Hi all,
I installed the lift kit from LP Adventure this past weekend and just wanted to share my experience for those on the fence. I communicated with LP Adventure before ordering the kit and their customer service was fantastic. They provided immediate responses to my questions and even threw in a small discount on my purchase. They shipped the same day I ordered. Shipping took right at 8 days, which is about what I was told it would be, but was free. With a heavy package like this, I'll call that a win.
The instructions provided by LPA are some of the best I've seen. Every step had at least one high quality photo included, with most showing a before and after view of that particular step. Torque settings for the bolts were also included, as was a list of exactly which and what size tools were needed. The one thing I would have preferred (if you give a mouse a cookie...) is if the torque settings had been included alongside the actual install steps, rather than on a single separate page that you have to crosscheck. Wrench sizes would have been helpful there, too. I took the time to record that info on each of the pages of the guide I printed though, and I hope to add it to the PDF to share here for whoever might find it useful. Even with the separate pages, it was very easy to find the required settings and checking through one or two wrong wrench sizes didn't waste much time. All in all, I give the installation guide an easy 5 stars.
I'm no mechanic, and I've only performed minor wrenching on my vehicles in the past (hitch installation,
simple engine repair, audio, etc.). Since our Ascent is my wife's daily, and she hauls our 1yr old around in it, I absolutely didn't want to risk safety. I was a little nervous before beginning, but I was fully confident in the work done at the end of this job. I did have the help of a friend with a pretty great home shop, but we were able to complete most steps with a basic mechanic's tool set plus a torque wrench. The extra set of hands was extremely valuable, but I think it could be done solo by folks with moderate experience.
The rear is significantly more complex than the front, but still very manageable. We worked on a leisurely Saturday morning and took our time enjoying the job. All in, we worked on the install for about 5 hours, starting at the front left and moving back. The front left took about an hour and then the front right took all of 20 minutes with the remainder of time being spent on the rear. As most of you already know, Subaru does a pretty great job of keeping their vehicles accessible for DIY stuff, and that combined with LPA's guide made the install simple and enjoyable.
Before the install, I did get quotes from two local shops. Sight unseen, their quotes were both in the $700-$900 range for the install alone. After having done the job myself, I'm glad to have not spent that money. Now I can put that money towards a swing out spare carrier! I did have all 4 wheels aligned two days after the install, which I strongly recommend. The LP kit does a great job of maintaining geometry, but there was still a slight toe-in issue that was resolved with the alignment. I went through our local Discount Tire, and they gave me a voucher for half off the alignment at a shop down the street, so it worked out well.
I ended up going with the 18" KMC Bullies and Falken AT3W in 265/60/r18. I know this is nothing new on Ascents, but I loved the look. Maybe more importantly, so did my wife.
The ride with the new setup is great. It's still just as smooth as it as before, but the steering feels like it's gotten a little tighter, which I'm really happy about. Prior to the changes, it felt a little like steering a boat to me. That said, I'm comparing it to my WRX and an Xterra, so it's understandably different.
Now for the most important part of this long and rambly post - pictures!