Strut

Strut

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Front

WITH STANDARD STRUTS

Fig. 1: Exploded view of the front suspension assembly-Legacy and Impreza models

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
Remove or disconnect the following:
- Negative battery cable
- Front wheel assembly
- Caliper, if necessary, leaving the line connected, and suspend it out of the way with a piece of wire or string
- Clip or bolt attaching the brake line to the strut housing
- Bolt securing the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor harness, if equipped
NOTE: Scribe a matchmark on the camber adjusting bolt which secures the strut to the housing.
- 2 bolts and nuts securing the strut to the steering knuckle. Notice that the shaft of the top bolt is not round. This bolt is used for camber adjustment, and must always be installed in the top hole.
- 3 nuts securing the strut to the body in the engine compartment
- Strut and coil spring assembly from the vehicle
To install:
Install or connect the following:
- Strut assembly into the vehicle
- Upper strut retainer nuts and tighten the nuts to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)
- Lower strut nuts and bolts. Be sure the alignment adjustment bolt is installed in the top mounting hole. Tighten the nuts to 112 ft. lbs. (152 Nm) for Impreza models, or to 130 ft. lbs. (177 Nm) for Legacy models.
- ABS sensor harness, if equipped and tighten the bolt to 24 ft. lbs. (32 Nm)
- Caliper, if removed
- Brake line to the strut and install the clip or bolt
- Front wheel
- Negative battery cable
Check the front end alignment and adjust as necessary.

WITH PNEUMATIC STRUTS

Fig. 2: Exploded view of the front and rear pneumatic suspension assembly-Legacy and Impreza models

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
Remove or disconnect the following:
- Negative battery cable
- Air line and height sensor harness (from inside the engine compartment) from the strut assembly
- Front wheel assembly
- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor, if equipped
- Caliper, leaving the line connected, and suspend it out of the way with a piece of wire or string
- Clip attaching the brake line to the strut housing
Matchmark the camber adjustment bolt to the strut housing as reference for installation.
- Bolt securing the ABS sensor harness, if equipped
- 2 bolts and nuts securing the strut to the steering knuckle. Notice that the shaft of the top bolt is not round. This bolt is used for camber adjustment, and must always be installed in the top hole.
- 3 nuts securing the strut to the body in the engine compartment
- Strut and coil spring assembly
To install:
Install or connect the following:
- Strut assembly
- Upper strut retainer nuts and tighten to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)
- ABS sensor harness (if equipped), and tighten the bolt to 14 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)
- Lower strut nuts and bolts. Be sure the alignment adjustment bolt is installed in the top mounting hole. Tighten the nuts to 112 ft. lbs. (152 Nm).
- Caliper
- Brake line to the strut and install the clip
- Height sensor harness and air line
- Front wheel
- Negative battery cable
Start the vehicle and allow enough time for the struts to pressurize before driving.
Check the front end alignment and adjust as necessary.

Rear

WITH STANDARD STRUTS

Fig. 3: Exploded view of the rear standard strut assembly-Legacy and Impreza models

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
Remove or disconnect the following:
- Rear seat assembly, on Sedan only
- Rear speaker grille and service hole cap, on Wagon only
- Strut mount cap
- Wheel and tire assembly
- Brake hose clip
- Union bolt from the brake caliper. Move the brake hose out of the way.
- Lower nuts and bolts securing the strut to the rear wheel housing
- Retainer nuts securing the strut bearing cap to the strut tower, from inside the vehicle
- Strut from the vehicle To install:
Install or connect the following:
- Strut onto the vehicle, making sure to position the strut properly in the upper strut tower mounts. Refer to the illustration.
- Strut retainer nuts and tighten to 14 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)
- Strut to the rear wheel knuckle assembly using the retainer nuts and bolts, and tighten the bolts to 145 ft. lbs. (196 Nm)
- Brake union bolt and tighten to 13 ft. lbs. (18 Nm)
- Brake hose clip
Bleed the brakes.
- Wheel
- Strut mount cap
- Rear seat, on Sedan
- Speaker grille, on Wagon

WITH PNEUMATIC STRUTS

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
Remove or disconnect the following:
- Negative battery cable
- Rear seat assembly, on the Sedan
- Rear speaker grille and service hole cap, on the Wagon
- Strut mount cap
- Air line from the top of the strut assembly
- Height sensor and solenoid valve wiring harnesses from the strut assembly
- Wheel and tire assembly
- Brake hose clip
- Union bolt from the brake caliper. Move the brake hose out of the way.
- Lower nuts and bolts securing the strut to the rear wheel housing
- Retainer nuts securing the strut bearing cap to the strut tower (from inside the vehicle)
- Strut from the vehicle To install:
Install or connect the following:
- Strut on to the vehicle, making sure to position the strut properly in the upper strut tower mounts. Refer to the illustration if needed. Install the retainer nuts, and tighten to 11 ft. lbs. (15 Nm).
- Strut to the rear wheel knuckle assembly, using the retainer nuts and bolts, and tighten the bolts to 145 ft. lbs. (196 Nm)
- Brake union bolt and tighten to 13 ft. lbs. (18 Nm)
- Brake hose clip
Bleed the brakes.
- Wheel
- Height sensor and solenoid valve wiring harnesses to the strut
- Air line to the top of the strut
- Strut mount cap
- Rear seat, on Sedan
- Speaker grille, on Wagon
- Negative battery cable
Start the vehicle, and allow enough time for the shock to pressurize before driving the vehicle.