getting a forester tomoro couple general questions

bigem

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Joined
Jan 6, 2011
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5
Location
Melbourne, Vic
hi guys
1st post on here, gettin my 1st forester tomorrow got plans to do a little bit of off roadin in it. Just curious in what mods i need to do to get it following the boys in the big trucks? The 1 im gettin is a 06 auto do u have a switch to put it in and out of 4wd or is it always on?
thankyou
Em
 
Subarus are fulltime AWD. Since its an auto the torque is split 90% to the front and 10% to the back until slip where it become 50/50. Where as themanual is 50/50 all the time and has a low range gear box unless a turbo. With the autpo you can made a diff locking kind of switch which will lock it 50/50 all the mtime, I think. Other have done it on here, im not too sure since my isnt an auto. But that is very helpful offroad I have heard.

To keep up with the big trucks you might want to consider a 2" body or suspension lift since ground clearance is a problem, Bigger A/T tires, A metal sump guard to replace the plastic one (which can be torn off in sand), maybe a subaxtreme bullbar to help with approach and departure angle if you plan to do more rock and hill crawling rather than mud and sand. Thats about it I think. Just the All Terrain tires(even in standard size) make a huge difference and a lift to stop the body dragging along the ground. For offroading a sump guard is nessessary in our cars.

As stock the forester does supprisingly well offroad but when a few mods are done, even just tires, that makes a dramatic difference and is worthwhile :)

Oh Welcome aboard. Feel free to ask any other questions. Post some pics up when you get it too.
 
Thanks heaps for your help. got the front bar ordered in already, where would u go to get the metal sump guard? would a subaru dealer sell them or need to make 1?
 
bigem said:
Thanks heaps for your help. got the front bar ordered in already, where would u go to get the metal sump guard? would a subaru dealer sell them or need to make 1?
Click to expand...

You can get one from here or here, but I don't know if the 2nd link sources their sump guards from the first link or not, somebody else may know.
 
You can make one or buy one from subaxtreme or other companies. Would you mind filling in your location and telling us please. Just Country, state and City. It just helps us answer questions you may have.

Thanks
Taza
 
My 2 cents worth. My first modification was a sump guard, so I'd suggest doing the same. Next would be to get new tyres, All Terrains would be best. But I find more importantly (as I currently have Highway Terrain tyres) is to make sure that they are of Light Truck construction (LT). Passenger construction tyres are not as heavily made, have fewer belts and are more prone to punctures.

Regards,

Joel
 
Hi Bigem. I have a '97 Forester Ltd. For lift, I have gone for King Spring suspension lift. You will get about 35mm lift. You will end up with less downward wheel travel which means if you hit a pot hole, the wheel will "thunk" a bit; but it does lift the chassis which a body lift kit will not. Also, Compared to a body lift kit, a suspension lift is safer. According to my information a body lift kit will interfere with airbag system as well as other things ie Gear stick / selector. A manual gear stick will end up closer to the floor of the car because the body has been separated from the chassis.
I too have a sump guard and need to change my tyres soon. I am looking at either Pirelli Scorpions or Bridgestone 694's. Both are good tyres. I will probably go for the Pirelli's because they have a bigger range for 15" rims which I have got.
 
Welcome bigem, very nice place your town, I visit Melbourne every year for motoGP race in Phillip Island, I remember an small road in the coast,(to Phillip..)very very nice, and also the people of the town so friendly,and congratulation for your car, welcome again.
 
Subarus do not run separate body and chassis and instead employ unitary construction. The gearbox will remain in the same location and should have no effect on the shifter. What will be affected is CV angles

However you lift a car will have some impact on airbag deployment, depending on what you hit. If you hit a tree or wall, etc, I doubt there would be any difference. Hitting another vehicle is different. If by raising the vehicle and you hit another vehicle whose bumper is lower than yours, the airbag may not deploy because it may not need to, as the other vehicle is abdorbing the impact through non structual areas. But lots of variables there.
 
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