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Is a noninstalled 96-99 OB strut assembly shorter than 00-04 OB?

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I need a strut assembly that’s a little shorter than 00-04 outback when not installed. 

Does any one know of an option that’s maybe 1-2” shorter than an 00-04 outback strut assembly?

Are 96-99 outbacks shorter?

How do Impreza, Legacy, Forester compare to 00-04 outback?

standard Legacy will most likely be shorter - i know on the older ones they were.

 

  • Author
1 hour ago, heartless said:

standard Legacy will most likely be shorter - i know on the older ones they were.

 

Thanks, I’ll see if I can look up the difference. Do you know if they’re a lot shorter?  Legacy’s look so low but I guess a lot of that is the lift blocks, not just struts. 
 

I can probably snag a used one somewhere to experiment. 

well, when I did the strut lift on the 95 i gained real close to 1.5-2 inches.. but that was on Foz struts.. not sure how the Foz & outback would compare.

90on the left on stock suspension, 95 on right on the Foz struts & stock wheels.. I later upgraded to the Foz wheels too and gained a touch more

671266702_9095sidebysidecopy.jpg.7af9f30445146636c90cb1c348e65269.jpg

  • Author
1 hour ago, heartless said:

well, when I did the strut lift on the 95 i gained real close to 1.5-2 inches.. but that was on Foz struts.. not sure how the Foz & outback would compare.

90on the left on stock suspension, 95 on right on the Foz struts & stock wheels.. I later upgraded to the Foz wheels too and gained a touch more

Fantastic. That’s exactly what I need. I think I’ve seen that pic before, very cool.  Off to grab a legacy strut  

In my head OB struts seem so much bigger but they’re not. There’s also lift blocks and tires adding to the clearance.  Thanks, I’ve been chasing this issue for months. I think this is going to solve it. 

  • Author
21 minutes ago, heartless said:

good luck, hope it works. =)

Thanks. Installing EJ struts in my lifted XT6. 00-04 are too tall and cause the axle to bind because of the extreme axle angle.  Need something 1-2" shorter, which is exactly what you're describing.

Look them up on RockAuto. Most brands list extended and compressed lengths of the bare strut. The upper mounts are all the same, so that should give you an accurate baseline.

It won't tell you spring rates, so there's some variation in how it'll sit once it's loaded...

  • Author
3 hours ago, Numbchux said:

Look them up on RockAuto.

Well that's clear as mud!  Front left Extended length and compressed length:

03 OB KYB: 20.98, 16.1

01 OB KYB:  21.65, 16.1

98 OB KYB: 21.65, 16.1

98 Legacy GT KYB: 20.71, 14.21

  • Author

None of them or significantly shorter than the 03 OB KYB i currently have installed.

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