99 legacy wagon lift help

[Nuzzi]

i just picked up a 99 legacy L wagon 30th anniversary, 2.5 auto. im looking into lifting it at least 2" for now, i just got into the suby scene so from what ive gathered 2" is max before having driveline issues, i know outback struts will give about 1.5", and forester will give about 2", but ive heard lots of different things about forester stuff fitting on a legacy, so that said my question is what year and model forester do i need to find for the struts to fit on my 99 legacy? and do i need just the springs and use outback struts or will the whole forester unit work? i also heard the forester struts have a lower bottom spring perch which doesnt allow as large of a tire compared to the outback strut. my local junk yard has two foresters right now i can easily get the struts from. thanks.

[wRxODEE]

Did you ever do anything with this? I just a lift on my 99 outback. And from what I have seen so far ask you need is any forester strut and springs. I did mine with an 06 and I know a gut who did it with 08 forster struts. It all swaps right over

[wRxODEE]

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/lifted-legos-148371.html

Go there too

[subydrift]

You want to look for 04+ Forester suspension. The pre 04 Foresters have the same suspension as the Outbacks.

[Suparu]

i just picked up a 99 legacy L wagon 30th anniversary, 2.5 auto. im looking into lifting it at least 2" for now, i just got into the suby scene so from what ive gathered 2" is max before having driveline issues, i know outback struts will give about 1.5", and forester will give about 2", but ive heard lots of different things about forester stuff fitting on a legacy, so that said my question is what year and model forester do i need to find for the struts to fit on my 99 legacy? and do i need just the springs and use outback struts or will the whole forester unit work? i also heard the forester struts have a lower bottom spring perch which doesnt allow as large of a tire compared to the outback strut. my local junk yard has two foresters right now i can easily get the struts from. thanks.


98-02 foresters (generation 1) have a lower spring perch than gen 1 (96-99) OB. gen 2 Forester (02-08) strut assemblies (strut, spring, upper spring perch for the front and tophats all around) will lift your legacy 2+ inches. It might be the perfect lift, but maybe a touch too high...

What I've found in playing with my 95 legacy is this.....
gen 1 OB struts, gen 1 forester springs (but you'll need the front upper spring perch) and either forester or OB tophats will give you about 2+ lift over stock legacy...

simplest is OB struts (go new if you can... it's better for the money. check out tirerack.com) and your legacy springs are fine (same as OB springs). But for a little more go for gen 1 forester springs (remember to get front upper spring perches too) in those OB struts.

gen 2 forester complete assemblies would also be easy, but since they lift an OB 1.5-2", it might lift your legacy 3+ inches which would stress the axles a bit.


I'm running gen 1 OB struts (KYB GR2) for a 99 OB, 99 Forester rear springs and 94 SVX front springs, BUT I have a tube muper and hugs skidplate in front, so the extra weight is fine for the taler, stiffer SVX front springs...

Here's perspective. . .
stock gen 2 (95-96) legacy left, my lifted 95 on the right:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TUMaXWQ7XQI/AAAAAAAAPEA/TtmNPwBHreI/P1010489.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TUMZ93PqVAI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/XWV0x-1L8uo/P1010459.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TT2b0vbh0QI/AAAAAAAAOzI/_AuYZDj93LI/P1010398.JPG

this is gen 1 FOR springs in the back and OB springs in front (remember my bumper weighs like 90 lbs, so my front sits a little lower than regular. BUT point here is FOR springs lift a bit more than OB/legacy springs)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TM2fyC3gAbI/AAAAAAAAMug/2kGGyS4JhTU/s640/DSCN9466.JPG

OB struts and springs all around
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TKCztoZWYiI/AAAAAAAAMBg/pi519zv7rXQ/DSC06990.JPGhttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_vV3XhlpDEVQ/TJ_6lOAn2uI/AAAAAAAALLo/_9sN7yyrGoA/DSC01299.JPG

the best way (I've found) to notice or compare lift is to look at the body line (bottom of doors) in relation to wheel center.

best of luck, I hope this was actually helpful and wasn't too much info.

[subydrift]

I have a full set of 1" HDPE spacers I'm trying to get rid of. If anyone is interested in lifting their legacy hit me up!