Moderate lift on 04 Forester?

So I'm toying with the idea of getting a new, winter-only suspension set up for the Forester. I do quite a bit of ice fishing and with the GR2/WRX spring set up, I'm a bit lower than I would like to be.

So, do any of you have any suggestions for a slight lift kit set up for a 2004 Forester? I don't want a hardcore mudding setup or anything, just something to let me get around the lakes without pushing all of the drifts out of the way.

-Ted

 

so right now you're on wrx springs? if so, go back to stock forester suspension. or get the jackson rally 1" tophat spacers

 

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7210

^spacer lift

 

Ground Control coilover kit to get the struts up off the bump stops and give a sizeable amount of travel in both directions. You'll have a lot of freedom over spring rate choice and end ride. although AGX struts are pretty limited in adjustment. You need to pick spring rates that match one of the adjustment points really well. You can get a great ride if you can do so. If you're a ways off between two points, the ride quality suffers a bit from what it could be. That's sort of the key to making an AGX based setup actually good. Tokico D-Specs are just a lot easier to work with because adjustment is infinite, makes things easy.

After that, feel free to add lift blocks to raise the car up more. There used to be a number of kits including 4" and even a 6" prototype at one point. All you find now is just 1" or 2". My brother has the Jackson lift blocks, not installed yet. He's also got the AUSubaru 2" lift. He's intending to play with both and range from 1" to 3" and decide where he wants to be. You will want proper strut operation though, so you'll want static ride position to be somewhere in the middle of the strut travel range. You can run Tein S-Techs on 6" of lift if you want. You'll be high, but it'll drive like crap because it's still sitting on the bump stops. You get the idea I hope.

 

if you wanna spend the cash here is a full lift set up http://scorpionsubaru.com/product.htm

 

Hmmmmmm. I wonder if they would just sell me the fronts so I could possibly even out the beater wagon a little bit.

 

yea I'm pretty sure they would - keith and kyle are good guys like that

 

I was mistaken, I don't have the AGX, I just have the GR2's, sorry. I greatly appreciate the replies. I have to check, but I think Fong gave me the stock Forester springs, and the spacer lift looks like a great option. Thanks guys!!

 

I have some stock forester springs if you need ted... they are just taking up space in my garage.

 

For winter I would just rock the Forester struts and springs, and maybe toss on one of those 1" lift blocks for some extra clearance. Having a separate set of winter suspension would be nice, easy to swap in and you can clean it before you store it.

If you do go higher for winter might as well look into getting some taller snows. They make Hakkas for SUVs and Trucks too with larger sidewalls which would give you some more ground clearance. As I see it the lift is a just a way to fit bigger tires.

 

Off post a little, but I just want a little bump for the front of my beater. The struts I got from Chux raised the back about 1.5-2", so the front needs some work, and I'd rather not do the whole Outback deal. Camber is trivial with a winter beater.

 

hop on www.SJRlift.com and shoot an email to him (his name is Scott). his stuff changes pretty quickly, so he doesn't keep the site updated very well. I know he made a full 4" body lift kit (blocks for crossmembers and such too). but I'm sure he could make a set of 2" front strut blocks for a good deal (mention my name . we've done some business before).

 

Me too.