need advice for lift. 98-00 model

[thelaffingman]

Hey guys, i was sent over here from www.subaruforester.org, they said you guys are the experts on lifting fozzies and such.

I'd like to put Ironman springs and a Subtle 1" spacer set on the front and rear of my 98 forester L

What else would I need to do to the car after this to ensure proper working order?

I'm kind of a car noob, I really appreciate the help! =)

 

[Rally]

Not sure I can help- but it may help if you put where you are. This is an international forum- so town or city, state or province and country can help- as you can see from my post

 

[mr turbo]

G'day thelaffingman & to ORS.
Great to see that you found us over here on the dirty side :ebiggrin:

Putting the springs in should be a strait swap over, unless you have self leveling rear struts.

Just make sure that you get a wheel alignment done after the install

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[carljwnc]

Howdy and thelaffingman!!!

 

[Kevin]

G'Day & Welcome over here too!

 

[garrettG]

If that is the lift you want, it is really all you need! Plus an allignment after install.

If you would like to run a taller tire get 03' rear struts. The spring perch is a bit higher, allowing you to fit a tire size like 215 70 15.

Thanks
-garrett

 

[thelaffingman]

hey guys, thanks for the welcomes and replies!!

I live in Northern California, US.

What do you guys think about my cambers (stock), the folks over at SF.org were saying I would need new ones if I put on both the 1" spacers and the ironman springs. What cambers would I buy?

If that is the lift you want, it is really all you need! Plus an allignment after install.

If you would like to run a taller tire get 03' rear struts. The spring perch is a bit higher, allowing you to fit a tire size like 215 70 15.

Thanks
-garrett

I definitely want bigger tires! would this mean bigger tires on all four struts, or just the back? thanks a lot for the advice =)

 

[Rally]

The amount of camber you can run is limited by the standard set up. Adjustable strut tops will allow more neg camber. Putting bigger tyres on will limit the amount of castor but the adjustable strut tops may allow you to fine tune it if the tyre hits the front or rear of the inner guard. Coil overs will also allow bigger tyres but how much do you want to spend and how big a tyre do you want?

I have no idea what off road experience you have, but if you are new to this then the best thing you can do is learn how to drive off road. As I have said numerous times before, my stock as a rock Forrie has got me places even blokes in the big 4WD's cannot believe. There have been times when lifted Forries with offroad tyres have become stuck and I did not. I'm not trying to pump my own tyres here but to say that you can spend a motza and still end up getting stuck.

 

[casm]

Couple of things to quickly mention:

- Upgrade the camber bolts in the front, and add a matched set at the rear. There's currently no camber adjustment in the back, and you'll need more overall adjustability (at both ends) than the stock bolts offer in order to compensate for the effects of the lift.

- You didn't mention if yours is a manual or an auto, but if it's an auto take a look at the 4EAT lockup mod. This will basically let you lock the MPT (centre differential equivalent), giving you full 4WD instead of AWD on demand. Very useful in certain situations. Not strictly lift-related, admittedly, but a cheap and fairly easy thing to do that's worth the effort.

 

[thelaffingman]

Camber bolts, gotcha, thank you!

I'm not so much getting the lift specifically for offroading, (although I plan to do that as well =) I really just want my forester to sit a little higher up than it does stock.

There's a fair amount of offroad trails around here, I drove nissans and fords before offroad, before I got my forester. By no means am I a master, but getting stuck A LOT has taught me to usually have the good judgement to not get myself stuck. Hopefully I will master it one day.

My forester is a 5 speed. How do you guys feel about limited slip differential as an alternative to locked differentials?

Really appreciate you guys sharing your expertise with me.

 

[Davidov]

Camber bolts, gotcha, thank you!

My forester is a 5 speed. How do you guys feel about limited slip differential as an alternative to locked differentials?

Really appreciate you guys sharing your expertise with me.

A locker is always going to be better than a LSD (for offroad of course). However the availability of lockers for subarus is unfortunately woefully lacking.
The only 'auto locker' ive heard of for subarus is phantom grip, it isnt a full auto locker but it does have the ability to lock on hard accelleration.

LSDs do make a huge difference but also, and in the US they can be had very cheap. (300 bucks each).

