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Old 07-12-2010, 02:59 PM   #1
monovich
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:
1998 Old Grey Mule
Regacy Rype R

Default FYI - Changing Struts = EASY

I put it off for THREE years, but I finally changed my struts on Saturday. I cannot believe how easy it was.

The first one took three hours because I put the wrong one on (left vs right) and had to unstick some bolts, etc. The second one took 30 minutes. Once you know what you are doing, its extremely easy.

I bought spring compressors for $9.99 from Harbor Freight. I also picked up a breaker bar and a torque wrench. Aside from that, you don't need anything special.

time to send these babies back to Bilstien for a rebuild. They are too rare to throw out. When I get 'em back I'll have two KYB GR2s for sale with a couple hundred miles on them.

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Old 07-12-2010, 04:41 PM   #2
grzydj
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Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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2006 Impreza 2.5i 5D
'04 Toyota Tacoma TRD

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The fronts on my Legacy were easy peasy, but I have some difficulties getting the rears out. I couldn't get the right angle to pull them with the springs compressed, probably because the car wasn't jacked up enough.

I tried again a few days later after I got the fronts in and jacked the rear of the car up higher and they came out without any issues.
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Old 07-12-2010, 05:59 PM   #3
monovich
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did you compress the springs while they were still on the car?
I just slightly loosened the top bolt, unbolted the top 3 mount bolts and the nuckle bolts, pulled the strut, compressed the springs a little, swapped the springs to the new part, took the compressors off and bolted it all back on the car.

I haven't needed to do the fronts yet, but I'm glad they are pretty easy as well. My Volvo friends was envious of how easy the struts and breaks are to change on Subies.
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Old 07-13-2010, 03:16 AM   #4
that one legacy
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yeah, the macpherson strut assembly makes it really easy. almost as easy as doing it on a honda with the double wishbone suspension!

i think the last time i did mine, it took all of 1 hour and 20 minutes to do all four. you definitely need a second person to help line up the struts with the control arms though (either that, or massively strong legs!).
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Old 07-13-2010, 09:34 AM   #5
ReubenH
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Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
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Did you do your camber bolts? I just set camber to max when i swap struts. It's only like 1º so it's mint for road use. Either way, gotta get an alignment done immediatly after
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Old 07-13-2010, 12:51 PM   #6
monovich
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Yeah I need to do an alignment anyway, but for the record is an alignment necessary if you only do the rears?
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Old 07-14-2010, 09:28 AM   #7
Patrick Olsen
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Quote:
Originally Posted by that one legacy View Post
you definitely need a second person to help line up the struts with the control arms though (either that, or massively strong legs!).
At which end of the car, and what are you struggling that much to line up? I've done all 4 on my car without any assistance at all and really without much effort required. The only hard part was stabbing the top mount into the rear upper mounting holes with one hand while reaching in through the door with the other hand to put a couple nuts on the top mount studs without really being able to see what I'm doing!

Quote:
Originally Posted by monovich View Post
Yeah I need to do an alignment anyway, but for the record is an alignment necessary if you only do the rears?
For the rears only there shouldn't be much impact from changing the struts. As you probably know, only toe is adjustable in the rear, and that shouldn't have been affected by changing out the struts. I probably wouldn't bother with the alignment.

Pat Olsen
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Old 07-15-2010, 01:10 AM   #8
that one legacy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Olsen View Post
At which end of the car, and what are you struggling that much to line up? I've done all 4 on my car without any assistance at all and really without much effort required. The only hard part was stabbing the top mount into the rear upper mounting holes with one hand while reaching in through the door with the other hand to put a couple nuts on the top mount studs without really being able to see what I'm doing!


For the rears only there shouldn't be much impact from changing the struts. As you probably know, only toe is adjustable in the rear, and that shouldn't have been affected by changing out the struts. I probably wouldn't bother with the alignment.

Pat Olsen
i always have problems putting in the stock struts, or stock-size struts by myself. can never get the mounting holes on the knuckles to line up with the mounting holes on the struts. so i usually just bribe one of my buddies to come over and step on the knuckle while i slide the bolts in.

my white wagon has stock-size struts with H&R Sports, and i can definitely see a bit of negative camber on the front and rears. the red one has 04 STi struts, and it's even worse. but i think that is normal since the STi struts are so much shorter.
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Old 07-17-2010, 12:33 PM   #9
atron
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good to know !
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Old 07-21-2010, 08:38 AM   #10
Cowabunga
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So this would be the same for installing springs right? It's the same procedure?

I've never done a spring install and would like to on my '08 LGT soon. Just want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head.
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Old 07-21-2010, 05:49 PM   #11
monovich
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same for springs. it really is very easy.
There is a $10 spring compressor and a $50 one. the $10 is all the compressor you'd ever need.
Napa wanted $60 to rent it for a day!
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