barneyb Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 New poster - apologies if this has been covered a million times. Feel free to just point me to another answered post. I drive a 1998 Legacy Wagon L, (2.2) and I'm curious about lifting it, to cope better with forest service roads and winter snow up here in the Pacific North West. I've been investigating a few options, but I'm curious - is there any particular kit, component or combination of components that USMB users would recommend? I'm planning on sticking with stock 15in wheels (at least for now) and since most of my miles will still be road miles, I'm not looking for a crazy lift that compromises road handing too much. Any suggestions gratefully received. bb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstevens76 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Put outback struts and trailing arms on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyb Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share Posted May 6, 2015 Thanks! Assume that I'm completely clueless though. Is this a scrapyard deal, or are there OEM components / kits available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dec0y13 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 (edited) You're asking a good question. I have a 98 I'm ripping apart and reassembling on a project and I have similar questions. Any way to answer your question; I would run to the salvage yard for the trailing arms and I'd buy the struts new. OEM parts new from the dealer might be worth more than the car. (I remember the dealer wanted 400 a peice for BRAT axles. ) Due to the ease of this paticular mod I don't know of any kits until you start climbing a bit higher for lift. Edited May 6, 2015 by dec0y13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorthguy Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 New poster - apologies if this has been covered a million times. Feel free to just point me to another answered post. I drive a 1998 Legacy Wagon L, (2.2) and I'm curious about lifting it, to cope better with forest service roads and winter snow up here in the Pacific North West. I've been investigating a few options, but I'm curious - is there any particular kit, component or combination of components that USMB users would recommend? I'm planning on sticking with stock 15in wheels (at least for now) and since most of my miles will still be road miles, I'm not looking for a crazy lift that compromises road handing too much. Any suggestions gratefully received. bb Search the 90s to present section in the new gen forum for "lift" (back one level from this thread). There are numerous threads about this (as you guessed, not the first time this question has been asked). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 98-08 forester strut assemblies, or 96-99 outback struts. Trailing arm is the same between both. It's the trailing arm bracket that's different, and isn't absolutely necessary when lifting a Legacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstevens76 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Subaru Struts, from what I've gathered, will last over 200k. If you can find a good set of struts around 100k or less you should be able to swap the complete assemblies. If you buy new struts, your going to have to swap your springs, top plates, and either purchase or re-use your strut months. Strut mounts average $50 each (4 of them). A full set of struts and strut mounts your looking at $400+. Your strut mounts may be good, but it varies. Struts alone your looking at $200 to $250 new. That being said check craigslist. Local to me (Boise, ID) there is a set of Forester XT Struts and in Pocatello there is a set of Forester XT STruts. Both of these are complete sets for under $200 (springs, top hats, strut mounts, etc...) Now, checking seattle I came across a set of Forester struts from an '01 for $100. I'm just throwing options. Now if you want the outback version you can watch for someone parting out an outback. We get them here occasionally so I would expect you get them up there as well. This route you can get all the struts and anything else you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 if you want more lift add the struts plus a lift kit I sell them here www.sjrlift.com , I can also just sell parts if you want to build your own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyb Posted May 8, 2015 Author Share Posted May 8, 2015 Thanks everyone - since my struts were in good shape (no imminent need to replace them) I decided against Outback struts and ended up getting 1.4in raised King Springs and 0.5in/0.75in spacers from Primitive Racing in Oregon. Getting them installed on Monday - fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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