Suspension Confusions - Shocks and Struts.

[Kampfzentrum]

I get a lot of great input from DI, love all you guys, but I got some feedback awhile ago and was referred to a few parts concerning what I wanted to build. I wanted something lifted that I could take off road, but wasn't looking to race competitively.

I got the suggestion to get USDM STi springs, that they would "lift" my car. However, today at a meet I was told that STi springs will drop my car, and that the best way to roll would be Outback suspension parts. Also, Tokico adj. struts would be best, but was told KYB Outback struts were the way to go.

Can you help a brother out, I need some input!

Oh yes, LIFT, that is what I want. I have an '05 RS. Thanks.

[carl]

there are already lots of threads on lifting you car... have you searched at all?

[Kampfzentrum]

there are already lots of threads on lifting you car... have you searched at all?

Am I on NASIOC? Yes, I searched. Have you seen what comes up? And frankly this isn't the issue, so thanks for the input Carl!

[carl]

Am I on NASIOC? Yes, I searched. Have you seen what comes up? And frankly this isn't the issue, so thanks for the input Carl!
really? you can't find any other posts that cover this? yes, I looked and what comes up is relevant????

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12810&highlight=lift

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12604&highlight=lift

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14356&highlight=lift

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13112&highlight=lift

sti springs will lower the car. tokico dpsecs are the best strut for the money imo. it depends on what you want for spring rates with your lift - there are lots of options

[Kampfzentrum]

Man, I'm telling you, I've used that search feature and that didn't come up.

I got the suggestion from a really reputable source on here that STi springs would give me lift, and here they obviously are not doing that. Man, that really burns. Boy did I get some bad advice.

Yeah, exactly what this guy did, get USDM STi springs and Jackson Rally spacers - boy what a drag.

[carl]

sti springs are a great spring rate - I loved my sti springs on dspecs for rallyx but they will drop your ride height. how much ground clearance are you trying to achieve?

[Sundog]

I have a 2006 2.5i and I used 05 Forester struts and springs for about 2" of lift. It was a direct swap and drives great with plenty of ground clearance.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/lift006.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/lift010.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/lift011.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/lift008.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/inkpreza/lift007.jpg

[Kampfzentrum]

SUNDOG!!! I want the specs on your lift! THAT IS WHAT I MUTH$F&%KIN' want!

I will PM you tomorrow. Man, I love your ride, give it to me!

[Jard]

Yeah, exactly what this guy did, get USDM STi springs and Jackson Rally spacers - boy what a drag.

USDM STi springs and Jackson Rally 1" spacers should net you about a 1/2" lift. The STi springs don't drop much.

If money is not an issue, call Primitive Racing and look into the King Springs.

[MilesFox]

I'll post what i suggested to you the other day just so everyone else knows whay ou got as advice.

I suggested forester/outback struts and your choice of springs. the forester/outback struts are physically longer.

I did this on my 95 legacy using stock springs. outback springs, or non outback springs with spacers would take up the extra travel in the strut.

KYB gr-2 is the direct oem replacement, about 80 bucks each. You can go for a better aftermarket brand applicle to forester/outback

good luck with 'search', it can be hard to narrow a search down to specific content sometimes. If we do the work at my garage, you may want a professional alignment done afterward(your preference once again, i just installed mine and drove it like it was)

[Kampfzentrum]

If we do the work at my garage, you may want a professional alignment done afterward(your preference once again, i just installed mine and drove it like it was)

Yeah, chances are I'll probably be leaning on you for the garage. If I order springs and struts together in an order will they assemble in house? No big deal I guess.

I'll definitely get an alignment after.

I do like that look that Sundog's got, that is what I want.

[Kampfzentrum]

Man, I'm getting really bad reviews on the KYB's GR-2. Does anyone have anything good to say about them? I mean, are they going to be a great daily driver shock and then the first time they take a pounding sh*t on me?

I like the price, but I also don't want to get a steamer shat on my chest.

[MilesFox]

kyb's are what comes up as oem replacement for stock grade struts. I never beat mine long enough to see how they lasted, i sold the car soon afterward.

I would like to consider other brands for when i get into my own project, let me know what else you find out about other brands

i have seen pictures of strut inserts that can be stuffed into a stock strut tube

[Jard]

Man, I'm getting really bad reviews on the KYB's GR-2. Does anyone have anything good to say about them? I mean, are they going to be a great daily driver shock and then the first time they take a pounding sh*t on me?

I like the price, but I also don't want to get a steamer shat on my chest.

good = they are cheap

The rest of what you said is pretty much right though.

[carl]

like what people already said, the gr2 is a stock replacement - it's not meant as an upgrade, it's basically stock. take that as you will

[sebhockey]

Am I on NASIOC? Yes, I searched. Have you seen what comes up? And frankly this isn't the issue, so thanks for the input Carl!

This isnt NASIOC, most people don't just tell you to search on here. We tend to be a very unique crowd over here, so most people are going to have unique questions that can't be answered just by searching, so don't let it get to you.

The most common way people use to lift their cars on here is to use forester springs and struts as pictured in here already.

[Kampfzentrum]

OK, I'm going to light this thread up again.

