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Old 11-16-2011, 06:10 PM   #76
DoWork
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We run OBX arms on our car too. They seem pretty soild, but you REALLY have to watch what you leave for thread engagement where the heims meet the arms themselves. They are LOUD too. Just a warning.

That being said, ours get the **** kicked out of them on a regular basis, huge ruts, bumps, and the occasional instance of airborn-ness lol. They havent failed yet. Keep them clean and lubed, and they are fine.

OH, the only issue I had with them was the cam bolt for toe in the rear. It broke, and no longer acted as a cam. Minor.
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Old 11-17-2011, 12:44 PM   #77
Tiller35
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The OBX trailing arms... would i get them specific to my body style ( These ) Or would i just get usiversal ones?!?!
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Old 11-21-2011, 10:53 PM   #78
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Can older Foresters stuts be used (IE. MY99)? A local junkyard just got one in and i really want to tear into it.
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Old 11-22-2011, 12:50 PM   #79
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I have a '97 impreza L wagon with '99 forester struts/springs, but I swapped in my impreza top hats in the rear so I didn't have to do any drilling....I did it with a cheapo set of spring compressors from napa. Fronts were cheesecake.
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Old 11-22-2011, 10:47 PM   #80
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Sweet. I was hoping to find some 03-08 foresters so I didnt have to swap tophats and add spacers to them and whatnot, but they are still too new to find them reliably at the junkyard. Swapping tophats isnt that big a deal for me. Id rather take them apart and grease them while they are off the car.
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Old 11-26-2011, 12:44 PM   #81
boostjuice
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Hey guys I have a couple questions about the 1" strut spacers - I have a 98 2.5RS coupe. I just ordered KYB GR-2 struts to replace the stock blown ones and I want to lift enough to fit some 215/65-16 Grabbers on it.

Are the 1" spacers enough to do this or will it need more than that?
Also, if the 1" spacers are the ones that happen, are they enough lift to affect the brake lines, CV joints, etc?
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Old 11-26-2011, 10:24 PM   #82
memyself21505
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Well, if you ordered struts that are direct replacements for your Impreza, those tires 215/65r16's won't fit because the distance from the lower spring perch to wheel hub center stays stock $--(unlike Forester and Legacy Outback struts which have more distance from the lower spring perch to the hub center)--$, thus limiting the maximum tire diameter. As for the spacers, they add more distance between the strut top and wheel hub center, effectively giving you more ground clearance and pushing your wheel down out of the wheel well (which could resolve some rubbing issues), but will not increase the maximum tire diameter that one is able to use on their struts as the lower spring perch to wheel hub center is unaltered. I don't have experience with GR-2's, but I would think that if they were OEM replacements then the suspension geometry would not be altered, just higher quality parts, so the solution would be to order GR-2's for the Forrester or Legacy Outback. The geometry on the Impreza suspension would be altered enough that Forrester or Legacy Outback GR-2's could cause you CV Axles to be stressed and not last as long, but there are reports of non issues as long as you have camber bolts in the rear (and possibly front) to compensate for the increased positive camber due to the increased length of the struts. If you stacked the 1" spacers along with the Forrester/Outback GR-2's, then you will definitely experience excessive CV axle blowouts. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Last edited by memyself21505; 11-27-2011 at 12:17 AM.
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Old 11-29-2011, 07:06 AM   #83
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I have a 1996 impreza outback and just bought some forester struts and 4 grabber tires size 215/65-16 I tried putting them on. the fronts went in with no problem but the rears hit the bottom of the strut. so since I was unable to fit them with my stock suspension I decided to throw on the fozzy struts. from my understanding fronts will bolt right in and im planning on changing tophats on the rear. this is where I am a bit confused. people say that they used some sort of washer to bolt the top hat and strut back together. can I use any kind of washer or is it a specific one?
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Old 11-29-2011, 02:16 PM   #84
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I put 99 forester struts in and used my 97 impreza top hats and I made a stainless washer (marine machinist ;P) for the rear because the damper rod end on the forester struts was just a little longer than the impreza. I basically made the washer a few thou bigger than the gap and it did away with the rattling and two years later it's still doing fine.
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Old 12-01-2011, 01:40 PM   #85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tofu_sal View Post
this is where I am a bit confused. people say that they used some sort of washer to bolt the top hat and strut back together. can I use any kind of washer or is it a specific one?
Pic of IMP strut


