Disassembling a BE suspension

[DR. R0B0TN1K]

I'm planning on upgrading my rear struts, for the sole purpose that they are shot :-? . I bought the car from this guy (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=14149) not knowing too much about (bad) suspension noises. Once I got the car back to CT, I started driving the car more often and noticed some knocking in the rear :roll: . I jacked the car up and saw some leaking from the struts themselves. I've already talked to Airgne and I'm purchasing his suspension at the end of the month. I just cant get to the top hats :smt017 ! My seats don't fold down, and I don't want to go and tear apart my interior if I don't have to (I have leather, and I'm an anal-retentive bastard...)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[KAG]

You get to the rear top hats through the trunk, not the seats. Fold back the carpet and you'll see the two nuts at the top on each side.

The BE has a rear multilink suspension, so it uses shocks instead of struts. A little different than most other Subaru models :smt002

[DR. R0B0TN1K]

Thanks for the quick reply! So folding the carpet down in the truck will show me nuts and bolts to get to the rear suspension?

I notice you own the exact same car as me! Do you have any problems with burning oil? Or leaking oil? I just changed mine at 124k (at 125k and change) and checked it about 2 minutes ago and I was low, very low! just a hair above the lowest hole in the dipstick.

Edit: Sorry to hear about your Legacy! Glad you're okay though, hopefully you can scrap some of those pieces and make some of the money back on it...

[Airgne]

sus is real easy on out car. im goin the rear hubs right now and PITA!!!!!. it took me 2hrs to get left left rear off.

back to topic at hand.

just peel carpet back like kyle said, and you will see 2 nuts on left&right of car. those are your top nuts to your rear struts. the bottom is only one bolt per side. easy a 17 or 19 mm nut and bolt.

front is to damn easy. 3 nuts on top and 2 19mm bolts at bottom.

[DR. R0B0TN1K]

Could this be done in a day at my house? I have just standard tools, metric and standard sockets and wrenches, along with various other tools. Plus the help of a few mechanically inclined friends. The knocking just becomes an annoyance, and it is starting to worry me.

[Airgne]

took my old out swaped parts that needed swaping. installed springs on struts(with no spring compressor) and had the car rolling again after 4hrs total. all you are doing is taking out full assy and installing new one. shoudnt take you more that 1.5hrs.

[rougeben83]

the lower bolt for the rear shocks can be a pain, theyre supposed to be torqued to 130ft/lbs...also use a jack to support it as it is under compression when it is bolted onto the car.