Tools needed
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14mm open wrench and socket
12mm socket
ramps (optional)

Part numbers
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20451FE000 20mm WRX Sedan Rear Bar
20464AE050 STi Rear Sway Bar Bushings 20mm (qty 2 needed)

I got my rear sway bar for cheap off another i-clubber. It came with stock bushings and mounts, but since it's from an 02, the mounts and bushings are different. I purchased the sway bushings from subaruparts.com with shipping for about 15 bucks. Total cost of this upgrade was about $45.

It was a REALLY easy upgrade... the only thing I've done myself before is changing the oil. It took about an hour, but this was with a bunch of breaks and snapping pics.

Here's some pics of the stock 17mm sway (bottom) and the new 20mm one (top). Also the 02/03 sway bushings (left) and the new 04 bushing style.

 

I read that you can do this without putting the car up, but I have some rhino ramps and lifted up the rear. I also read that it is easier to do this with the suspension loaded... in other words have the car's weight on the wheels. Just jacking up the rear of the car instead of driving it up ramps will make it difficult to remove the bar.

Be sure to put wheel chocks on the front wheels and pull up the parking brake.

 

use the 14mm socket to loosen the bar from the endlink while using the open 14mm wrench to hold the opposite end of the bold in place.

I didn't upgrade the endlinks, but I guess you would unbolt the other end of the endlink at this point if you were doing so.

 

use the 12mm sockets to remove remove the brackets that hold the bar to the swaybar mount. The one on the driver's side is easy. The one on the passenger side is a pain to get to... I had to unbolt the emissions box to get to it (see step 4)

 

This is an emissions device... something about gasoline fumes.

This really should have been step 3 -- sorry about that. There's 2 bolts near the bumper and one near the sway bar mount to remove using a 12mm socket wrench. I left the box hanging by the 3 tubes while removing the old sway and installing the new one.

 

once all the bolts are removed, just take out the old swaybar. Put in the new one and reverse the steps above.

Sorry no pics here... but it's straightforward.

 

make sure everything is nice and tight... and go for a spin. I didn't drive hard for the first day just in case something would come loose. I inspected the bar to make sure everything was still tight.

My initial impressions... going from 17mm to 20mm is a pretty big difference. The car is flatter now and much more responsive. I haven't driven hard yet, but I can already feel the difference just on freeway on-ramps.

 

Nice pics, and bump for clear instructions. hope you are enjoying the RSB!
-Jon

 

that charcoal box doesn't NEED to be removed. I did two sways without removing it, then on my third sway, my hand slipped and cut my finger leaving a scar now haha.



Nice write up! maybe you can contribute it to scoobymods too!

 

doodoobrown, check your pm's please!