Peaty

The install for these is very simple and should not take very long at all. It takes longer to find all the tools and get the car on the ramps, honest. But first the reason to install the supports.

A number of people have had the tab on the lateral link snap off. Not a huge amount of people but enough to give one pause. While it seems more likely to happen with an upgraded rear sway bar, (see pic below) there have been a few with stock suspensions had this happen. The Forester's tab is welded only in the front and rear, parallel to the lateral link and not along the radius (see pic below). For the 2004 WRX STi Subaru used a double set of tabs which are stronger. For whatever rea$on, they didn't use the same setup on the Forester too.

To prevent the tab from snapping under load, some people have had a weld put along the radius for strength. This seemed like a good idea at the time but it turns out that heating the lateral link weakens the metal and I've read of at least two cases where the lateral link has bent at the weld location

So what to do? There are upgraded OEM $Ti lateral links that can be fitted. These are super nice, even Subaru has started installing them on the WRX STi instead of the tab welds they have on the 04. They are however, pretty expensive and a chore to install. Perrin (AKA Mo_Boost) has come up with an alternative that is simple to install and is not expensive. The tabweld supports attach right next to the existing tab and work with the OEM or upgraded links. More info on getting a set here:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...9768#post89768

Because they are a custom part, the supply is limited. The continued availability is unknown. I've been testing out a prototype since 6/05 and have not had any issues. My setup has a Forester Sti take off suspension, 20mm STi rear sway bar and Kartboy endlinks. I put in a pic of the prototype next to the producton links for the heck of it.

Also a photo from Jason Porter of his broken tabweld.

Attached Images

	Tab weld CU.jpg (63.3 KB, 828 views)
	sti rear link.jpg (43.5 KB, 826 views)
	Production vs proto end link supportjpg.jpg (53.9 KB, 799 views)
	brokentab.jpg (25.7 KB, 828 views)

__________________
Peaty

cheeze@sunflower.com

2010 Legacy 3.6R Limited

2006 B9 Tribeca - 7 pass Ltd (wifes ride)

1999 Miata - Daily Runabout

 

Peaty

What you will need:

Ramps - To get the car in the air. It's best to do this with the suspension setting on the weight of the car. Don't try it with the wheels off the ground. I like Rino Ramps myself.
14mm deep socket and wrench - Too remove the OEM end links nut, if you have after market like Cobb or Kartboy it will vary.
3/16" Allen socket or wrench - for the Mo_Boost support bottom bolts


Start by getting the car safely on Ramps. I'm sure it's possible to do while the car is on the ground but getting it on ramps is easier (suspension fully loaded), It will be harder to do if the wheels are off the ground and downright dangerous if you have one side off the ground and the other resting on the suspension.

Once the car is in the air and you have your safety goggles on, you need to remove the bottom nut from the link. If you have the OEM endlinks, just remove the nut and put the support over the stud end and put the nut back on. Make sure the side of the support that is flat, is up against the tab and not the notched side (see pics) Tighten the links nut first (33.2 ft/lbs), then tighten the bolts on the bottom of the support using a 3/16" Allen wrench (10 ft/lbs). This link here will show you how to remove the OEM links bottom nut:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21599

This link has some pics that will help too:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2937

If you have upgraded endlinks (Kartboy, Cobb etc.) I highly suggest putting the link to the inside and the support as shown below.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6184

I've found the upgraded links tend to run wider and the top outside bolt gets pretty close to the rear calipers Banjo Bolt, putting the link to the inside gives more room for the bar to swing. That's pretty much it, not very complicated but effective

Peaty 9-3-2006

Some links to look at:

Info on availability of the supports:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...ead.php?t=3824

Upgraded links getting close to banjo bolt:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...ead.php?t=2651

Welding on Lateral link:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulle...ead.php?t=6061

Attached Images

	end link on OEM.jpg (65.9 KB, 556 views)
	end link on OEM 2.jpg (45.3 KB, 461 views)
	endlink installed w KB.jpg (67.5 KB, 580 views)
	endlink installed w KB Bottom .jpg (82.7 KB, 366 views)
	endlink installed w KB side.jpg (82.8 KB, 428 views)

__________________
Peaty

cheeze@sunflower.com

2010 Legacy 3.6R Limited

2006 B9 Tribeca - 7 pass Ltd (wifes ride)

1999 Miata - Daily Runabout

Peaty

Pic of the support installed w/ Kartboy end links and a Cobb RSB courtesy of Frank Z (thanks Frank)

Attached Images

	Cobb-KartBoy-MoBoost01.jpg (82.2 KB, 653 views)
	Cobb-KartBoy-MoBoost02.jpg (204.7 KB, 435 views)

__________________
Peaty

cheeze@sunflower.com

2010 Legacy 3.6R Limited

2006 B9 Tribeca - 7 pass Ltd (wifes ride)

1999 Miata - Daily Runabout