Installing an Ironman 4X4 Suspension on a Subaru

This is me showing how to install an Ironman 4X4 2" Suspension Lift on a 2015-2019 Subaru Outback.
I also remove the 2"/2.5" ADF Lift I've have installed for years now.
More testing to follow.

[@ignitionoffroad5028]

Awesome work! I hope Ironman release these kits for the older subies as well. Looking forward to seeing your testing and impressions on the kit

[@JonathanSmith01]

Woohoo! You got it installed. I'll be waiting for your review now. Thank you Bruceyyyyy!

[@softroadingthewest]

Dang, once again you make this look almost easy. Looking forward to testing and your impressions.

[@BoW_Adventures]

Hello softroadingthewest, do you think the shock absorbers will fit on our SH?

[@sgt.v7237]

You give me the confidence that i can install my own kit.i just ordered one today.

[@richardatkinson4452]

Thanks Brucey, can't wait to see how you like it.

[@Navybird01]

I love all the dirt that comes rattling out of the frame!

[@seanplemmons1783]

"And I'm not letting it hammer... much." Thanks for the install vid and I'm looking forward to what you think after some testing. I hope it works great for you!

[@MatthewHeiskell]

I absolutely love my Ironman suspension! 🤩 No sway bars here! Bolt-on long travel suspension for that price is an insane value! 😁 We are going down to Kentucky this weekend (Forester, Power wagon, and a GX470). Nice install video! I'm really looking forward to your suspension tests! 😉

[@bruceyyyyy]

Lots of tests coming! Already got the before filmed.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

@@bruceyyyyy Awesome! I can't wait to see the jump! I just couldn't find a good place to do it.

[@brianterrellsoutdooradvent932]

Man I really enjoyed this video! I love the way you demonstrate the differences between a stock vehicle and your previous Anderson lift, and what’s going in currently with the Iron Man. I think this is probably the most educational video on installing a lift kit on an outback I have seen yet.

[@KentuckyRanger]

I'll be bringing my Outback to you tomorrow... LOL! Nice lift!

[@maimongil]

Great work i love your work you make it look like a piece of cake ... its look easy work i am thinking to do this work by myself (: thanks for the video

[@MrCrilliver]

Just got the Ironman 4x4 and Falken wildpeak a/t trail 235/65r18 installed (no rubbing, no cutting) I can say I absolutely love the way my 2020 Onyx handles and rides now. The car sits about 4" higher then stock and I'm at 11.5" of ground clearance. (w/o skid plates, always more to buy lol)

[@lukeyoungchanchung8054]

Can you put spare tyre with the size in the boot spare space? Any handling issues or cv wearing issues?

[@mattbakester]

Thank you for making this video

[@davidacornell]

I am absolutely interested in your impression of the Iron Man lift! I've really been looking at them and I have a 2015 2.5 Unlimited.

[@fortismonsadv]

Bro - solid. Thanks for the help for a noob.

[@TheWoodensong]

Well, howdy y'all. This is "Ol' Scooter" in down here in the Great State and Former Republic of Texsa (Eastern Approach). just want ya to know that I really like the video a lot. Y'all do indeed make it look easy. Just thought I'd throw in, that I would've loved to the vehicle (with it's "shoes" on); so all of us at this end of the world, could se the difference the Iron Man made. Like I said, "just a thought"...

[@bruceyyyyy]

Howdy ol scooter. Lots of review and testing coming soon. (:

[@noligarcia5200]

Nice job👌🏻. I got a question. Does this also fits 2010-2014 outback?

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

Sweet! How long did the entire install take you?

[@bryanbyrne1555]

Great video! Thoughts on wilderness suspension on base 2023 Outback. Found a set for cheap … worth it??

[@MyBacktrail]

Thanks for this. I have 99 Legacy I want to buy, and it seems like to do a subframe lift, at least in the rear, it could be done with sections of 2" square tube steel, 3/4" steel pipe and longer bolts. Do I have that right?

[@MrDisco-sx6ci]

I'm planning to get this kit as well, but I've read somewhere that the 2" lift was measured for a 2.5L outback. Where you able to take measurements of the clearances before and after installation? I'm planning to get this for our 3.6L outback. Thanks!