 

[Ratbag]

Gidday TLM

Welcome to the ORS forum mate.

Camber bolts, gotcha, thank you!

I'm not so much getting the lift specifically for offroading, (although I plan to do that as well =) I really just want my forester to sit a little higher up than it does stock.

There's a fair amount of offroad trails around here, I drove nissans and fords before offroad, before I got my forester. By no means am I a master, but getting stuck A LOT has taught me to usually have the good judgement to not get myself stuck. Hopefully I will master it one day.

My forester is a 5 speed. How do you guys feel about limited slip differential as an alternative to locked differentials?

Really appreciate you guys sharing your expertise with me.

Which model Forester do you have?

[EDIT] Doh! Just noticed that it's in your thread title ... Just call me "Homer" ... [end edit]

Mine already has a rear LSD as standard (2006 model).
I can feel this working under lots of conditions, and specially off road, where it is very obvious (to me ... ). Not sure what models came equipped with this in the US, if any.

With the 5 speed manual, your centre diff is already an LSD, and giving a split varying from F/R 40/60 to 60/40 depending on some arcane magic, with a theoretical centre point of 50/50 under ideal conditions. Every manual Suby since my model Impreza (1993) has this.

It is my understanding that the US missed out on any kind of dual range MT. Pity that, if correct.

 

[thelaffingman]

@davidov ahhh i see. thank you!

@ratbag hey there! thanks for the information!

US did miss out on the dual range, however there are many of them floating around. there was a person from SF.org, who lives about 4-5 hours from me, who said he builds dual range trannies. he gave me a quote for $1700, which includes "adding the LSD unit into it....A New Flywheel, and Clutch pack....And Adapter Plate to Marry the Trans To Your 2.5 motor." he also said he would adapt the drivetrain, as the hi-lo trans is "50mm, 2 inches shorter than your AWD"

 

[casm]

US did miss out on the dual range, however there are many of them floating around. there was a person from SF.org, who lives about 4-5 hours from me, who said he builds dual range trannies. he gave me a quote for $1700, which includes "adding the LSD unit into it....A New Flywheel, and Clutch pack....And Adapter Plate to Marry the Trans To Your 2.5 motor." he also said he would adapt the drivetrain, as the hi-lo trans is "50mm, 2 inches shorter than your AWD"

For what you're talking about doing with the vehicle, I'd skip putting the LSD in the centre diff and install it in the rear instead. Check cars101.com to verify my numbers, but IIRC the 2000-up S models came with a rear LSD as standard. Find one in the junkyard, swap the diffs, and you're good to go.

I'm personally not a huge fan of LSDs in the centre diff: they work well enough, but there will be times where they bite in at exactly the wrong moment. Not a huge deal, but really annoying when you set yourself up for something only to be banjaxed when the diff decides to do something you didn't necessarily want it to.

 

[scooby]

rear lsd

All usdm "s" models have an lsd standard '98- up.

I have been wheelin' subarus for many years.. an lsd over an open diff . is huge.
With an lsd it's the difference of getting up that technical section
or trying several times and giving up..with an open rear diff.

 

[NachaLuva]

All usdm "s" models have an lsd standard '98- up.

I have been wheelin' subarus for many years.. an lsd over an open diff . is huge.
With an lsd it's the difference of getting up that technical section
or trying several times and giving up..with an open rear diff.

+1. I would love a rear LSD

If that is the lift you want, it is really all you need! Plus an allignment after install.

If you would like to run a taller tire get 03' rear struts. The spring perch is a bit higher, allowing you to fit a tire size like 215 70 15.

Definitely get the gen2 rear struts...I wish I had!

US did miss out on the dual range, however there are many of them floating around. there was a person from SF.org, who lives about 4-5 hours from me, who said he builds dual range trannies. he gave me a quote for $1700, which includes "adding the LSD unit into it....A New Flywheel, and Clutch pack....And Adapter Plate to Marry the Trans To Your 2.5 motor." he also said he would adapt the drivetrain, as the hi-lo trans is "50mm, 2 inches shorter than your AWD"

Do it, do it, DO IT!

$1700 for a dual range gearbox with LSD front diff plus clutch kit and adapter plate...thats awesome! Get the 1.59:1 low range and a treated first gear plus a 12kg centre diff (standard is 4kg) and you will be amazed!

