16" gt forrester rims not quite fitting my lib

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:34 pm

Hi all,
Got hold of a set of 99 gt forester rims with 215/60 rubber on them.

When i tried to fit them on the back the guard on the rear shock was hitting.
see pictures.

Is it possible to remove that cover and will it fit then, i really have no idea if these will fit, for now i still have the original air suspension.

Rims 48 offset 16x6
tyres 215/60r16

Thanks for any advice

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:54 pm

i ran 65 series on my sedan and the same happened i just made some spacers up for the wheel cant remember if they were 10 or 20 mm thick tho
can find out tho if need be

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:55 pm

spacers as in it sits between the hub and the rim to bring the tyres out more?

Could i get any tyre shop to make these for me?
Sorry pretty knew to this.

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:00 pm

yep
but they not very legal tyre shop wont touch them
i went to my mates engineering shop and had them made for a carton of beer

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:04 pm

hava look here

showthread.php?t=10669&highlight=spacers

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:24 pm

Ok, so would something like the following work for me?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WHEEL-AD ... 0307305936

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:33 pm

something like that yes dunno if they will suit your application but your on the right lines
be careful of the fitting requirements

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:37 pm

are you planning on keeping the airbag suspension?

If you are - why dont you have the bottom of the strut midified to give you 10mm more clearance.

If you arent - might be a good time to convert to outback struts and springs

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:13 pm

what do you mean by modified vincent? could i just bash it in a bit, it does not need to go to far, i think 10-15 mm would be fine?

i think those plates are the right size also.

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:26 pm

^Gen2 Outback shocks will give the clearance you need, if you were going to swap to coils...

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:38 pm

was hoping to keep the airbags for another month or 2, until after christmas...

still want to fit the rims now though so i need some options? maybe a spacer maybe a hammer?

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:09 pm

what I am taking about is removing the rear struts, and having the 2 holes where the hub bolts in moved about 10mm lower. This will give you a 10mm lift in suspension height, and mean you have 10mm more clearance off the top of the tyre.

Cam · Post by **Cam** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:09 pm

'massage' with a hammer? how wide would the spacers have to be to get the tyres to clear? can get small ones from auto shops(malz), offroad use only...

liftedGT · Post by **liftedGT** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:06 pm

I had a lib wagon that i put forester rims and 215/60/16s on when i had Air suspension and i did exactly what ppl are saying. wheel spacers of about 8mm from memory and then "massaged" with a hammer till they cleared.
good luck.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:05 pm

I am still waiting on someone to fit a 2" body lift and retain the airbag suspension. I reckon it would be an awesome setup. if you bottom out on something you can just hit the bags and gain 40mm of clearance

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:29 pm

You shouldnt cut that bottom bit off - why? because when the Liberty is lowered/de-flatted the rubber sits on that area, if you removed it it'll rub on the tyre and then Bang you have a hole on the airbag!...

Best alternative option is to install Outback struts and it will fit perfectly... or buy spacers but I dont know about RWC issue..
Cheers
AP

kndkris · Post by **kndkris** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:42 pm

ok, just visited a friends place and its decided i will get rid of the airbag suspension and go with coils. This will let me use the 215 tyres and make the lifting much easier.

Also have a set of 00 wrx mags which i might throw on, i wont be able to decide until i see them on the car.

Will 215/60/16 be good on the beach?

with removing the airbags, are there any problems with replacing with rex struts and coils? i am guessing the 215 will still fit fine as it is horizontal clearance that is the problem.
??

Bumpty · Post by **Bumpty** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:39 pm

If you want height, outback struts with standard springs would lift an inch or so, similar to the height of the airbags when they are jacked up. And outback struts are slightly higher in the strut tower so would allow the bigger wheels to fit.

I don't think the forrie rims would fit too well with rexxy struts, as they would only just fit on the car with Liberty coils struts, I would of thought the liberty coils struts are higher then rexxy ones...

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:38 am

215/60R16 will be fine up the beach. you can fit some 65's if you want later on for a bit more height.

WRX suspension is not the wy to go if you want to lift the car. look for some used forester or outback gear if you are trying to do it cheap.