Jump to content
LegacyGT.com

1996 Subaru Legacy L Wagon AWD 4" Lift


Recommended Posts

Hi Doug6m, The Forster struts i used are about the same lift as the Outback struts. But the springs are a bit heftier then the springs of the Outback or Legacy. i think there was 1 additional coil and the steel is a bit thicker.

 

The struts will interchange with out any problem. But of course you need the car realigned after the install.

 

Thanks for checking in.

Edited by swcolegacyl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 408
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

Hi swcolegacyl, Im pleased they will be a straight swap. Will the extra height and angles require me to change any other parts to accommodate the extra 1.5", like half shafts, CV's, brake pipes etc etc?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doug6m, The front will be no problem at all. The rear is a bit of a different story. You will need to add blocks to push the rear wheels back. As you lift the car 2 things will happen: (1) both the front and rear wheels will pull in a bit. And (2) the rear wheels will pull forward. Check out pages 7 and 12 of this thread and you can see what i to fix this problem. Also i've added 1/2 wheel spacers front and rear to push the wheels back out. My car also has 1" spacers on top of the front and rear struts.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Hi 96outback, So recent updates are: about a month a go i noticed oil leaking under the engine. it turned out to be a blown cam shaft seal. So i had both cam and crank seals replaced on the front of the engine. About 2 weeks ago i replaced the rear struts with some brand new Forester KYB struts. what a difference that made.

 

I've already started my summer off-road adventures. I'll keep this thread up to date with changes.

 

Thanks for checking in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beautiful day in Disappointment Valley. About 20 miles in on CR20, great 4x4 road to Silveys Pocket.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/disappointmentvalley1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/disappointmentvalley2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

About 2 weeks ago i started getting a check engine light with an error code of P0115. The translation for P0115 is 'Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit.' So i replaced the temp sensor $17.00 on ebay.com and it's real easy to do. Below is a link to a great page i found with clear instructions to replace it. What's interesting to me: is that the car is running much better now, so that sensor has been failing for a long time. Even though I just started getting the check engine light. The temp sensor greatly effects the cars' fuel system. The engine seems to have more power. It's nice and the check engine light has not come back on.

 

 

Subaru Legacy Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacement:

http://lovehorsepower.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:subaru-legacy-coolant-temperature-sensor-replacement&catid=10:subaru-legacy&Itemid=63

Edited by swcolegacyl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Similar direction but not quite as advanced:

 

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10377

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10375

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10376

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jdemod, Nice job. The Legacy is a great project car. That river crossing is awesome. Did you swap the hood?

 

Tried to get up to Alta Lakes today. I was only able to make it about half way up to the lakes because of snow. But it was fun trying.

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/AltaLakesRd.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yup, pulled struts and hood off of a junker 1999 outback IIRC. I was actually pretty surprised how well it did off-road before I did any of this. Ive let my little brother drive it for the last year or so but I still have the itch to work on it every time I visit him in SoCal. I'll probably add a 1" lift to it one of these days. Edited by Jdemod
Adding more.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jdemod, The 1" lift spacers from Subtle Solutions are a nice simple lift. Easy to install and align the car afterwords. Nice job with the car. Hope you get a chance to drive. it.

 

Subtle Solutions 1" spacers

http://www.subtle-solutions.com/product_info.php?products_id=107

 

I just installed a new light bar. eBay.com, 22" 120Watt LED light bar, $52.00. Flood/Spot/Flood arrangement. I have wired simply for now, just with a on/off switch. But next i'm going to wire the new light bar to the high-beams.

 

Old lights:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Lights.jpg

 

 

New light bar:

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/LightBar1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/LightBar2.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/LightBar3.jpg

Edited by swcolegacyl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice! I'll be visiting SoCal and will probably do the second round of flushing the trans while I'm there. ( I drained and filled last time I visited a couple months back). My little brother reported understandably poor gas mileage but it has apparently improved since the flush. The subtle solutions kit was the one I was planning to get actually. I'm a big fan of the general grabber tires on there but I think the car needs new sway bar bushings and an alignment. I'd like to weld up a bumper for it at some point and do lights but I don't make it down there often enough. I'm basically giving the car away to my brother when he can scrape together $1k but we have the understanding that I will still work on/ play with it when I visit. I'll try and take some clearance pictures while I'm in SoCal .
Link to comment
Share on other sites

After changing the reverse lights to LED i noticed that backing up at night, there's not nearly enough light. So, i just installed a 3rd light. Using one of the LED lights i removed from the front. i moved it to the back and wired it to the beige with red stripe wire that goes through the rubber grommet on the passenger side from the body to the rear hatch. It works great. see what it looks like tonight and aim it.

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/3rdReverseLite1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/3rdReverseLite2.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/3rdReverseLite3.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took some pictures while I was in SoCal to document the height now so that I can update this in the future when I do the subtle solutions lift.

 

 

Front wheel well

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10385

 

Back wheel well

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10386

 

Rear Diff

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10387

 

Both of my wagons

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2241&pictureid=10388

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Jdemod, you got the General Grabber at2 tires to fit! That's awesome. The car looks great.

 

It's never fun when something breaks, but at least this was a pretty easy fix. The front sway bar snapped a couple days ago. I got a junk yard replacement from a '99 Forester for $35.00. It only took about 1/2 hour to remove the broken one and install the new one. I did have to lower the exhaust on the passenger side to get the sway bar to slide through.

 

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Swaybar1.jpg

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/Swaybar2.jpg

Edited by swcolegacyl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did it! Just bought a new set of tires, General Grabber AT2 LT. 205/75/R15 and they fit. I used the steel rims, witch have a little more off-set then the aluminum rims.

 

they feel great, can't wait to try them off road.

 

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GrabberFront.jpg

 

 

http://srvtelluride.dyndns.org/Subaru/GrabberBack.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just got back from a off-road test of the Grabber's. And Holy S**T, the car roles of rocks like nothing. The tires are great. i went through huge puddles, lots of mud and snow and they where amazing. You're right Jdemod, i do love them. Also the car feels much wider and more stable on pavement.

 

Hi xrayspecs, i checked out the rims you mentioned, but the Subaru rims work out fine. My car does have 1/2" wheel spacers also. That helps with clearance inside the wheel well.

Edited by swcolegacyl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use