What struts can I use to lift my 96 imp outback

[iathon]

I got a 96 impreza outback and want to lift it with the "forester/lgeacy struts" What years can i use and make model etc. was looking on ebay and posting up but want to make sure i get the right parts!

[L and E Fab.com]

Forester Struts from the first gen forester will fit for sure.

you can use the forester springs or impreza springs to get the height you want.

[iathon]

so if i keep my struts but swap the spring it will give me a lift?

[I Like It Sideways]

Anything from 93-01 should swap in. The struts would be a good bet, and the forester springs alone, like L&E said, will give you a raise.

[409industries]

so if i keep my struts but swap the spring it will give me a lift?

IIRC the forester struts will give you more lift than you can get from the outback struts. Someone correct me if i am wrong.

[dome24]

if you use forester springs on the impreza strut, it will give you lift, but the strut piston isn't long enough so it puts lots of preload on the coil jarring your fillings loose on speed bumps
Forester Strut with Impreza coil gives a few inches but its really soft and it feels kinda floaty when you hit a bump
Now i Have 99 Forester struts adn coils with 97 Impreza upper spring perch and top mount, very firm ride and ~13" of ground clearance :twisted:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/dome24/Subaru/00800010.jpg

[kreitz3]

That's sweet!

[iathon]

so if i get the forrester struts i should just swap out the top hats with the stock mimpreza ones?

[Blix666]

that is friggin' awesome d. if i did just a lil' more off-roading, and a lot less daily-drivin', i'd be all over this.

[iathon]

/how is your mpg with that setup?

[dome24]

so if i get the forrester struts i should just swap out the top hats with the stock mimpreza ones?

Thats what I did, My top hats are stock/KYB Impreza's

I actually don't do a whole lot of off roading this year, My back up vehicle is smashed right now so I can't take too many risks with this one right now.
I am a legal courier in Downtown so most of my driving is stop and go a block, shut it down run some stairs, start and drive a few blocks, shut her down etc etc so my milage sucks but i get around 16-18 on a normal fill up, about 180 to a tank :| But when i get on the hiway it goes wayyyy up, i think i got 24 when i went to FBX in september(700 Mile RT at 65 most of the way)

Im going out to take some pix right now acutally so ill post more when i get home :waving:

[RunDMC]

I have a 2000 Outback Sport. I want to lift with Forester struts/springs. It appears that I can use 99-2001 Forester struts/springs. Can I use other years too? Anyone have a compatibility chart between the two models struts? OBS seems to have the same struts from 93-2001.

Is the Forester the same from '98-02? Are these interchangeable? I was told that '98 fronts were different from later years. True? How?

Also, I will get camber bolts, but wonder if I can get the camber back in spec or how much it will be out. Anyone have any experience with this?

Any other parts I should be expecting to buy? Other ride weirdness?

I use the car mainly in city/hwy driving, but take frequent camping trips that require more ground clearance. Hoping to get that but not affect normal driving too much.

Thanks.

[lminette]

If you wanna get rid of your stock stuff let me know provided they are in good working order!!

[Zap]

96 OBS with 96 Legacy Outback springs and struts vs my wife's stock 96 OBS set up.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/data/500/obsdif2.jpg

[Ceezer]

That's a pretty substantial difference there. And the Forester setup is even more of a lift?

Is that enough room to clear a set of 31s, or will the front & rear of the wheel well present clearance problems?

[wolfman79]

I'm going with Forester struts/springs on my OBS. Will post pics up after I get them in.

[my01rs-t]

I wanna lift my GC now. Bad. What do I need?

[MilesFox]

i put 98 forester struts on my 98 legacy. i got a little lift in the front, and the struts inthe back were long enough i had to force the controlarm down just to put them in

the forester is impreza based

when i swapped in my struts i used the existing sprins and strut caps for both the front and rear

the rear has a lot of travel so if i found some taller springs(OB) then i'm sure it would sit up better than 2 more inches

i noticed the strut below the spring perch is longer on the ofresters, thus the added height

right now my car sits like a standard legacy outback with 15 inch wheels.