BSF18 and BSF20 compatibility

[Legacy777]

Has anyone used a BSF20 front swaybar in place of the BSF18?

The BSF18 is going to be special order. I can get the BSF20 as it's in stock.

The BSF18 is listed for:
89-9/92 BC,BF RS turbo
10/92-6/94 BC,BF RS turbo

The BSF20 is listed for:
2/94-9/00 GC,GF WRX STi turbo

The main difference on paper is that the BSF20 is 22mm and the BSF18 is 20mm.

Here are pics of the BSF18X I believe
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... aybar1.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... aybar2.jpg

I've asked the vendor to look at these pics as well and compare them to the BSF20 they have in stock. I'll report back when I have more info.

[Legacy777]

I didn't really like the vendor's response regarding the differences in the bar. All he said was:

"The ones for the turbo are just straight across. I am not sure what that bend in the bar lets it clear."

I'm going to email whiteline and see if they can tell me why the bend is there, or any other info.

Does anyone actually have a BSF18 bar on their car?

[THAWA]

The bend is there to conform to the shape of the crossmember. Turbo crossmembers have a dip where the uppipe goes so it can't bend upwards there. If you compare your stock bar with a turbo bar you will see the difference. This is why you need a turbo bar when you swap crossmembers. The NA bar rubs on the crossmember. You can get away with driving like that, but the noise it makes is attrocious.

[Legacy777]

How come the newer turbo bars don't have a bend in them? The US wrx subframe is/should be the same/similar at that point.

I'm comparing turbo bars to turbo bars. The BSF20 was used on the overseas wrx's.

[THAWA]

It's all in the crossmember. If it doesn't have a bend on both sides it's made for a newer style crossmember. The newer style crossmembers are made to clear both the single turbo subarus and the twin turbo subarus. The twin turbo subarus have uppipes on both sides of the cross member and so have dips in both sides of the crossmember which the swaybar must confrom around.

I believe what happened was after the BD/BG was made subaru decided to make only one crossmember for the newer style Turbo subarus. This would mean the BD/BG/BE/BH/GD/GG/SG. AFAIK, the BL/BP use a different control arm and so the crossmember changed yet again.

[Legacy777]

Thanks Hardy.

I'm a very visual person, so I gotta see a pic of it on the car....

I did get a reply back from whiteline:

"Hi Josh,

Thank you for your email.
Your inquiry has turned out to have uncovered that BSF18 is very similar to BSF20. The only difference is that BSF18 has a bump, where the BSF20 is straight between the chassis bushes.

Now, since your car is a turbo model, you should not need this bump, and should be able to use BSF20 sway bar."

[THAWA]

http://www.freebmw.net/yamarocket630/se ... P_0678.JPG

That's the difference between I believe a first gen NA crossmember(bottom), and a second gen Turbo crossmember(top). Just picture a first gen turbo crossmember as the bottom one with the uppipe area on the right side only.

Actually, here's a pic of the first gen turbo crossmember:
http://www.actrslc.com/conversion/conve ... ngdone.jpg

See the uppipe area in only one side?

[Legacy777]

In that first pic, do they have the crossmembers flipped? Specifically, are they showing the front of the newer crossmember, and the rear of the n/a crossmember? I don't see mount points for the A-arms on the newer crossmember. But they are there for the older one.

With how the bar is mounted on the newer crossmember, a straight across bar will definitely work. I just need to look at the front side of the older turbo crossmember.

I've got a pic here, but it's not that great. I'll look today
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_4673.JPG

[THAWA]

The crossmembers are set the same way. The combonation of the uppipe dips, swaybar, and angle of the pics blocks out the control arm mount points.

[Legacy777]

Got pics from Steve (ultrasonic), and looked at my turbo crossmember closer.

The BSF20 should work fine.

pics:
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... sf18-1.jpg
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... sf18-2.jpg

I don't really see any reason for the bump.

I looked my n/a, the only reason for the bumps is to clear the exhaust....

[THAWA]

I don't think the bumps are there for the exhaust. I think they're there because there is space for them to be there. There is more than enough space between the crossmember and the exhaust such that the swaybar is not anywhere close to it

[Legacy777]

I'll have to look more closely, but that's the only reason I could see that there be any bumps there for the n/a bar.

[napphappy]

more perhaps useless info:
I am using a 1st gen turbo x-member and an 05 sti front sway bar. works fine. only problem was the mounts. I had to use the metal clips from a BC-BF.

[Legacy777]

I picked up the BSF20 from Teague's Auto. I believe he's got some more in stock. Not sure how many. Total cost including shipping was $152.51

I don't see why any WRX front sway bar wouldn't work as well.

[rightandtight]

Let us know how that fits. I'm having the same problem finding a front bar in stock.

[Legacy777]

Pics of the BSF20

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_4853.JPG
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_4854.JPG
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_4855.JPG

[THAWA]

I think you're right about the exhaust thing for the NA bars.

[Subtle]

The rear whiteline for my turbo wgn,included links ,bushings and is
adjustable from 20 to 22 to 24.

It increased the turn in noticably, so the 20
front bar etc.was installed.

Handling went back to modest understear,which and although I've read
nothing about seems the ideal set up for carrying two whitewater canoes
on the roof during reasonably aggressive driving.(they stay on at 100
MPH)

More bar is v. good and I hope to have the car ready for some track
time for the Spring when I can dial out the understeer.

Subtle(normally aspirated engines suck)