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07-12-2010, 02:59 PM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:1998 Old Grey Mule Regacy Rype R |
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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07-12-2010, 04:41 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 84984
Join Date: Apr 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vehicle:2006 Impreza 2.5i 5D '04 Toyota Tacoma TRD |
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. |
07-12-2010, 05:59 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:1998 Old Grey Mule Regacy Rype R |
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. |
07-13-2010, 03:16 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 103665
Join Date: Dec 2005
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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!). |
07-13-2010, 09:34 AM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 172522
Join Date: Feb 2008
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Vehicle:1998 Legacy GTB Ltd. Black |
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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07-13-2010, 12:51 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:1998 Old Grey Mule Regacy Rype R |
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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07-14-2010, 09:28 AM | #7 | ||
Scooby Guru
Member#: 120
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region:
AKIC
Location: Where the Navy sends me...
Vehicle:1997 Legacy 2.5GT 1996 Impreza coupe |
Quote:
Quote:
Pat Olsen |
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07-15-2010, 01:10 AM | #8 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 103665
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Quote:
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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07-17-2010, 12:33 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 251231
Join Date: Jul 2010
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: maryland
Vehicle:2006 Legacy 2.5i blue |
good to know !
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07-21-2010, 08:38 AM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 64086
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Mass
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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. |
07-21-2010, 05:49 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:1998 Old Grey Mule Regacy Rype R |
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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