It’s been awhile since I’ve done a build post on the Forester. While I had planned to concentrate on building the Forester in 2016, the truth is I got a bit distracted by the build of my Elise. Because of that, it’s likely I won’t make as much progress as I had hoped on the Forester in 2016. Sorry...
That doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing things behind the scenes though. I’ve actually been trying to get a set of rally coilovers for the car, but progress has been slower than expected. Unfortunately, that project is being temporarily shelved for the time being.
Recently though, I did manage to add a bit of extra protection in the form of skidplates. Primitive makes a full set of engine, transmission, and differential skidplates, which I purchased altogether for maximum discount. So far, I’ve only installed the engine and transmission skidplates.
In truth, I felt the design of the skidplates were a bit disappointing. With a slight design tweak, Primitive could’ve minimized the ground clearance lost, but as it is, the skidplates eat up about an inch of ground clearance. I managed to gain some of that back by trimming down the bolt stand-offs on the engine skidplate and purchasing shorter spacers for the transmission skidplate, but I feel a more strategically located bend on the engine plate would’ve further minimized lost ground clearance.
As it is, the above picture shows the space between the exhaust headers and the engine skidplate. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with further trimming of the stand-offs.
This is the space between the transmission skidplate and the various components there. Here, I can move the transmission plate even higher, but since the engine skidplate is already lower than the transmission skidplate, I don’t feel a need to do so.
I tested the skidplates out over the weekend (trip report coming!) and must say that the lost ground clearance was very apparent. The skidplates hit multiple times, while my friend who followed me in his stock Crosstrek reported no such contact with his car. While my Forester was more heavily loaded, it also had larger aftermarket wheels and tires, but it was definitely obvious that his stock Crosstrek had more clearance than my Forester. While scraping skidplates isn’t the worst thing in the world, I’m not sure if the skidplates are worth it, at least on a stock height vehicle.
Speaking of stock height vehicles, while most people concentrate on CV joint wear when lifting a Forester, I feel that, at least for the SJ Forester, the front control arm rearward bushing might be more susceptible to early failure from lifting. Above is a picture of someone’s Outback which shows a failed front control arm rearward bushing, which has a design similar (if not identical) to the SJ Forester’s. The control arm basically moves by deflecting the bushings back and forth and, at a higher static ride height, it might put more wear on the bushings. A 2015 WRX front control arm has dust booted spherical bearings in place of the bushings and is probably a straight swap. Hmm...