superu

Welcome Dirtygst, I second what's been said to stick with outback struts on a legacy, however people here have flip-flopped those lines. Generally legacies lift with outback struts as a bolt-on preceedure. 95 & 96 go with 97-99, and 2000+ gets different in the rear. Imprezas lift with foresters, but the rear end of the IMP gets rked with a straight forester strut swap. With the IMP you'll have to change the rear tophats (where the strut mounts to the car), but OB struts just bolt right into a legacy (L, or GT, or whatever shorter model you have), within the given model lineup I've mentioned. You can also get a bit more hight with scorpion springs (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/...ght=outback_97) and king spring had a lift spring option to replace the OB coil. BUT I've recently received conflicting stories wheather King Spring is still in business. When I swapped 98 OB struts (with stock coil spring), I gained about 1.5 inches of height. This allowed for taller tires and now I'm running the 27.5x8 BFG AT/KO with NO problems. I've seen the smallest BFG AT/KO mounted to a stock 97 outback, with minimal rubbing on the inside of turn-to-turn wheel lock. This would go away with the scorpion/king spring lift spring. I stuck with the 14" wheel (got aftermarlet rims though) and had a couple different tire sizes since the strut lift, but the tallest was about 28" diameter and I had no problems with them. For you, I am not sure you can downsize to the 15" rim because your disk brakes might not llow it. My friend wanted to try my 14" wheels with the BFG tires on her 98 forester (which has 15" wheels and rear disk brakes), but the 14s were too small for the rear caliper. It may be a similar issue for you going from 16 down to 15... You may be able to grind the caliper down a bit, but I'm not positive about that... stock IMP straight FOR struts and springs Here, I mellowed out the rear with stock legacy springs BUT this wouldn't be a problem for you if you go with outback struts. Again, you could get a little more lift by swapping the coils for aftermarket lift springs as others have done here. I have attached some of my legacy during its evolution (stock, strut lift, tire options, and current)

Hey T, Nice work!! I like how tight the lines are to the grill, lights and fenders! Is this the DR leg you tod me about? Do you have plans/sketches for the skid plate? While this is an old post, you might be done with everything by now in which case post some newer pix! Here's an idea from my experience: keep the fenderlines and incorporate them with your new steel, and consider some kind of fender lining to extend onto the fabbed bumper, to keep mud and crud out from behind the bumper... here's a link of my modified Mudrat Baja bumper... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5819&d=1215705474

NICE, just hours from signing paperwork, you're out getting it dirty!! We look forwrd to progress updates on lifting it, are meatier tires in the works as well??

Simpreza2, Any updates? BTW, i covet your black grill

Hmm, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. AND to that... i think others had used scorpion springs. I guess i was using them synonomously. But good to know King isn't any more for my searching.

Hey Yeti, Yeah I saw your post on your lift. (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/...ad.php?t=49336) It sounds good, and outback_97 followed suit, and his looks sharp. I'm just concerned with going so high with a legacy. I've read about others have CV issues with their Legacies on higher lifts (don't remember off the top of my head, but i think there was a 95 or 96, and probly a first gen legacy or two with axle concerns going taller than JUST OB strut lift. Thanks! -mark-

Thanks for chiming in guys... outback_97 (from USMB) did GR2 AND kingspring LIFT OB springs a couple years ago. His pix look good!! I'm just curious if my legacy can handle the addition sretch of lift OB king or scorpio springs... OR if i do those spring spacers which go b/t the spring and the spring perch. Nipper, Thanks... Let me clarify a bit and try to prevent confusion (before it starts I'm not talking about a lift kit ALSO (like strut block kits..). I've been told that outbacks (and bajas) had like a body lift on top of taller struts. Or is it just the Baja that has body lift blocks compared to OBs? Anyway, as I understand it, other suspension parts are different from OB to legacies. More beefy in OB compared to legacies, rear swing arms, etc. (i can't picture in my mind right now what else is stronger in OBs then legacies) I met a guy in Eugene (can't remember his name, but he also has an ej-swapped EA82, red with a sweet mudrat roof rack) that had done the "complete" OB suspension swap to his 96? legacy. As in swing arms, sway bar, etc. ON TOP of OB struts... Thanks for the outback page reference, there's good info in there. (i think OU812 from there is now a newbie here ... Welcome!)

