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Old 02-26-2003, 02:40 AM   #1
JC
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Default Anyone own a lifted Outback?

My parents are thinking about lifting theirs and I was just wondering if anybody has done it and their experiences. Looking at the Scorpion 2" Springs.

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Old 02-26-2003, 02:44 PM   #2
outback2.5HO
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Yes,

I have the 2" Scorpion lift on my '97 OB and my '90 Legacy Rally car and it works quite well. Increases ride height and clearance for off roading, but doesn't alter on road handling much at all due to the spring rate. The lift has been on my car for several years now, and no problems at all. Check out the review I posted on www.subarureview.com that should answer most of your questions.

B---
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Old 02-27-2003, 11:20 AM   #3
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Cool! Make sure they get some 33" BFG MT's or Super Swampers on there. Maybe front and rear lockers too.
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Old 02-28-2003, 09:10 AM   #4
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Put a solid lift kit in like these 2 Aussie Soobies, they are available in the US through one of your guys or somebody over at the USMB Ezboard site.



Go to http://www.ausubaru.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl
and make contact with BYB555 he supplies the guy in the US with the kits or the plans for making them not sure of which, but he can put you in touch with the right guy.

Last edited by subyroo; 02-28-2003 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 02-28-2003, 09:55 AM   #5
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I copied this from a Subaru site in Australia:

Re: Need more ground clearance in Texas, '02 Outback Sport
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldnt go lifting the springs very much at all as it can put way too much angle on your CV joints, that is why we all do a body lift instead.
Outbacks, have a small (about 1 inch) body lift in them from the factory, very similar to the way we do ours.
Fitting a bit more body lift will give you the extra clearance you want and also allow you some more room for larger tyres with out affecting the geometry of your suspension.

I have posted a msg on another site to get you some help in the US.
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Old 02-28-2003, 11:00 AM   #6
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www.ozified.com

This guy is the US distrib. of BYB lift kits.
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Old 02-28-2003, 11:32 AM   #7
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I don't know about the Outback's tolerances, but you don't want to push CV joint angles, unless the vehicle will stay on the road only.
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Old 02-28-2003, 11:43 AM   #8
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I think your parents would be very happy with this vehicle.

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Old 02-28-2003, 03:38 PM   #9
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I dunno, I've always disliked body lifts. In my mind springs are the proper way to lift a vehicle. Body lifts are for posuers and guys who already have springs lifts and want to go higher. I'll look into the CV joint thing, but I don't think it'll be a problem to be honest.

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Old 02-28-2003, 04:36 PM   #10
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CV joint stress is absolutely a problem. An OB was not designed to be suspension lifted - why do you think they bothered with a body lift, from the factory, instead of just using taller/stiffer springs? Mucking with your suspension geometry can substantially shorten the life of your drivetrain components. Also, I don't know how well the Subie transmission would deal with substantially larger tires - it ain't exactly bullet-proof, in stock form.
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Old 02-28-2003, 05:21 PM   #11
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From what I have heard from people with these kits installed (via emails), it DOES NOT do anything bad at all to the CV angle. Aussi people are and have been running these lifts for a long time, and ISR Subaru has done many installations to my knowledge.

I know with the older Ro's, people do a body lift and then stuff larger tires under it, which is what really gives you more ground clearance.

I wouldn't worry about it...I would not ever heasitate to put one on my OB if I felt the need to.

Kevin
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Old 02-28-2003, 09:02 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally posted by gavin
CV joint stress is absolutely a problem. An OB was not designed to be suspension lifted - why do you think they bothered with a body lift, from the factory, instead of just using taller/stiffer springs? Mucking with your suspension geometry can substantially shorten the life of your drivetrain components. Also, I don't know how well the Subie transmission would deal with substantially larger tires - it ain't exactly bullet-proof, in stock form.
No car was designed to have the suspension lifted. The Outback is not just a Legacy with a body lift, it has accompanying stiffer/taller struts and the springs are probably different too. Changing your C.G. without adjusting springs/struts accordingly will adversely affect your handling and make your car more "tippy." I'm NOT gonna do that to my parents car. It's spring lift or no lift. Does anyone have any documentation of CV joint damage? We are only talking ~1.5" lift, it would have no adverse effects on a truck/SUV I don't see the OB being that different.

As for the tranny, I'm not worried. It's an auto which is stronger than the manual and it's stock engined. Also, regardless of what type of lift, you would fit new tires. A body lift w/o bigger tires is USELESS. It makes your car look stupid and doesn't help off-road ability at all. I don't mean to sound like a dick here, but I obviously don't like body lifts.

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Old 02-28-2003, 09:25 PM   #13
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Like I said JC contact BYB555 at either

email: [email protected]
or
http://www.ausubaru.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

He helped design test and installs lif kits for Subaru's and has done many of them over the years, this is his Sooby below until it was stolen.
As you say, you hate body lifts but they will not give you grief like spring lifts will down the track to coin a phrase.

