Subaru Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly

You are driving along the highway with your family when all of a sudden, you feel vibrations from the steering wheel and your car bounces excessively every time it hits speed bumps on the road. Has this ever happened to you? If so, your car may be experiencing the symptoms of a faulty shock absorber and strut assembly. The handling of your car relies heavily on your Subaru shock absorber and strut assembly. Once it is damaged, it should be replaced immediately. Fortunately, replacing your shocks and struts is a task you can do yourself. Here is a six-step guide to help you out.

Required Skill Level: Intermediate

Needed Tools and Materials:

• Replacement shock absorber and strut assembly
• Floor jack and stands
• Wrench sets
• Coil spring compression
• Safety glasses
• Latex gloves
• Closed toe shoes

Preparing for the task

Before you dive into the task, make sure that you are properly outfitted with personal protective equipment. Wear safety glasses, closed toe shoes, and latex gloves to maximize safety.

Propping the car up

Park your car in a solid level surface. Make sure that the brakes are set and the rear wheels are wedged so that the car won't move by mistake. Take out the front hub caps if needed. Loosen up the lug nuts of the front wheel, but don't remove them completely. Now, you are ready to raise the front of the vehicle using a floor jack. Before you start with the task, secure the vehicle with jack stands on either the frame rails or the pinch welds.

Removing the shock absorber and strut assembly

Before you remove your Subaru shock absorber and strut assembly, you have to take out the front wheels first. To do this, remove the front wheel lug nuts. After which, disassemble the top nuts that connect the shock absorber and strut assembly to the frame mount. Just remember to keep the center nut in place inside the engine compartment. Now, label the location of the lower strut mounting to have a point of reference when you're already in the installation process. When you're done marking, remove the bolts that secure the shocks and struts to the hub. Again, do some markings for future references. With a side mounted spring compressor, remove the retaining washer and top nut. You can now pull the shock absorber and strut assembly out of the spring.

Installing the new strut assembly

Do the reverse of the preceding step after putting the new shocks and struts into place. Reposition the top mount into the spring, then reinstall the top nut and retaining washer. After this, remove the spring compressor with care and place the shock absorber and strut assembly back into its place.

Reassembling the other parts

To hold the shock absorber and strut assembly into the frame in the engine compartment, install the nuts on top, but do so in a not-so-tight manner. Torque the nuts based on the manufacturer's recommended terms. Place all clips and brake lines back to the shock absorber and strut assembly, then mount the wheel and torque the lug nuts again to the ideal specifications.

Testing the strut assembly

When your vehicle is lowered back on the ground, lightly bounce it up and down to secure the shocks and struts into place. As a final step, test your vehicle on the road to check whether everything is working out fine. Closely inspect your Subaru shock absorber and strut assembly after testing.