Subaru XV suspension thread

gregjet

gregjet

Forum Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2015
Messages
173
Location
Bundaberg, Qld. Australia
Car Year
2014
Car Model
xv
Transmission
manual
Been trawling through the threads and I am finding pretty much Forrester and early models but not much XV styff so I thought I would start a refining thread. Can anyone please post ANY useful info on the XV suspension here please.
This includes any exactly COMMON parts between the XV and other or useable non XV stuff and the differences both positive and negative.

I webt and saw the local Fulcrum guys and they have ZERO listings for anything XV except lowered. So anybody who has had success finding stuff please post.
I will get the Nachaluva 1"lifts when he gets around to making them, but I would like stiffer springs ( already bottomed the front on a modest dip). And I am a bit of a shock freak so any decent shocks you may have found that will work ( raised for me but otherwise as well for others).
Personally I really only need about 30-35mm lift so the 1" kit plus slightly bigger ( legal) tyres, maybe on 16" wheels if I can find them , should get me there.
 
From trawling through a heap of service manuals, pretty much** everything Forester, Impreza, XV, STi from 08 onwards is compatible.

But your plan of about 30-35mm of lift is similar to mine.
i've already gained 10mm or so from the 16" rims and oversize tyres,
NL's 1" lift kit will go in
and I've got some Pedders HD springs and KYB ExcelG shocks on the way
the stiffer springs will boost the ride height by 5-10mm aswell and prevent sagging when loaded.
 
Do you have an XV or other?
Thanks for that Robbks. That's pretty much exactly what I want to do. Probably the 1"lift first when (if?) he gets around to making the lift. Are the Peddres listed under XV or Imprezza? Same for the shocks. Are the shocks gas chamber type do you know. I still can't get over the fact that most cars still have simple tube unpressurized hydraulics. Even bicycles use di Carbon type shockies.
 
I've got the SHH Forester

KYB don;t list an XV part number on the website, but yes they are gas pressurised. and info from KYB directly put them about 10-15% stiffer damping rates than OEM
https://www.kyb.com.au/shock-absorbers/excel-g/excel-g-gas-replacement-strut-330000-series

Pedders do list a part for HD rear springs for the XV online
Part# 230102

Contact both Pedders and KYB directly vie their website, both companies have provided me with very good technical info regarding springs and damping rates, they also have spring length data that you can use to mix n match parts to get the height and stiffness you want
 
I'm not sure about the XV but the SH/SJ Forester are known for very soft rear springs and "wallowing" around. A nice suspension upgrade would be slightly firmer front springs & HD rear springs allowing for heavier loads when going offroad and would suit the 1" lift kit nicely.

You've confirmed the XV uses the same strut top spacers as the SH/SJ Foz, I'll have the main order in soon :biggrin:
 
Got my 1" lift kit from Nachaluva on the exvee.
Few small but important issues but all easily surmountable for me. Haven't had it in the dirt yet.
Couple of issues worth noting if you are doing this one. Some I have already told Nachaluva about and he will probably mod the kit as I am pretty much a beta test for the XV. The rear brakeline is bolted via a swaged fitting to the lower swingarm. Once lowered it cannot be rebolted on without way too much tension. I made a set of aluminium extenders. Similiarly with the front brake line but bit too much tension ONLY at extreme bottom of stroke and wheels turned with rear of the wheel out. I had some trouble getting the top nuts on all the shockies to proper torque as the whole bolts would rotate. I modded the spacers and lock bolted the "stud" bolt but Nacha knows about it and is modding the design.
The lift is good. Hardly noticeable visually but substantial improvement in clearance.
The really wierd thing is that I haven't got the camber readjusted on the front yet but is seems to steer more positively??? With the noticeable positive camber I would have thought this backwards. I will see what happens when I get a wheel alignment done.

GAP ON BRAKE HOSE
https://offroadsubarus.com/album.php?albumid=244&pictureid=1514
 
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Here is before and after pics. Really only noticeable if you look above the wheel to the arch top

BEFORE LIFT
picture.php


AFTER LIFT
picture.php
 
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Looks good, Greg. Pretty obvious from the before/after pics, but probably not noticeable if someone dressed in blue was just casually eye-balling your car ... :iconwink:.

I'm sure that NL appreciates the feedback too.

I need to book with him to have my 1" PE blocks fitted to Roo2 ... :ebiggrin:.
 
Nice lift there Greg,

What I like about the 1" lift and my oversize AT's is that the car now maintains it's factory looking gaps from tyre to wheel-arch,
But I know it's got nearly 2" of extra clearance under the belly and sills where it counts
 
If I can get 16" wheels and something with 5-10mm rolling RADIUS bigger than stock that would be nice. Bit extra clearance, should clear everything still ( particularly the front of the rear tyre) and will get my speedo closer to accurate. Until I can sell my Rodeo not much is gonna happen though.
 
What's the current size Greg?
And does the XV get +48 offset wheels like the Fozz or +55 of the Impreza?
 
That looks great, not too obvious for that sleeper look.

Yes, the kits are still being developed, Greg has been great with his feedback, he's been extremely helpful. Much appreciated! :biggrin:

RB, let me know when you want me to fit yours...
 
Gidday NL

^ I'll give you a call in the next few days. Have to pick up a lot of stuff in the city for SWMBO today/tomorrow. Cannot have the cargo barrier installed for that!

My current suspension height F:R is ~425/430 mm with tools and other crap in the car (parked slightly nose down in our driveway).

With 75 Kgs of salt in the back the rear was ~410 mm. I didn't measure the front.
 
I do not think you can 2" lift the XV without some serious attention to the front brake line. The 1" has not quite too much tension when the wheels are turned with the back outside at the bottom of the suspension stroke.
If I want higher at the front think you would have to get it from wheel diameter increase. The problem with that is the front of the rear tyre only has about 18mm clearance to the moulding. Maybe moulding could be removed?
 
Gidday Greg

Do you notice any difference/s at all in the handling, braking, steering versus your un-lifted XV?
 
Funnily enough with the car lifted and the alignment not yet done it avtually feels BETTER cornering on the road....That doesn't make sense with the increase in the positive camber in the front???? Maybe something else was out? It has always felt vague and unsettled before.
I don't know std. offset for the XV yet. haven't got that far. I would like to go as far outward as possible.
 
Thanks for that info. Interesting.

AFAIK, all Subies are incredibly sensitive to alignment. Roo2 went from handling like a canal barge to being spot on the money after a proper 4 wheel alignment.

Prior to this, all 4 wheels were within spec, but all pointing in slightly different directions.

RonnyRoo's handling tightened up very considerably after having the same done.

I will have Roo2's wheels realigned after NL has fitted the 1" lift blocks for me. They should put its heights at around 450:455 F:R. Stock front:rear suspension height is 437:440 mm +12/-24 for my model; i.e. Front: ~413 to 449; Rear = ~416 to 452 mm. So after the lift, Roo2 will still be (very approximately ... ) within the OEM stock range :iconwink: :).
 
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With the full alignment done it is a different car. Steers around corners like it isn't complaining about having to change direction. In a straight line at speed the bumps no longer make it feel like it is swinging slightly from side to side. Straight and comfortable. This is how it should be. NL believes it is because the lift increases the caster just enough to get rid of the sloppy feel ( by increasing the trail).
 
That's great, Greg :biggrin:.

All sounds very familiar to me ... :poke:.
 
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