Ebay strut spacers, Good, Bad, Opinions?

[Jabbott126]

So i found these prowling ebay... Anyone have experience with this seller or other sellers on ebay? was the product what you expected? The only thing that came to mind for me was if these spacers would effect chamber/caster angle. and if it did would the chamber bolt on the strut be able to adjust for it?

 

EBAY SPACERS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-Lift-Kit-40mm-for-SUBARU-Forester-97-07-Impreza-00-07-Legacy-93-98/112459805543?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3Dc5394ff434d44a7695ca1dfca8b56428%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D162951277982%26itm%3D112459805543&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

Edited April 4, 2018 by Jabbott126

[GeneralDisorder]

Depends on what you are lifting. They look like a problem to me.

 

GD

[bratman18]

They're not camber correct. Better to spend a bit more money and get a good kit from someone like Andersondesign-fab.com

[Gloyale]

They would work OK on a low car already like an Impreza or a Standard Outback.  It's only 40mm which is like 1-1/2 inch.  Camber wouldn't be an issue.

 

But it's nearly as easy to swap to longer Outback or Forrester struts for the same effect with added travel.

 

Putting these on top of a strut lift would be iffy.........camber could be an issue.

 

Putting these on a stock outback or forrester, well......it might be ok but might be an issue with camber in the rear, might need camber bolts.

 

I used so home made HDPE, 1-1/2" spacers on my wifes 2003 Outback LL. Bean, it worked fine.  Had to remove rear swaybar (could have lowered it but decided to just remove)

Edited April 5, 2018 by Gloyale

[Jabbott126]

Cool thanks for the input I'm currently looking to install a lift in my 97 outback. I currently am getting 03 Forester struts but I would like a bit more than the 1 inch lift that I will get from that. Maybe I'll just go with the the 1 " strut spacers from either Anderson or subtle solutions

[Jabbott126]

https://andersondesign-fab.com/product/55/

 

These would be a better choice I'm guessing

[Gloyale]

Cool thanks for the input I'm currently looking to install a lift in my 97 outback. I currently am getting 03 Forester struts but I would like a bit more than the 1 inch lift that I will get from that. Maybe I'll just go with the the 1 " strut spacers from either Anderson or subtle solutions

 

You won't get any lift at all from 03 forester struts.  In fact you'll lose some tire clearance as the spring perch of the rears are lower on Forester struts.

 

Forester tophats are taller, that's where the taller stance comes from and it's on the 04+ not 03.

[GeneralDisorder]

Get King springs. And 04 Forester struts.

 

GD

[Gloyale]

Get King springs. And 04 Forester struts.

 

GD

 

04 struts aren't taller, and will have the wrong fitting for brake lines.

 

It's the tophats that are taller in 04+, not the strut.

 

I discovered this a few years ago, I put 04 struts on my then GF's 99 forester.......made not a damn bit of difference.  Side by side the struts were the same length, and about 3/4" lower perch than 96-99 Outback struts.

 

If you really want the lift from stock parts.........96-99 OB struts with  04+ forester rear tophats.

[Mitchy]

Apologies for the thread revival, but I have just fitted these same (30mm) spacers as a  test and economic stop-gap before I go to longer struts on the Legacy, so I thought it may be relevant.

No problems with the vendor, the struts came with their longer bolts too.

I was surprised to find these spacers offer a bit of squish, ie; they are somewhat soft compared to chopping board material or aluminium. They have mild steel crush tubes molded into them, to pass the bolts through, and these are internal diameter of 11mm on the fronts and 10mm on the rears, so the bolts can possibly dance or move over terrain, or cornering. I am sure that they are less than ideal.

The aluminium SubtleSolutions spacers are, in comparison, correctly threaded. These I fitted as a permanent method on the Forester some years back. They are still perfect.

On these cheapo eBay ones, I had to insert more material inside the tubes; a further steel tube of 10mm exterior and 8mm interior to fit snugly around the bolt. 

The fronts got an 8mm threaded rivet installed in each tube. See photos.

I am very concerned that should I leave them fitted for an extended period that the unpainted steel tubes will rust and seize the bolts, so buyer beware.

The spacers with the tube modifications now fit tightly and correctly, and the crush tubes, being a little shorter than the thickness of the spacer, allow a good snug fit when reinstalling the strut. To help matters the molded-in tube just slides in and out after a little persuasion.

I have had to reset the front camber bolts after the lift as the camber became very positive, just like on the Forester with 1” spacers. The rear appears to have little difference between stock and 1” lift.

All-in-all I do not rate these as ideal for a permanent method of lifting; they are soft, and they require modification of the bolt tubes, which will also rust easily if left unchecked.

Driving on them feels comfortable, the suspension and steering feels secure, no notable change on tarmac or off-road.

Photos of the bolt hole front modification-

bolt loose in the un-modded hole: 

The insert used for the mod:

Link to the installation:

 

Edited August 8, 2019 by Mitchy