Pic of FOR strut


You need a washer that'll fit over that collar so that when you put the nut on the shock, it'll seat the tophat on the washer (seated on the shock's collar/damper rod) and tighten down against the tophat. Without the washer, the damper collar is too tall and the nut taps out of thread before it clamps on the tophat.
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Old 12-01-2011, 05:06 PM   #86
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You talkin about these?:

http://www.fastwrx.com/ticscstsp.html
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Old 12-02-2011, 07:04 AM   #87
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those might work, ill look into these. and about the camber bolts, I found some eibach ones for 2002-2011.these should fit my 1996 IMP OB with 08 fozzy struts. right? thanks for all the help guys. I almost have all the info and parts for my lift
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Old 12-06-2011, 02:24 AM   #88
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Will Group-N top hats fit 98-02 front fozzy stuts?
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Old 12-06-2011, 09:14 AM   #89
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Old 12-08-2011, 03:01 AM   #90
wakeboard_dude5
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Now when you guys say '97-'99 outback (ie: trailing arm bracket, sway bar mount) are you talking Legacy outback or Impreza outback? I want to say its the impreza but just need to clarify, I'm piecing together the last bits for my lift!
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Old 12-08-2011, 10:18 AM   #91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tofu_sal View Post
those might work, ill look into these. and about the camber bolts, I found some eibach ones for 2002-2011.these should fit my 1996 IMP OB with 08 fozzy struts. right? thanks for all the help guys. I almost have all the info and parts for my lift
Yes, those are the "washers" you need. The camber bolts will fit too.
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Old 12-08-2011, 10:18 AM   #92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlboxer2 View Post
Will Group-N top hats fit 98-02 front fozzy stuts?
Yes, the fronts are all the same.
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Old 12-08-2011, 03:31 PM   #93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wakeboard_dude5 View Post
Now when you guys say '97-'99 outback (ie: trailing arm bracket, sway bar mount) are you talking Legacy outback or Impreza outback? I want to say its the impreza but just need to clarify, I'm piecing together the last bits for my lift!
Legacy outback!!
The impreza OB (aka OBS) only has about .5" (if that much) lift on the Impreza, so not really a "raised" suspension (as is in the literature) at all
codeword for Impreza outback is OBS (OutBack Sport)
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Old 12-08-2011, 05:29 PM   #94
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Could use a Forester bracket, that's what I did.
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Old 12-09-2011, 05:50 AM   #95
tofu_sal
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what year forester did you get the brackets off of?
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Old 12-09-2011, 03:18 PM   #96
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2003 (my WRX is also 2003)
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Old 12-09-2011, 03:25 PM   #97
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Old 12-09-2011, 04:29 PM   #98
getout332
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Default Help with 05 WRX lift

I have a 05 wrx.

I want to lift my car about 4 inches so I can put 15x6.5 inch rims and some 205/75/15 tires on. What would I need to do to get there? Should i use both Forester struts and shocks or use Forester struts with outback shocks. What would i need to get to keep my car reliable, and have correct alignment?
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Old 12-10-2011, 09:02 AM   #99
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If you want that much lift your going to want a complete Forester suspension. OBS springs give about one extra inch. Even with spacers its going to be 2" not 4-5. IDK if you can those tires in a 2" lift or not I have yet to buy new rims and tires since I lifted mine.
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Old 12-10-2011, 08:22 PM   #100
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I'm strongly considering buying a 2012 Impreza 5-door (likely the sport premium). They have not arrived in my part of the country yet so I have no way of checking them out. However, looking at photos the Impreza seems to sit fairly low and I was curious as to what a good option would be for a bit of a lift. Im primarily looking to get more clearance from the body, not so much interested in large tires. Just hoping to lessen the odds of ripping off my lower front bumper when driving on forest service roads, entering/exiting steep driveways ( I live in the mountains), or hitting a large chuck of ice that has dislodged from someone's wheel well on the highway (which is possible 9 months out of the year here).

Id guess that 2 inches would suffice. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Also, Im looking for a way to do this that doesn't involve using springs from a 1998 Forester with 2004 Outback struts with 2007 WRX arm brackets, etc. Im not too worried about performance losses as I am a fairly conservative driver and not a high speed cornering addict. Basically, Im looking for a fairly simple solution for my desires. Thanks again!
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