Rear struts and springs in a 95-99 BD Legacy Sedan

[Dead91silvia]

Skill level 1-5

4, advanced and you know what your doing and dont mind the possibility of hurting yourself!

Alright, so you want ether new struts or you want to lower your car yourself! Cool! Just know that this job is a big of a PITA but not only that, can be dangerous to someone that dont not know what they are doing. I have little fear of pain when working on a car so this to me is no big deal, but people have been killed by coil springs being removed improperly.

THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

All right, you got those new struts or a set of springs and your excited!

These are H&R springs being installed on KYB GR2 struts...

Ok, first, get the rear in the air and get the wheels off... If you dont know how to do that yet, just the tools down and call a shop!

Make sure you use a set of jack stands for safety... bla bla... You know the drill...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8767-1.jpg

Next is getting to the top strut mounting nuts. Thse kinda suck! You will need to remover your rear seat completely, upper and lower (five 12mm bolts if I remember right). And then you still cant get to the nuts that well.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8764-1.jpg

I used a Gearwrench and a few other tools. Just know it will be a pain... You will also need to remover some interior trim pieces to really get the room you need.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8766-1.jpg

After you got those 3 nuts removed, it's time for the brake line. This is where you can do what you want, but I think Subaru was dumb and I do it my way. Remover clip...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8772-1.jpg

Most people are scared about modifying a car part like this, but it NOT A BIG DEAL! I used some Tin Snips and cut the mounting braket and bent it to slip the line out. I dont like bleeding brakes if I dont need to. I even do this to my customers cars and it saves them about 1-2 hours labor so they same money and I save time.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8780-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8774-1.jpg

Next, remove the two lower mounting bolts, 19mm on both sides... and she's out!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8769-1.jpg

Now comes the fun part! Do you feel the sarcasm there?! haha...

Get a spring compressor. This is not the best, but better then a Harbor Fright piece of crap (trust me, U have gone through 3 sets of them). This is where you might want to take them to another shop, if you want to do this yourself you can. Just know this is the dangerous part.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8775-1.jpg

Remove top nut and take it all apart. Do it slow and set the parts out so you dont forget what washer goes where and where the bushing go.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8777-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8779-1.jpg

Mmmmm.... springs!!!!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8776-1.jpg

Now its' time to go back together... Hopfully you had everything laid out in the right order and didnt lose any parts. Remember, the top hat goes one ONE WAY! It's better to get it on right when the strut is off the car.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8778-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_8781-1.jpg

Now, go and put it all back together like you took it apart... :smt023

[legacy360.]

great wright up. one question, what about the abs line?

[Wiscon_Mark]

great wright up. one question, what about the abs line?

The ABS line is only connected to the hub housing, so it shouldn't be affected. If you're worried about getting tangled up in it, undo the bolt that holds it in and clip it to something out of the way.

[Huffer]

One quick note to make is that conical washer that sits under the tophat, needs to be sitting the right way up. It's a rookie move to put it on upside down, and then you get a major clunking sound after everything is installed on the car.

[Dead91silvia]

[quote="legacy360.":2whkl335]great wright up. one question, what about the abs line?

The ABS line is only connected to the hub housing, so it shouldn't be affected. If you're worried about getting tangled up in it, undo the bolt that holds it in and clip it to something out of the way.[/quote:2whkl335]

Yep, no need at all to worry about the ABS line... Just the soft line. As for it being in the way, it's not. Just take care when removing the strut so as not to brake the line. I have done that once time, but I was also replacing 3 control arms as well and had an extra line.


One quick note to make is that conical washer that sits under the tophat, needs to be sitting the right way up. It's a rookie move to put it on upside down, and then you get a major clunking sound after everything is installed on the car.

And this is also good to make note of! I do them so often that I dont even think about this part... A good way to know if you did it right is to make sure before releasing the tension on the spring, is to see if the top hat is set right with spinning it and also pushing up and down. I do this as common practice and reflex. Every now and then I will mess up, but it find it before the strut goes back in so only about 5 minutes is lost...

Good tips guys! :smt023