[Legacy rear susp sags when loaded]

It seems like I hear on these posts that the struts are responsible for ride height, and that springs are responsible for ride height. Are both responsible?

 

I'm still not sure if I want to change the ride height, but am tempted to perhaps look at gaining one inch out of it to increase ground clearance, but don't want to affect OEM handling too much. I guess if I wanted to "test" an increase in clearance, I could first add the cheap spring spacers mentioned above on the front and rear springs. If I didn't like it, then I could buy OEM springs and struts to maintain the original clearance and ride, and if I did like it, I could look at wagon springs and struts to raise it about one inch. How does this approach sound (or is this a sound approach)?

[Shaking steering wheel]

I had a similar problem of vibration above 65 mph, and it turned out to be a steel rim that was bent enough to prevent an ideal wheel balance on one wheel. I found this out by having the shop that had put on my four new tires rebalance all of the wheels about six months later, and they said at this time that one wheel wouldn't balance correctly. When the problem seemed unaffected by the initial rebalance, I bought a used steel wheel, had it mounted and rebalanced and the vibration problem was gone (even though I also have somewhat warped brake rotors too, this only seems to affect during actual braking).

[Legacy rear susp sags when loaded]

Regarding the amount of weight I load into it, our last 7-day car-camping trip had maybe 200 pounds of camping equip (lots of groceries, tent, etc) and a full tank of gas.

 

My Legacy has nearly 160K miles on it, and no suspension parts have been replaced to my knowledge (I got it at 115K), so do you think that the sag problem is primarily worn springs?

 

If I replace the springs, do people generally recommend OEM springs (I certainly don't want it riding any lower than it already is)? I noticed some recommendations for using wagon springs instead of sedan springs - any recommendations?

 

It is also probably due for strut replacement too, especially if the springs are to be replaced, so any recommendations for types of struts? I'm not looking to make the car a little racer (it actually handles fine for me the way it is) but to make it a bit better to use on those dirt Death Valley roads (my last camping trip).

 

Also regarding ground clearance, the first part that scrapes is the catalytist which hangs down about an inch or so lower than anything else, and it seems to hang lower on this car than on other newer Subies that I see. Did 1996 Legacies have a lower catalyst or different heat shield than later years? I've done well so far not to have a rock tear it off.

[Legacy rear susp sags when loaded]

I have a 1996 Legacy L sedan, with a 2.2 MT. When I get the trunk fully loaded with all of our camping equipment, the rear end sags significantly, probably nearly two inches, which is a lot of ground clearance to loose on a car that is already really low without carrying any loads.

 

With older cars with old-fashioned shocks, this problem was easily fixed with a pair of air shocks. It seems to be a different story with struts.

 

What is the best way to deal with this "sag when loaded" problem (if any)? A 1-inch lift kit would raise the whole car, but still sag when loaded, I think. Larger diameter tires (70-series or so) I think would also result in the same (higher clearance but still sag when loaded), although I may try this when the car is due for a new set of five tires (four plus full-size spare).

 

Hmmm....any ideas?