EXACTLY what suspension parts are different 98-01 and 02+?

[dunhamjr]

I have been hearing rumors of differences in the hubs, knuckles, sway bar mounting at the strut.
I haven't heard anyone actually spelling out that they KNOW 100% which parts are different though.

Sounds like all the physical mounting type of differences are in the front suspension, and that the rear suspension mount exactly the same physically.
If this is the case, maybe backdating some parts would open up some better suspension tuning options... aka HR coilovers , while also making some of the parts cheaper to offset some of the backdating costs...

for example, bilstein hd's for the 98-01 are $599, for the 02+ they are $737... $140 bucks can do some damage to a parts list off craigslist, parting out ads or junk yard pulls.


Interchangeable Parts:
Rear shock/strut -- some/most vendors are listing the same rear part numbers for 98-01 and 02+
Basically the whole rear suspension is interchangeable on a physical mounting perspective from what I can find.

Front and Rear Springs -- some/most vendors are listing the same front and rear part numbers for 98-01 and 02+
Front Subframe - charles.waite, ivan and norm95 say its the same.


Confirmed, Different Parts:
Front Hubs are not interchangeable between 01 and 02+
Front Struts/Front Shocks are not interchangeable between 01 and 02+, these have different part numbers from all vendors searched.
Ball Joints are not interchangeable between 01 and 02+


In contention, still need 100% confirmation on same or different:
Strut mount- different p/n
Spring Support- charles.waite says p/n is the same
Control Arm- same p/n.... one guy says different, another says the same.
Steering Knuckle - different p/n

[charles.waite]

I know the rear brakes had an update partway through 1999 as well as the rear hubs.

Not sure if any of the control arms were changed too, but its possible.

According to Koni, the part numbers for the rear shocks are identical. The front shocks are different, but that doesn't mean they aren't interchangeable. It could just be a change in dampening, the physical mounting could be the same.

Technically you can use whatever you want, as long as it mounts up correctly. The difference between various kits, that share a mounting, is the shock valving and spring rate/height.

[dunhamjr]

Originally Posted by charles.waite

It could just be a change in dampening, the physical mounting could be the same.

Technically you can use whatever you want, as long as it mounts up correctly. The difference between various kits, that share a mounting, is the shock valving and spring rate/height.

i definitely agree. but i think most of the differences that people talk about in the front suspension are actual physical mounting differences (like you mentioned)... so its not just a bolt up affair.

my reasoning behind this is not to try to save the $$$, its about trying to find a high quality PROVEN coilover system. which for the 02+ just doesnt seem to be available. while HR Springs, has a kit for the 98-01 model that i would be more then happy to use if it would physically bolt on.

so if i can find out exactly what the differences are in the front suspension, i might just decide to do those changes and buy up an HR coilover setup.

[charles.waite]

I wonder what the actual changes are. The EEuroparts diagrams are identical (not surprising) but there are different part numbers for a few thing. The Ball joints and a few other things. Not sure how that would affect the shocks though. Maybe a different bushing or slightly different mounting location?

Lets see:

Strut mount- different p/n
Ball joints- different p/n
Spring support- same
struts- different p/n
control arm- same
steering knuckle - different p/n

There are probably others too... This is assuming EEuro doesn't have the same parts listed under different SKUs of course.

[Jssaab]

The hub is different so anything attached to the hub will not fit. It's that easy.

[Norm95]

Some changes in spring and strut/shock p/n's could be just the difference in sedan vs wagon too.

[Ivan]

Front shocks are not interchangeable between 01 and 02+ same goes for ball joints and control arm

[Norm95]

So the subframe must be the same?

[charles.waite]

I bet the redesigned the control arm and changed the mounting points for some super smart Swedish engineering reason.

[Ivan]

Originally Posted by Norm95

So the subframe must be the same?

Yes same