Technical Suspension Question (Serious Help)

[Kampfzentrum]

OK, my fellow Soob owner Miles recommended me here as he said the tech advice I'd be getting would be a bit better. Let's begin...

 

I own a '05 Impreza RS. I'm looking to do a bit of off-road and want to lift my car from its current ride height. I really don't want to lift so much as to change the suspension geometry and mess with the subframe, so I'm thinking about 1.5" of lift. I am set on using an adjustable strut with this lift, and I'm leaning towards the Tokico D-spec.

 

Now, when I ask this question on DI, I get the "buy a Subtle/Jackson rally 1" spacer" response. No, I don't want to do that, to me that is not a functional lift. I want strut travel and not only .5" before I'm hitting on the bump stop. Therefore, it comes down to the spring. Which is where the issue rests.

 

Right now I have USDM STi springs that I purchased awhile back and thought they would be the way to go - bad move. Today I am thinking that the best thing to do would be to get OEM Outback springs, but I've heard that they wouldn't fit (why not?). I don't want Forester springs as there would be too much modding. I just want a 1.5" lift...

 

Can somebody give me some help?

[Gloyale]

Sounds to me like you already know what you want.

 

 

 

Seriously.....If you want more travel you need longer STRUTS not just longer springs.

 

 

The route I would go is to install a set of 96-99 Outback struts and springs.

 

They will fit. You may have to swap your original IMP tophats on the rear, but the fronts will be bolt on.

 

For a touch more rear lift, use Forrester tophats on the outback strut and spring.

 

May want to grab the trailing arm mount for a OB or FORRESTER at the rear as well....not nessecary, but helps recenter the wheel and gives a hair more downtravel before binding.

[MilesFox]

I was making some suggestions to Steve (op)about shock travel vs overall lenght of strut.

 

I mentioned when i put frester struts in my legacy, the shock part of the strut had more travel than the height of the spring, and i would get the car jouncing up and slamming onto the spring.

 

what i was saying is to find a spring that will fill out the strut travel, be a little tighter and have a little hight from the springs alone, as to not max out the axle angles by having also a longer strut.

 

this is where steve is coming from, spring height and TRAVEL instead of just a taller strut(unless the strut has more travel than oem 2.5i impreza)

[TheLoyale]

Gloyale, thats exactly what I said to him in person..

 

Steve, I would run the complete Outback strut as its longer with a custom longer tighter spring, to take up any slack. I said that about 4 times Lol..

 

Cheers,

-Tom

Edited February 28, 2010 by TheLoyale

[MilesFox]

Lets let Steve get some other opinions. He has been banging his head and getting shut down with the same non-detailed answers everywhere else. Hence i suggested to come to USMB to talk to folks that have torn apart and assembled enough stuff to know what fits, vs other forums

[TheLoyale]

Very good, I agree on getting all types of opinions (Best way to gain knowledge)

 

Good luck Steve.

[Kampfzentrum]

The route I would go is to install a set of 96-99 Outback struts and springs.

 

They will fit. You may have to swap your original IMP tophats on the rear, but the fronts will be bolt on.

 

This is the best news I've heard in awhile. Thank you "Elite Master of the Subaru" - you've earned it. However, I've already dropped $400+ on Group-N tophats, so will the Outback springs fit? I think so, just wanted to check. Please let me know.

 

Tom, seriously, I listen to everything you guys say. But that first night when we met and you suggested Outback springs, I went back home and checked with a few reliable sources about them and was told that anything 2001+ will NOT fit. F I T M E N T is the key here. If we all kicked back in Miles garage to do my suspension install and - after pulling everything apart - found out that 2005 Outback springs didn't fit, I doubt you'd be saying:

 

...thats exactly what I said to him in person...

 

I've got to do some research here. I don't want to start pulling out without proper knowledge of what will go back in. If you would have said, "'96 to '99 Outback springs will fit" I would have bought them that night. But instead I got a vague answer that would not have worked. So believe me, I listen, but I'm doing some research beforehand.

 

So, before this issue is closed, lets finalize it. I got:

 

'99 Outback springs

Tokico adj. D-specs (w/ Scooby strut spacers)

Group-N front/rear tophats

 

Can I get a solid "hell yeah" before going on? Also, can somebody recommend a vendor that I can get OEM springs at? I seriously cannot find anything, and I'd hate to buy used from 1999.

 

Thanks a ton.

[TheLoyale]

Steve, Lol that is very true. I know you listened to everything that was said at these meets, I was just stating that you were already inforumed about such things. Plus I should have said the year of outback, but everytime I think of Outbacks I think of the 1st gen (96-99) Sorry I didn't make it clear on which moldel struts.

 

Anyway, let me do some checking around at online stores and see if I can find some some 1st gen OB springs for ya.

 

-Tom

[Kampfzentrum]

Anyway, let me do some checking around at online stores and see if I can find some some 1st gen OB springs for ya.

 

-Tom

 

Sweet, that would be wonderful, because I'm all out of ideas.

[TheLoyale]

Damn, you know I've been searching for 2 hours last night using different keywords and whatnot and been to tons of sites and I can not find any place where you can by stock OE springs! All I keep seeing is STi Springs for late model imprezas. I would have thought that Rockauto would have springs, but guess not.

 

Well your other two options would be to A. go to the dealer and see what they want for new springs. Or B. Go to a yard and pull some springs. I mean really, springs from a '99-'96 OB won't really be that worn, the stablizer its self might be crap, but the spring will hold up much better over the years. Hell the struts on my '92 EA82 are still fine, pushes the wheels to the ground.

