mellow65 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 my question is how much lift are you getting by putting on the struts? are you using the outback sub frame blocks with them too? Are you having any problems with over extending your axles with the lift? And are you able to get any where close to a normal alignment with them on? or are you buying camber bolts to get that back to normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Range Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 search, it's all been covered... my camber is still perfect You don't need the body lift, and it sucks (read $$$) to install, but it does flatten the axles a fair bit, better angles is better MPG and axle life, but straight suspension lift is better offroad. the only reason I'd ever run the outback body lift is so that I could run king springs... Axles, heck you don't even have to beat the axles out of the hubs to change EJ axles:rolleyes: seriously tho, they seem to hold up just fine and I've done seven lifts. here are the 3 basic choices, (this roughly shows the different perch heights) outback (blown) Forrester (new KYB GR2) Legacy (note angle of strut rod, not so healthy) and yet another before and after for all those who are bored and or curious, '90 LS sedan, bone stock, auto pile ( yeah I know the angle of the shot shows nothing): "The Dog Taxi" w/outback GR2's & outback coils, rear '94 wagon tops, BFH inner fender massage, 225/60/16 M+S's- they only rub at full lock in reverse: so hurry up and get your awd rally pile (or show car for that matter) lifted, b/c it ain't gonna lift itself. oh and get new swaybar endlinks and strut tops and a bottle of blinker fluid while your at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow65 Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 how much lift did it give you with out the new tires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 My buddy got 2-1/2 in. on his 91 Legacy. Used Outback struts with the original Legacy springs. No body blocks. Car seems to like it. running 205/75/15s, it did rub when fully bottomed out. But we fixed that Just last night we were "rallying" back over some logging roads in the coast range. The bigger tires really help hang onto the rough road and smooth it out, as compared to the stock 195/70/14s with no lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow65 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 My buddy got 2-1/2 in. on his 91 Legacy. Used Outback struts with the original Legacy springs. No body blocks. thanks that what i needed to know. i will share later why all the questions about lifts. yes it's a lift but not really what everyone else does. got to make it work with what i got. thanks for all the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigo1966 Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 So which strut has the most travel? And how many inches of travel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_postie Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Here's a pic of a mates car.2" lift outback struts and raised springs.It has insane amounts of clearance under the diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 And here's a pic of a 92 legacy with 98 outback struts: Reused the legacy springs ans strut caps. Just did the rear outback lift of a 95 impreza using 98 legacy outback struts. Used the legacy strut caps because the impreza ones had torn apart. Had to open up the 3 cap stud holes in the body and run them without their rubbers and put washers in to fit it all, but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 here is a pic of my legacy outback struts and springs all around, gained about 3 to 4 inches after new tires installed alignment was done and it sits perfectly now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 i put 98 forester new kyb gr2 struts all the way arond on my 95 legacy. the front sits up pretty good but the rear doesnt seem so much. the car appears to be at normal ride height except for the awesome fender to wheel clearance in the front. BUT i think this has to do with the stock rear springs beign worn or too short, since i really didnt need the spring compressor to install the springs. plus the original rar struts were blown out and rattled. between the car at rest and up on a jack, there is a good 6 inches of travel in the rear. if i replaced the springs the car would look more like the pics posted above, and i'm sure the fronts will come up a little along with. my wheels are 195/60 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 my question is how much lift are you getting by putting on the struts? are you using the outback sub frame blocks with them too? Are you having any problems with over extending your axles with the lift? And are you able to get any where close to a normal alignment with them on? or are you buying camber bolts to get that back to normal? I have a 95 legacy sedan with 98 outback struts and springs all around, no subframe blocks or rear trailing arms, etc.. JUST the strut (and spring) swap. i gained 1.5(ish)" with the struts and another 1-1.5" with tires (running the smallest 14" BFG AT/KO, I think is 27.5" or 28") There are pix in the forums somewhere... also here's a link (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3997&d=1151171638) for a pic of stock springs, 93 IMP, 95 LEG and 98 FOR... I did a forester swap in my wife's 93 IMP (98 FOR strute), but replaced the FOR springs in the rear with my old factory 95 LEG springs. It levelled out the rear and got rid of all the rake (old-school muscle car look, high rear end) that you see is some other FOR sturts into IMPs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest northcoast Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I can't wait to replace my worn out shocks and swap the springs. Currently running 205/75/15's. It's a tight fit and I need to trim the fenders soon. If only I had the tools and cash to bump it up like the Monster Wagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineRaven Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 How are your cambers on the rear wheels? are they negative or what have you done to it? Cheers AP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I've done strut swaps as follows: 98 OB strut and springs (used) into a 95 legacy- GREAT results! 98 FOR struts and springs (used) into 93 IMP, great front, raked back... I then swapped the FOR springs for stock 95 LEG springs in rear which levelled out the back... great all around now...... So my newest question is what's the difference in height of OB springs vs. LEG springs? I have a pic online of FOR, LEG & IMP springs side-by-side but I do not know how OB springs measures up... Do the OB struts have longer travel, thus neccesitate a taller spring?? Does the OB STRUT give full lift alone, or is it a combination of taller strut AND taller spring to give the OVERALL taller stance with the LEG-OB strut swap?? I'm asking this b/c a friend wants to lift his 99 LEG. I know it is easy enough and totally a drive-way job, but I'm trying to save him the hastle of going with used strut assemblies which will need to be replaced (as the stut cartdige will be more warn out) in a few years, VS. getting NEW GR-2 OB struts and reusing his old LEG springs... Thanks! -mw- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineRaven Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Can you show pictures? I can tell one thing - Legacy & OB springs are the same. Its the struts that has longer travel. Cheers AP I've done strut swaps as follows: 98 OB strut and springs (used) into a 95 legacy- GREAT results! 98 FOR struts and springs (used) into 93 IMP, great front, raked back... I then swapped the FOR springs for stock 95 LEG springs in rear which levelled out the back... great all around now...... So my newest question is what's the difference in height of OB springs vs. LEG springs? I have a pic online of FOR, LEG & IMP springs side-by-side but I do not know how OB springs measures up... Do the OB struts have longer travel, thus neccesitate a taller spring?? Does the OB STRUT give full lift alone, or is it a combination of taller strut AND taller spring to give the OVERALL taller stance with the LEG-OB strut swap?? I'm asking this b/c a friend wants to lift his 99 LEG. I know it is easy enough and totally a drive-way job, but I'm trying to save him the hastle of going with used strut assemblies which will need to be replaced (as the stut cartdige will be more warn out) in a few years, VS. getting NEW GR-2 OB struts and reusing his old LEG springs... Thanks! -mw- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Can you show pictures? I can tell one thing - Legacy & OB springs are the same. Its the struts that has longer travel. Cheers AP I can't seem to attach a clear series of before; with FOR struts and springs; and with FOR struts and LEG springs :-\ Unfortunately I don't have these hosted online anywhere yet, and i do have a lot of other pix from during the process... these links are from the forum and should give you some idea but I could email more images. stock IMP http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3975&d=1150778471 FOR struts and springs http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3978&d=1150778616 close up stock close up with FOR stuts BUT legacy springs in back http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3980&d=1150778988 FOR LEG IMP springs http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3997&d=1151171638 Let me know if you'd like more or others emailed... I should be available for a coupld more days this week then away for another week or more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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