Need a little help on lift

svynx

Forum Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
28
Location
Dover, pa
Car Year
looking around
Car Model
unsure on what
Transmission
i want to lift
Current car: Bugeye (2003 for me in the states) TS wagon. 2.5l
current lift: 05 forester struts, lowering forester King springs, 1" strut spacers in rear to even out wheel gap, outback trailing arm mounts

My thought process: I don't want to have to keep replacing axles and wheel bearings because of the lift (already did 3 bearings and the front axles), but I'd like to raise it up a little more. Here's my plan.
1: Whiteline has a new product...camber/caster strut tops. They haven't been out for long, but Turninconcepts suggested waiting another month before buying them (no problem there...other things are going on anyway). If I combine these with a 1" spacer, I shouldn't have an issue with alignment as I've maxed out the camber bolts that are there.
2: remove the 1" spacer in the rear and replace it with a 2" spacer. I'm looking at Sumo products right now as they a built to help with camber/strut location.
3: Find a company that has, or directions to build, a 1" body lift. Any help on this would be great.

I currently have tires that are just a hair about 26" in diameter. I'm changing to a tire that is all but 28" diameter. And, as soon as I can find one or have one built, I'm changing the final drive from the factory 3.9 to the 4.44. Plugging the gears into a calculator shows that with the larger tire and the changed final drive, my speed vs rpms will be very close to the cars stock gearing with stock tires...all good in my book.

Pic of the car as it sits now:

 
I'd suggest fitting SF forester crossmembers/ spacers, steering knuckle, LCA mounts, etc as your body lift kit,
then using forester struts you're essentially using an entire forester suspension/ x-member setup and keeping good geometry.
then when you add a Sumo 2" lift to that you're still maintaining reasonable CV angles, etc

Also, get rid of the lowering springs.. and use STD height forester springs

this trhead shows all teh lift blocks as standard
https://www.subaruforester.org/vbul...-low-suspension-11160/index10.html#post460490

Here is the standard SF Transmission x-member
ForesterHeadJob031.jpg


SF Engine x-member
ForesterHeadJob037.jpg


SF LCA Mount
ForesterHeadJob033.jpg
 
SF Foz spacers are a good idea but its a funny size (35mm IIRC). You could just make/buy all the body spacers (xmembers, centre bearing, outrigger, TA, etc) You will also need to check the fuel lines from the filter to engine, radiator top hose, etc. I know how these are changed on a Foz with a body lift but not sure of a Impreza.

I love my custom body lift kit: 1" body spacers with 2" strut top spacers & raised springs, total lift 3.5" but the CVs only see an extra 2.5" :lildevil::monkeydance:

I would do something like that and as suggested remove the lowered springs. That would mess with your wheel travel.

I don't know why you'd have problems with wheel bearings. That usually only happens with big changes in offset and heavy wheels/tyres :shrug:
 
LOL, I guess I just have not paid attention or just did not take "body" lift literally.

You guys do actually put BODY lifts on Subarus:surprised::eek::confused:

Wow. My ignorance shall never be overcome:monkeydance::lildevil::rotfl:
 
Subaru Put them on First... :D
Spring lift on standard stroke struts is not an ideal solution, you lose too much "droop"
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I do have a reason for the "lowering" springs. Since the struts themselves add a good 2" to the suspension height by themselves, and the added 1" strut spacer for the rear (and now a possible 2" in rear and 1" in front), I felt that it would be to much. If I had started with a forester as most people do when lifting a subaru, I would have added the higher springs. But, since it's an impreza, I went this direction. I lifted my wrx with full FXT struts/springs. Within 4 months I had to replace both front axles and one front wheel bearing.
Having said all that, and knowing that I'll be doing a body lift, it's all a wash. I'll have to look at pricing things out. Doing a body lift with the higher springs, and doing the body lift with taller strut spacers.
 
the problem with lowering springs on fozz struts is you reduce your bump travel when you hit a hard object at speed and hit the bump-stops in the struts instead of it soaking it up.
 
Here's a question that would need answered before I move forward. I've been looking at pricing. I am thinking of swapping the springs out with King standard height springs (adding about 1" to where the car rides now), then using 1" spacers on the rear that compensate for camber to even things out. I most likely will make a body lift kit using 1" - 2" square tubing with reinforcements. Besides the front/rear subframes and trans mounts, what else will I need to deal with? Will the steering column need something, and if it does, have any of you messed with it and would know what is needed?
 
What about the brake lines - will they need extending?
 
Kings raised springs add about 1.5" lift, but you're going from lowered springs so you'll get about 2.5" lift.