[@bruceyyyyy]

I'm just under 2" in the front and rear. Something like 1 7/8"

[@darylhill9400]

How’s your suspension going on the green beast? Do you still have it, just checking in

[@krudolph7]

Great video, thanks! I'm curious if these can be used in conjunction with the ReadyLift 2.0" SST LIFT KIT? Sorry for the nubie question, but I'm just starting to learn.

[@bruceyyyyy]

I do not think so. I think the rear suspension multi link design would be problematic.

[@alexsimon915]

Installed it on my 21 forester…. Fronts are easy… the rear is not fun with one man show…. I tweaked on the project for about 7 hrs for full install

[@foresterboy2011]

Hello Brucey, I'm a massive fan of a friend of yours (Donald from Softroadingthewest) who inspired me to go down the 3rd gen forester route and have never looked back. Questions is that what's the differences between lift spacers and the iron-man strut set up ???

[@bruceyyyyy]

It's essentially the difference between a body lift and a suspension lift. Lift spacers keep the suspensory essentially factory but move it away from the body of the car. Something like this strut set up or long travel coil overs the lift comes from the strut. So you gain the amount of life back in travel. The best example I have to this is a follow up video where I drive up a set of boards before and after I install this.

[@foresterboy2011]

@@bruceyyyyy hello Brucey so what would you say is the better option. The reason I'm asking is that I only want to do it once with the best setup. I can only rely on you guys in Oz and the USA 🇺🇸

[@zccolby]

just started watching you videos a little while ago on suggestion of softroadingthe west. why did you cut and fan out your rear brake debris cover?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I swapped to Ascent Brakes front and rear. They're much larger and don't clear the dust shield. I would remove it entirely however it's pinched between the knuckle and the wheel bearing assembly. If and when the wheel bearing needs replaced I will replace it with the correct Ascent version.

[@zccolby]

@@bruceyyyyy oh cool! did not know that was an option for the ob's. I have a 2" ADF lifted 15 fxt and just swapped to slotted rotors and pads. hope to try out the torq locker this summer.

[@JG95]

How do you like it so far? I’m looking into the kit now!

[@bruceyyyyy]

I have a full review on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH7Sgpqeob2Wd7c

[@davidbosley6516]

Do you have anything up about the aftermarket bumper with hidden winch? Really enjoy your how-to approach. ...boz...

[@bruceyyyyy]

Yup. I have a 4 part series on building it.

[@bruceyyyyy]

Plus a dedicated video on the winch mount.

[@rjwofford2669]

Question: if you already have the spacers installed from a 2" lift in the rear can you skip swapping out to the Ironman spacers?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I think you could get away with that but the Ironman kit only is sold with the sub frame spacers. They don't separate out like with ADF.

[@rjwofford2669]

Lift kit ordered! Thanks for the great install video.

[@maimongil]

HI Thanks for this video .Do you need to align the front after installation?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I would align all 4.

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

Hey Bruceyyyy, does the Outback require the exhaust extension rubbers from Ironman?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I did not need it.

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

@@bruceyyyyy Thank you. Just received to lift with heavier load coils for my 2015.

[@jobean5073]

Did you have any issues with the hitch? They warn that you need to check your clearances but wasn't sure exactly what they meant.

[@bruceyyyyy]

No. The lift or any part of the suspension is no where near the hitch?

[@kmanscorner9530]

Bruceyyyy, Can you give us some comments on how the lifting kite has been performing over the last several months?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I'm working on a final review video

[@Milthiadus]

Thank you so much for u video! It helps a lot. As far as i understand this ironman lift gives u +2" of extra clearance. Can u tell me the real size of rear subframe spacers, that goes with lift complect? Unfortunately its really hard to deliver same complect here, to Russia, Siberia. So i wanna to do the same modernization with mine 2008 impreza outback sport. I will make a custom shock absorber with same size and articulation of ironman complect. Only thing i need right now is to understand the size of rear subframe spacers.

[@bruceyyyyy]

I believe they're 1.5"

[@Milthiadus]

@@bruceyyyyy thank you!

[@bruceyyyyy]

Let me know how it turns out!

[@Milthiadus]

@@bruceyyyyy sure! Lets keep in touch.

[@thedude4707]

How are these so far? I was actually thinking about snagging these

[@bruceyyyyy]

I'm loving them but there are a few drawbacks.

