Additional clearance without lift kit?

[paffoh]

Evening guys,

Found it a bit hard to find a place to start the questions rolling but realised they should be in appropriate places ( Rather than all grouped together per say, please move if needed )... The question I have is regarding additional suspension height improvement options, without the whole body lift thing going on. From what I can gather ( Not sure if it will make a difference ) the only option I have ( Without lift kit ) is getting larger springs to help accomidate a larger tyre ( Larger tyre, larger springs = additional height? ). Will this raise the arches to fit a larger tyre or is that only possible with modifications to the chassis mounting points?

I realise I could encounter handling / steering problems, I just want some additional ride clearance, SWMBO says no to lift kit... Any tips as after I get the Subaextreme bar and sump guard I would like to figure out extra clearance, If at all possible ( Havent owned many cars so auto tech is lacking... )

So basic mod list I am looking at ( Thankyou tax return ):

Subaxtreme Offroad Bar
Subaxtreme Sump Guard
Additional clearance
New wheels / rubber

Cheers,

PAF

 

[eden]

you pretty much answered it your self. 25mm-30mm raised springs + larger rubber. you'll get 215/65 r16 no worries or you can get 215/70 r16 with slight modification. envolves cutting a bit of trim away. another option is getting custom struts made but its bloody expensive. about 1K each corner a member from the old forum got it done and was quite happy with the result. well you'd want to be for 4K. do some research on tyres for OD sizes and tread patterns

 

[dicknose]

And larger springs will only give more room for the tyre to the body of the car - it wont change the spring base which will get in the way of much bigger tyres.

Not sure where you are - but in most of Australia you cant fit much bigger tyres legally without getting them engineered.
215/65R16 is just illegal for most Foresters - but will give you a few extra mm for very little effort (and a better choice of more serious tyres)

 

[just_bj]

I did some research when I got my 215/65R16 Tyres and to be strictly legal you need to get an engineers certificate (NSW AUstralia). I found out that the minimum cost is $400 and all the engineers had different views on what was required - some indicated that a braking test was required, others wanted to have the speedo recalibrated. I decided to just bolt them on and not worry.

Where can you get lift kits in Australia now?

Brian

 

[paffoh]

Thanks again,

So many questions <sigh>... Sorry guys!

Spoke to Haig Park service centre about my concerns and they suggested raised King springs, being a true 2003 X with no self leveling suspension it appears ( According to the King Springs Catologue ) that it will work with O/E struts... Unlike 2002 models and down which require the KYB replacement.

Waiting on a quote from them, they guessed about $800 fitted...

https://www.subaroo.com.au/setup.htm

Sounding good or should I not bother?

Thanks again, look forward to some better offroad handling...

 

[Kevin]

Yep, the Kings will work with MY'03 X non self-leveling struts. They will firm up your ride a little as well.

 

[paffoh]

Getting the springs this installed this saturday, $700.

Will post some before and after photos to look at... Should look tops!

 

[mr turbo]

Getting the springs this installed this saturday, $700.

Will post some before and after photos to look at... Should look tops!

Sounds great, make sure that you take some before & after measurements also.
We'll be interested in hearing what you think of them once you take it for a drive aswell. I know that when I had mine done (30mm lifted springs) I was extremely happy.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[paffoh]

Cool, will do...

Any tips as exactly where to measure from?

 

[Bumpty]

I reckon you could get a better deal then $700 mate...

Also finding the springs yourself and getting someone off here maybe, who has maybe spring clamps would save hugely in cost. But If you're already booked in I guess you can't eh..

A simple measure from the top of the tyre to the bottom of the guard
and or
measure from the centre of your hub to the bottom of the guard...

But pics can tell much more

 

[mr turbo]

Any tips as exactly where to measure from?

I measured the height before & after of....

*rear diff
*hub to guard (front & rear)
*sump guard
*side sill / skirt
*approach & departure angle
*exhaust (lowest point)

I did this mainly for myself, just for a comparison more than anything.


Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[paffoh]

Thanks for the measuring tips...

Re : Price -

I have to agree although I got a couple of quotes and this was the cheapest. I guess I pay a premium for what I require, Owning a small business that requires my constant attention every weekday keeps me shop locked monday to friday. As a result I have to seek saturday availability for everything these days ( Inluding car work, Dentist etc ).

Its getting to be a pain in the donkey and am rather humbled by the convienience when it is available. An example is my dealings with Subaxtreme, they are going to do a night fitting some weekday next week as they cant do a saturday. This will invlove me driving an hr north of Canberra after 5pm, dropping the car in, wasting 3 hrs in Goulburn, picking up said car and driving home to go to bed and start all over again...

Ground hog day!

 

[paffoh]

Here are some before and after shots for you, I would have taken a few next to the other Foresters at the workshop but due to the neglect on their owners behalf I deemed them far too ugly to be worthy of a compare... Looked much higher than the other Foresters, and so far rides like a dream ( Potholes included! )


Thanks for all your help guys, they only charged me $620. Now for the rest of the mods...

Before :

After :

PS - Noticed the kink in the first measurement, pretty sure it was 473mm

 

[mr turbo]

Looking good mate, well done.

Looked much higher than the other Foresters, and so far rides like a dream ( Potholes included! )

It was the same for me when I had mine done, especially when it comes to cornering. :biggrin:

Regards
Mr Turbo