Rear Lower Control Arm

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Impreza

TRAILING LINK

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Tire and wheel assembly
   • Rear parking bracket clamp and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor harness, if equipped
   • Bolts that secure the trailing link to the bracket
   • Bolt that secures the trailing link to the rear housing
   • Trailing link from the vehicle

   To install:

3. Install or connect the following:
   • Trailing link and the through-bolts and nuts. DO NOT tighten the nuts and bolts at this time.
   • ABS sensor bracket, if equipped, and parking brake cable to the trailing link.
   • Tire and wheel assembly
4. Tighten the trailing link-to-bracket bolt to 72 ft. lbs. (98 Nm) and the nut to 83 ft. lbs. (113 Nm).
5. Tighten the trailing link-to-rear housing to 83 ft. lbs. (113 Nm).
6. Check the wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.

LATERAL LINK

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Tire and wheel assembly
   • Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor harness from the trailing link, if equipped.
   • Bolts that secure the lateral link to the rear housing.

   NOTE: Discard the old self-locking nuts and replace with new ones during installation.

3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Bolts which secure the trailing link to the rear housing
   • Halfshaft from the rear differential using a suitable tool.

   NOTE: On all except 2.2L engines, do not remove the circlip attached to the inside of the differential. On 2.2L engines, the side spline circlip comes out together with the shaft. Be careful not to damage the side bearing retainer.

4. Scribe an alignment mark on the rear lateral link adjusting bolt and crossmember.
5. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Outer lateral link bolt securing the lateral link to the housing
   • Bolts securing the front and rear lateral links to the crossmember
   • Lateral links from the vehicle

   To install:

6. Install or connect the following:
   • Bolts securing the front and rear lateral links to the crossmember and handtighten
   • Outer lateral link bolt securing the lateral link to the housing and handtighten
   • Halfshaft to the rear differential
   • Bolts that secure the lateral link to the rear housing
   • Bolts which secure the trailing link to the rear housing
   • ABS sensor harness to the trailing link, if equipped
   • Tire and wheel assembly
7. Tighten the lateral link bolts as shown in the illustration.
8. Check the wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.

Legacy

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Tire and wheel assembly
   • Wheel bearing assembly, refer to the procedure in this section
   • Bolt holding the parking brake cable to the control arm
   • Bolt securing the brake hose to the rear arm
   • Bolt securing the Anti-lock Brake Sensor (ABS) sensor to the rear arm
   • Brake line from the wheel cylinder with a flare nut wrench, if equipped with drum brakes. Plug the line to avoid contaminating the system. Suspend the brake backing plate from the subframe.
   • Nut securing the stabilizer link to the rear arm
   • Bolt holding the shock absorber to the rear arm
3. Use a suitable transaxle jack to support the rear arm horizontally.
4. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Bolt securing the rear arm to the body
   • Nut securing the front link to the rear arm, loosen
   • Nut securing the rear link to the rear arm, loosen
   • Bolts holding the rear arm to the links
   • Rear arm

   To install:

5. Use a transaxle jack to support the rear arm.
6. Install or connect the following:
   • Rear arm and temporarily tighten the bolts securing the rear arm to the link
   • Wheel bearing unit
   • Bolt securing the ABS sensor to the rear arm
   • Brake hose-to-rear arm bolt
   • Parking brake cable clamp-to-rear arm bolt

   NOTE: Place a rag or cloth between the jack and its mating area to avoid scratching the rear link and subframe.

7. Place the tire changing jack (supplied with the car) upside down and position between the rear link and subframe. Adjust the jack position so the rear shock absorber is aligned with the rear arm at their corresponding holes. Install the lower shock absorber bolts.
8. Using the transmission jack, support the rear arm horizontally, then tighten the nuts and bolts holding the rear arm, front and rear links, upper link and shock absorber. Refer to the specifications in the illustration.
9. Install the tire and wheel assembly.
10. Check and adjust the alignment, if necessary.