AWDsome Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Hey guys and gals! Im new to the board, havent gotten a chance to do my intro thread yet but needed to ask a quick question. So I looked through a bunch of the pages in this area to find something about my topic but didn't see anything so if there is already something about it I apologize ahead of time. My question is, I have a 92 Legacy Wagon and want to put the Forester struts on to begin my lifting project. I can get the full strut assembly for $75 a piece at my local junk yard just need to know what year of Forester I can use the struts from. Thanks everyone! Can't wait to start my lift project and share the journey!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 98-08, but I think you will have to use your strut tops, or at least the rear ones. I know those were different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I should add that 03-08 had higher spring perches in the rear if you wanted to run a bigger tire than 27" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Awesome!!! Thanks Bratman! And ya I figured I'd have to use the top hats. Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Hey guys and gals! Im new to the board, havent gotten a chance to do my intro thread yet but needed to ask a quick question. So I looked through a bunch of the pages in this area to find something about my topic but didn't see anything so if there is already something about it I apologize ahead of time. My question is, I have a 92 Legacy Wagon and want to put the Forester struts on to begin my lifting project. I can get the full strut assembly for $75 a piece at my local junk yard just need to know what year of Forester I can use the struts from. Thanks everyone! Can't wait to start my lift project and share the journey!!! For $75 bucks a pop you can buy brand new struts from KYBOutlet.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Would they be complete with springs or only just the struts. I need the springs too is why I thought $75 for a complete strut with everything I need wasn't bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Unless the legacy spring and the forester spring are the same length and the only difference is the length of the strut. I'm just trying to get the most lift out of the struts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Legacy spring and Outback springs are the same length. Rear forester's are longer and the spring seat is further down on the strut to match. This also limits rear tire clearance on the forester. For $75 a piece junkyard struts are not worth it. You will need to take apart the rear struts anyway to swap your strut caps on to fit the gen1 legacy body, so there isn't much labor savings either. Buy struts for a 98 Legacy Outback. Use your springs and strut caps on them. You will likely need an extra washer under the nuts that hold the strut to the strut cap in the rear because the newer struts threads don't go down as far so the nut won't clamp tight. Cut the brake line bracket on the strut in the flat area after you pull the clip off, then bend the two tabs up, sneak the brake line out, and do the same thing on the new strut to avoid having to take apart the brake lines and bleed the brakes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Thanks for the info WoodsWagon. I actually cut the break line brackets already on the front struts that are on the car now... I actually found a complete set of struts from a guy in the Subie Club I'm in off an '04 Forester XT with 40k miles on them for $150 that I'll be picking up Wednesday. That's half the price of anywhere else I've looked for struts, even the junk yard. I appreciate everyone's help and info/knowledge/wisdom! I'll post pics as soon as I get them on and as soon as I figure out how to post pics. Haven't completely read the how To's yet. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Legacy spring and Outback springs are the same length. Rear forester's are longer and the spring seat is further down on the strut to match. This also limits rear tire clearance on the forester. For $75 a piece junkyard struts are not worth it. You will need to take apart the rear struts anyway to swap your strut caps on to fit the gen1 legacy body, so there isn't much labor savings either. Buy struts for a 98 Legacy Outback. Use your springs and strut caps on them. You will likely need an extra washer under the nuts that hold the strut to the strut cap in the rear because the newer struts threads don't go down as far so the nut won't clamp tight. Cut the brake line bracket on the strut in the flat area after you pull the clip off, then bend the two tabs up, sneak the brake line out, and do the same thing on the new strut to avoid having to take apart the brake lines and bleed the brakes. The bit about the Foresters having a lower spring perch is only for the 98-02's. The 03-08's have a higher spring perch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 Hey everyone so I installed the '04 Fozzy struts and now the front sits higher than the rear. I have some weight in the back but I wouldn't think it would be enough to make a difference plus when I push down on the front of the car its nice and stiff but the rear is kind of soft. These struts only have 40k miles on them so idk what's going on. I measured from the bottom of the rocker panel to the ground on on the back and front and there was an 1 1/2" difference. I'm not really liking it. Was hoping to have the same height front and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 That's somewhat common. If you can find some saggy butt spacers that fit your rear top hats, they would help even it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 This is because forrester tophats add some height in the rear too. Since you had to use the legacy ones, you lost a little height. You could swap to Forrester springs to help some, and a HDPE spacer will help even more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 This is because forrester tophats add some height in the rear too. Since you had to use the legacy ones, you lost a little height. You could swap to Forrester springs to help some, and a HDPE spacer will help even more. Especially if you use 98-02 Forester springs on your Forester XT struts. They are a little longer, so they compress a bit more in the strut and hold the rear end up a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDsome Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 OK well I actually used the forester springs. Only think I used legacy was the rear top hats. Everything else is forester. These are from an '04. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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