Greasy_Rocks

So far the Forester has done 99% of what I've asked and has shed only a few bits and pieces.:biggrin: It's finally time to do some real mods and get prepared for alot of seat/woods time this Spring though.

I started with a stock '99 w/ 140,000 miles, stock except for the full coverage hail damage.

Since then we've,
Changed all the fluids and filters.
Full tune up.
Replaced the steering rack.
Added the basket and tinted the glass.
Drove the **** out of it and replaced that shine with redneck pinstripin'.:ebiggrin:

Lift, springs, struts and tires are at the top of the list.

 

[mr turbo]

The lift from your new springs looks fantastic

I also noticed that your apprentice was keeping a close eye on things too :biggrin:

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Biesel]

I like those spring compressors, mine have hooks on the end and the spring move around a bit as you compress them up. had mine for years though and used them several time now the threads are starting to go.

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

What springs did you go with?

King springs.

Wow coming along well. Thats some pretty serious underbody protection.

Thanks! The skids should have an easy time doing what I'll ask of them 95% of the time.

The lift from your new springs looks fantastic

I also noticed that your apprentice was keeping a close eye on things too :biggrin:

Regards
Mr Turbo

Thanks Turbo, I was so taken by the new setup that I didn't get any pics of the whole car when we got done! I shot some pics with my good camera but didn't have an SD card in it!
Yep, Pete doesn't go far when we're wrenchin'.

I like those spring compressors, mine have hooks on the end and the spring move around a bit as you compress them up. had mine for years though and used them several time now the threads are starting to go.

The compressors came from the local auto parts store, $35.00 and they worked great. Def. not as stressful as using the ratchet straps.:ebiggrin:

 

[E.J.]

Nice work!

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

Nice work!

Thanks E.J., this was our 1st time tackling struts and there was quite the learnin' curve!


I dropped off the Forester at a friends shop yesterday for the alignment, he called to say that with the wrx wheels a proper alignment wasn't possible without spacing the wheel out. I'm going back to the stock wheels for awhile anyway so no problem other than the added labor of swapping tires around. That'll help me see how much room I've got for new A/T tires too. Either 215/65 or 70, I'm leaning toward the 65 to keep the hammer mods to a minimum.
I should get the car back by lunch today and have tires by Wednesday.
Y'all got any $ that I can borrow?:ebiggrin:

 

[E.J.]

Did you do SG or SF struts on the rear? I test fit 215/70 16" on mine with SF struts, one side barely fit and the other barely didn't. It was all for s#!ts and giggles though, I've got 205/75 15 AT's with quite a few miles left in them.

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

Uh oh, maybe I should have paid more attention, I used SF struts all the way around.

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

Before and after.

As she sits now.

Hopefully the A/T tires will be mounted by next Tuesday...

 

[dajeepman]

how much lift did you get? I plan on getting some king springs for my outback and was told they give about .7" lift?

 

[Biesel]

Don't kingspring advertise them as a 30mm lift? which is over 1inch?

 

[dajeepman]

I hope by this summer to order new King Springs for the front and rear.. In hopes to level out my Car and make it ride little higher

 

[mr turbo]

Don't kingspring advertise them as a 30mm lift? which is over 1inch?

I was going to say it was closer to 2" (50mm) judging by the pic with the tape measure. But in saying that, it will be interesting to see how much the lift really is after it's had a little time to settle.

Great before & after pics too mate, you can really see the difference

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

how much lift did you get? I plan on getting some king springs for my outback and was told they give about .7" lift?

The 3/4" spacers/Excel struts/King springs gave me 1.75"+ lift at the rear diff. BTW, We made a quick lap down the power line right of way before measuring to get a more accurate reading.
Primitives website says the springs lift 1.38", 35mm,alone.

I was going to say it was closer to 2" (50mm) judging by the pic with the tape measure. But in saying that, it will be interesting to see how much the lift really is after it's had a little time to settle.
Great before & after pics too mate, you can really see the difference
Regards
Mr Turbo

Thanks Turbo. I'll remeasure the clearance after this weekend.

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

I'm wondering if I should have gone with a 1" spacer in the rear. And of course SG struts.

You'd think I could've found the info on the 'net that was needed to get the Forester setup rite...the 1st time. I tried but got tired of weeding through the mights and maybes.

The 3/4" spacers/Excel struts/King springs gave me 1.75"+ lift at the rear diff. It really looks like more than that at the fender though.
I may end up making some more changes as I learn the difference between my donkey and a whole in the ground.:lol:
Grabber at2 215/65-16 tires will arrive next week, we'll see what happens!

Mike

 

[E.J.]

I got a tad over an inch from mine once they settled.

 

[dajeepman]

Delete

 

[E.J.]

I'm wondering if I should have gone with a 1" spacer in the rear. And of course SG struts.

FWIW I've got 1" spacers all around and immediately after having the Kings installed wished I'd added additional 3/8" spacers in the rear. Whatever you do you'll end up wishing the car was higher:lol:

I remember reading on here that SF struts have more downward movement than SG's, if true that's not a bad thing in my book.

 

[carljwnc]

I remember reading on here that SF struts have more downward movement than SG's, if true that's not a bad thing in my book.

Years ago, mountainbiker (not on here much anymore) and I tested SF vs. SG struts, I don't remember the results, but yes, the SF's did have more down travel.

Foz is lookin' awesome Mike!!!:ebiggrin:

 

[Gravel_Rocks]

Delete

C'mon now...spill it...

FWIW I've got 1" spacers all around and immediately after having the Kings installed wished I'd added additional 3/8" spacers in the rear. Whatever you do you'll end up wishing the car was higher:lol:

I remember reading on here that SF struts have more downward movement than SG's, if true that's not a bad thing in my book.

Gotcha E.J., it's a give and take situation like everything else...And yea I can see the need to always go a little higher but another 1/4" in the rear might have the car sitting level too. I asked Paul about doing just that when the parts were ordered and he said it wasn't needed. I gotta disagree.
More travel is usually the default choice, hopefully the tires will work with the SF struts.

Years ago, mountainbiker (not on here much anymore) and I tested SF vs. SG struts, I don't remember the results, but yes, the SF's did have more down travel.

Foz is lookin' awesome Mike!!!:ebiggrin:

Ok Carl, you and E.J. have made me feel a little better about choosing the SF set.
And thanks! It should be ready for a ride around with y'all soon.:ebiggrin:

 

[Escher]

Absolutely love the "before" and "after" pics, Gravel Rocks! I'm super-jealous of your King springs.

another 1/4" in the rear might have the car sitting level too. I asked Paul about doing just that when the parts were ordered and he said it wasn't needed. I gotta disagree.

So you got your lift blocks from Paul at Primitive?

Interestingly, the fact that Primitive's spacers are made from 1/2" and 1/4" HDPE and can be "stacked" to achieve any desired amount of lift was a major reason I went with them. The back end of my Fozza is sagging somewhat. So I opted for 1" up front (2x 1/2") and 1.25" in the rear (2x 1/2" + 1/4"). Didn't want to spend money on replacing my self-leveling struts in the rear, so I decided to stick with the stock springs for now.

After months of delays, my mechanic is finally scheduled to install these on Monday, along with some other goodies. The big hangup is that I am leaving for a quick trip to Vermont and Maine on Tuesday, and I need to have an alignment done at a separate shop before I can hit the road. So if my mechanic can't finish all the work by mid-afternoon, to leave enough time for an alignment, I will have to postpone the install until after I get back from New England.