I have a 2000 OBW.

I drive mostly Hwy and City but on the weekends I ride my Mt. Bike. Where I mostly ride are accessed through logging roads which can be pretty washboard aggressive.

With the logging roads in mind, I'm wondering what a good suspension upgrade would be once it's time to replace struts and other suspension components.

Again, the logging roads consist of probably 5-10% of the road surfaces I normally drive, but when I do hit the logging roads it would be nice if I didn't feel like my car was being beaten to death.

The type of tires you have, and the air pressure levels can greatly affect the ride harshness. What kind of tires are you running? Tire pressures?

 

oh, and whats the surface of logging road? dirt, gravel, sand, rock, etc

we just have paved roads, mostly gravel, and some level B unmaintained roads this part of the US

The type of tires you have, and the air pressure levels can greatly affect the ride harshness. What kind of tires are you running? Tire pressures?

 

oh, and whats the surface of logging road? dirt, gravel, sand, rock, etc

we just have paved roads, mostly gravel, and some level B unmaintained roads this part of the US

 

I don't know off the top but whatever the recommended tire size is and normal pressure (35 psi). Nothing aftermarket and OE alloy wheels.

 

Logging roads are firm to hard packed gravel but there's long sections where the gravel is more 'chunky' like larger golfball to tennis ball size rocks, loose packed.

Mostly it's the washboard I'm concerned with. It's getting really bad up there and the roads are unmaintained by the county so it will get worst before it gets better.

probably need to lessen the tires pressures to let the tires and shocks behave somewhat better. High tire pressures mean the shocks have to do more of the softening.

Try going to 31 psi give or take 1psi.

that will decrease highway gas mileage by about 2.5mpg or so, but it will prevent extra shock wear, and greatly soften the harshness and bumps..

ride bike more and car less on those roads :lol:.

 

tire pressure will help, only have to release it when you get there. can have a tank of compressed air to air back up when you leave...or use your bike pump unless you have those new goofy valves...then get an adapter.

 

probably not hurting much other than the struts.

 

bushings may wear over time, but based on the older gen stuff i've seen bushings stand up to wear fairly well unless they're getting oil/grease/fluids soaked. keep em dry and you'll probably only really be stressing struts.

I'd install an onboard air compressor from a different car or a standalone one that plugs into the cigarette lighter (or connects straight to the battery).

Is there a way to lift an 00-04 outback?

I put outback struts on my legacy & sit higher than my buddies 02 now so he wants to go higher, what can he use for a lift.

ride bike more and car less on those roads

 

Up in bellingham? If he's doing northshore riding then its likely his bike isn't the most pedal friendly. My old bike (specialized big hit setup for downhill) weighed in at 45lbs and couldn't pedal up stuff worth a darn.

Up in bellingham? If he's doing northshore riding then its likely his bike isn't the most pedal friendly. My old bike (specialized big hit setup for downhill) weighed in at 45lbs and couldn't pedal up stuff worth a darn.

 

Not noth"shore"- northFORK. and no my bike is not pedal friendly. Thanks for relating to my pains!

How about tires? I'll have some 215/75/15 BFGoodrich Mud Terrains on Forester wheels, a set of 5, for sale at teh end of the month. They'll bolt right onto your OB. You will be in love.

You can get aftermarket raised springs from Scorpion in Austrailia. It a bit of 44 but folks here have done it for a touch more lift from stock and it sits nice.

Do some searching. i know i've posted some info about them and there are folks with pix here who've gone that route.

 

Its an idea, and will cost money, gets you more off the beaten path and doesn't affect road driving much.

I'm with you on the want to get off pavement for fun (mt. biking, hiking, climbing, river running, etc.) but don't want to effect my on road performance and handling, since its my daily driver and off pavement is not the most of what my car's used for.

 

Appologies for posting lazily w/o the links, but with some searching you can find info on scorpion/king raised springs.

 

love to see a raised 02!