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#1
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How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Hey all,
I'm kicking around the idea of raising the ride height of my SVX for winter fun. Has anyone found a good way to do this without coil-overs, and keeping the ride on the softer side? Looking for an additional 1 to 2 inches. Also considering doing the son of snow drift next season so any info on light bars or wheels similar to the OZ rally styles would be most helpful too. Just had a thought- if I were to increase the overall diameter of the tires a small amount, will that have a negative effect on the already tall geared and fragile tranny? Any ideas? Thanks, Mac
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Mac __________________________________ 1995 SVX-L AWD, green, 98,xxx miles, ECUtune 1.5, mazda RX-8 wheels with subie center caps, stebro muffler, resonator delete, koni inserts, perrin crank pulley, hella 500 off-road lights, power-slot rotors and ..... 1993 968 Coupe 6-speed, 80,xxx miles black, H&R springs Last edited by macadamianut; 09-15-2009 at 09:10 AM. |
#2
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Get a machine shop to make some aluminum spacers to put on top of the struts.
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#3
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Lights? Our local SCCA season includes a night race at the go-kart track. These helped a lot:
I snagged the bar from a guy on our local Subaru forum. It just mounts to the license plate bracket, so don't try to pull anyone out of a ditch with it. Still, it'll hold a pair of Hella 500s with a light bit of drilling, and I'd imagine a pair more if you were a little crazy!
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Disclaimer: The above post is on the internet. |
#4
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Buy another car. The SVX isn't really meant for off-road play time. I'd buy an Outback or a Legacy.
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-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#5
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Yep, there are other cars that would be better, but I like my SVX. The lift/rally scenario is really just for fun. Although, I did win 1st place, novice category at an SCCA TSD rally (about 80% gravel/dirt roads) this year in my largely unmodified SVX. Also of note is that the SVX won the Alcan rally in 1991.
Again, it is really just to create a fun "winter mode" for the car. Lifted, big snow tires, mud flaps, off-road lights, etc. I'll look into spacers, and thanks for pic with the light bar/lights. Thanks, Mac
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Mac __________________________________ 1995 SVX-L AWD, green, 98,xxx miles, ECUtune 1.5, mazda RX-8 wheels with subie center caps, stebro muffler, resonator delete, koni inserts, perrin crank pulley, hella 500 off-road lights, power-slot rotors and ..... 1993 968 Coupe 6-speed, 80,xxx miles black, H&R springs |
#6
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Dont go too crazy, or risk yanking your CV axle apart when the suspension extends. Also what would this do to the camber ?
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#7
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
I'd imagine that I would have to take out some positive camber, but I don't believe a 1 inch raise would be more than the adjustment range. Yea, this is not a Bigfoot monstertruck operation here. Just a tad here, tad there, within some element of reason.
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Mac __________________________________ 1995 SVX-L AWD, green, 98,xxx miles, ECUtune 1.5, mazda RX-8 wheels with subie center caps, stebro muffler, resonator delete, koni inserts, perrin crank pulley, hella 500 off-road lights, power-slot rotors and ..... 1993 968 Coupe 6-speed, 80,xxx miles black, H&R springs |
#8
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
Agreed. If the car can safely be lifted off it's wheels without popping an axle, then lifting the ride height 1-1.5 inches won't hurt anything. The front camber bolts should be able to adjust it back into range, but you might need aftermarket rear bolts.
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#9
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
I have 1" spacers installed on top of my Rear struts, it will work.
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Danny 1994 Silver SVX in hybernation, awaiting for the monsterous awakening (Lebanon) 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Euro Specs, Hard/Softtop, White/Red. Under Complete Restoration 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL350 Euro Specs, White/Red. Mint... Another step into SL Collection. |
#10
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
since most svx' have sagged rear springs, a 1 " lift only brings u up to normal...
i'm putting in a 2" lift with spacers...yes i'm aware of possible axle issues.... but i have lots of axles and just dont give a darn !
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i'm too svxy for my car rob 92 ebony 4.44's rock !! |
#11
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
on a side note...
in my investigations of spacers/ strut lengths etc... i have one reliable source that says that certain impreza's had factory rear strut spacers... anyone shed any light on this? apparently available in off-set and "straight" bolt patterns....?
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i'm too svxy for my car rob 92 ebony 4.44's rock !! |
#12
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
I have used the following here in NZ (although the ones available locally also have cable-tie area to locate firmly on to coils).
I use 1" upgrade at each end of each spring (front) - so +2" total I use 1" (bottom)+ 2" (top) upgrade at each spring (rear) - so +3" total http://www.mrgasket.com/pdf/Suspension.pdf similar to 1285 & 1287 1281, 1284 & 4334 look interesting ? |
#13
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
1280 can also be used by reversing the direction of the saddles and installing double nuts on the inside...
i have seen them used this way....not a pretty sight when the spring breaks! (no, it wasnt me who did it...lol) the fullc ircular ones are the best design if a fellow takes that route... what i am doing is taking 2 circles of plate steel and welding in between 2" box steel segments (giving total lift of approx. 2 1/4 " ) i am undecided as to whether i should through-drill and use longer studs from strut to chassis... or to retain stock studs and bolt to spacer bottom, then use high-strength studs from spacer top to chassis... opinions please...? ps...this is for the rear struts only....
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i'm too svxy for my car rob 92 ebony 4.44's rock !! |
#14
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
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1985 Brat GL 138k 91 CRX Si 40k 91 CRX Si 155k 97 SVX Lsi 70k 2003 s2000 91 RT4WD 166K |
#15
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Re: How to raise ride height for winter activities??
aha! too bad they are only 1/4 " though....
i suppose stacking 2 would be fine....but any more than that may invite trouble.. good simple item though, for those who just need that small boost in height...
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i'm too svxy for my car rob 92 ebony 4.44's rock !! |
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