Trailcutr

Thermostats should stay closed until temp. You can test them in a pot of boiling water or just replace it and be done. Its an easy job and cheap.

Thermostat stuck closed.

Sounds like the thermostat is stuck closed. Those are the symptoms. If its stuck open it won't ever get very hot.

Maybe I should go with kyb impreza size struts with same size king springs? Would that be around an inch and would my trailing arm brackets still work or would I need outback brackets with that setup? How much will a king spring raise it on average from stock? I already run 205/70r15 which is only a little bigger than stock but I'll keep that size for now. I have another subaru (98 outback legacy) and I run them the same size because we get a lot of flats and its just easier. No need for bigger wheels or tires for this. The rear tires rub bad with much weight in the car and even worse packed with snow and ice. I haven't ordered anything yet, still trying to weigh the options and figure this out. Thanks for the info!

Hello all. I had a few questions for any suspension guys here. I need to stiffen it up and raise it about an inch above where it should be. The springs and struts are all shot now. From what I've read 97-99 outback struts are compatible but an inch longer? Is this correct? And are wrx struts the same length as outback or impreza? I would use outback length springs also. Also, OEM or aftermarket? My last set of rear struts only lasted a couple of years. I'm looking to do this with minimal other parts and linkages to replace, that's why I was hoping to go with an outack setup instead of forester. Will I have swaybar issues or anything else I will need? This car gets heavy duty use in the Rockies almost daily and usually carries weight. I hope someone can help! Thanks.

Hi everyone! I have a 1996 impreza L with the same prob. Mine gets extremely hard mountain use all year. We snowmobile home in the winter so just getting to the sleds can be a chore sometimes. Hauling supplies and ourselves in and out takes its toll. We're about 30 miles from Gunnison towards monarch pass. I had 16 flat tires last summer so you can imagine. I carry 2 extra spares on this car with multiple flats happening at the same time. It's interesting at times. It's not often but it does happen. Although it seems like work for a truck I can't imagine a better workhorse for the job and after 7 years still ticking along. The awd is amazing, turns on a dime and runs and starts everyday and hasn't let me down yet. I've replaced all the struts already once about 3 or 4 years ago but my saggy springs won't hold the car up so the struts are blown. I need to replace it all. Would an outback setup bolt on similar to the forester struts? I need stiffer than what I have and an inch higher than stock would be nice. I want it to go on easy without having to change out a bunch of parts so I thought the forester setup might be too much for me. Changing tophats or drilling wouldn't be an issue. I can do all that type of work I just need this car up and running asap so I need to have what I need. The actual lift isn't as important to me as just upgrading the entire system. An inch of lift won't help in chest deep snow, but outback suspension might hold up a lot better and allow me to carry a load better? Thanks!