Hi all, I'm toying with the idea of putting some sort of Legacy or LGT suspension setup in our 2011 Outback 3.6R, and am curious if anyone has a set lying around in their garage unused... I haven't really researched this swap yet that much, I believe the struts bolt up but the rear springs might be an issue because of the extra wagon butt weight? And I wonder if the front springs would need to be from a 3.6r Legacy due to the engine weight? Any advice/ideas/parts would be welcome, @SurlyOldManMN, @MN3.6R, or anyone else Thanks in advance!
Front springs are indeed a little stiffer for the 3.6r, but nominally so. Can't comment on how they bolt up. Stock suspension is comically soft on the 5th gen up to MY13, fair warning.
Yes, front springs would need to be from a 3.6R. The ride quality on @TMF 's 2012 3.6R is decent but is still supple. The '13+ seemed harsh at points for ride quality.
Thanks, the 2011 Outback setup is ludicrously soft, so even comically soft might be an improvement : ) It's not so much the soft springs that bug me, it's how badly underdamped the struts are. When you go over a parking lot speed bump, even slowly, you can count the oscillation cycles going WACKA Wacka wacka...
I think you're going to run issues with control arms, lateral links, etc, but I have no idea about the swap. I had a 13 leggy 2.5i rental, and it was very stiff, almost out of place kinda stiff. But it def made the usual floaty, large Legacy feel smaller and more nimble. For comfort reasons, I'm staying with the '12 suspension. There are a few people with dropped outbacks on Legacygt.com, so you might want to check there.
To add to this, my dad just got a 15 outback, and the ride is very nice, not too stiff, not too soft... But jusssst right
Fairly sure? Don't think there are obvious signs of leakage or anything. Maybe the OEM factory was having a bad day and forgot to put oil in my struts It seems to have been this way pretty much from the start. I guess I'd have to find another similar car to drive and compare maybe. TMF I've heard that about the 15s, just don't think that's in the budget unless I could get a totally killer trade-in
Well you might not have to buy the whole 15 outback to get the suspension... You can prob just source it from a dealer or forum
Good point, just figured a used takeoff set would be cheap and new from dealer would be $$, but I'll look into the 2015 struts etc this winter. I'm not sure if they'd bolt up though, anyone know what extent of changes they did for the 2015 Legacy platform chassis?
