('15+) I need extra clearance in foreign (non-Subaru) country

Augustine864 · 12-01-2019, 01:55 PM

Hey all. I have a 2016 Impreza that we shipped to Ecuador for our two years of work down here. Well, the roads in Ecuador are ****, and even the speed bumps are insane. We scrape on every one.

I was thinking maybe spacers or something could help, like 1.5”, but I don’t know much about it. Additionally, there are no Subarus in this country. No dealerships or anything, so the locals will not have had experience working with Subarus. How complicated are spacers (or lifting of whatever kind)? Is it more or less the same across platforms, or would the Subaru be way too different for them as far as installation?

We need to do something, but I don’t want to put the car in jeopardy. I also thought I had previously read that adding clearance to the 2016 Impreza platform was not a good idea, but I don’t remember where I read that.

Any help you can offer would be appreciated greatly.

DieselDorf · 12-01-2019, 02:21 PM

You can lift it to be at the crosstrek height which is I think 2” higher.

Can’t remember what all is needed search the forum for it though it can be done.

Augustine864 · 12-01-2019, 02:48 PM

Thanks. I think a crosstrek is 3” higher, but in any case I’m more concerned with the latter portion of my post, which is why a forum search wasn’t sufficient. At least not in a way that I was able to search it.

DieselDorf · 12-01-2019, 09:19 PM

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2900637&highlight=impreza+lift

Augustine864 · 12-02-2019, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselDorf

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2900637&highlight=impreza+lift

This helps a little, thanks. At least insofar as indirectly answering whether or not the locals would be up to the task. It sounds like it’s fairly complicated, if I’m reading that correctly?

IHaveAHorse · 12-03-2019, 02:20 AM

You could install lift spacers or lift springs (King springs maybe?) which would give you an inch to an inch and a quarter of lift, and then install larger tires depending on what size wheels you have right now. I was looking into that the other day and I saw one member here had installed larger tires, I think it was flyboy1100. I'm not sure how much more of a lift you can get without rubbing on something. At least half an inch, probably. Plus you have bigger tires to absorb shock from the bad roads and soften the ride a bit.

Commander Keen · 12-03-2019, 04:18 AM

205/70R15 winter tires lift my car by 0.7".

Augustine864 · 12-03-2019, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHaveAHorse

You could install lift spacers or lift springs (King springs maybe?) which would give you an inch to an inch and a quarter of lift, and then install larger tires depending on what size wheels you have right now. I was looking into that the other day and I saw one member here had installed larger tires, I think it was flyboy1100. I'm not sure how much more of a lift you can get without rubbing on something. At least half an inch, probably. Plus you have bigger tires to absorb shock from the bad roads and soften the ride a bit.

Thanks. Yeah, I was thinking spacers also, I just don’t know if that’s something that the locals can do or what (because they’ve probably never seen a subaru in their lives), or if spacers are so simple that it is effectively the same installation on most cars (including subaru). I’m not a car guy, so I just don’t know what I can expect these guys down here to be able to do with regard to a subaru. I don’t even know what size tires I have. Whatever is stock on a 2016 sport Ltd.

Then the thread that the other forum-goer here linked me to talks about different trailing arms and all kinds of stuff if you add spacers, and that really makes me wonder if it’s too complicated. If it were just a matter of adding the spacers and doing a wheel alignment afterward, I’d do it. We are going to sell the car at the end of this anyway. But if I need all kinds of other stuff swapped out, I’m less confident in having someone do all that on a car (and AWD system) that they’ve never seen before.

IHaveAHorse · 12-03-2019, 03:07 PM

It's pretty much the same on any car. The only thing with lift springs/spacers is you need an alignment after you have them installed. It shouldn't be too hard but it's an added cost, I wouldn't drive around without modified suspension in any way without also getting an alignment.

ObewanKenobi · 12-03-2019, 08:40 PM

Sorry, posted this in the wrong place.

Blktrax · 12-03-2019, 09:51 PM

So given its a stock Sport Limited, it should have 205/50-17 tires stock.

Replacing them with 205/55-17 tires will increase overall tire height by 0.8" , increasing ground clearance by 0.4"

Here is a complete kit with 1.0" of lift. This kit is straight forward to install to anyone that works on cars. 1.0" is the max lift without significant suspension changes needed.

https://www.subtle-solutions.com/pro...a1e62fb95f7495

This would give a total of 1.4" of lift, then the alignment should be able to be set with the factory adjustments.

