newer outback springs to lift 93 legacy wagon?

[gustavohuber]

Hi there, I'm trying to get my 93 legacy wagon to have a little more ground clearance, and was wondering what the proper way to do it is. I was thinking that maybe springs from a outback would provide a little more lift, but really don't know.
/Gus

[professor]

that's an interesting question...I looked into the differences when trying to figure out whether the sway bars from an Outback will fit our Legacies (answer: yes for rear 95-99 bars). I would stick with those years for any inquiries because more changes occurred for MY2000

It seemed that the 3" or so difference in ride height on the Outback was achieved by moving the spindles down on the hubs about 1.5", and then fitting tires that are 1.5" taller for your 3" total. the spindle drop allowed the taller tires without rubbing out on the bodywork. So it seems that suspension TRAVEL is not greatly different, so the springs may well be the same length as the non-Outback ones. This does not, of course, answer if the springs are longer or higher rate after MY94 in general.

Perhaps someone can access the part #'s to see if Outback springs are different ?

Keep in mind ride height depends upon the loaded length of the springs, so rate will come into play as well. It is a good bet that wagon springs will increase your ride height if installed on a sedan but that will only work in the back. It is also a good bet that spring rates creeped up over the years because the cars kept getting heavier.

[skid542]

I know it's not much but I gained about 1/4 inch of clearance when I changed from my 185/70/14's to 205/60/15's. However, I have no idea about the Outback springs. If you do find a set of springs or another way of lifting your wagon let us know. I've used every bit of my clearance before and there have been times it'd be cool to have another couple. Goodluck and welcome to the board.

Lee

[scottzg]

Well, you could raise it by installing 90-91 springs in the front and 90-91 struts in the back. The rates will be the same, and you'd then be able to run larger tires. I would have given you the springs if i still had them, i threw them away though

[skid542]

^^^ Bummer, wish I'd discovered this info beforehand.

[gustavohuber]

Thanks, everyone, and thanks for the welcome! So, I boogered my poor wagon pretty bad when my spring compressor failed massively while I was trying to reinstall the springs (swapped stock struts for GR2s which helped the ride height issue a touch).. compounding the situation was a torn brake line (by the angry, flying spring) and the fact that I was working on the wagon at work over a weekend, and its my only car.. so I picked the wagon up with a forklift (harder than you think) and scooted it outside, before hitching a ride home. Anyway, its in capable hands now, and hopefully will get fixed proper by the weekend.. but all this leaves me with the question: how do you guys so casually swap springs? It was one thing when I had a little VW Golf, but the suby's springs were positively mean spirited towards me! well, so I'll be glad to get the car back with new suspension and front axles. Then it'll be back to trying to booger it again with intake systems, exhaust, and way more stereo than a family car needs.

[vrg3]

You were using a spring compressor with the strut on the car? They're generally meant to be used off the car... You remove the strut-and-spring assembly from the car and use the spring compressor just long enough to undo the nut at the top hat, and then again just long enough to put it together again.

Subaru springs are harder to deal with than most, I'd say... relatively few turns at a relatively sharp angle. Some types of spring compressors -- especially the cheaper ones -- just won't grip them well.

I'm glad only your car was injured in this mishap. Changing springs is always a little unnerving because of the amount of potential energy in a compressed spring. Sometimes it's worth taking the route of paying a shop for an hour's labor to perform the spring swap for you.

[Kelly]

HA HA. Damn, good thing you didnt get hurt.

Most auto parts stores will lend out decent compressors. Pull out the whole strut assembly and place it perpendicular to you on the floor. That way if anything gives, it will fly out to the sides, and not toward you.

With a good impact gun, I can usually do all four corners in under an hour.

[gustavohuber]

Absolutely glad it was only a brake line and a little fender bangin'.. actually what happened is that I had the compressed spring laying on the ground next to the wheel well, and when the harborfreight-ass-mofo-compressor started creaking, I jumped back, and it cracked, haphazardly flinging half of the compressor into the wheel well and slicing a brake hose with the snapped edge of the bolt.. so in reality it was less dramatic than i made it sound.. but you know.. more exciting and whatnot if the spring goes ballistic. but happily, it didn't.
/g

[vrg3]

Ah. Yeah, like I said, some spring compressors just aren't good with our springs.

And I'm very very glad it wasn't more dramatic.

I agree with Kelly's advice to place it perpendicular to you. Basically, treat it like a loaded firearm; don't aim it at anything you wouldn't mind killing.

[Kelly]

The ones I have, are the same kind my local Schucks lends out.
Ive broken the HarborFreight ones too, and decided saving 30 bucks just wasnt worth it. I think I spent 50 bucks on these?



Just grease em up every time you use em.

[gustavohuber]

yep.. you're absolutely right. I thought "why rent for $6/day, when I can buy a pair for $8?" -- three "$8" pairs later.. I can honestly say it wasn't worth it.. anyway, I'm cutting my losses and letting a mechanic do it for $70/hour with proper tools and a workspace. Makes me miss the days when I had a garage all to myself. you all don't happen to know of places where you can rent a garage/lift in the bay area, do you? I imagine the insurance for that kind of thing makes it impossible, but just curious, because it would be awesome. Also, I need to do the front axles, but apparently subarus use some sort of pressed hub assembly which scares the crap out of me.. how bad is it really, and what kind of tool do I need to extract the halfshaft/axle from the hub? I'm guessing that my 3-arm gear puller won't work.
/g
p.s. thank you so much for any advice, guys!

[Kelly]

Its just the bearing thats pressed, the axle pulls right out, granted you get the axle nut off. I beleive its a 32mm, someone correct me if Im wrong.

Remove axle nut.
Remove ball joint, (the bolt in the knuckle, not from under the A Arm)
theres a pin at the flange where the axle attaches to the tranny.
Use punch to hammer out pin.
pull axle off tranny flange.
Pull axle out of wheel bearing assembly.

[professor]

I've been using the same set of home-made spring compressors for years, consisting of heat-bent all-thread, hooks made of bent steel flat bar, and an assortment of nuts and washers.

If something actually breaks that is shocking, on Subaru springs there really isn't that much force in the first place, I guess you can't underestimate Chinese steel