To rehash, I have USDM STi springs (waiting) and wanted Tokico D-specs. I found out late that the STi springs would lower, so I should just get Subtle/Jackson 1" spacers. However, I want more left (the spacers would put me at about 1/2" above my current/stock ride height) and don't want to compromise my strut travel because I got crappy springs. Bottomline, the STi springs aren't going to cut it - nor is that spacer idea.

So, I'm looking for springs. First I hear Outback, but I hear that Outback springs "won't work" on my car. Then I see Jard and his '06 Forester springs, but that changes the suspension geometry too much and frankly it is almost too high.

Here is what I want:


I want about 2" of lift off my stock height.
I want an adjustable shock so I can fine tune it.
I don't want to use a Subtle/Jackson 1" spacer.
I don't want this lift to change my suspension geometry that I have to get new arms, etc.
I don't want to kill my pocketbook on the springs, struts OK, but not the springs.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Newk_Rally]

well 2" lift will put you out of your ideal geometry and AFAIK OBS springs will work if from a similar year someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[RS MN]

well 2" lift will put you out of your ideal geometry and AFAIK OBS springs will work if from a similar year someone correct me if i'm wrong.


from everything ive read, OBS springs work great for a .75" lift.
the only thing is that they are apparently very soft springs.

im still thinking about picking up a set just for the hell of it.

[Kampfzentrum]

im still thinking about picking up a set just for the hell of it.

OK, here's the clincher...

Where do you find OBS springs? I've looked all over!

[RS MN]

throw up a WTB ad on all the forums.
NASIOC, RS25, iclub, your local forum, here.

hell if your willing to drive, ill even put up a WTB ad on the MN forum for ya.

there are always people replacing the stock OBS suspension for something lower, or stiffer, or for coilovers, you just need to wait for some stuff to come up.

[pigpen]

OK, here's the clincher...

Where do you find OBS springs? I've looked all over!

if you want new, any place that sells OEM subaru parts...

[Kampfzentrum]

if you want new, any place that sells OEM subaru parts...

That sounds easy, every place I've went to sell KYB GR-2 struts, but NO springs.

[MilesFox]

on the subject of suspension geometry..

first of all, i now have a 95 legacy and am considering the forester strut/spring combo to lift my ride.

with my previous 95 lego, i used forester kyb's all the way around on stock legacy springs(outback from 1995, just trim package, regular suspension 'pre-outback')

i got a little lift in the front. the rears went together without having to compress the spring, and did not sit as high. the strut seemed to have more travel than the spring itself, and the car would jounce up on bumps, and slam back down on the spring, since the travel was beyond the spring itself.

So...., i would think you would get lift with forester springs on regular struts, since the spring is taller, and you will have the travel, but not max out the suspension as much as the longer forester struts.

just a thought.

on USMB one of the guys is offering a deal to make 2 inch lift for legacy/impreza, and that would allow you to go with the tallest struts and the tallest springs without having extreme suspension geometry.

I am alost considering putting in the $$$ towards this offer. for the money involved in just to buy new forester struts, i could do this instead to start, and then upgrade from there. my investment would swap onto my next project car if i got into a better one
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=109323

[pigpen]

You must mean aftermarket springs for an OBS, because an OEM supplier wouldn't have KYBs. I assumed you meant OEM OBS springs because thats what people wanting OBS springs usually mean, since the aftermarket springs you would find for the OBS would be the same ones that you'd find for the other non-STi Imprezas. It is very hard to find aftermarket springs that come in full stock length without ordering them custom because an overwhelming majority of buyers want a drop.

So, you either get OEM OBS springs (which are soft) from an OEM supplier or the forums, or you will probably have to order a custom spring if you want a stiffer spring at full OBS length.

[patrickmc]

hey - I'm about to put the forester struts/springs in my OBS, so i'll be selling my springs. should be a week or 2. if you're still looking- hit me up i'm at patrick(dot)mcdougal(at)gmail.com

[deadbeatdude]

heres my lift its not much nut i like it

dspecs and king offrad springs
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj208/deadbeatdude/DSC01489.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj208/deadbeatdude/DSC01488.jpg

[deadbeatdude]

itll be one inch higher when i solve my camber issues

[snicker]

Who needs lift? Make yourself a thick-ass skid plate and scare the rocks out of the way!

[suby]

Who needs lift? Make yourself a thick-ass skid plate and scare the rocks out of the way!

i like this one!!!!

[Kampfzentrum]

Who needs lift? Make yourself a thick-ass skid plate and scare the rocks out of the way!

Like this:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa240/kampfzentrum/SkidPlate_1.jpg

Got this from Miles Fox off an old EA82 DL. Mounted right up! Not scary, but is so pretty it persuades rocks out of the way - he's quite charming.

And if that doesn't work:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa240/kampfzentrum/Struts.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa240/kampfzentrum/Lift_1.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa240/kampfzentrum/Lift.jpg

Yeeha! Urban baja time!

Group-N tophats, King Springs, D-specs, Stout Mounts, Perrin 22mm sway bar, and KartBoy endlinks! Oh man, does she handle beautifully now!

[xbeerd]

Yeeha! Urban baja time!



Has the car settled any more since last night?

[deadbeatdude]

my car has that exact setup funny