Canadian Dual-Range FXT

dbala

Forum Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2013
Messages
7
Hi guys & gals - just thought I get some pics of my Foz up - I've completed a good bunch of mods, all that left is a 2nd battery in the trunk & MAYBE a snorkel :)

I've posted some of these on the Forester site but I thought they'd be good for offroad subies as well!

Specs:
2006 FXT, 5spd
Dual-range (1.447 lo)
30.5" duratrac tires (1.5" strut lift, 2" body lift)
cradle mount winch (front or rear)

Cheers!
D

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Nice mods !

Why not the oem lo-range stick ?!

How did you make the body lift up front ?
 
Thanks! lo-range is not available in North America - so no such thing as OEM lo range here. I installed an aussie lo range box & had to fab up all the peripherals, including the stick.

The lift is a block kit that provides 2" spacers at SOME of the suspension & cross member points - including the front control arms & engine crossmember - I just fabbed up anything else I needed from 2" steel square & round tubing.
 
Looks awesome mate. Love the 30" boots!!

Has low range made it kinder on the clutch in the soft stuff?

Did you also install a front lsd?
 
I'll take some picks of the tire & gascan carrier - they are pretty straightforward & are welded to the tow-bar.

For sure- the lo-range is critical to save the clutch (and general wear & tear on the gearbox & suspension since I can go much slower without having to rev the engine & ride the clutch) - honestly all trim levels of Foresters should have a lo-range option.

Yup - clutch type LSD's all around (front is a Cusco LSD, center is a 20Kg STI LSD & the rear is the stock LSD - Canadian cars come with a clutch type rear LSD rather than a vLSD) - its a beast offroad.
 
Is your strut lift a bottom strut lift ? Or did you weld the rear spring perches a bit higher ?

You must have one of the most highest ground clearance Forester !

And its cold here too, but not as cold.
 
The lift actually consists of 2 parts, a 2" block lift at all suspension and subframe points (including the top of the struts) the second part is a 1.5" strut lift gained by using hotbits coilovers with body housings that are 1.5" longer than stock. They are adjustable and allow for equal bump and droop. Being coilovers, they clear the tires-they do not have the lathe spring perches that the oem struts have.

This (along with a little bit of coercing) allowed fitment of the 215/85/R16 (30.5" OD) tires. Total gain over stock is around 5.5". I have around 16" at the rockers, maybe 13" at the rear diff (I need to take some proper measurements).

I like it because it actually looks pretty reasonable rather than a huge lift with massive tires-but it's very functional and offroad I have more usable clearance than the Jeeps I wheel with. It also keeps the suspension geometry under control, and does not stress the CV joints.
 
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What is it like driving with the 20 kg centre diff in carparks / on the road etc
 
Don't you have more understeer than stock, especially on slippery surface ?

Mmmmh, HotBits ! What spring rates and lengths did you go with, and how much stroke do you have ?
 
Sure, it likes to go straighter than with open diffs, but nothing too bad-need to adjust a bit for it is all. They hotbits are the std model they offer for the forester, only change is the extended body (1.5")
 
Very nice! :monkeydance:

With twin cLSDs and 20kg centre would be great offroad. What LR did you put in? Not sure about the 20kg centre driving the same onroad though :rotfl:
 
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