New struts and springs

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:56 pm

Well i finally got around to buying new struts and spring for the front of the lib and fitted them up today. i have gone to lifted king springs to get the front up and to stop the struts from bottoming out when hitting big dips.(also added bump stops)

While researching part numbers for this we worked out the difference between the 2 lots of outback struts that KYB list.

They list 06/96 - 11/98 struts p/n: 334167 left and 344166 right

and

11/98 - 09/03 p/n: 344276 left and 344275 right

now i had the later model struts in the front to start with, but ordered the early model ones to suit the springs we had ordered as they were to suit the early struts.

upon removal of the old struts from the car we work out the differences.
All we can see is that the late model ones have a ABS sensor wire bracket, The brake line bracket it different and the thread on the shaft is different.

other than those things there is no other difference in height or size.

we also compared the standard height springs to the lifted ones on the ground and the raised ones are a whole coil higher.

Any way time for some pics, i forgot about before and after pics so the first one is the best before pics i could find!!

and these are the after pics, sits nice and level now, no wedge action in the front.

Maybe some useful info, thanks for reading.
cheers
bryan

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:18 pm

Looks great, I'm thinking about that as well... Are you using any spacers or anything?
Cheers
AP

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:23 pm

AP the car has a 2in lift all round and only 2in strut tops, although i did have 12mm nylon bread board on top of the front lift strut tops, but took them out today didnt need them with the lifted springs.

also seem to drive alot nicer now as well.

bryan

esray71 · Post by **esray71** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:36 pm

Hmmmm... nice lift;)... what can i do with my 97 Lib, maybe with 15in?

Point · Post by **Point** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:45 pm

do you have much down travel?

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:52 am

still seems to be a fair amount there, also went for the raised springs as the car has a ej20t dual batteries and the bull bar hanging off the front, so with all the extra weight compared to a ej22 i think it needed them.

bryan

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:58 pm

Looks like your ready for another long road trip. You will find them a little more bouncey than they used to be. The addition of those bump stops make a difference when you hit something hard

cool banana · Post by **cool banana** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:32 pm

Bryan,
did Irvin fit the tow points/padeyes to your bar, or did you do it? Are they padeyes welded to the bar, or do they penetrate through the bar and connect with something structural behind?
cheers
Martin

00outback · Post by **00outback** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:33 pm

Looking good Bryan,
still don't think it's as high as mine will have to compare next time I see you.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:36 pm

banana: its not an irvin bar - hes in QLD not WA!

the tow points are ally plate that bolts through to the chassis rails

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:58 pm

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:Looks like your ready for another long road trip. You will find them a little more bouncey than they used to be. The addition of those bump stops make a difference when you hit something hard

Hell yeah not this year but

and yeah they do seem to be a little more boucy, will go for a run this weekend probly and see.

vincentvaga wrote:the tow points are ally plate that bolts through to the chassis rails

No the points are 12mm steel they bolt/welded to the mount inside the bar that going into the chassis rail, got them put on my a mate over here. very strong, but touch wood havent had to use them.

cheers
bryan

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:04 pm

they're steel? always thought they were ally. you just paint them silver?

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:08 pm

sure did, inconspicuous

ally would bend or tear to easy i think...

daza · Post by **daza** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:21 pm

He'd never pull out all them Hilux with ally, Dan!
Daza.

p.s lookin good B!