rj95lss Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 So now that I have my '93 leggy wagon running tip-top I thought I would tackle/upgrade the suspension and brakes. Lets start with the suspension... I have a '93 wagon, AWD, automatic. I am looking to get a little more clearance for larger rims/tires. I picked up a full set of struts and springs off a '99 forester with low miles from my local salvage yard, complete units. I am finding all kinds of varying info on this swap and was wondering if someone could help me out, point me to a link where someone has done this and documented it, or would like to share their experience. Thanks- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnstrmech Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 how big of rim/tire you wanna go?... wheel openings are only so big.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj95lss Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I was thinking 15/16in WRX or Forester wheel with a little more offset than the stock 14's. Maybe 26-27in overall tire diameter compared to our current 25in. Nothing crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnstrmech Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 well, considering stock tire size being 185/70r14 is around 24" diameter (give or take a couple tenths), i run 195/75r14 douglas xtra trac II tires and they are (according to specs) 25.5" in diameter, and they have good clearance. If you go to the 15" forester wheels (which is what i want badly!!!), the alternate size to stock is 195/60r15, you should be able to get a 205/55r16 or 205/60r16. 195/75/14 tires fit the wheel well pretty good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snederhiser Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Hello; I would keep the offset as close to stock as possible. The original wheel bearings/hubs are not designed to handle the wheels being hung out. Steven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo73 Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 You can easily get WRX 16" wheels with 55 profile tires with no suspension mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tripleb117 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Hello; I would keep the offset as close to stock as possible. The original wheel bearings/hubs are not designed to handle the wheels being hung out. Steven. What if the wheel bearings and hubs were replaced with the outbacks? Can I just pop them straight on or do I need to get the entire outback axel with it too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snederhiser Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Hello; If I was doing this, the whole shebang would be replaced. I would go with the larger brakes and tires/wheels. The tape measure is your best friend and measure every component. I think the knuckles are the most important part here. Disc brake mount, bearing/hub/axle, ball joint, and strut all attach here. Are these the same, who knows? Steven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcmaxx Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 205/55/16 are a direct swap no mods needed..http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/bcmaxx/2013-02-22092357_zps787d3872.jpg any front brakes will bolt up front, I have wrx brembo's to install next time in in there, the rear will need adapter brackets. I just ordered my camber bolts so I'll post up when my forester lift is in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnstrmech Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 that would look so much cooler with an all-terrain tire LOL..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcmaxx Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 SWAP IN PROGRESS! with 02 forester struts, ass end ended up way high like 2 inch, hoping it settles some, currently getting aligned, fingers crosses they get enough adjustment out of the rear. I have a set of 225/5517, 225/60/16 and 215/65/16 to fit to decide my size before I buy anything. from here to the alignment shop it rode great, have a good feeling about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj95lss Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 SWAP IN PROGRESS! with 02 forester struts, ass end ended up way high like 2 inch, hoping it settles some, currently getting aligned, fingers crosses they get enough adjustment out of the rear. I have a set of 225/5517, 225/60/16 and 215/65/16 to fit to decide my size before I buy anything. from here to the alignment shop it rode great, have a good feeling about it I would love to see pics of the light brackets, mounting points, etc. Looking to do something similar this month. Also, did you only use the Forester struts and all the rest of your stock parts? Did it level out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcmaxx Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 here ya are:: http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/bcmaxx/2013-03-04115207_zpsb351da2a.jpg http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/bcmaxx/2013-03-04115143_zpsedf0413e.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcmaxx Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Yes, 02 forester, fronts fom strut to mount, rears had to swap legacy spring seat and mount on to forester setup. fron sway bar still stock, working on a rear swaybar solution, will post up when I fix it ( currently disconnected) I'd Like to make some front sway bar disconnects too for offroad. The rear ended up a little higher than I like so I'm going to robably add some spacers up front. : http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/bcmaxx/2013-03-04115128_zps8100f2c7.jpg http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/bcmaxx/2013-03-02174103_zps7a01243e.jpg ( subiflex!!) so 225/60/16 fit nice without and rubbing or contact, but I'll go a little skinnier, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj95lss Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Thank for the light bracket pictures, I figured thats what you did. I think the lift looks good, it doesn't look like it sits to high in the back from the pics. Just to be clear, you mounted the entire forester spring/strut/mount in the front, but in the back you only added the forester strut and kept all the stock parts outside of that? Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcmaxx Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 hmm, ok maybe I'll just leave it for now and see if I like it, I can add a spacer anytime. In the front forester everything, just installed it. In the rear forester rear struts and forester coils, legacy spring seats and legacy mounts. I added 2 degree cam bolts front and rear and that was enough to get it aligned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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