Body twist

Brumby Boy

Brumby Boy

Forum Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
150
Location
Ayr, North Queensland
Ok guys, I have an issue that has been bugging me for some time... and that is how much the body in my forester twists.
I have noticed that if i park on uneven ground, when i open the hatch, the body twists and causes the latch to rub hard on the striker, some times it is bad enough I cant even re-close the hatch.

I got stuck a few weeks back when I lifted a rear wheel, when I opened the hatch to get out the tow pin, I had no chance of closing the hatch again. this really bothers me because even if I don't open the hatch at the time what sort of pressure is being put on my latch and hinges?

I figure if I fitted a cargo barrier it would act as a diagonal brace but I don't want to fit a cargo barrier, I'm thinking about a rear strut tower brace but I don't think its really going to help, not to mention last time I checked its Illegal to fit more than one tower brace in QLD

Should I even be worried about this, whats your opinion?
 
The same thing bugged me. Short of a roll cage or some intrusive bracing I can't think of a solution.

I'm thinking of it as extra articulation so I don't lose sleep.
 
LOL re extra articulation, can't say i've greatly noticed it myself but i've never tried/needed to open the rear hatch with a tyre in the air.
 
Its doesn't even have to be with a wheel in the air, I Easter weekend I was camped at the 4wd comp and the passenger front wheel was slightly lower than the others due to the ground surface, and i had to slam the hatch to get it to shut because the latch was hitting the striker.
 
Gee mines not that bad, one rear wheel in the air and I can just feel the striker locating the latch.

I have front strut brace but I can't see that making a huge difference.
 
Gidday BB

Is it worse on one side than the other?

Could it be that the catch is not adjusted centrally?

Have you checked that there are no loose structural bolts? e.g. sub-frame bolts, etc.

That sounds like far more flexion than is normal. Never had the slightest problem with this with my Impreza hatch (1993). I have had the hatch open a few times with Roo2 (SG) parked at some fairly bizarre angles (not with a wheel off the ground though), and the lid opened and shut without any protest at all.

Couldn't say with RonnyRoo (SH). However, just went and parked the SH with one wheel up on the curb, and did notice that it was slightly harder to shut the tail gate. Also noticed that the latch is off-centre from the wear pattern on the U bolt part.

When parked back in the drive, I noticed that there is more flexion in the tail gate of the SH than there is with the SG when fully open. The SG is almost totally rigid when applying a twisting force to both sides of it when fully open. The SH flexes a bit.
 
Brumby Boy have you been down any "Man from Snowy River" tracks in your Forester like you have in your Brumby ute?
 
I've never had a problem with my (SG) tail gate being opened &/or closing in those situations.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
photowp.jpg

i made this up for my SF, stops heaps of body twist.
at the present i'm still lowered and with stiff coilovers.
i 3 wheel into most driveways. i imagine with standard suspension it'll be more than enough.
 
and everythings quick release removable. its a whiteline rear strut tower bar with the 2 diagnols being stainless with rose joints and clevis pins holding them in place.
i can have it all out bar the actual mounts in about 5minutes
 
We put this in the Impreza- and we found very little flex afterwards. Maybe give this a go?

IMG_1518_zps179428c8.jpg
 
My SF Foz has heaps of body twist too, so does FozzyMatt's. If parked on a decent diagonal bump, the tailgate wont close.

Think of the Foz like an open-ended cardboard box...push on the side & it just pushes over. Thats what the rear is like while the front is supported by the firewall & windscreen, hence the twist.

Until now I've just put up with it but now I might try a strut brace like obsessed :biggrin:
 
photo1hr.jpg


You need to remove the umbrella storage compartment at the back of the back seat.
Remove the orig tie down point.
Reuse the orig bolt point and there is another hole already in the mount.
Drill thru the actual tower thru this hole so there is now 2 points.
Reuse the orig bolt and then put a longer one clean thru the tower with a nut and washer in the wheel well.
Use silicon or paint it to avoid rust.
I sillyconned it to weather seal it as well.

Then you should have a bottom mount.
Put all the foam and floor bits back in - you will need to trim the foam slightly.

Then it's ready.

I used left and right rose joints so I could get the tension right on both sides while the Foz sat on a level surface.
 
love the cage, it reminds me that I need to buy a tig and get practicing, that's the sort of work I want to get into.
unfortunately might make it hard to fit the kids when they come. lol

I love the idea of that 4 point rear strut brace but unfortunately with the SH I dont have the high strut towers to pull that off, however it does give me a direction of thought to look into and its far less intrusive than the cargo barrier idea.
 
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