Has anyone put outback struts on a legacy? I have a 90 legacy and would like a little more lift out of it. Would outback struts give me a little more height? Is it as simple as swapping them out or would I need to make any adjustments, especially to the steering system.

NVM search is my friend not food...

don't mind me i am just posting so i can keep track of this thread.

i have a 90 legacy too and i would love to get some more clearance out of it.

:cool:

this swap is very common, and for most years there are no issues to deal with. you can also do this on your impreaza.

 

but the early legacys? or maybe impreazas??, i can't remember which, had a different top hat, strut top mounting plate. the bolt positions are slightly different.

 

2 solutions,

1/ modify the bolt holes on the strut tower, i don't like this one.

2/ swap the top hats from the early legacy struts on to the outback struts. presto change-o they now will bolt right in. i like this one, but it does require a spring compressor. for later leagcys and impreazs the top hats are the same so the swap is easier, no spring compressor required. (unless you buy new struts without springs.)

correct me if I misread something but I understand that the front struts should bolt right in but the rear may be different because the spring is conical shaped in stead of cylindrical, and the bolt pattern on top was different. The solution was to use the legacy springs and top piece....

The solution was to use the legacy springs and top piece....

that sounds right, but i have read of some one modifying the bolt holes in the strut tower to accept the outback strut tops. sounds scary to me.

 

im guessing 90 - 91/2? are the years that are different. any one know for sure?

I know the ones with Air struts were different.

 

Btw the modification to the tower is to simply drill a hole in a different spot. It seems the older top hats had equal spacing between the bolts, and the newer ones the outer bolt is about 1/4" further out. It's a pretty simple fix and really shouldn't have any effect on the strength of the tower.

I wonder about getting spring lifts

 

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SPR4/181601/N1716.oap?******=Search_N1716_1269345_3825&pt=N1716&ppt=C0361

It's an easy modification. You can add some extra lift by adding 3/8 or more strut top spacers. I did this lift on my Impreza. Maximum height is forester springs and struts. I used a set from a 99 Forester and 3/8 spacers and gained 3 1/2 inches of lift before getting larger tires in there.

 

If you're doing the lift, a set of Outback trailing arm brackets will correct the angle.

 

there's a great sticky in the off road section for the "how to lift your Impreza" but all the info is about the same on the legacy.

I wonder about getting spring lifts

 

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SPR4/181601/N1716.oap?******=Search_N1716_1269345_3825&pt=N1716&ppt=C0361

 

Hell no! Do not get those! Look in the offroad section, there's is a whole thread with strut and spring combos that give X amount of lift. Most people go for Outback or Forester struts/springs and often put strut blocks on top to give more lift if they want it. Between struts, blocks, and tires, you can get 3-1/2 to 5 inches of lift with NO other modifications to the car.

Hell no! Do not get those!

 

I've tried those on an old Volkswagen - and yeah, they are COMPLETELY worthless.

Hell no! Do not get those! Look in the offroad section, there's is a whole thread with strut and spring combos that give X amount of lift. Most people go for Outback or Forester struts/springs and often put strut blocks on top to give more lift if they want it. Between struts, blocks, and tires, you can get 3-1/2 to 5 inches of lift with NO other modifications to the car.

 

at what point would I need to lengthen the steering shaft?

Just struts and strut spacers requires no mods to steering. Only if you put a cross member block kit on it will you need to lengthen the steering shaft.

You can drill the back to match or you can use the legacy top hats and springs in the back. I did this and after about a month, they broke the bushings. I had to fill them with polyurethane construction adhesive to get them from knocking and squeaking.