Tackling a Crosstrek full suspension kit installation transforms how a Subaru handles the dirt. The crew at Rigged for Dirt, along with Sean Bowman of Shock Surplus, collaborated to build Project Taru. This vehicle requires serious upgrades to handle heavy gear without sagging. They brought the crossover into the shop to ditch the soft factory ride and swap in heavy-duty components capable of taking a beating.
Selecting The Upgraded Components
Getting the right stance means choosing parts that handle extra weight. Eric opted for a rugged combination to ensure the vehicle stays flat when fully loaded. Eric explained: “We’re doing a RalliTEK kit here with Bilstein struts and a little bit more of the armored underpinnings, control arms, trailing arms.” He also added: “I went overload and it’s 2 1/2 inches up front with 3 inches in the rear, accounting for a little bit of extra weight even on the overload coils, so it sits flat when it’s loaded up.”
Front Crosstrek Full Suspension Kit Installation
The front end goes together fast because the new assemblies bolt into the factory locations. Builders just need to pay close attention to the top hat orientation before tightening the bolts. As Eric explained: “Each of the top hats will have a laser-cut arrow which needs to point to the front of the vehicle, and the passenger side has one of the bolts marked with yellow paint.” This clever bracketry corrects the caster and camber perfectly.
Navigating The Rear Linkage
Moving to the back requires some effort. The team had to install new lower control arms and sway bar brackets to correct the geometry. Bowman mentioned: “We do have more lower control arms, trailing arms, sway bar brackets, so we have more complexity in the rear, but not particular to shock orientation.” Having a solid game plan prevents headaches during this phase. Bowman advised: “Getting the order of operations right is really what’s going to save you the time.”
Wrapping Up The Garage Project
Setting aside a full day makes this job entirely manageable. Taking the car around the block proved that the stiffer springs deliver on their promise. Eric shared: “Just in a drive around the neighborhood, it felt stiffer around turns, still felt smooth on speed bumps, and it’s kind of built to carry a load.” Finishing a Crosstrek full suspension kit installation gives drivers the ultimate confidence to push their rigs way harder.
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