Gen 3 outback lifting questions, help needed

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:58 am

Hi all, i just received a set of strut top spacers from member Bodge, somehow there was miscommunication between us, i thought i asked for 1 inch, he has sent me 2' inch blocks with offset built in.
I also have raised king springs getting installed at the same time.

So therefore i should have about 80mm of lift with the combo, my problem is will this work on my outback, ive been reading on the forums that the rear suspension in the outback "binds up"
Can anyone with experience in lifting my model car and the same setup confirm this?
I also have 215/70/r16 geolanders on the car which are very very close to the guards, i also heard that when the car is raised the rear wheels move closer to the guard, is this true?

I need answers from someone with experience, Bodge has said he will make me a 1" set again but if the 2' inch will fit i will get them installed.
Thanks:D

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:37 pm

From my understanding you will need lift blocks on the lower control arms to keep the wheels centred...pretty easy to do...

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:34 pm

What do you mean? I've never heard of this before, will it make the car undriveable?

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:47 pm

Others will know better than me but from what i understand as you lift the strut the lower control arm pulls the front wheel back & the rear wheel forward. To prevent this a lift block is used on the lower control arm mount.

Can others pls confirm if i am right? El Freddo? Venom? etc...

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:40 pm

From what I understand the Gen 3 rear end is a different setup to the gen 1 & 2 with the mcpherson strut setup.

PM Barry1956 or is it Barry_1956? One of those names anyway, he's got a gen 3 outback that's been lifted and he might hold the answer that you're after

Cheers

Bennie

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:15 pm

wombat wrote:Haha im dreading a phone call from the mechanic saying that it won't fit on Tuesday:P

Well if you know Davidovs (my mate dave lol) has an Outback same as yours as I mentioned. Same colour and all. We installed one of Tims liftkits and only just finished a few hours ago. Took us 16hours or so and we had a real hard time fitting the rears in. Almost had the car slide off the jack stands, busted a jack and there was abit of swearing and cursing.... especially at 12am last night out in the shed

The front was easy, didn't even need the spring comrpessor but the rear we had to use it and the trolly jack to just get them in. These were only 50mm blocks too the same as what you have. A few times the rear end of the car alsmot slid over and off the jacks but we were lucky. There isnt much room in the rears and with thwe spring compressors in there its really hard.
Not too bad for two 18 year olds though. Will post some pics later tonight to show you how Daves came out, yours will be even higher if you add the raised springs!!

Taza

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:50 am

Sweeeeet! :d hows it drive and stuff is it uncomfy?

taza · Post by **taza** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:11 am

wombataaron wrote:Sweeeeet! :d hows it drive and stuff is it uncomfy?

It drives like normal. No noticable difference compared to stock. It still has the stock springs but KYB struts all round which were put in a few months ag[PHP][/PHP]o.

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:22 pm

taza wrote:It drives like normal. No noticable difference compared to stock. It still has the stock springs but KYB struts all round which were put in a few months ag[PHP][/PHP]o.

Do the rear tyres sit further forward in the guard? I wanna see pics so badly...

taza · Post by **taza** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:30 pm

wombataaron wrote:Do the rear tyres sit further forward in the guard? I wanna see pics so badly...

No, not that I could tell due to the camber correction

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:40 pm

nachaluva wrote:From my understanding you will need lift blocks on the lower control arms to keep the wheels centred...pretty easy to do...

Bodge just showed me pics of his car and explained that after lifting the wheels might sit further forward in the guard, thus lift blocks might be required on the control arms to center them back into the guard, im eagerly awaiting pics of your friends car:P

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:18 pm

Pics or it didn't happen haha

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:34 am

Any more news of your lift? When are you getting it installed?

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:29 pm

Its getting done today im killing time waiting in anticipation

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

taza · Post by **taza** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:22 pm

wombataaron wrote:Its getting done today im killing time waiting in anticipation

I can imagine. It was the same for me when I was waiting for my lift, just walking around the shops, sitting in cafe's for hours, watching them work on the car. It will be both it when its done!!!

Can't wait to see pics

3" is gonna be awesome!!

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:03 pm

taza wrote:I can imagine. It was the same for me when I was waiting for my lift, just walking around the shops, sitting in cafe's for hours, watching them work on the car. It will be both it when its done!!!

Can't wait to see pics 3" is gonna be awesome!!

Haha yeah its killing me, im kinda scared and nervous about the tyres not fitting with the lift and stuff, the mechanic said he hadn't seen anything like it when i showed him the lift blocks, lll have some before and after pics as soon as i pick it up

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:15 pm

Lift is done, except the raised springs weren't put in the back because they were the wrong springs, i think i may have self levelling rears, i ordered springs for non self levelling rears, heres a pic of my rear strut, could anyone confirm what i have so i can order the correct spring?

Anyway minus the missing rear springs the rest is installed here some before pics:

After:

The ride is a bit firmer but not really noticeable, the tyres are rubbing at the front near full lock but its not bad, and the rear tyres are clearing the guard, happy days:)

Post by **Alex** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:18 pm

sexy. very sexy.

they dont look like normal struts so id say they are self levellers.

instead of getting new springs, id lose the self levelling struts and buy regulars. The self levellers will probably shit themselves soon anyways.

alex

wombataaron · Post by **wombataaron** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:40 pm

Alex wrote:sexy. very sexy.

they dont look like normal struts so id say they are self levellers.

instead of getting new springs, id lose the self levelling struts and buy regulars. The self levellers will probably shit themselves soon anyways.

alex

Yeh true, i did the car bounce test a few weeks ago and she doesn't move at all so they are still in pretty good nick,i will leave them for now, has anyone had any experience with doing exchanges at repco for ordered parts?

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:48 pm

wombataaron wrote:Lift is done, except the raised springs weren't put in the back because they were the wrong springs, i think i may have self levelling rears, i ordered springs for non self levelling rears, heres a pic of my rear strut, could anyone confirm what i have so i can order the correct spring?

The ride is a bit firmer but not really noticeable, the tyres are rubbing at the front near full lock but its not bad, and the rear tyres are clearing the guard, happy days:)

Awesome the tyres are clearing...that must be a huge relief! Woohoo

Alex wrote:sexy. very sexy.

they dont look like normal struts so id say they are self levellers.

instead of getting new springs, id lose the self levelling struts and buy regulars. The self levellers will probably shit themselves soon anyways.

alex

Yeah they are definitely self-levelling...If you can afford it I would ditch & get KYB struts to suit the OB. Not cheap, if you bargain under $200 each. But IMO will be well worth it