[Subiciv]

Living in the heart of the city, I need the handling rather than ground clearance. I love both looks, just depends on what is practical for the owner. I think a lifted sh is the most rugged of the lineup. I'll definitely keep everyone updated. I was going to do swifts but decided to try this first. The mailman never brought me my goodies.

I did plastidip the grill, 3 TIMES!!! I did not know the bumper has to come off to get the grill off. I left it on and dipped as is. I had run spots and crappy spots so ripped it off twice and changed my tactic the third time. It's tollerable but ugly. Maybe the humidy and wind aided to the headache. Oh well, it'll do til spring when I redo it right.

 

[Subiciv]

Newly dipped grill. Not bad from a few feet away. It'll do for now.
I am still waiting for my suspension!!!

 

[Subiciv]

Called customer service to track my package, he says it's in transit. I also asked if it was to my address to make sure i wasn't being sent the wrong tracking#. lol I start to get the feeling of being scammed after a while. Now it's just a waiting game. The temps are dropping so this may not go on this year.

 

[Subiciv]

legacy suspension is in my possession! I am also on vacation! Hopefully it gets done.

 

[Subiciv]

Suspension about to get underway! :biggrin:

 

[Subiciv]

Mission accomplished but not as planned. The right rear top hat looks busted. Didn't know until installed and test driven. CLUNK CLUNK! bring it back and top hat fubar'd. I will get a new top hat and 1" spacers are required for the rear. Other than that, it looks and feels good.

 

[Subiciv]

Rear has settled a bit more. I gotz droopy booty. I ordered 1" spacers and having them rush delivered. Wifey isn't happy she can't drive her car til fixed, just as I feared...

 

[ScoobyGT]

If you hear the clunks in the rear, try tighten the nut in the top hat a bit more. Usually that is an indication that the spring is moving around between the perches. You'll need to tighten up the nut with an hex key to prevent the stock from spinning, or use an impact gun. The top hat can't be bad because they are basically brand new, unless it was damaged during the shipping.

How does the car ride on the firmer setup?

Mission accomplished but not as planned. The right rear top hat looks busted. Didn't know until installed and test driven. CLUNK CLUNK! bring it back and top hat fubar'd. I will get a new top hat and 1" spacers are required for the rear. Other than that, it looks and feels good.

 

[kreitz3]

Mission accomplished but not as planned. The right rear top hat looks busted. Didn't know until installed and test driven. CLUNK CLUNK! bring it back and top hat fubar'd. I will get a new top hat and 1" spacers are required for the rear. Other than that, it looks and feels good.

Looks like it will sit real nice after the rear spacers. I'd like to know how this compares to WRX and STI take offs.

 

[Subiciv]

We used a pass through socket with the allen key. We got it tight but still clunking. You can actually see the area around the nut move as we bounce the car. I'll try an impact wrench. I'm waiting for the spacers so I can do it all at once.

 

[Subiciv]

The top hat can't be bad because they are basically brand new, unless it was damaged during the shipping.

How does the car ride on the firmer setup?

I suspect USPS had a disgruntled employee who sought revenge on my package. I was thinking since they're new, that's the only explanation. Hopefully I can get this done tomorrow, today has been a busy day and I have loads of overtime coming up. I will update when finished

 

[ScoobyGT]

Was the box all banged up?

My only suggestion is to blast that nut while the setup is installed and loaded (tire is on the ground). That will help limit the shaft from spinning too much.

Before doing this, you can confirm the clunking is from there by jacking up the car, and see if you can move the spring by hand. If you can, the nut is too loose.

I suspect USPS had a disgruntled employee who sought revenge on my package. I was thinking since they're new, that's the only explanation. Hopefully I can get this done tomorrow, today has been a busy day and I have loads of overtime coming up. I will update when finished

 

[Subiciv]

We tried to move the spring and check if it was seated right. No movement and spring was at the notch. The nut was a little loose but still clunked after tightening it. I haven't hit it with an impact gun yet. Probably tomorrow. The box was a bit worn. Idk if it was a brand new box when shipped but was soft and wrinkled? I honestly hoped it didn't bust open when i moved it.

 

[Subiciv]

Found this on legacygt forum. Apparently Subaru may have bad tophats? Once I get my spacers, I'll swap over the stock forester tophat. That's IF I even get the spacers tomorrow. Paranoid fab's site says they are on vacation starting today til after the holidays. I placed my order Friday so I hope it got out before they went on vacay. Anywho, this is what I found...

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/rear-end-sagging-bad-tophat-spring-seati-174437.html

 

[ScoobyGT]

Han had a 4th gen LGT, so the topic discussed in that thread was regarding the 4th gen shock assembly. The 5th gen uses the same design as the 08+ WRX/STI and 09+ Forester, and they do not have problem described.

Try to get the nut tighten first, you should be able to do it from the interior of your Forester.

Found this on legacygt forum. Apparently Subaru may have bad tophats? Once I get my spacers, I'll swap over the stock forester tophat. That's IF I even get the spacers tomorrow. Paranoid fab's site says they are on vacation starting today til after the holidays. I placed my order Friday so I hope it got out before they went on vacay. Anywho, this is what I found...

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/rear-end-sagging-bad-tophat-spring-seati-174437.html

 

[Subiciv]

Ah, well scratch that. Thanks Lol. I hope my spacers come in today and early so I can get this done! Worst mod experience ever!

 

[Subiciv]

Rear end clunk GONE! I guess I was weak when I installed it initially but the impact gun did it in. I'm happy, she's happy so it's good. Now I hope spacers come in. My rokblox flaps scrape over speedbumps and driveways.

I took it for a short drive to test it's new capabilities. Wow, firmer all around. Feels similar to my swifts.

 

[ScoobyGT]

Sweet! I am glad that it worked out finally.

Can you post up some pics?

 

[Subiciv]

Yup, I'll snap one for the before spacer look and will snap when all is said and done.

My wife took the car out, and after she said I didn't need to change what wasn't broke she admitted to some spirited driving and enjoying the new ride. Sweet! :biggrin:

 

[Fozzie23]

Newly dipped grill. Not bad from a few feet away. It'll do for now.
I am still waiting for my suspension!!!

It looks good man! I can't stand the chrome grille.