Len

Yes, good idea. I have already experince 20mm and 24mm. If IPD says 22mm that is good enough for me. Len

I love these responses you guys are coming up with. Informative and amuzing at the same time. Interesting that you should mention a woman in her SUV talking on her cell phone and totally oblivious..... I recently had that experience as well. We would have had head on if I had not gotten off the road. She saw me at the last moment, and corrected. She was driving one of those generic white monsters and I had no way of knowing who it was (I live in a small community,, and there are a number of those white beast so I do not know who to glare ar the next time I see them...). Len

I don't think I will ever be pushing the car hard it enough (at least intentionally) to experience the rear of the car trading places with the front in an on/off ramp, where I have to correct it by accelerating! That is counterintuitve to me; I know my instincts would prompt me to do exactly the opposite. I know you are right, it is just my not trusting that I would do that when the time comes. I will leave those track manuvers to you more soffisticated drivers. I will reduce the stiffness of the sway bar back to 20mm. Regarding 16" WRX wheels: there seems to be some disagreement about whether a set of 215/60/16s will work on an Outback in that the wheels might rub the struts. Anyone know for sure? Anyone done the sort of "upgrade" (if it is one) that I am contemlating? Len

Thank you all once again. Your input is really helpful. Len

I really appreciate the insights that have been offered. I have been under the impression that if I was going to go to a lower profile tire (50,55 or 60 series tire), that I needed to go to a larger wheel to maintain averall tire/wheel diameter. The stock wheel on the 1996 Subaru (205/70/15) has an overall diameter of 26.29" The sidewall height is 5.64". The calculator I am using goes like this: The width of the tire (205) divided by 25.4 (to convert from metric to inches) multiplied by the percentage of the tire width to tire height (70), multipled by 2, plus wheel diameter (15"). If I want to get out cheaply here (just purchase tires), I can go to a 205/60/15, then I am at an overall wheel/tire diameter of 24.68." The side wall height is 4.84." I thought the whole idea was to lower sidewall profile while maintaining the overall tire/wheel diameter that came stock on the car (26.29", or as close to that as posible). If I were to go to a 215/60/16, it only gives me reduction in the sidewall height of .54", but keeps me at an overall tire/wheel sidewall height of 26.1". Is this reduction in sidewall height enough to get the significant handling improvement I am after? My instincts say No. What say you guys? If I want to stay close to the original tire/wheel diameter and drop an inch or so off the sidewall height, I have to go to a 17" wheel in a 55 series....and pay much more for the tires, which I am not willing to do (I am looking for a tire in the $80 - $100 range). In order to get the one inch reduction in the sidewall in a 16" wheel, I would need to go to a 215/55/16. Then my sidewall height would be 4.65" but my wheel diameter has been reduce to 25.3" (a 1" reduction in overall diameter). Is reducing the wheel diameter by an inch or more introducing another set of problems? Or is this sort of reduction in wheel diameter only going to affect the appearance (a smaller tire/wheel showing a bigger gap in the wheelwell, and just not very sexy). If I went with a 205/55/15, I would get a 1.2" reduction in sidewall, but the tire/wheel diameter would also be reduced from the stock 26.29" to 23.89"! Anyway enough math. How much of a sidewall height reduction (over the stock tires/wheels) do I want in order to get the a significant improvement in handling? Is it important to stay close to the stock overall diameter while seeking the sidewall height reduction? Since 17" wheel tire set ups are quite an expensive upgrade, I am looking at 215/55/16: I get a 1" reduction in the sidewall, but I lose 1" in overall tire/wheel diameter. Is this diameter reduction anything to worry about? If I end up going with a set of 16" wheels, does anyone know where I can get a set of WRX wheels, or Forester wheels (aluminum alloy, rounded spoke style). Thanks for further insights into this issue. Len

I don't understand oversteer/understeer. All I know is that I like the stiffer feel the sway bar (set at 24mm) gives me in normal driving. But, when I swerved to avoid the animal crossing the road, the sway bar setting must have contributed to my loss of control of the car, I swerved hard to the right, and then to correct, steered hard to the left, and served back and forth a couple of more times before I was able to get the car under control. Thankfully, there was no one approaching in the oncoming lane..... Should I go back to the 20mm I origianlly had it set at? Len

I have a 1996 Outback with stock 15" wheels. I have recently replaced the struts, with KYBs and intalled an IPD Sway Bar and set at it 24mm setting (it can be set at 20mm, 22mm or 24mm). In considering a wheel/tire upgrade, I am after better handling. I have been told that a wheel/tire upgrade, to 16" or 17" wheels, coupled with a more performance oriented tire will be dramatic improvement over what I am presently running (Goodyear Assurance Comfort Treads on the 15" stock Outback wheels). In the last 6 months, (once before and once after installing struts/sway bar), I have come close to losing control of the car in trying to avoid an animal that was crossing the road late at night, while I was traveling at 60 mph. Are a 16" or 17" wheels with a good tires going to improve the handling significally, in situations where one has to make a sudden turn? What are some tires that have a good reputation amongst Subaru owners? As far as wheels, I would like to get either the WRX wheels or the Forester rounded spoke wheels. Would either of these wheels be a good set up for my Outback? Thanks for any insights. Len

I am looking for a Subaru Parts website (either OEM or aftermarket) with a reputation for good prices and support. I am presently looking for struts, swway bar and ignition parts. I would appreciate any suggestions/testimonials....

The rear struts on my 1996 Outback need replacing. I was hoping to get Bilsteins but apparently they are not manufactured for a "96 Outback. I am having trouble finding an alternative to the OEM replacement offered by the Subaru dealership. Any recommendations? Anyone have any experience with adjustable ride struts--are they really adaptable to towing, and offroad, situations? Thanks.

Fiday night, and I am reading all the horror stories about the 2.5 head gasket. It IS scarry. Is there any sort of preventive maintenance (other than not letting the engine overheat of course) that can be done to lessen the chance of head gasket failure? Are there signs that will alert one to a potential problem before it becomes an emergency? Are the replacement gaskets a better quality? Once the gasket is replaced, is that the end of the story, or will head gasket issues continue to haunt? I have a '96 Outback (2.5), which I believe is referred to as a "Phase 1" when referencing the gasket. Would the stop leak coolant additive that I have read about be of any benefit to the Phase 1 motors? Thanks.

Thanks guys. I don't feel nearly so anxious after reading the posts. I think I'll stay married to my '96 Outback. As far as the suggestions on trying different oil weights/viscosity, I should say that I have added, with the last 3 oil changes, Restore (an oil additaive that is supposed to improve compression and reduce oil consumption, the guys on Car Talk recommend it for what it's worth) but I can't say that it has made that much of a difference. I will try the oils recommended, and report back. Thanks again for all of the input so far.... Len

I have a '96 Outback with 125k. I have owned it for about 1 1/2 years, and have always been bothered by the fact that it requires premiun fuel. Is there anyway to modifiy the engine (computer modification?) that would allow me to use regular grade fuel? I am having to add about a quart oil between 3,000 mile oil changes, which casuses me concern (My previously owned '87 4-Runner, with 235,000k used only 1/2 quart between oil changes...). A mechanic friend of mine says that I should not be conerned with the oil consumption as long as it stays within one to two quarts between oil changes. That seems to be excessive consumption to me. Is this sort of consumption characteristic of the 2.5 motor? Finally, what is it with the 2.5 motors? In reading the forums, I am coming across some discontent with the 2.5 motor in general (and praise for the 2.2). Does the 2.5 (and specifically the 1996 2.5) not have the legendary reputation of earlier Subaru motors? Thanks for any insights... Len