 

So its all up to which way you want to go, I am guessing that the dealer might want anywhere from $80 to $120 per spring.

 

-Tom

[Kampfzentrum]

Damn, you know I've been searching for 2 hours last night using different keywords and whatnot and been to tons of sites and I can not find any place where you can by stock OE springs! All I keep seeing is STi Springs for late model imprezas. I would have thought that Rockauto would have springs, but guess not.

 

Finally! Somebody who can feel my pain! I've never went to a junkyard and pulled, you know a place like that out here where that is possible? I'd be up for doing that, I'm wondering how much they'd charge for that.

 

I have a lead on a '98 Outback right now that a guy is parting out. He's got 170k on it and seemed to use it as a rally car - I'm worried the springs will be shot. I'm still looking, cause I'm not giving up.

[Kampfzentrum]

Well all, I've received some news that breaks it all...

 

I contacted King Springs and they had this to say:

 

Thankyou for your enquiry,

 

We have King Springs Part No's KSFR-22 (front - 124-146mm ID) & KSFL-48 (rear - 98-133mm ID) to raise your vehicle approximately 20mm from factory std height.

 

These springs are designed with an increase in spring rate of approximately 25%.

 

RRP is $ 170.00 + GST per pair front

RRP is $ 170.00 + GST per pair rear.

 

Please contact the following King Springs Distributors for a price & availability in your area:

 

Autobarn, AutoPro, Checkpoint, Fulcrum, Repco, Supercheap, Bursons & most leading suspension specialists

 

I am liking this a whole lot. It is a little bit more than I wanted to pay, but what the hell. But the problem is... I CANNOT FIND THESE THINGS ANYWHERE EITHER!!!

[TheLoyale]

Hmm, I've never really looked into King Springs. I know the Aussie guys run them alot. As for finding them around here, huh? I will check around with those part numbers tonight an see what I find.

 

As for pulling your own struts, you can try the "Subaru Heaven" junkyard out in Cambridge, about 20 miles from Madison, Its on hy 16 and hy 12 (I've been there 3 times) He might have them on the shelf and might not want to much for 4 complete struts.

 

If you want I have there phone number its: (608) 423-4307, Mike and Cindy Cutrano.

 

you can also email them at SubaruHeaven@msn.com.

 

OR, you can call up David Barthel. He is the main tech at the yard. His number is (608) 576-2036. and his email is The_Subaru_Guru@Yahoo.com

 

Hope this helps.

[TheLoyale]

The problem with King Springs is, they are an Australian company. So trying to find suppliers in the U.S is hard sometimes, Every site I have been to was either .au or .nz

 

Here is a link with some part numbers just for the hell of it, scroll down to the Subaru page (16)

 

King Spring Part Numbers, LOW, STD, RAISED

 

Something to gander at for now

[Zefy]

not sure why everybody is wanting 96-99 OB springs. I think it's because they are straight and not tapered...?

 

I believe your RS is going to have tapered springs. (bottom is larger dia than the top for the rear)

 

your gr.N top mounts should be this style. I would recommend 04-07 Forester XT springs and struts. Newer components, more readily available. check on nasioc.com. they pop up there every once and a while. i got a full set with 40k km on em for 80 bucks complete. Most seem to go for about 100-300 for the full set though. these are designed for your chassis.

 

if that's to much lift (it really isn't extreme amounts) just run forester struts with stock RS springs or RS struts with forester springs... both will yield about the same amount. check this thread out to get ideas. this has been covered extensively.

 

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1228188

 

good luck!

[T'subaru]

http://www.kingsprings.com/

Worth a check, but you would be importing fron Australia.

[Kampfzentrum]

Yeah, I found a guy in the US that has 1 set available - but I'm not telling a soul who it is till I get them!

 

Man, I fought so hard to get some decent answers about the Foz struts/springs. I hate to do it, but I'm going to drop a little $$$ and get something that I like. I worked too hard trying to find the appropriate Outback or Forester spring/strut combo and nobody could tell me anything. I've been racking my head on this issue for months now and still have a pair of STi springs that I bought prematurely. I'm going to have to lay this issue to rest and just drop $1,000 and get my Tokico D-specs and King Springs.

 

This is the only way I can jump bridges in my Soob like the Blues Brothers did - which I'll be trying out immediately after.

 

Buckle up Tom, we got some serious garage work coming up this springs. I'm dropping about $2,000 total on the suspension.

[TheLoyale]

Holy Crapola! Jumping bridges jake and Elwood style! Gonna hit up Sears afterwards, Grab some baby cloths and a new Oldsmobile

 

-Tom

 

Yeah, I found a guy in the US that has 1 set available - but I'm not telling a soul who it is till I get them!

 

Man, I fought so hard to get some decent answers about the Foz struts/springs. I hate to do it, but I'm going to drop a little $$$ and get something that I like. I worked too hard trying to find the appropriate Outback or Forester spring/strut combo and nobody could tell me anything. I've been racking my head on this issue for months now and still have a pair of STi springs that I bought prematurely. I'm going to have to lay this issue to rest and just drop $1,000 and get my Tokico D-specs and King Springs.

 

This is the only way I can jump bridges in my Soob like the Blues Brothers did - which I'll be trying out immediately after.

 

Buckle up Tom, we got some serious garage work coming up this springs. I'm dropping about $2,000 total on the suspension.