Anyone lifted a legacy? Not looking for too much lift, outback suspension would be to much. Just looking for a little 1-1.5 lift for a little extra gound clearance in snowy weather and driving on grass/gravel/dirt?

 

Would love pictures if any. Looking to do this on 2010+

I too would like to hear any replies to this question.

Put some outback struts on it, or I can make you a set at 1" or whatever height you want

either outback or forester struts - gains 1.5-2" of clearance

 

the following pic is of my old 1990 Legacy on stock suspension (left), stock wheels/tires and my 1995 on Forester suspension (struts & springs), stock wheels & tires (right)

 

either outback or forester struts - gains 1.5-2" of clearance.

So it's as simple as that eh? And they bolt right on with no other mods needed?

Thanks for the info.

It's not that simple on the 2010 and up models.

95-99 are easy. Forester struts bolt right in.

 

2000-09 have a different rear suspension setup than the forester. They can be lifted with blocks but not with forester parts.

2010+ are similar to 00-09 models. There are lift block kits out there for 2000 + models that make it easy to get an extra inch of clearance.

It's not that simple on the 2010 and up models.

95-99 are easy. Forester struts bolt right in.

Thanks, I'm specifically wanting to know about a 1993 Legacy, as this is what I have.

Thanks, I'm specifically wanting to know about a 1993 Legacy, as this is what I have.

Wagon, that is.

Thanks, I'm specifically wanting to know about a 1993 Legacy, as this is what I have.

Was answering the OPs question about 2010+ models.

 

Plenty of info on this site about lifting 90s era legacys. Look in the members rides and off-road sections.

Was answering the OPs question about 2010+ models.

Plenty of info on this site about lifting 90s era legacys. Look in the members rides and off-road sections.

So your basically saying a spacer is my best bet? Rather than swaping parts?

 

What results other than the inch raise can is see?

Was answering the OPs question about 2010+ models.

 

Plenty of info on this site about lifting 90s era legacys. Look in the members rides and off-road sections.

 

 

Oops - sorry - missed the reference to 2010+ 

Would you guys do a 1 inch on front and back or 1 inch on front and 1.25 on back?

Lift kits, strut replacements, blocks etc only lift the body, they do not provide extra ground clearance.  Only larger diameter tires will give you additional ground clearance.  The lift kits etc allow you to use larger diameter tires, but you may have room for slightly larger tires now.  First find the largest diameter tire that will work with your present suspension.  Tire rack dot com has sizes listed for +1 and +2.  Look at the largest diameter tire that will fit and subtract the diameter of your current tires, the lift will be half of this.

Edited September 5, 20169 yr by keith3267

It's not that simple on the 2010 and up models.

95-99 are easy. Forester struts bolt right in.

 

2000-09 have a different rear suspension setup than the forester. They can be lifted with blocks but not with forester parts.

2010+ are similar to 00-09 models. There are lift block kits out there for 2000 + models that make it easy to get an extra inch of clearance.

 

FYI. The 2010+ Legacy rear suspension is identical to the 2009+ Impreza/Forester stuff.

 

However, on that newer mulitilink setup, the whole rear subframe is shaped differently to lower the control arm pivot points, not just spacers like the older models. And because they use 4 control arms on each side in the rear, they do not function well outside of their designed travel range. So while the appropriate Outback or Forester stuff would bolt right in,  you'd still need blocks or the whole rear crossmember to keep the geometry in spec. Good news, is the blocks are crazy easy to install, I helped a good friend of mind put an ADF lift in his 2013 Forester this spring.

 

 

Lift kits, strut replacements, blocks etc only lift the body, they do not provide extra ground clearance.  Only larger diameter tires will give you additional ground clearance.  The lift kits etc allow you to use larger diameter tires, but you may have room for slightly larger tires now.  First find the largest diameter tire that will work with your present suspension.  Tire rack dot com has sizes listed for +1 and +2.  Look at the largest diameter tire that will fit and subtract the diameter of your current tires, the lift will be half of this.

 

Well, sort of. It depends on the style of lift. For example, the lift we put in my friend's previously-mentioned Forester had 2" blocks on the front struts, 2" for the rear crossmember, and 2 3/8" for the rear shocks. So the engine/steering rack/transmission etc. was all lifted 2". And the rear diff 3/8" (which isn't much, but it's not nothing). On all the modified-macpherson rear cars ('90-'99 Legacy chassis, '93-'08 Impreza chassis), you can just use longer struts and/or strut spacers to gain clearance all the way around. The control arms and such run at a steeper angle, but there is some tolerance there.

 

Of course, your point is correct, the lift makes larger tires possible, which is where you gain your true advantage (both in height, and tire availability). 

 

 

 

 

All that said, it's certainly possible. As I mentioned, the suspension is virtually identical to 2010+ Outback and 2009+ Forester, and there are several companies that make kits for those chassis. I don't think I've ever seen a Legacy lifted, so it may not be well-documented on exactly what combination of subframe spacers and struts/spacers would work best, but some creativity and measurements should make that all doable.

Edited September 6, 20169 yr by Numbchux