has different lateral links that have the attachment on the top and use the same endlink as the front. Unless you get those lateral links too, you cannot use a STI bar on a non-STI car. You MIGHT be able to do it with a custom (adjustable) endlink, but then you are working with something that is not a factory suspension geometry.

That is correct, a WRX front bar will not fit a GC/GF without the WRX crossmember.

 

The rear bar will work. You have to be creative with how the links are connected. I had a conversation about this with Turn in Concepts and Kartboy. As long as there is no binding or twisting of the links or bar, you should be good.

 

I don't think it is that simple. I know this because I had the dealer up in Ukiah work on my car and the idiot mechanic attached my swaybar upside down to the endlinks and I could immediately tell that it was wrong while driving. Sure it still worked, but it didn't provide the same weight transfer due to being incorrectly positioned. The resistance of the bar has to be in the right direction.

I agree though, that if you put together the right endlink setup to attach and keep the bar in the right position, it should work.

 

It doesn't matter if the endlinks are on the inside or outside of the bar. You might need to swap your rear links left and right and put the WRX endlink on the other side, and as long as the link doesnt touch the axle you'll be alright.

 

It DOES matter. Only goes one way. If the STI bar doesn't somehow attach to the inside or the outside but in this same orientation, it won't work. This is mine with a Whiteline WRX bar and endlinks. Swapping them left to right makes no difference because the endlinks are identical.



My previous setup. These may work with the STI bar, the Perrin spherical ones, because they allow for a lot more misalignment.


All other models attach at the bottom like this. The STI does not. The geometry of the suspension looks similar, so it may work with the stock endlinks, but the STI bar is also bent differently than the WRX bar.

Stock STI

 

I think its best to leave the stock WRX rear bar in place. What if I just swapped the fronts for the STi's. You guys think its worth it?

 

I never said it was simple, just that you have to be CREATIVE with the links to get it to work. Both TIC and Kartboy said as long as there is no binding or twisting it will work as intended.
I think the OP should just mock up the rear bar just to take a look as to where it ends up. It would take all of 10 min. Then you would get an idea of how much a p.i.t.a. it would be to set up.

 

If I am not mistaken, it is the exact same bar you already have.

*edit - confirmed all USDM WRX and STI 02-07 are 20MM front. Only the sedan and the wagon are different in width due to the wider track on the sedans.