Steve_L

how hard is this to do and how long will it take, has anyone here done it them selves??
steve

TopBanana

Easy. Marginally easier than the rear on a saloon because the top nuts are easier to get to.

Allow a 2-3 hours if you haven't done it before.

Steve_L

any saftey aspects to consider ie flying spring of death?? (just from what ive heard)

TopBanana

don't undo the big nut in the middle and the spring will stay fixed inside the strut.

Fuzz

easy enough with an impact gun (air operated or battery type)
remove the three little nuts on the top mount and taker the whole strut away from the vehicle in one.
Then lie it on the floor and stick your boot on the bottom of the strut and lean into the impact gun when undoing the the big nut (17mm) it doesn't go that far although the initial jolt could frighten you if you've not done it before.
It wont take your head off so don't worry.


Andy

DuncanG

If you don't have an impact gun and you need to separate the strut from the top-mount (I guess you do hence flying springs..) then slacken the central strut nut with a breaker bar and deep socket _before_ lifting the car. Personally I use (cheap) spring compressors, but I'm getting soft.

You will probably also need a breaker bar (1/2 inch, don't even think of 3/8) for the 2 bolts in the bottom clevis. I think Subaru use salty water as a thread-lock. For these I prefer to use 'surface drive' sockets - the ones with 6 bumps that bear on the flats of the nuts - ordinary sockets can often either split or knock the corners off the nuts/bolts.

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Don't fogret to mark the camber bolts (top one of the two large bolts holding the strut to the hub assy.) otherwise you will loose the camber setting. It's always best to have this alignment checked anyway after replacing a strut.
JohnD

Steve_L

thanks for the info gents, ill have a bash at the weekend