newsoobdude

When I replaced the struts in my 98 with new 04 Forester KYBs and used springs I ended up having a shop do it as it was a big PITA to do off the car. They charged me $150 but PepBoys said they'd do it for $20 a strut but they tried to shaft me so I just picked them back up and took them to the shop. Real easy to reinstall once together through. Good luck and post pics when done.

Cool! Looks just like mine. As soon as the rain clears up and I get the gumption I guess I'll crawl back under and remove the factory spacers and track down another set of bolts. How close are the A/Ts to your struts? I have about a fingers space between the tire and the strut bottom.

Which struts did you end up going with, Outback or Forester? I don't head down to Venice very often but would be cool to meet up at some point and compare rides. Another member lives in Turlock if I remember as well as a few others around the greater helL A area. Good luck on the project and be sure to post pics. Are you going to be doing the strut install yourself or taking it to a shop? As for wheeling in the Valley, there is only one spot I know of but I used to go up to Angeles Crest and go to the hang glider take off spot but forgot the combo to the gate as it's been a number of years since I'd been up there and the old fire roads to the camp grounds and other spots have been blocked due to the fires so need to find some new places. Go to Gorman every so often but it's only dirt roads no real wheeling unless you don't mind body damage or have better ground clearance.

Daang!!! That looks sweet! What manufacture are those tires and how much do they rub? I have 215/70/16s on my 3 inch body lifted Outback on Forester struts and springs and they rubbed the trailing edge of the front fenders and inner wells when turning sharp. Can you get a shot of the rear trailing arms and axle shafts for me please? I'm wondering if they sit flat or not as mine are and I'm thinking of removing the rear Outback blocks for another inch of diff clearance.

Yeah, I've seen the thread and was going to try and re-find it when the time came and see if it ever got finished. Never did think about the going to the 3.9 and the better rpms at highway speeds. I'm going to be trying that same hill again now that I've got new taller tires and see what happens. It plus the fact I like to crawl around some parts is the reason I want the D/r to begin with. I do like the fact that my ride gets up to speed quickly with the 4.11s and that's what I'm afraid of loosing as I hate being the slug getting on helL As freeways.

Hate to say it but, it depends on what tire you get. I've seen 215/75/15 BFG A/Ts on Forester strut lift. If I remember right he rubbed on his front fender edges and inner fenders. I had 205/70/15s on my Outback before lifting and know 215/70/16s are a tight fit and required front fender trailing edge trimming as well as fender well massaging with my 3 inch Highguys lift and Forester struts. As long as you don't hit the strut its self you're good to go. Best thing to do would be go to a big tire shop and test fit different tire manufactures/ sizes. Just out of curiosity though, why the saggy butt spacers with stock suspension? I thought they were only required if running Forester struts and springs or WRX springs and struts for the lowering crowd . Post some pics when you get her done as we ALL love pics, especially of lifted sedans (well, at least I do )

Yeah you'd be better with first gen Forester springs in the Outback struts than straight Forester struts and springs (wish I had known before I did mine). Do you ever go wheeling out there? Do you ever get to the Valley?

How does it do with the 3.9 in slow speeds with the tires in high range? That and how is the acceleration? I didn't loose much if any and would prefer to keep it that way. Also, how bad do you rub and did you have to trim your fenders with the new nice arse tires?

Depends on what you're doin. Before I lifted my Outback I went up a nice steep hill slow because of ruts and what not and thankfully the tires slipped a little bit to get the revs back up because it was going to die. Tried to go up some other steep hills and stalled due to lack of speed and gearing but I didn't want to fly up the hill either. In my opinion it could really use at least a "low" gear (think granny) for the manuals but a true low range would be :clap:. And thats with the factory 4.11s and 205/70/15s. Now that I'm running 215/70/16s, I REALLY could use a low range, but would like to keep the full time and 4.11s so that means either S.O.L. or hunting Down Unda for one because Subaru Au still has (or at least had) the low range option available on new Subies. (4.11s going to be hard to find and the low range gearing isn't up to par depending on the trans. so needs a new gear set too)

I'd be a little leery of putting Forester struts on a regular Legacy. I have them on my Outback and my front control arms are pushed down a bit. (Granted I forget if they were before lift and struts so....) I'd recommend just going with Outback struts as you'll end up being an inch taller than an Outback if memory serves me right (I know it's taller but don't recall spec.). Where abouts in LA are you?

Gotta love the newer smart cars.

^yeah it's a good idea when you're "working" on the car not "fixing" it . I just made it so my drivers door only locks manually.

Hey GD, I thought the OBXs were EL and COBB knockoffs.

Done it myself too on same car and had same problem (fuseable link). Make sure you unlock your doors afterwards if you have an alarm as I then proceeded to lock my keys in the car with it running.

Your exhaust sounds fine to me. Loud but not too loud and deep as well. Still has the "boxer rumble" just at a deeper resonance. Are you gonna put your exhaust back up in the stock location and run it under the rear cross member or end it before the axle? Was looking at mine and I'm thinking I might just run mine out the side, but I want to keep it as high as possible too, hence not under the axle even though it's factory.

Had one that mounted in the window jamb that was from Autozone or something back in the day but don't have access to the car nor pics so sorry. Ones that hang from the door are ok but not sturdy for anything more than a 20oz and thats pushin it. Like the one that everyones posted pics of on the center console and the Impreza one is sweet.

Got the shoes on! 215/70/16 Grabber A/T2s HighGuys 3 inch lift and 2004 Forester struts and springs

1998 Subaru Outback Limited 5mt 2004 KYB Subaru Forester struts & springs HighGuys 3 inch lift 215/70/16 General Grabber A/T2s 16X6.5 Steel Wheels Rubbed on the lower edge of front fenders so massaged to fit

Been playing with my Outback for a while since I blew a tire and figured I'd replace the struts and install a HighGuys lift while I'm at it. Still need to get my new tires and will be doing that Friday. Sneak peek-

Bumpers between 1996-1999 Legacy and First Gen Outback Sports are extremely similar (fender brackets are different as well as sides different length)

I went with another guy on the board instead of dealing with SJR and wish I hadn't. Making so far 3 trips to the hardware store (getting ready to head out for 4th time:banghead:) and 2 for the junkyard for hardware, I STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE FIRST PART OF THE LIFT!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing quite like having to modify 3/4 of the parts received and having half the hardware stripped or just wrong.

^ x2! Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays. Bring on the grub!

RallyInnovations made one back in the day and I hear they've been getting requests for more also (hint, hint) from other sites but, look for a used one here in the Classifieds and on other Legacy/ Outback specific forums (I found one in May last year after a 3 month look) or just fab your own. Good luck and Happy Holidays.

that looks like too much fun!!!!

235s will require a bit of trimming in the rear to clear the wheel wells. I'm lifting my 98 Outback a little over 4 inches overall and am only going 225s. You will be loosing a lot of low end torque with the larger tires too. I'd say go with a good set of 215s/ 27s and Outback struts as well as your lift and go to town. A Delta cam would help with the low-end torque return as well as a better exhaust.