Lowered legacy Vs Ski field road

[rico]

Hi,

I was thinking about getting some lowering springs for my 97 legacy gtb but am concerned I will have problems heading up the ski field roads (Cardrona in particular).

Never had a lowered car and not sure how much the stiffer springs prevent it from lowering even more when loaded with weight?

The way I see it by the time my car is loaded up with people and gear on the stock bilsteins and springs it looks sacked anyway and I've never had problems on the roads, so as long as lowering spring rates hold the height steady with the added weight I should be sweet?

Cheers.

[ODB]

Cardrona road is like an autobahn when compared to Mt Hutt.

You will be sweet as man.

The only issue i can possibly see is if you need to put on chains and you get some contact with the wheel arches if the chains are a little loose.

[rico]

Yeah chains were my other concern, although didn't need them once last year at Cardrona thanks to the 4wd. And I know what you mean about Hutt road it does get really rutted up.

[ODB]

If you get the correct springs ie not cutties lol then:

Currently:if you have 4 inches of suspension travel and it takes 400kg of force to travel 4 inches to hit bump stops ie 100kg/inch springs

Lowered: if you want to drop 2 inches of suspension travel you will still require the same amount of force to hit bump stops eg 400kg. However this will now be over 2 inches so your spring rate will now be twice as stiff ie 200kg/inch springs.

The above numbers are just an example for ease of mathematics, but should demonstrate the theory that you need to work upon well.

[RAYDEO]

I've always been interested in this too, I've never driven a Subaru up a skifeild road but seen many up there.

Was interested toweither it was a good idea to take my car up or not, but am also thinking the dccd would help alot.

[pedro]

Lock up the dccd and it will climb anywhere.

[nztintin]

Forester with crap diffs works well on the snow, i've done a day where i was the first "4wd" up whakapapa, didn't slip at all till i gave it a test on a straight amd buried my foot.

Coming down is a different story, 4wd don't help much, still 4patches of rubber on ice vs gravity, i always throw chains on the front if there are restrictions in the arvo, better to be safe than in a ditch.

[DRFVDR]

The biggest downfall of any AWD/4WD on skifield roads is TIRE choice,most car type AWDs,(Subaru,Mitsi,Audi) run a low profile,wide tire these are next to useless in snow/ice as in those conditions you need ground pressure.

On the vehicles i run on the Ohakune Mt road,usually AWD Toyota Hiace vans they come stock with 225/75/15's I deem these as to wide so I run 195/15's which give me the best performance in these conditions...

I have done in excess of 1.5 million K/m over 20 years on Mt roads

[ODB]

 RAYDEO said:

I've always been interested in this too, I've never driven a Subaru up a skifeild road but seen many up there.

Was interested toweither it was a good idea to take my car up or not, but am also thinking the dccd would help alot.

Your Sti will be fine Ray.

That said if it hits ice it will slide, like any vehicle.

Its limitations are that its wide sticky street tyres wont be the best for the access road and its lack of weight vs a larger 4wd might mean it doesnt grip/dig in as well.

On all but chains days should be ok though Id say.

The key to driving on access roads is that you remain under the speed limit at all times and stay left. Never do anything in a rush. Slow and smooth wins the day.

[rico]

 ODB said:

If you get the correct springs ie not cutties lol then:

Currently:if you have 4 inches of suspension travel and it takes 400kg of force to travel 4 inches to hit bump stops ie 100kg/inch springs

Lowered: if you want to drop 2 inches of suspension travel you will still require the same amount of force to hit bump stops eg 400kg. However this will now be over 2 inches so your spring rate will now be twice as stiff ie 200kg/inch springs.

The above numbers are just an example for ease of mathematics, but should demonstrate the theory that you need to work upon well.

Hey thanks for that, makes sense really. Next question tho, does anybody know the factory legacy gtb spring rates?