And we will all be very jealous!

For what you're talking about doing with the vehicle, I'd skip putting the LSD in the centre diff and install it in the rear instead. Check cars101.com to verify my numbers, but IIRC the 2000-up S models came with a rear LSD as standard. Find one in the junkyard, swap the diffs, and you're good to go.

Great idea, just make sure it is the same diff ratio.

I'm personally not a huge fan of LSDs in the centre diff: they work well enough, but there will be times where they bite in at exactly the wrong moment. Not a huge deal, but really annoying when you set yourself up for something only to be banjaxed when the diff decides to do something you didn't necessarily want it to.

AFAIK, all AWD Subarus have a viscous LSD centre diff. Standard is 4kg but you can upgrade to 12kg for better grip offroad without affecting onroad performance.

 

[El_Freddo]

US did miss out on the dual range, however there are many of them floating around. there was a person from SF.org, who lives about 4-5 hours from me, who said he builds dual range trannies. he gave me a quote for $1700, which includes "adding the LSD unit into it....A New Flywheel, and Clutch pack....And Adapter Plate to Marry the Trans To Your 2.5 motor." he also said he would adapt the drivetrain, as the hi-lo trans is "50mm, 2 inches shorter than your AWD"

$1700 for a dual range gearbox with LSD front diff plus clutch kit and adapter plate...thats awesome! Get the 1.59:1 low range and a treated first gear plus a 12kg centre diff (standard is 4kg) and you will be amazed!

Nachaluva - the gearbox that thelaffingman is talking about is an EA82 5spd PT4wd gearbox, the same as what every manual L series has in it. The clutch kit, adaptor plate and drive train adaption are to make this gearbox fit in the EJ subaru. Best setup for offroading - there's no slip from the centre. The only better option from here is the RXII AWD L series gearbox, this gives you AWD as well. This would be my gearbox of choice if it were me in this situation!

Sounds like a pretty good deal for a "plug and play" option!

AFAIK, all AWD Subarus have a viscous LSD centre diff. Standard is 4kg but you can upgrade to 12kg for better grip offroad without affecting onroad performance.

With exception to the L series AWD gearbox this is true. And the comment about the centre diff grabbing when you don't want it to - well this is just an uneducated comment. You won't know when the centre LSD is doing it's thing - it's designed to keep the car moving when ONE wheel looses traction, if it weren't there all the power would go to that one wheel. There's no jerky action, no full locking or anything that you'll notice. What you will notice is when it lets you down and you're stuck, that's when you'd wish you had a heavier rated centre LSD or a full lock centre like the L series PT4wd or the FT4wd gearbox.

I hope this clears things up!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[garrettG]

It looks like the D/R box you are talking about getting is from an older GL (EA motor) because you would not need any sort of adapter plate to install a forester D/R (EJ) transmission. As far as I know I am one of 2 who has an EJ D/R transmission in the US. Not even sure if the other one is around anymore or not. But I got really lucky and got one for cheap. My understanding is that having one shipped from Japan or Aus would cost you an arm and a leg. That being said, I was going to put an EA D/R transmission in my forester before I found the EJ one. Would love to see someone do it it comes with Low 1.59 gears, but is a FWD with part time 4WD. Meaning you will be driving around with FWD in normal daily conditions.

Anyways, if you have any questions send me a PM

-Garrett

 

[casm]

All usdm "s" models have an lsd standard '98- up.

I'll disagree with you on this - at least as far as my '99 S is concerned. While I don't know if a previous owner swapped out the diff before I owned the car, jacking it up and rotating one wheel causes both of them to go in different directions. It's definitely open.

I have been wheelin' subarus for many years.. an lsd over an open diff . is huge.

Totally agreed. Having once got embarrassingly stuck on sloped wet grass in my open/open Jeep in 4WD, I'll never again own a vehicle that has fully-open axles.

 

[thelaffingman]

So much awesome info here thank you guys so much!! I think I'm going to check out the gearbox that also has awd.

Can you guys help me out with another question though? After looking around I think I want a 2inch frame lift, and 2 inch suspension lift. This will make my foz similar to a jeep grand Cherokee's height. How should I go about doing this? What stock parts will need to be replaced for safety?