I recently ran across an older thread ( http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=58307&highlight=outback_97) but it seems like a good crowd for my question. I like the idea of the GR2 strut being a bit stiffer than stock, and am interested in the stiffness of the king springs. As I understand it, OBs have more than just struts when compared to legacies. OBs have little lift blocks, and different swing arms etc., so they can handle a bit higher lift from GR2's and kingsprings without negatively affecting axle geometry, whereas Legacies can deal with tires and OB struts, but the addition of lift kingsprings may be too much... SO, MY QUESTION(s)... (a bit of history first) I OB strut lifted my 95 legacy with rave reviews. I am now running the 27.8x8x14 BFG AT KOs and LOVE them. But with my modified baja bumper (mudrat product), the front sags a bit with added weight of all that steel (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/profile.php?do=editattachments). I'm thinking about replacing struts all around with GR2s (mine OB struts are starting to ooze and get old), so when I do this, I might as well make it better, right? SO I'm interested in maybe a little more lift and a bit more spring strength, so here is what I'm looking for info and opinions on: 1. Replacing the front springs with coils from an H-6 OB (would like 2004 H-6 OB coils fit on 99 OB struts?) 2. Replacing the front springs with kingsprings for OB (non lift springs) 3. Replacing all springs with king springs (lift or non lift, or lift in front on non lift in rear) 4. reusing the OB coils all around, but adding these 'nifty' spring spacers.. (http://www.jcwhitney.com/Coil-Springs/GP_2005889_N_111+1999+200729870+600003409_10101.jcw) Does anyone have any experience with these? Would they work on a strut? Has anyone done OB struts on a legacy AND lift kingsprings, or are all lift kingsprings sofar ONLY on OBs?? Thanks, -mark-

Hey Zap, so again, is that a king spring on a new KYB strut?? (and not trying to hijack, but i have related questions to OB strut-lifts here I'm curious about swapping king springs in my front OB-swapped struts for more strength to hold up my modified mudrat baja bumper and skid. I got a tip from Gregg to go for H-6 springs. But I'm not sure H-6 front springs will go into 96-99 OB struts.. Your opinion on the H-6 springs vs king springs? I think my modded bumper and skid are like 140ish pounds now, so I deffintely want more stregth up front than stock OB coils. . . thanx -mark-

JEEEZZ, as if I haven't been trying long and hard enough to get to Oregon for the last few years!! Man, I NEED to get up there to hang and play with you guys... Once a year for x-mas with the folks in K. Falls just doesn't cut it! The parts availability, the availabale and willing knolwedge base, the trails, the woods!!! DOOHH!!! So is that an airplane hanger you have to work in Gregg, are you really sure you have enough room to do your car work there?? Nice work on the hatch BTW, this's been coming together nicely and QUICKLY! -mark-

Is this yellow spring a King spring?? If so I have some ride-questions for you.. Anyhoo here's a shot of (from left to right) a FOR spring, LEG (non OB), and IMP.. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3997&d=1151171638 I also have a couple spring questions for you guys: Will an OB front spring from an H-6 go onto a 96-98 OB strut? Thanks, -mark-

Hey dude, I'd like to get some feedback from you on your DR new gen... John told me all about your good gas milage driving back to MT after the swap... Do you have the white OB with John's new gen baja bumper?? just PMed...

your "empowering" photo angles sure make it look higher than just an OB strut lift!

is it a stick or auto? Are you thinkning transmission mods too? Its a slipper slope, I'm here to say, going fo the off-road new gen legacy... But a fun one, to be sure!!

