Outback lift

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:43 pm

G'day guys,

I own a gen2 03 Outback
I have been planning on lifting it with a 2" body lift to get some bigger all terrain tires, maybe some 215/70 or 225/70 if i can fit them.
I am a bit tight on money but I have also been looking at getting the lifted King Springs.
My question is can i install the lifted king springs without replacing the shocks or do i need to replace the stock struts with something like the kyb gr2's?

Cheers,
Paul

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu May 05, 2011 10:37 pm

G'day Paul.

Riddle boy eh? Nice. I'm from Lancefield direction

Anyway. You could get away with putting just the springs in the outback for now - this will give you some lift at the very least, it will also let you know the health of your shocks.

It is a general practise to do both springs and struts at the same time - less cost in labour if someone is doing the work for you, if you're doing it yourself its less time having to pull the struts twice.

You can also go for just a strut lift of 2 inches, the drive shafts in the EJ series subarus seem to be able to live with the change in angles, most likely due to the AWD system it now uses. The strut lift is generally cheaper than a body lift (strut and body lift).

You should be able to get away with out new shocks until you can afford them - if you're current shocks/struts are in good health.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Bennie

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Fri May 06, 2011 10:49 am

Go to one corner of your car and push up and down HARD for a few bounces. Let it go quickly. If the car stops bouncing almost immediatly (within 3 seconds I'd say - anyone disagree?) he shocks are still in pretty good nic. If it keeps bouncing then they're toast.

Spring lift only would be fine, that is what I'm currently running in my '97 outback and its good. An advantage of the strut only lift is that you do not need to extend the steering linkage, which you need to with a full body + strut lift. Disadvantage is that the CV joints wear quicker, and it can be harder to get a good wheel alignment. Although with the 1" spacers that are already on the engine and gearbox crossmembers in Outbacks, you are only really adding 1" overall when compared to a liberty... Depends on where you want to go and how long you want things to last.

Good luck,
Owen.

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Fri May 06, 2011 11:30 am

Thanks for the replies
Macedon Ranges all the way

According to your test Owen my shocks are still in good nick as the car stops bouncing almost immediately.

So could i do a 2" strut lift and also the raised king springs or would that put to much pressure on the CVs?

Also approximately how much quicker would the CVs wear with a strut lift? What kind of distances are we looking at?

Cheers,
Paul

78sti · Post by **78sti** » Fri May 06, 2011 11:33 am

You cannot do any more than 10mm strut lift on the rear due to the multilink suspension, It just binds up if you try to go any further. You will need a body lift kit.

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Fri May 06, 2011 12:25 pm

78sti wrote:You cannot do any more than 10mm strut lift on the rear due to the multilink suspension, It just binds up if you try to go any further. You will need a body lift kit.

Ah yeah, forgot about that... that's why I bought a gen 2

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri May 06, 2011 6:44 pm

78sti wrote:You cannot do any more than 10mm strut lift on the rear due to the multilink suspension, It just binds up if you try to go any further. You will need a body lift kit.

This will cost more - but will be totally worth it once you get it on your subi!

Cheers

Bennie

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Fri May 06, 2011 9:40 pm

OK so the strut lift is out.
Looks like i'll be getting a 2" body lift then if i can find somewhere that makes them.
All i have heard from is crossbred performance. Scorpion and high rise don't make them anymore do they?
Know of any others?

Also with the multilink suspension will adding raised spings be ok? Arnt they about 30mm bigger ?

Cheers,
Paul

Tuckerbag · Post by **Tuckerbag** » Sun May 08, 2011 6:41 pm

Hi Paul,

Try this http://www.ausubaru.com/index.php?pageid=liftkits

I think Dave could help you out with the body lift kit.

I believe raised spring is possible http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/97- ... -pics.html

Cheers,

Long

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Tue May 10, 2011 10:54 am

Thanks mate

Emailed Dave, now we wait

Cheers,
Paul

78sti · Post by **78sti** » Tue May 10, 2011 11:03 am

Raised springs are ok but if you have self leveling suspension it will return to standard height when loaded.

What I have done is to put hd (std height) springs and the lift kit block over the rear struts is 60mm rather than 50 so the standard loaded height on the strut is now 10mm higher. Also my lift kit in the front is 40mm with 50 over the struts and raised springs.

Tuckerbag · Post by **Tuckerbag** » Tue May 10, 2011 6:11 pm

Maggoo wrote:Thanks mate

Emailed Dave, now we wait

Cheers,
Paul

Let us know how you go

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Tue May 17, 2011 10:17 pm

78sti wrote:You cannot do any more than 10mm strut lift on the rear due to the multilink suspension, It just binds up if you try to go any further. You will need a body lift kit.

ScubyRoo wrote:Ah yeah, forgot about that... that's why I bought a gen 2

Sorry just noticed this.
I thought my outback was a gen2?
It is an early 03, i thought they released gen3 in the late part of 03?
Which means a 2" strut lift would work?
Was just about to buy a body lift kit when i saw this haha
Cheers,
Paul

78sti · Post by **78sti** » Tue May 17, 2011 10:34 pm

No a gen 3 is 98-03, 03+ is gen4 current is gen 5
refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Legacy
the first outback was a gen 2 as they follow the same generations as the liberty
Myne is a 2000 gen 3 and has multilink suspension

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Tue May 17, 2011 11:05 pm

I had thought that
But according to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Outback its a gen2?
Also i bought a gen3 part from subaru (cabin air filter) and it didn't fit so replaced it with a gen2 part and it was fine.
Quite confused now haha
My Outback is the same as thishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1998- ... gon_04.jpg
Cheers,
Paul

78sti · Post by **78sti** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:52 am

ok fair enough but it does have multilink suspension.

have a look under the rear for yourself

I lot of people call them gen 3

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Wed May 18, 2011 10:58 am

Ok your right
Had a look under the car and it does have multilink suspension. Should have done that in the first place...
Anyway time to buy a body lift then

Cheers,
Paul

Post by **Alex** » Wed May 18, 2011 11:19 am

its a gen2 outback in the shape of a gen3 liberty. How about that?

Maggoo · Post by **Maggoo** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:17 pm

Haha sounds good Alex!
Also i ordered some raised king springs the other day, hopefully should get them sometime next week.
When i install them will i need to get a wheel balance or something? Will it affect the camber of the wheels?

Cheers,
Paul

Tuckerbag · Post by **Tuckerbag** » Fri May 20, 2011 7:11 pm

Maggoo wrote:Haha sounds good Alex!
Also i ordered some raised king springs the other day, hopefully should get them sometime next week.
When i install them will i need to get a wheel balance or something? Will it affect the camber of the wheels?

Cheers,
Paul

Hi Paul,

You will have to reset the wheel alignment as the raised spring will push the hub down. Depend on model you might have to buy camber bolts to compensate.

http://www.nolathane.com.au/do_segue.ph ... F98-8%2F03

Cheers,

Long