WRX ground clearance

[Mark T.B. Carroll]

My 2004 WRX STi is a pain in the butt with its low ground clearance. I
don't know if it's just Ohio roads, or what, but often when pulling from
a gas station onto the road or whatever, the front skirt scrapes a bit,
and the gravel of our driveway doesn't quite meet the concrete of our
garage floor and if I approach that wrong, the bumper catches. What ways
are there to increase the ground clearance, that aren't too stupid? (Do
any cars similar to the STi have more clearance?) My tires aren't stock,
but they don't drop it more than half an inch or so, and I only got them
recently, so it's not those. I have to avoid a few people's driveways
because I know they'll scrape the front up good if I try to cross the
dip where the road meets their drive, even though nobody else has a
problem. At least I'm good at spotting those low concrete bars they put
at the end of spaces in car lots. So, any good solutions? Do I lose much
performance by increasing the ground clearance a little?

-- Mark

 

[tom klein]

My 2004 WRX STi is a pain in the butt with its low ground clearance. I
don't know if it's just Ohio roads, or what, but often when pulling from
a gas station onto the road or whatever, the front skirt scrapes a bit,
and the gravel of our driveway doesn't quite meet the concrete of our
garage floor and if I approach that wrong, the bumper catches. What ways
are there to increase the ground clearance, that aren't too stupid? (Do
any cars similar to the STi have more clearance?) My tires aren't stock,
but they don't drop it more than half an inch or so, and I only got them
recently, so it's not those. I have to avoid a few people's driveways
because I know they'll scrape the front up good if I try to cross the
dip where the road meets their drive, even though nobody else has a
problem. At least I'm good at spotting those low concrete bars they put
at the end of spaces in car lots. So, any good solutions? Do I lose much
performance by increasing the ground clearance a little?

-- Mark

i can't offer any help, but i can definitely identify with your
problem: my legacy wagon seems a lot closer to the ground than any
previous car i've owned. and to make things just a tiny little bit
worse, i've also got a trailer hitch on the back, which bangs itself at
the slightest opportunity. (but at least it's not part of the painted
bodywork.) the front isn't so lucky, with the air dam (and the little
factory fog lights, too), just looking for parking lot damage.

the previous owner also dinged the oil pan pretty badly - i really
wish the fuji engineers had added a simple sheet metal shield/deflector
to the oil pan, just to make noise before you got down to some serious
damage, like knocking your drain plug off. and likewise, i find it
very odd that a "differential shield" should be optional.

i realize that the legacy wagon wasn't intended for real off-road
driving, and i have no intention of adding bush bars or a roll cage
anytime soon, but most people don't drive them on perfectly maintained
test tracks, either!


........ tom klein

 

[Ragnar]

My 2004 WRX STi is a pain in the butt with its low ground clearance. I
don't know if it's just Ohio roads, or what, but often when pulling from
a gas station onto the road or whatever, the front skirt scrapes a bit,
and the gravel of our driveway doesn't quite meet the concrete of our
garage floor and if I approach that wrong, the bumper catches. What ways
are there to increase the ground clearance, that aren't too stupid? (Do
any cars similar to the STi have more clearance?) My tires aren't stock,
but they don't drop it more than half an inch or so, and I only got them
recently, so it's not those. I have to avoid a few people's driveways
because I know they'll scrape the front up good if I try to cross the
dip where the road meets their drive, even though nobody else has a
problem. At least I'm good at spotting those low concrete bars they put
at the end of spaces in car lots. So, any good solutions? Do I lose much
performance by increasing the ground clearance a little?

-- Mark

Don't worry about it. Eventually the front lip won't scrape.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Does not the Legacy wagon have an undercover to avoid minor scraps to
the oil pan? My Forester does and I think/thought all legacies did.
Maybe someone did not replace it after an oil/filter change. Ed

 

[ujduche]

If you're willing to sacrifice some performance, you might be able to swap
suspensions with a WRX owner. This should lift the car up noticable. But,
you will definately loose some performance. Depending where you are at,
there are very active local Impreza groups in Columbus and Cincinnati. Look
over on NASIOC.com in the regional forums.

Personally, I'd just learn to be more careful and buy a couple bags of
gravel to fix the gap at the garage pad. Or trade the STI in on an Outback
XT - those are tall.

ujduche

 

[Limey Lurker]

So, any good solutions?

Bigger wheels.

 

[S]

Hi Mark!

So, any good solutions? Do I lose much
performance by increasing the ground clearance a little?

Easiest way to lift the chassis is to run a taller tire. You will
sacrifice some grip, and turn-in response (taller sidewalls), and this
will raise your final gearing a bit (larger tire diameter), but you're
unlikely to notice unless you autocross or spend time on the track.
About the most you can expect from this is ~1/2 inch or so; doubtful
if it's worth the cost and effort.
You _could_ run a coil-over setup which will allow a good deal of
adjustment, both up, and down. A pricey fix, alas.

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it too much, but the one thing I
_would_ suggest is to install a rear differential guard. The rear
diff. on the WRX is vulnerable; hitting a speed bump or dip just wrong
can tag it. As the case is aluminum, $eriou$ damage is likely from
anything more severe than just a love-tap.

Subaru offers one in steel, not too costly IIRC; there are aftermarket
versions available in aluminum if you're worried about the extra pound
or so . . . Relatively easy install; the OEM one (at least) bolts
right up, and comes with longer bolts where required.

(This nfo for a "plain-jane" rex; I don't know if, or how much the STi
(Heh!) DIFFers . . . ;-)

ByeBye! S.


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[k. ote]

My tires aren't stock, but they don't drop it more than half an inch or
so, and I only got them recently, so it's not those.

.... funny. The STi's ground clearance is already shorter than the WRX, and
you're taking it further by (apparently) putting on slimmer tires. Now you
don't want to scrape stuff.

at the end of spaces in car lots. So, any good solutions? Do I lose much
performance by increasing the ground clearance a little?

I have a good idea: buy normal-sized tires. You can even get away with
slightly wider-than-stock by putting on Roto Torque II's on there and
getting the 0.5 inches extra in width. You did that for performance and not
looks, right?

 

[k. ote]

Don't worry about it. Eventually the front lip won't scrape.

Hahahaha!! That's damn funny.