That is CRAZY FREAKIN' SICK!!!! I need to go back through its evolution to understand what all you did to get such crazy-strong torque and power through what looks like fairly stock machinery... Nice work and nice inspiration!! 2 thumbs WAY up

Hey all, My folks have an '07 forester, on a road trip to Portland this weekend, they lost one of their sets of keys (car key and alarm/keyless entry fob). The suby dealer in their home town wants over $200 for a replacement. Its a bit rediculous to be out $246 for losing your keys! So I'm looking for tips/advice/ideas to get them another set for a reasonable cost. Can they get a generic alarm fob like at an aftermarket car stereo/alarm shop and program it to their car, or are suby fobs specific somehow? OR is there a key trick to disarm the alarm without the push-button fob? ideas???

Cool!! That's more further info that I had and equates to correction taken It pays to spend some real time under the car, and you just taught me a bunch right there... Suby was smart in using the same components across 3 model lines! Go roo!! I was under the impression that it was lenghts and geometry that determines platform? I was indicating FOR and IMP have the same lengths and widths, essentially the same component locations (e.g. struts) thus the same platform, when compared to LEG, OB and Baja (when Bajas were manufactured) which have the same lengths and geometries in that model class. So, it sounds like many subframe components are interchangable, however, distances b/t them differs across models... This is what I was getting at for sharing platforms, those different distances dictated similar platforms (i.e. IMP-FOR and LEG-OB)... So in strut-lifting different models, I thought it was only FOR-IMP ind OB-LEG, but have heard of OB-IMP and FOR-LEG.... My experience is that top mounts for rear struts in IMPS is lower than in FOR (and I assume OB), so when doing the swap a shorter spring is helpful to avoid a raked rear end in the lifted IMP... Sorry, i'll stop there... This is good stuff, but I don't want to hijack this thread... There are probably many other threads this info could help substantiate... Gloyale, I PMed you yesterday , with a bunch of questions and seeking tranny info, etc. based on your lifted 1st gen LEG post..

Yup, aftermarket bumpers are key to changing approach angles, but I have yet to see an acceptable rear bumper mod for departure angle in new gen subies! Anyone out there with a modified rear bumper or bobbed new gen for a rear departure angle?? (pix: OB lifted 95 leg on BFGs, and my finally completed modified-mudrat bumper and post-mudrat custom skidplate, NOW i need better gearing:grin: )

NICE!! What mods have on done to the rig (Lift, tires, engine, gearing/tranny, etc.), and what're you running (tires, engine, tranny, etrc.)? I like the no doors, kinda fun and nice dents and no rear bumper!! good for you, REALLY off-roading the IMP, with happy kids in the back seat..

NICE WORK!! I've got some questions for you... Just PMed.. -mw-

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...

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-

Thanks all for the great info. I've been away from civilization for MOST of the last month... So I have an EA in my 95 legacy, and (e.g.) Loyales and GL wagons are EJ?? SO, to continue this dialogue... I'm interested in the proposition of a DR AWD 4.11 geared tranny (to mimic a US 96-99 AWD with 4.11 gearing, rather than my '95 3.90 geared tranny... Thusfar it seems I'd probably want an australian forrester DR 5spd (for the 4.11 gearing), rear end (4.11 geared) I can get here easy enough.. So, it sounds like australia has plenty of them, but shipping would be the bugger... Would anyone have an appoximate cost for buying the tranny, then a freight cost for shipping to the states from down under? I understand Europe has PLENTY as well, but purchasing from there may be more spendy, though shipping may be cheaper... Any estimates on purchase of a DR AWD 5 spd, then freight cost?? While I'm interested in the dual range AWD, I am now very seriously considering the EJ 5 spd DR swap some others have done (to get dual range in a new gen suby, somewhat opposite of getting an EA 2.2 or 2.5 block into an older, second or first gen suby) Thanks again, and many apopleze for such a lenghty delay in response... -mw-