Stevo F Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Assuming my Legacy will need new struts sooner or later, I was wondering what various ways are to increase the stock Legacy ride height a couple of inches (preferably something between Legacy and Outback ride height). Never had done any suspension work outside of replacing shocks and adjusting torsion bars on my truck, and I was just curious at this point.
Zues Marine Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 I'd recommend the KYB GR2s for struts - theyre about 30% stiffer.. i loved them. you'll want them for an Outback though if you are planning a height increase.. and RalliTEK recently restarted production of their OEM height Outback (KSRS-29) springs that are stiffer than stock without lowering or going too high without the additional body spacers that the Outback has over your Legacy.. i'd imagine you would be pleased with the result
PorkchopSandwiches Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Just fyi, the GR-2 is now renamed Excel-G. It's the same exact strut but painted black to match the rest of their lineup (internationally the GR-2 was black and called excel-g if I recall correctly). I have them on my legacy and I like them. Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Tapatalk
johnegg Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 outback struts bolt on with no issues what so ever, and lift the car about 2 inches. i don't recommend ''stiffer'', but that is just personal preference. but unless you buy a ''no name'' brand, you are not going to save a lot by buying cheaper struts than kyb.
Stang70Fastback Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 For what it's worth, I've had the GR2 / Excel-G / whatever-the-f-you-want-to-call-them struts on my Outback for quite some time now and have had no issues, and really like them. I think the increase in stiffness was well matched to my upgraded sway-bars.
Stevo F Posted January 4, 2014 Author Posted January 4, 2014 Thanks all- not looking for a stiffer ride necessarily, just more height. So stock Outback struts bolt on- how about springs?
Zues Marine Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 match the springs to the struts, the stiffer king springs are good if you tow often or carry heavy loads ... not really stiffer in the autocross-esque fashion
Stevo F Posted January 4, 2014 Author Posted January 4, 2014 Would Outback struts work with my existing springs? (I'd only likely be able to spend the $ for the struts- looks like about $60 each at Rock Auto).
johnegg Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 yes, there is a good chance that the springs are the same for the 2nd gens.
spooln30 Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 I believe the rear knuckles are different from a Outback then the others and help give the height. Has anyone ever tried the Bilstein B4 struts?
johnegg Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 I believe the rear knuckles are different from a Outback then the othersnope, 95 - 99 outback, GT, LSi, Lego L, and forester are all identical. (unless one of the cars happens to not have ABS) brightons and low end imprezas will swap as well but some do not have ABS.
Stevo F Posted January 5, 2014 Author Posted January 5, 2014 So it sounds like the consensus is- When it comes time for struts, Outback struts would basically bolt and work with my Legacy springs and I should get some additional ride height out of it. Actually for a second Subie I wouldn't mind finding a '96 Outback with EJ22 and 5 speed manual (model BG4). It would have a 2.2, manual transmission for the snow, and the Outback's look and ground clearance without having to piece this together myself.
johnegg Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 So it sounds like the consensus is- When it comes time for struts, Outback struts would basically bolt and work with my Legacy springs and I should get some additional ride height out of it. true. about 2 inches. and with the added height, you can install bigger tires, maybe another 1/2 inch in height. but bigger tires will throw off your speedo.
jp71ss Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Did you get leather seats from me? I am still trying to remember who got them. Anyway I still have the 98 outback here with all 4 struts complete with about 115,000 miles on them.
boattlebot Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 ok so slightly new question here, i want to lift my subie wagon about 2 inches, but i want coilovers for alignment reasons. any ideas on how i can make that happen? ive been thinking about the raceland ones for $ reasons and my first pair of coilovers, and i was thinking about using spacers front and back and jacking the coils up to thier max hight, some input would be great
DJBRANDER Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 ok so slightly new question here, i want to lift my subie wagon about 2 inches, but i want coilovers for alignment reasons. any ideas on how i can make that happen? ive been thinking about the raceland ones for $ reasons and my first pair of coilovers, and i was thinking about using spacers front and back and jacking the coils up to thier max hight, some input would be great I have racelands... They are pretty alright. Spend the extra money on the pillow ball upper mounts. The only thing that sucks that if you want front camber adjustment in the top hats is you need GC8 top hats. But since raceland tech support is a bunch of jerkwads they wont install GC8 top hats nor will they send you some separate. I'm going for low, and they are pretty decent, stiff though. If you do install them and raise them up make sure you at least keep the spring pre-tension low. And idk how much abuse they can take, I already bent one of mine (it was replaced under warranty)and I dont off road, but I do live in the windy city which is full of dinosaur extinction sized pot holes.
boattlebot Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 idk how much abuse they can take, I already bent one of mine (it was replaced under warranty)and I dont off road, but I do live in the windy city which is full of dinosaur extinction sized pot holes. thanks for the heads up on that, i do go offroading when i can ( not to much but enough to say i do) sounds like i might want to go higher quality or maby good forester struts and springs with camber bolts and caster plates up front and spacers all around that will be about the same price as the coilovers and sounds like for my pourpose better results
05.GT.Ryan Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 I know this is a late responce but I went with ISC coilovers and raised it 1.5 inches around... Gonna run you 1000$ for the coilovers and then install and alignment but if your interested in changing height when summer comes around you'll also be able to drop it low.. I didn't read the complete post so if any of that helps great if not oh well
boattlebot Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 well if this job works out im lookin at around 500 for the wheels and tires... the rims would look sweet on my wagon, and i changed direction. ima just wait for my wrx to start really lookin at true performance and just make this wagon a nice street cruiser wit a little power
natetru Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Did you get leather seats from me? I am still trying to remember who got them. Anyway I still have the 98 outback here with all 4 struts complete with about 115,000 miles on them. selling struts? springs included or bare struts? price shipped to 46063 if for sale ??
TexasLegacy2.5GT Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Does anyone know if 03 outback struts and springs work with our 2nd gens to increase ride height.
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