More than 1.5" of lift of the suspension would need longer rear trailing arms, and the front would need longer c/v axles (Crosstrek axles), or they may bind or separate, when flexed and turned hard, like very steep driveway entrances/exits

Augustine864 · 12-05-2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blktrax

So given its a stock Sport Limited, it should have 205/50-17 tires stock.

Replacing them with 205/55-17 tires will increase overall tire height by 0.8" , increasing ground clearance by 0.4"

Here is a complete kit with 1.0" of lift. This kit is straight forward to install to anyone that works on cars. 1.0" is the max lift without significant suspension changes needed.

https://www.subtle-solutions.com/pro...a1e62fb95f7495

This would give a total of 1.4" of lift, then the alignment should be able to be set with the factory adjustments.

More than 1.5" of lift of the suspension would need longer rear trailing arms, and the front would need longer c/v axles (Crosstrek axles), or they may bind or separate, when flexed and turned hard, like very steep driveway entrances/exits

Thank you very much for this explanation, as well as the judgment that it should be straight forward for a typical mechanic. I will take a look at the tires this weekend to confirm what they are and then will probably run with this.

Augustine864 · 01-15-2020, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blktrax

So given its a stock Sport Limited, it should have 205/50-17 tires stock.

Replacing them with 205/55-17 tires will increase overall tire height by 0.8" , increasing ground clearance by 0.4"

Here is a complete kit with 1.0" of lift. This kit is straight forward to install to anyone that works on cars. 1.0" is the max lift without significant suspension changes needed.

https://www.subtle-solutions.com/pro...a1e62fb95f7495

This would give a total of 1.4" of lift, then the alignment should be able to be set with the factory adjustments.

More than 1.5" of lift of the suspension would need longer rear trailing arms, and the front would need longer c/v axles (Crosstrek axles), or they may bind or separate, when flexed and turned hard, like very steep driveway entrances/exits

Do you think there is much risk at 1.4" if much more than that would require longer trailing arms, or is 1.4" the "limit" of what I could safely do? Key word being "safely".

Also, I am seeing when I shop for the 205/55-17s that the websites always want me to buy the 50s (saying that the 55s won't fit). Is that simply because of the manufacturer's recommendation, or will I see issues with the 55s?

Blktrax · 01-15-2020, 10:07 PM

If you're not constantly max articulating; (Think level road and turning sharply into a steep driveway/parking garage ((Real overlanding/off-roading)); you will probably be fine. Basically, rough tracks/dirt roads, very broken pavement. Everywhere you're driving now. Pushing outside of that area into needing a real 4WD, probably not the best idea for the sake of the transmission and axles.

I've personally seen in the shop, even taller tires than the 205/55-17, with no lift, and they don't have clearance issues. The 55 (vs50) series sidewall is only taller not any wider (205), that's where most run people into clearance issues.

The Real issue with going too tall, is the Final gear Ratio, taller tires make it harder on the Transmission starting off and up steep hills. Benefit=Ground clearance, Negative=Slower,Lower MPG,Everything works harder to turn a bigger tire.

Used from google for explanation: This is Super Hard on axles, you don't want to do this lifted as the axles are extended for the lift, then fully unloading the suspension can cause the joints to separate. (Unless you're going to swap in 4 longer Crosstrek axles.)

12-01-2019, 01:55 PM	#1
Augustine864 Scooby Newbie Member#: 453838 Join Date: Sep 2016	I need extra clearance in foreign (non-Subaru) country Hey all. I have a 2016 Impreza that we shipped to Ecuador for our two years of work down here. Well, the roads in Ecuador are ****, and even the speed bumps are insane. We scrape on every one. I was thinking maybe spacers or something could help, like 1.5”, but I don’t know much about it. Additionally, there are no Subarus in this country. No dealerships or anything, so the locals will not have had experience working with Subarus. How complicated are spacers (or lifting of whatever kind)? Is it more or less the same across platforms, or would the Subaru be way too different for them as far as installation? We need to do something, but I don’t want to put the car in jeopardy. I also thought I had previously read that adding clearance to the 2016 Impreza platform was not a good idea, but I don’t remember where I read that. Any help you can offer would be appreciated greatly.

