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SH9 strut lift

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:26 am
by Jerrad
Im looking for a 1" - 2" strut lift for my MY09 XS Forester.
Iv tried sumo and crossbred and both say they are making but don't have anything as yet.
Does anyone know where I can get something from Australia?
Subtle Solutions has stuff but they are from the states.

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:31 pm
by Alex
subtle solutions will probably be cheaper even with postage.

have you thought about raised king springs? they will get you 1-2inches

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:16 pm
by thunder039
king sprigs are good give you about 1.5 inchs lift but will make the ride rougher

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:26 pm
by Alex
i wouldnt say rougher, id say firmer.

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:22 pm
by thunder039
firmer rougher much the same on a rough rode

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:13 pm
by Jerrad
I think Id prefer the blocks as I understand the need for "articulation" (right word/spelling?). I have thought about springs.

Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:43 pm
by thunder039
blocks are also pretty cheap mod and easy enough to remove if you ever wanted to

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:38 pm
by Jerrad
Subtle Solutions has replied and said they only do 1" lift for the new shape Foresters and they wont have any for a few weeks.
CrossBred has also replied saying they wont have anything, Strut or Body lift, for a few weeks also.
Sumo has not replied.
So Ill just have to wait for a few weeks I guess! I am SO impatient though!

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:25 am
by Jerrad
Just got a reply from SUMO.
"I am working on them now. I expect them to be available around the 1st of the month. I am down until the 15th of this month. If I have 1 ready are you ready to purchase? I want to get this to market as soon as it is ready. Looking for customers to provide honest reviews and use their vehicles on website."

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:06 pm
by NachaLuva
Jerrad wrote:Just got a reply from SUMO.
"I am working on them now. I expect them to be available around the 1st of the month. I am down until the 15th of this month. If I have 1 ready are you ready to purchase? I want to get this to market as soon as it is ready. Looking for customers to provide honest reviews and use their vehicles on website."
I seem to remember somewhere they were looking for people to provide their vehicles to test some of their products in return for cheaper pricing...

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:18 pm
by taza
I might have another idea on lifting your Forester and it doesn't include springs. Let me just do a few more hours research into it.

Its practically the same as strut lift but lifting from the bottom instead of the top.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:15 pm
by Jerrad
I have heard a few people do this, and its meant to be a great way of doing it! I just dont want to do the welding etc. Id like to return my car to stock when I want to sell it. Though thats probably not going to be for a while yet.

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:10 pm
by taza
I wasn't going to weld mine, just bolt.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:29 pm
by Jerrad
Im interested Taza...
I think I read somewhere that you need to weld up the old hole or something though?
And I THINK Iv read that it is better on your CV joints?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:37 pm
by taza
Jerrad wrote:Im interested Taza...
I think I read somewhere that you need to weld up the old hole or something though?
And I THINK Iv read that it is better on your CV joints?

Weld, not neccessarily. Your going away though aren't you?

I will probably do it within the next few months. Im really trying to get the supercharger installed is my number one priority.

CV's well I don't think its any different from a strut top lift. 2" would be fine.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:47 pm
by Jerrad
Well I am pretty angry atm!!! Work is just screwing me around so hardcore! No more trip! No more course! No more promotion!
Im doing as much for my car to prep for camping/4wding as I can now before they can decide to send me somewhere! Iv spent a bit of money on awning, compressor, maxtrax and few other things...
Im steaming over work atm!

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:52 pm
by Jerrad
Is there a way to lift it without replacing my CV joints too often? I think Iv read that they last about 25000km?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:10 pm
by taza
Jerrad wrote:Is there a way to lift it without replacing my CV joints too often? I think Iv read that they last about 25000km?
25,000km???!! BullSH*T!
Im still on stock CV's which by the end of the year my car should be nearing 200,000km.

Even with lift you should get 150,000+

They main reason they go though is from the boots splitting and dirt getting in because people don't check their boots and the CV's then fail. I check my whole car over after every offroad trip, just for tyre punctures, boots, damaged exhaust and the likes.

2" should increase your cv wear very minimal. More from strut lift(more than 2") and then it will have a more severe effect.


Thats not good about work. Possibly a good time to look at changing carriers or jobs?

You would of course be the first to pioneer doing this kind o0f lift and possibly 2" strut lift all together on an SH Forester. Its quite simple to do, just measure up and drill the holes. Use strong 7mm thick steel and all would be good.

Read this. Its got some good info about CV's and lifting.

http://www.subaru4wdclubwa.asn.au/Acces ... ft-Kit.htm

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:00 pm
by longy99gt
1" lift is better for your CV's anyway, its when you go over 2" lift that you increase wear noticeably, but like they said, boots will go a lot more oftern, once that does go un noticed, CV's become an issue,
Your best just chucking in 1" blocks on your struts, subtle are a good way to go,
and then adding HD springs (+10mm~) or raised HD(+30mm~) for even more clearance
all of which is replaceable to stock without too much hassle...

basically what taza has done is one of the best all round options...
I've got 2" blocks, which are fine for clearance, but my suspension hasnt performed any better and sags under load and over bumps...

if you squeeze in slightly bigger tires then that'll help more,
mainly when you go off road and defalte tires on sand (down to 8-15psi) you wont lose soo much clearance


thats my 4c worth

Longy

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:50 pm
by taza
longy99gt wrote:1" lift is better for your CV's anyway, its when you go over 2" lift that you increase wear noticeably, but like they said, boots will go a lot more oftern, once that does go un noticed, CV's become an issue,
Your best just chucking in 1" blocks on your struts, subtle are a good way to go,
and then adding HD springs (+10mm~) or raised HD(+30mm~) for even more clearance
all of which is replaceable to stock without too much hassle...

basically what taza has done is one of the best all round options...
I've got 2" blocks, which are fine for clearance, but my suspension hasnt performed any better and sags under load and over bumps...

if you squeeze in slightly bigger tires then that'll help more,
mainly when you go off road and defalte tires on sand (down to 8-15psi) you wont lose soo much clearance


thats my 4c worth

Longy
Yeah mine is good. The bigger tyres need to come sooner though ;)
I am going to make my back slightly higher at the bottom of the strut as the spring perch is in the way of fitting bigger tyres without rubbing. Plus it will help when the car is loaded up and offroad. Should make her about level.

My front approach angle is pretty average but thats going to be sorted with a front bullbar when that comes along.