Another SF vs SG strut thread (sry Dura)

E.J.

E.J.

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Atlanta, Georgia USA
So I just went and had a great time at a meet through one of those other Subaru forums. There was a big raffle that included a 2" strut top lift;) I didn't win it but the tuner dude who did score it wasn't interested, so after some horse trading it looks like I'm going up some more :twisted:

Right now I'm on raised kings, 1" Subtitle Solutions blocks, and pretty worn out SF struts. I've got pretty fresh 215/75 15" tires that fit fine (bearly) under the SF struts with the help of 35mm offset on the wheels. The plan is to replace the struts while I've got everything out to swap the blocks. I'm a happy camper with this tire size and after the MPG hit going this big I'm probably not going bigger, well if I do it'll be for something so eppically big that wheel spacers would have to come into play regardless of the strut :lol:

Soooo with those considerations should I consider SG struts or stick with SF's and their apparently longer travel?
 
Go SG and you wont regret it. Best thing I did. Use SF spring and SF top hat.
I chewed out some 225/70r15 tyres by runninf them fpr a year with the SF struts. When offroad dirt wpuld always build up inbetween the tyre and strut causing it to remove the paint from the strut and making it rust.
 
+1 go SG rear struts. Fronts stick with SF as SG doesnt change anything.

Are you replacing the Subtle blocks with the new 2" blocks?
 
Yeah, replacing Subtitle blocks for the new ones and keeping keeping the Kings on. No problems running SG's on the front? I'm going to replace all four, one of my fronts is starting to clunk.
 
What I meant was get new SF front struts. Not sure if there's any compatibility issue with SG fronts, dont think there is, but I like to stay stock as much as possible unless there's a clear advantage
 
Go SF front struts, the spring perches are 15 mm higher than the SG's...
 
Measured the SF and SG front struts today…

SF has 380 mm housing with 170 mm stroke and total length from lowest bolt to top hat is 565 mm

SG has 375 mm housing with 190 mm stroke and total length from lowest bolt to top hat is 585 mm

The spring perch sits 15 mm lower on the SG
 
I don't know as I had Dobinsons (30mm higher) springs on SF struts but the OEM SG spring is longer (1/2 loop) than the OEM SF spring.

I think (as I haven't tested it) that SG struts on 4 corners of an SF is the way to go...
 
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Late to this conversation but very interested. :cool:

If I read this correctly, SGs have longer travel and taller springs but lower bottom spring perches.
This would fit when comparing gen1 OB struts to SFs. the OB's have more tire clearance room (i.e. higher, lower spring perches) but that's with SFs having longer travel and taller springs.

As such, could the ideal combo for lift and max tire size be SG springs in gen 1 OB struts? I know front SF springs need the forester upper perch to mount those springs into OB struts, and I read SG springs are interchangeable with SFs, so therefore SGs would need the forester upper spring perch to mount into OB struts (front, rar is not an issue with OB vs. forester upper perch/tophat). . .

The argument would then become: strut travel vs. tire size in the best combo discussion. I would offer that milimeters of travel would be negligible for the lift gains and would posit that gen 1 OB struts with SG springs would be the ideal commbination for going with factory components.
A curve here is [I can attest to] SVX springs in gen 1 OB struts; that affords a stiffer ride and an inch lift over gen 1 OB springs, and I might argue they could be stiffer even than SG springs, but that might be a moot argument as their availability is likely limiting when commpared to SG spring avilability.

at any rate, this is a good thread and answers questions I've had ofr years. :monkeydance:
 
The SG front spring perch is high enough to fit larger tires, so sure I'd go the SG struts on 4 corners on an SF because what we need off road is articulation, lift can be gotten with strut blocks easily :)
 
So SG struts on all corners is the way to go?
With SF springs, and SF tophats?
Any experience yet?
 
SG struts on all corners with SG springs front and SF springs and top hats rear.

Then you can see how much lift you want front and rear.
 
Thanks JF,
I already have 1" Subtle lift kit ready to install..
With SG struts on all corners and, lets say IronMan springs (SF Rear / SG front), will it be balanced front / rear.
I dont want a situation to be the front higher than the rear.
So what is you're setup at this moment including lift?

And SG struts / SG springs in the front, would I use SG top hats or must I use SF top hats?
 
I haven't tried the IronMan springs but Subforest72 did and said the front sits too high…seems the best option is King springs…that I haven't tried either ! I first had some Dobinsons on all corners but the rear were too harsh so I kept the fronts and installed the SF oem springs on SG self-levelling struts in the rear and it was a very nice ride. I also had 1" home made spacers.

SF and SG front top hats are the same.

I then had an opportunity on some Proflex evo2 coil overs that work well but are really meant for rally driving, too harsh for a daily with a family…even with softer springs (27 N/mm) and a softer hydraulic setup.

I now just have installed some HotBits DT2 coil overs with all the specifications I asked for…very long stroke, oem dampening that can be hardened on compression and droop, adjustable height…. and they just seem perfect for me ! Pics and write up on my members journal soon...
 
tweaksta, yes you need to use the sf rear top hats though
 
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