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12-01-2019, 02:21 PM	#2
DieselDorf Scooby Specialist Member#: 454773 Join Date: Sep 2016 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Traverse City, MI Vehicle: 2012 Impreza Sport Pearl White	You can lift it to be at the crosstrek height which is I think 2” higher. Can’t remember what all is needed search the forum for it though it can be done.

12-01-2019, 02:48 PM	#3
Augustine864 Scooby Newbie Member#: 453838 Join Date: Sep 2016	Thanks. I think a crosstrek is 3” higher, but in any case I’m more concerned with the latter portion of my post, which is why a forum search wasn’t sufficient. At least not in a way that I was able to search it.

12-01-2019, 09:19 PM	#4
DieselDorf Scooby Specialist Member#: 454773 Join Date: Sep 2016 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Traverse City, MI Vehicle: 2012 Impreza Sport Pearl White	https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2900637&highlight=impreza+lift

12-03-2019, 02:20 AM	#6
IHaveAHorse Scooby Newbie Member#: 507873 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Vancouver	You could install lift spacers or lift springs (King springs maybe?) which would give you an inch to an inch and a quarter of lift, and then install larger tires depending on what size wheels you have right now. I was looking into that the other day and I saw one member here had installed larger tires, I think it was flyboy1100. I'm not sure how much more of a lift you can get without rubbing on something. At least half an inch, probably. Plus you have bigger tires to absorb shock from the bad roads and soften the ride a bit.

12-03-2019, 04:18 AM	#7
Commander Keen Scooby Specialist Member#: 319157 Join Date: May 2012 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2012 Impreza 4DR 5MT	205/70R15 winter tires lift my car by 0.7".

12-03-2019, 03:07 PM	#9
IHaveAHorse Scooby Newbie Member#: 507873 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Vancouver	It's pretty much the same on any car. The only thing with lift springs/spacers is you need an alignment after you have them installed. It shouldn't be too hard but it's an added cost, I wouldn't drive around without modified suspension in any way without also getting an alignment.

12-03-2019, 08:40 PM	#10
ObewanKenobi Scooby Newbie Member#: 428583 Join Date: Aug 2015 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: All over Vehicle: 2017 Impreza Sport Venetian Red Pearl	Sorry, posted this in the wrong place.

12-03-2019, 09:51 PM	#11
Blktrax Scooby Specialist Member#: 220971 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: West, NC Vehicle: 2002 WRX 224K Mi.	So given its a stock Sport Limited, it should have 205/50-17 tires stock. Replacing them with 205/55-17 tires will increase overall tire height by 0.8" , increasing ground clearance by 0.4" Here is a complete kit with 1.0" of lift. This kit is straight forward to install to anyone that works on cars. 1.0" is the max lift without significant suspension changes needed. https://www.subtle-solutions.com/pro...a1e62fb95f7495 This would give a total of 1.4" of lift, then the alignment should be able to be set with the factory adjustments. More than 1.5" of lift of the suspension would need longer rear trailing arms, and the front would need longer c/v axles (Crosstrek axles), or they may bind or separate, when flexed and turned hard, like very steep driveway entrances/exits

01-15-2020, 10:07 PM	#14
Blktrax Scooby Specialist Member#: 220971 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: West, NC Vehicle: 2002 WRX 224K Mi.	If you're not constantly max articulating; (Think level road and turning sharply into a steep driveway/parking garage ((Real overlanding/off-roading)); you will probably be fine. Basically, rough tracks/dirt roads, very broken pavement. Everywhere you're driving now. Pushing outside of that area into needing a real 4WD, probably not the best idea for the sake of the transmission and axles. I've personally seen in the shop, even taller tires than the 205/55-17, with no lift, and they don't have clearance issues. The 55 (vs50) series sidewall is only taller not any wider (205), that's where most run people into clearance issues. The Real issue with going too tall, is the Final gear Ratio, taller tires make it harder on the Transmission starting off and up steep hills. Benefit=Ground clearance, Negative=Slower,Lower MPG,Everything works harder to turn a bigger tire. Used from google for explanation: This is Super Hard on axles, you don't want to do this lifted as the axles are extended for the lift, then fully unloading the suspension can cause the joints to separate. (Unless you're going to swap in 4 longer Crosstrek axles.)