Hello All,

 

I have a 2004 Forester XT I purchased back in September. As you can see from the picture it has been lowered with Cobb springs I suspect are intended for a WRX. While I LOVE the way it looks and rides, it is just over an inch off the ground under the engine. Which is all fine and dandy until you take it out to Wyoming and 28" of snow falls and you get stuck and crack your radiator...

 

 

My question to all you experts out there is, is there a way to raise her back up without a spring swap?? That way I get the custom look and ride that is a little more daily driver. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

My Thanks in advance!

 

http://tinypic.com/r/11kb12e/5

Unless they're coilovers, then no. You'll need to change the springs and probably the struts as well.

 

If they are coilovers, you'll just need to crank the lock rings back against the spring to get some ride height back.

You could always make a small strut spacer, Maybe a 1" to give it just a little more clearance.

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=128665

forester struts will do:grin:

It looks to me that your Forester is on WRX struts + Cobb lowering springs.

 

WRX struts themselves are lower than stock forester stuff.

 

I think you would be much happier with Forester struts and forester specific Swift or Sti lowering springs...

 

This forester has stock forester struts and swift springs

Yeah I am running WRX struts and STi springs on mine and it's about that llow. Put some Forester struts back under it, along with Forester springs, or Forester specific lowering springs and you'll be all set. Do not put WRX springs on Forester struts or visa versa, that will just blow the struts.

bigger tires

 

 

of course, that brings a different set of issues.

Hi,

You'll get more info over on SubaruForester.org - look up the 'how to turn better than an STI' HERE. I realize you want the reverse but it'll give you some ideas of an 'in between' option. If you like the ride/handling you have now you'll not want a stock setup.

 

I think the stock XT struts w/Swift springs are a popular option.

 

As noted, you could get something like THESE from Paranoid to give you a bit of lift w/what you have.

 

I'd pull a tire and check the P/N's on the struts & springs (if they're labeled). You likely have something other than the stock XT struts - I don't think they can go that low.

 

HERE is my former '98 Forester riding WRX Struts w/ STi springs on 225-50-16's....a little bit more room than yours.

 

I now have an '04 FXT, too, w/the same suspension setup as my '98 SF- no pics yet.

 

GL,

TD

What size wheels and tires are on your car? They look kinda tiny.

You may be well suited to find a tire that will give an extra half inch in height, and put 1/2" spacers on the struts to bring the ride height up without changing the wheel arch clearance.

Thanks all for the reply!

 

all great information, I believe this is setup with wrx struts, and I know there are cobb springs under it.

 

and yes the tires are smaller, they are from a wrx as well, so what I think ill do is get some 1/2" spacers and then increase the tire size to give me another 1/2" and I think ill be there!

Judging by the looks of the tire, you're running 205/55/16s on a set of 2005 WRX wheels (16"x6.5")

 

Even just going up to a 205/65 is going to give you an extra 3/4" radius on the tire, and if you throw a set of Paranoid 3/8" spacers (biggest you can run with stock tophat studs), you'll be raising the ride a total of 1 1/8"