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Old 02-28-2003, 11:56 PM   #14
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I take it by a spring lift you mean fitting a taller set spring to your original struts? It is possible to lift the EJ series of Subarus with the suspension, but if you are just going to fit taller springs then you are really on the wrong track.

If your springs are going to lift the car by 2 inches then you are effectively reducing your standard wheel travel by 2 inches. You will find when you take the vehicle off road you will be getting wheels off the ground every where. Lifted cars with suspenion that does not work properly is in my opinion more suited to posers.

To do the suspension lift properly you need to fit different struts to your vehicle.

The white Liberty/Legacy pictured here about had both suspension and body lift. It was fitted purely for off road ability. The car had a 3 inch body lift with a 2 inch spring lift. EJ20 RA turbo engine running 20psi of boost. Rear Lsd and 4.444 STI gear box. 27x8.5/15 Khumo mud terrains. Nothing was done for posing, it was all built for a purpose. Offroading and offroad racing.

The suspension was fully adjustable with 350lbs/inch springs.

The lift creates more room for taller tyres and also creates better approach/ramp over/departure angles.

If you want to do this thing properly I am happy to help you out by steering you in the right direction for suspension. Do not rule out a body lift purely on "pose" factor.

I do build lift kits for Subarus and Patrick Davis at Ozified.com is the US counterpart. I am not trying to sell you a lift kit at all. Couldn't care less really if you bought a Scorpion kit or another brand. Just don't rule them out.
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Old 03-01-2003, 12:59 PM   #15
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I'm not going to argue here, but I'm sticking with my position. My parents don't want to spend a lot of money on the car, they don't need anything fancy. They just need to get to their house and back, it just happens to be a nasty road that the Outback bottoms out on at this point. It mostly just needs more clearance over obstacles and move through the mud ability. Both of which a spring lift would help with and a body lift (lowest part of the car is not on the body last I knew) would not w/o new tires. Yes, it will articulate less, but it's not going to matter. I've seen the road, there's nothing that maxed out the stock articulation. If at some point they find the need, they can get new struts maybe swaybar disconnects and deal with it then. Other than that the car will mostly be used on the pavement, and a spring lift with have better pavement manners. Like I said if I was going all out, I'd do both, but I'm not.

byb555, do you make spring lifts for a MY00 Outback? I'm not stuck on Scorpion, they are just the only game in town as far as I know.

JC
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Old 03-02-2003, 05:27 PM   #16
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JC when you say "bottoming out" do you mean the bumpstops or the underside of the car?
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Old 03-02-2003, 06:44 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally posted by Schludwiller
JC when you say "bottoming out" do you mean the bumpstops or the underside of the car?
Underside of the car. I think my parents would kill me if I was going fast enough to hit the bumpstops.

JC
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Old 03-03-2003, 04:31 PM   #18
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My car has 130k hard miles on it and no CV probs at all. It works well, but you guys can argue and speculate all you want about it.

It has proven itself very well, both on my OB and 90 Legacy PGT car. Rallying would not be "posing" either, purely function...

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Old 03-03-2003, 05:51 PM   #19
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How about NOT using a spring or body lift kit, just use some tall tires? Your cruising rpms would drop and you would be even better insulated from the bumps.
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Old 03-03-2003, 08:37 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by ciper
How about NOT using a spring or body lift kit, just use some tall tires? Your cruising rpms would drop and you would be even better insulated from the bumps.

Yea but he need to be able to stuff those tires. Hence the lift.
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Old 03-03-2003, 09:13 PM   #21
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But the vehicle is already lifted over what a stock legacy has, I dont see why higher profile tires wouldnt fit.

I was going to have my mom use 205 70 15 on her standard legacy.
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Old 03-04-2003, 01:04 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally posted by ciper
But the vehicle is already lifted over what a stock legacy has, I dont see why higher profile tires wouldnt fit.

I was going to have my mom use 205 70 15 on her standard legacy.
Outbacks already have bigger tires than a regular Legacy. 225-60R16 Thanks for trying to help though.

JC
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Old 03-04-2003, 03:14 AM   #23
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You can't fit 205/70-r15 on a stock Legacy, there's not enough room unless you swapped in an OB suspension or a lift...
A 195/65r15 will fit tightly without a lift.

On my Outback I run 225/60/r16s aggressive all seasons in the Summer, for better handling, and 215/75 r-15s M&Ss for the Winter, for deep snow driving. It also has a 4:11 trans w/ LSD rear diff (and protector) , front skid plate, ACT Clutch, and too many other goodies to list. Even equipped as so, it can go in spots that are dominated by Jeeps. It really needs a dual range tranny to be able to utilize all of it's potential and really crawl...
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