DMS OB strut replacements may be available

I know a few folks have spoken very highly of DMS (Drummond Motor Sports) shocks, so I sent an email to DMS in Australia (http://www.dmshocks.com/) asking specifically about Outback strut replacements. They could be available in several weeks, if you have the money and some OEM struts to use as dimensional samples.

 

Do any the Outback drivers who have swapped to coilovers still have the original struts to use for dimensions?

 

I need to think about this. It is a lot of money, but it sure is tempting.

 

Here are the emails that were exchanged so far:

 

-----Original Message-----

From: DMShocks Sales [mailto:sales@dmshocks.com]

Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 12:03 PM

Subject: Re: Enquiry from DMShocks Website

>DMShocks website feedback form message. Please note that 'on' indicates

>the user checked the box relating to that item.

>

>Users comments: Your shocks look like they are the best on the planet!

>

>Do you make any replacement shocks that will fit a 2005+ Subaru Outback?

>I surely hope you do. If not, I hope you will be making some! These cars

>are in desparate need of better shocks as they are severly underdamped.

>They have plenty of power (turbo models), but the suspension just cannot

>keep up. From reading many of the Subaru web forums, it seems like there

>would be a lot of interest in shock replacements for this car, and as of

>now there is no company pursuing replacements. If you do it first, I'm

>sure you will capture a lot of sales.

>

>Please help!

>

>dms40mm: on

>dms50mm:

>dms60mmSS:

>dmssprings:

>

>Street Use: on

>Street Racing:

>Racing Tarmac:

>Rally:

>Rally Tarmac:

>Gravel:

>

>Car make: Subaru (MY05+)

>Car model: Legacy Outback

>Group/Class (FISA)/Others:

.............................................................................

Hello.

Thank you for your email

There are so many vehicles on the market, that we cannot make every one.

However Subaru is one of the main suspensions we do make

At this stage we do not make it for Outback, however if you would like

us to make some we can, you will need to supply us with 1 x front and 1

x rear shock absorber

Regards

Yvonne

DMS Head Office

.............................................................................

Hi Yvonne,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply.

This is good news! Would you have any idea of an approximate price (same as the 40mm line) and time for making these? Would these be one-off shocks or would they become part of the standard DMS product line?

Thanks much, I look forward to your response!

..............................................................................

Hello

I cannot give you a definite price until we were to see the samples

However the price for 40mm would be in the range of AU$3745.00 (~$2800 USD) per carset and this would also include springs and GST

 

Whether this would become part of our product range, I cannot answer

that as we have never had a market for them, but I suppose if another

order was received we would then be able to supply

 

Time frame would be approximately 3 weeks from when we receive samples

if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us

 

Regards

Yvonne

DMS Head Office

.............................................................................

 

 

Comment away...

True, but there are distributors in North America. In fact, DMA North America is located in the Great White North:

http://www.dmsnorthamerica.com/

Hi Guys,

I am surprised you did not contact the north american office first?

We have fitted DMS 40mm and 50mm to outbacks already. No need to send units to AUD.

 

Pricing shipped to your door in the USA is 2899$ through anyone of our local shops. www.dmsnorthamerica.com/distributors

 

Regards,

-mark

 

PS: Top mounts are also available for these cars.

I looked at the online catalogs (both DMS AUS and DMS North America) and there was nothing listed for the Outback. So, I figured that I would go directly to the 'motherland' factory and ask them if/what they could do.

 

So, do the 40mm DMS shocks change the ride height at all? How many have you fitted? Where has this been done (state, etc...)? It would be nice to check out an install first.

We installed a standard legacy gold shock to the OB. It dropped the car to legacy GT wagon territory. If you specify OE length legacy shocks, it is still going to be about a 20mm drop in ride height.

 

My recommendation is what are you seeking to accomplish with aftermarket suspension on the outback? Rallycross, street? All the sets I have installed have been locally outside of Montreal area.

 

I believe one of my dealers, North Coast Rally and Rocket Rally have each done outback installs as well.

 

Part number is #ECS-SUB-LEG(GT)-40a

Specify when ordering what the car is, and the intended use of the strut

 

We also have the front Camber/Caster DMS plates available for this application (it does differ from the impreza mounts)

 

-mark

Mark,

 

If I read your reply correctly, it appears that you have not done this on Outbacks that retain stock ride height. Did I understand this correctly?

 

I'm not interested in lowering the car much, if at all. Nor am I interested in racing the car on or off road. Just want to improve the handling and rid it if the horrible floaty-bouncy effect (and in the end, $3k is a lot to spend to do that so I may not be the target customer for a DMS solution).

DMS is worth every penny! I have run them on several cars and hope to run them on my GT.

The question was asked if we had an application for the outback. The customers that installed them so far wanted to improve the handling of the car. You almost have no choice put to reduce the center of gravity a little to get rid of some of that floating feeling. We can keep the OE ride-height to the mm, but would not suggest the 40mm to do that. The extra travel and stroke that would be in that setup would be better suited to a 50mm. So not for street cars.

 

My recommendation, go with the small drop and the 40mm. You can rebuild the struts, adjust to a more performance or grocery getting setting, and use them year around. A lot of the floaty and roll feeling can be tires and type of swaybar as well.

 

-mark