Douglas Ferrier
Forum Member
I noted a bit of interest in the rebuild and lift of my SG struts.
I had been after -
Improved handling
Comfort on the long touring runs between A and B
- particularly through the curves on the way the alpine region
Minimize shock fade on the corrugations
Improved clearance when loaded (wife, daughters, dogs camp gear etc)
Retention of suspension down/up travel
- or ideally improvement in suspension travel
There were really only 3 choices I could reasonably decipher
for the suspension rebuild that kept it legal:
1) The KYB's with subtle solutions lift kit, king springs
2) Rebuild of the OEM struts with new springs/shocks
3) Coil overs aimed at motor sport
Option 1 was my first thought - but I had reservations given what people
on the forum have noted and stated - so I was preferring to get it running
as well as I could with the intention of not compromising - given I intend
on retaining the car until it dies.
I am hoping that given the popularity of the Impreza/Forester platform and WRX's - new and second hand parts will be readily available for a very long time.
Option 2 was not to dissimilar to option 3 in pricing/costs but option 3 after probing around was unlikely to provide the long touring comfort I was after and would still need a number of custom parts put together to account for the higher stance.
In the general forum I noted a few queries about the strut rebuild so here are the details I do have:
Note I did not do any of the work it was a suspension workshop - hence labour costs are about as much as the hardware cost (about a 50/50 split)
Step 1) Shop removed the struts to finalise the measuring up and check where and how the Konis would sit in the shocks (need to ensure the shock stroke is not compromised with the longer springs - Raised Front and rear king springs)
Step 2) Build the custom spacer sleeves to ensure the shock is held in the right place.
Step 3) Put shocks in and bolt/clamp in place, springs on with subtle blocks on top.
Step 4) Install in the car
Step 5) Add in white line anti lift kit
H&R rear wheel spacers
I need to get snow chains on the rear as well as the front
This also helps return the rear track width back to OEM spec
due to the longer strut stretching out the lateral and trailing arms
SUMO parts trailing arm blocks dealt with the trailing arms
Add in strut brace
Add in customs blocks as required to get the front suspension geometry back to being correct
Add in camber bolts if required
Attachments show the before and after and some images of the struts being built
Note there is also a spacer/sleeve at the bottom end of the shock to hold it correctly in the strut and also a bolt at the lower end of the strut to hold the insert in place and help lock the insert into place. SLS oil canisters have been ground off and hole sealed - given they are no longer SLS struts just the body.
I had been after -
Improved handling
Comfort on the long touring runs between A and B
- particularly through the curves on the way the alpine region
Minimize shock fade on the corrugations
Improved clearance when loaded (wife, daughters, dogs camp gear etc)
Retention of suspension down/up travel
- or ideally improvement in suspension travel
There were really only 3 choices I could reasonably decipher
for the suspension rebuild that kept it legal:
1) The KYB's with subtle solutions lift kit, king springs
2) Rebuild of the OEM struts with new springs/shocks
3) Coil overs aimed at motor sport
Option 1 was my first thought - but I had reservations given what people
on the forum have noted and stated - so I was preferring to get it running
as well as I could with the intention of not compromising - given I intend
on retaining the car until it dies.
I am hoping that given the popularity of the Impreza/Forester platform and WRX's - new and second hand parts will be readily available for a very long time.
Option 2 was not to dissimilar to option 3 in pricing/costs but option 3 after probing around was unlikely to provide the long touring comfort I was after and would still need a number of custom parts put together to account for the higher stance.
In the general forum I noted a few queries about the strut rebuild so here are the details I do have:
Note I did not do any of the work it was a suspension workshop - hence labour costs are about as much as the hardware cost (about a 50/50 split)
Step 1) Shop removed the struts to finalise the measuring up and check where and how the Konis would sit in the shocks (need to ensure the shock stroke is not compromised with the longer springs - Raised Front and rear king springs)
Step 2) Build the custom spacer sleeves to ensure the shock is held in the right place.
Step 3) Put shocks in and bolt/clamp in place, springs on with subtle blocks on top.
Step 4) Install in the car
Step 5) Add in white line anti lift kit
H&R rear wheel spacers
I need to get snow chains on the rear as well as the front
This also helps return the rear track width back to OEM spec
due to the longer strut stretching out the lateral and trailing arms
SUMO parts trailing arm blocks dealt with the trailing arms
Add in strut brace
Add in customs blocks as required to get the front suspension geometry back to being correct
Add in camber bolts if required
Attachments show the before and after and some images of the struts being built
Note there is also a spacer/sleeve at the bottom end of the shock to hold it correctly in the strut and also a bolt at the lower end of the strut to hold the insert in place and help lock the insert into place. SLS oil canisters have been ground off and hole sealed - given they are no longer SLS struts just the body.
Attachments
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