XBW
01-19-2011, 01:01 AM
Maybe this is common knowledge but why not add my personal experience and fresh pictures.
Peer advise encouraged!
I made this picture to explain how simple it is to figure out your max wheel size when choosing struts.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/strutsizing-1.jpg
the formula is XX x 2 = your max wheel size (wheel and tire)
Example: XX= 12 so 12 x 2 = 24 meaning you could run 18in wheels with a total of 6 inches of rubber. follow?
This is for choosing struts only, dont forget to make sure you clear the fenders if youre not rolling them. Now offset and wheel width has a huge role to play with how deep the wheel is in towards the strut or how far out past the fenders. But remember this is just a foundational guide on struts, this should help those who want a little drop but use stock wheels/ size.
Ok so lots of different struts from different models bolt up to each other meaning you can easily lift or lower your car without having to buy expensive parts, aren't Subarus cool?
I bought all four corner struts for the regular legacy/ GT to lower my outback a little. The fronts fit fine but the rear struts are way to short and come into contact with my tire, i do have big tires though 215/70 on 15's. So i could get smaller tires and be happy, but i like my big tires so i will need to figure something else out for the rears.
So I can factually tell you that with GT struts in the front a 27in total wheel size is the biggest you can fit without rubbing the strut with stock offset and the problem would be worse with more postive offset. This is regardless of model because body spacers dont matter here. But 27in wont fit in the back, just from what i went through yesterday I would guess that 24in is the biggest you can go in the back.
this is the size of a GT strut from the center of the upper mounting bolt to the bottom of the spring perch
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1353-1.jpg
its about 24.5 cm
here are the fronts side by side, outback on top GT/ regular legacy on bottom
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1372-1.jpg
Peer advise encouraged!
I made this picture to explain how simple it is to figure out your max wheel size when choosing struts.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/strutsizing-1.jpg
the formula is XX x 2 = your max wheel size (wheel and tire)
Example: XX= 12 so 12 x 2 = 24 meaning you could run 18in wheels with a total of 6 inches of rubber. follow?
This is for choosing struts only, dont forget to make sure you clear the fenders if youre not rolling them. Now offset and wheel width has a huge role to play with how deep the wheel is in towards the strut or how far out past the fenders. But remember this is just a foundational guide on struts, this should help those who want a little drop but use stock wheels/ size.
Ok so lots of different struts from different models bolt up to each other meaning you can easily lift or lower your car without having to buy expensive parts, aren't Subarus cool?
I bought all four corner struts for the regular legacy/ GT to lower my outback a little. The fronts fit fine but the rear struts are way to short and come into contact with my tire, i do have big tires though 215/70 on 15's. So i could get smaller tires and be happy, but i like my big tires so i will need to figure something else out for the rears.
So I can factually tell you that with GT struts in the front a 27in total wheel size is the biggest you can fit without rubbing the strut with stock offset and the problem would be worse with more postive offset. This is regardless of model because body spacers dont matter here. But 27in wont fit in the back, just from what i went through yesterday I would guess that 24in is the biggest you can go in the back.
this is the size of a GT strut from the center of the upper mounting bolt to the bottom of the spring perch
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1353-1.jpg
its about 24.5 cm
here are the fronts side by side, outback on top GT/ regular legacy on bottom
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/IMG_1372-1.jpg