[@eze8024]

Man I wish Ironman offered this for older models :(

[@gomirlez]

The rear sub spacers are 2” longer??? Please let me know ASAP

[@bruceyyyyy]

I believe so yes.

[@EnIGMaTik223]

How do you remove the factory spacer in the back? Also “remove rhe 4 bolts holding this bracket” did noting

[@bruceyyyyy]

The factory spacer is left in place and the ironman spacer is added.

[@komadventure3633]

I’m planning to buy Ironman lift kit..so all the spacers go to rear only right

[@bruceyyyyy]

Correct

[@gusterzacman]

This might be a dumb question, but is there a specific right or left with the rear struts? I can seem to find anything indicating which is which.

[@bruceyyyyy]

The rears should be the same. The fronts are left right specific.

[@gusterzacman]

@@bruceyyyyy Thank you for the guidance and video! Just finished installing everything. Ive never even changed my oil before, so this was a big undertaking for me. Quick question, when I drop it off to get aligned, do they need specific numbers? the installation video from ironman mentions providing the tech with the new ones. I can seem to find those numbers.

[@bruceyyyyy]

They should have factory alignment specs on their machine. Depending on the if the moon is in waning or waxing the rear is likely just in or just out of alignment but not enough to matter for tread wear or handling.

[@gurmuk101]

Off topic but have you experienced torque bind on the CVT? Ive been getting this issue. All solenoids test okay. what should I look at next

[@bruceyyyyy]

The MPT is the same or very similar to the previous unit used in the 4EAT.

[@gurmuk101]

@@bruceyyyyy my issue is probably in the transfer clutches?

[@bruceyyyyy]

Sounds right!

[@gurmuk101]

@@bruceyyyyy it only happens when the car is warmed up. Cold it operates perfectly. The CVT is kinda new. But it’s been happening since day 1. I guess transfer clutches it is

[@gurmuk101]

@@bruceyyyyy last question, what other symptoms can the transfer clutches cause specially in a straight line. thanks again for all your help.

[@TheeRayWay]

How long did the install take alone?

[@bruceyyyyy]

Couple hours. Not bad. I usually work slower when filming.

[@frolyar]

Hello! There were no support bearing anthers in the kit? Part number 20326AA120 - without them, the bearing will crunch very quickly.

[@bruceyyyyy]

Could you give a description?

[@frolyar]

Bearing in STRUT MOUNT have only one anther from the side of the wheel (down). The bearing is open at the top. And only this anther can protect from dirt. Sorry for my english :)

[@Engrave.Danger]

@@frolyar the bearing isn't actually exposed on the front strut mounts, there's just no dust cover for the nuts.

[@chrisnesbit6823]

@bruceyyy are you still happy with the Ironman ATS?

[@bruceyyyyy]

Yes. In think it's a great alternative to all the spacer lifts.

[@chrisnesbit6823]

@@bruceyyyyy So i just did a weekend drive to Chaco Canyon, which is only about 90 miles away... the roads are a bit rough and i have found that my stock struts with 1" RalliTek springs bottomed out on some of the rougher patches, especially the rear with load. I see they are rated at 220#/in and the Ironman ATS are rated at 200#/in. I'm a bit concerned that they are not really rated 2" above stock with load... is that your finding as well? I have a set of the ATS on order (which are "out of stock") but considering whether to cancel and go with the Flatout GR Lite instead... thoughts?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I think between the Ironman and the Flatout the Flatout might win but will need more tweaking since it's a custom coil over versus a strut.

[@davidroads419]

I can't find any real info on the ats kit and the trailer hitch caution about fit. I have a '21 Forester- any ideas?

[@bruceyyyyy]

I'm not sure how the trailer hitch can interfere with this lift?

[@davidroads419]

It's in! I had seen a reference to the hitch somewhere and was just wondering, there was no issue and I'm very happy with it. Thanks, my install was uneventful, and I relied on your video.@@bruceyyyyy it's spec-c front and rear, I have the Base model so smaller brakes allowed 16" Motegi wheels and 235/70/16 tires. Great sidewall addition and great clearance!

[@ayewtfisthat]

do you have an anti wobble insert?

[@bruceyyyyy]

Yes. I'm not sure if it's necessary though.

[@johnccooperworks]

Would be nice to know what Subaru this is...

[@bruceyyyyy]

My apologies. It's a Gen 5 Outback.