Lifting a Forester

[Petrolhead159]

looking at lifting my Forester, will need to change the rear as its sagging now & thinking of putting the Pedders kit on.

thinking of doubling up with this kit if anybody has used them/had any experiences?

http://www.subtle-solutions.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_24_26_45&products_id=97

I have been in contact, $300 delivered to the UK.

[Gambit]

Nope not used them, but seems like a good price from the States 

[Jay762]

dont know about the mod but at that price it is worth a punt plus you then have the specs if it works

[Petrolhead159]

well i have gone & ordered the parts, so will post up my thoughts when i get them fitted.

[Jay762]

and some photos of course ;) ;)

[Petrolhead159]

customs released them & they arrived yesterday.



I have MOT on monday so see how that goes, then look into getting them fitted, I know i have a shock failing on the rear.

enquired about full geometry calibration today at Wheels in Motion (had previous cars done) & they said the Forester is fully adjustable on the camber so thats handy.

I will keep you posted.

[stants]

Did you order the pedders kit yet ? I'm inerested in the lowering kit so would like to know what you think of the quality of it all

Sent from my SM-T210

[Petrolhead159]

not ordered anything yet but had comms with them, they certainly seem to know their stuff & come across of not pushing anything onto you if they feel you don't need it.

[Petrolhead159]

rear shocks have arrived from Pedders to replace the SLS…going to see how the springs cope before i order them.

Going to get it booked in, i should be raised by the end of the month

[Petrolhead159]

had everything fitted today, bit of a balls up on my part…front is raised & looks fine, however I changed the SLS shocks on the rear but kept the standard springs & the !Removed! is dragging.
spoke to Pedders & the confirmed my suspicions, the standard springs to go with SLS shocks are a softer spring, so i have ordered the Pedders springs to match the non-SLS shocks.

So a couple more weeks & the rear will be a sensible height & will not look like i have a tonne in the boot.

mechanic that fitted it took about 1.5 hours to fit the spacers & replace the rear shocks & said its a nice kit.

[Jay762]

useful to know hopefully all sorted once the springs turn up ;)

[bitman]

oops, i just wanted to tell you if you change the struts you WILL have to change the springs also!

 

Pedders shoud know better when you ordered your new Pedder struts and should have told you that you will need new springs...

 

back in Australia i changed from SLS to standard struts by using Pedders springs and Ultima struts as one SLS strut was completly shot

 

if you going to dispose the SLS struts / springs can i get them?

[Petrolhead159]

Pedders did advise but its one of those moments of "i know best" & trying to save a few quid.

I have kept the shocks so far & 1 is knackered, I can push it all the way in by hand so its done well.

[bitman]

yeah, i was just asking as i actually want to have SLS back on my06 as when i bought her she already had non SLS struts done by the prevous owner.

 

i did kept the once when in Australia but when we moved back to the UK i dropped them in a skip  :o  as we had no space left for them in the shipping container :(

[Petrolhead159]

will let you know when its all off, Pedders phoned me yesterday & said that the coil springs are delayed.

[Petrolhead159]

at last!!! my Forester is all done, first impressions of the Pedders spring & shock combo is that they are much firmer than OEM

 

The car is noticeably higher, I will post up some after pictures later, but heres the before images.

 

FRONT

 

REAR

[Petrolhead159]

here's the after pics, on a shoot tomorrow so will see how it gets on off road & it should help the new suspension settle down too.

Will see how it sits & how the tyres wear over the next few weeks & then look at getting a full geometry done, think i need to get some camber bolts for the rear.






FRONT 



REAR

[Gambit]

Yep much better now with the clearance does look more off road ready now :) 

[Petrolhead159]

had everything fitted for a few weeks now & done a little off roading & finding the bumpy stuff, unfortunately no mud   
Ive not rubbed or scrubbed yet so all is good, normal road driving is fine, the Pedders kit on the rear is certainly stiffer & you can feel the difference on some road surfaces, but they absorb larger bumps very well.

Heres a few pics i took today.







think my next purchase is going to be some extra wheels for the winter months with some aggressive off road tyres
something like this. http://www.4x4tyres.co.uk/205-70-15/205-70-15-insa-turbo-special-track-mud-terrain-p-649.html