Spacers you need are:
front crossmember
rear crossmember
gearbox fr & rr crossmembers
diff outrigger
modify diff outrigger support
tailshaft centre bearing
rear trailing arm (make sure you brace these very solidly)
Lower control arm rear bush (if going higher than 1" these need to be braced as well)
You may be able to use a Forester steering linkage, depending on how big the spacers are. Will be trial & error

You may also need a top radiator hose extension (cut hose in half & add section of 38mm SS pipe), air filter spacer if yours is on top of the engine, longer fuel line & charcoal cannister lines if yours is in the engine bay. There may be other bits you need to make as well.
 
I'd find a wrecked forester and fit as many standard bits as you can
with standard Forester springs and some 1" or 2" strut lift blocks it should be reasonably simple
 
NachaLuva said:
Kings raised springs add about 1.5" lift, but you're going from lowered springs so you'll get about 2.5" lift.
Click to expand...

Good thing I'm only looking at the standard height springs. I'm probably only looking at an added 1" suspension lift (going from lowering springs to standard height) and the 1" body lift.

NachaLuva said:
Spacers you need are:
front crossmember
rear crossmember
gearbox fr & rr crossmembers
diff outrigger
modify diff outrigger support
tailshaft centre bearing
rear trailing arm (make sure you brace these very solidly)
Lower control arm rear bush (if going higher than 1" these need to be braced as well)
You may be able to use a Forester steering linkage, depending on how big the spacers are. Will be trial & error
Click to expand...

I wonder if everything would be needed if I only do a 1" block. Might be easier to source a 1" thick piece of steel or aluminum and cut to size.

NachaLuva said:
You may also need a top radiator hose extension (cut hose in half & add section of 38mm SS pipe), air filter spacer if yours is on top of the engine, longer fuel line & charcoal cannister lines if yours is in the engine bay. There may be other bits you need to make as well.
Click to expand...

Rad hose is cake, but good thinking. Airbox is aftermarket and attached to the throttle body (and nothing else), so no problem there as it will move with the engine. I'm going to have to get under the car again and really look at things.
 
Yeah I spent hours lying under the car working out what I needed and where lol :iconwink:

The airfilter spacer is to lift the back of the air filter box away from a bracket on the firewall so as the engine moves it doesnt rub a hole in the box. You'll need to check every little thing like that
 
Slight update on items I'm looking at.

Things I'm getting:
Forester King standard height springs
02-05 impreza RS 4.11 transmission and rear diff
16x7 Sparco Terra wheels with 215/60/16 Geolander A/T S
1" Rear strut spacer with camber adjustment
Factory Forester/Outback body spacer

Just purchased:
New front struts (KYB GR-2)
Front strut mount: Whiteline with camber/caster correction
Front ball joints

Question. Would it be worth swapping out the Impreza King springs with the Forester Kings vs doing a 1" spacer with the current setup? In the end, the swapped springs will net a slightly higher ride height, but the price difference for the springs is about twice what I would spend if I went with the strut spacers. Just a thought. I am leaning towards the Forester springs right now.
 
Last edited:
Have you bought Forester Struts or Impreza struts.
If Forester, use FOrester Springs
If Impreza, Use impreza SPrings.

but personally, if you're trying to lift it, the easiest way is to put the forester struts and springs in first as you'll get extra travel and articulation aswell as higher ride height,
Then use spacers for any added lift or height corrections you need
 
Current setup is 05 Forester struts with Impreza King springs. I didn't want to much of a lift, as the car has aftermarket axles in the front. They already click a little when cold, and I want to prolong their life. I understand that the full strut travel is diminished with these springs. That wasn't something I am worried about. However, after talking with a few people, I found someone local that is installing raised king springs on his forester, and I might be able to get his stock springs for free. As this would save me a good $400, I'll take them instead of buying the standard height King springs. Having a higher spring rate would be nice, but it's hard to turn down free stuff. And a good thing too...wheels and tires are not cheap.

Nacha: I'm sure you are familiar with the 2" strut spacers that offset the strut to compensate for camber. This is the same thing, just a 1" version.
 
Cool, havent seen camber offset 1" spacers.

How many kms on the Forester springs? The rears in particular sag when old. Also, make sure they are compatible with your strut tops
 
All unknown, but I'm doing the spring removal and install on the forester, so I'll be able to judge the sag as the wife has the same year model with very little miles on it.

Don't know if I can link this because of rules, but here goes: https://www.sumoparts.com/SUMO-2-Lift-Kit-for-2003-2005-SG5_p_44.html

Note that the bolt holes for the strut top and the holes for mounting to the tower are offset to help compensate for camber. Now this is a 2" kit. I've contacted someone who has made them, and he said he could do a 1" spacer for $150. It's on my list of things to get.
 
I think you'll find its only the front that has camber offset. There really isn't any room for it in the rear or the springs rub on the tower
 
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