hey subies peeps, i need to know how to take off the rear strut/shock? i tried to yank the back seat, but it seems to be hook on a hinge of some sort. i tried to take the part were the speaker cover are locate off too, but it seems like its gonna break. any suggestion will do. thanks
You remove the seat bottom with the 3 visible bolts and pull it out. Then remove the seat back with the 3-4 visible bolts and pull straight up. You will then have access to the three 12mm strut mount bolts on each side. You do not need to remove the speaker/parcel shelf. Remember to get an alignment when you get those swapped.
There are only 2 bolts for the bottom of the seat, and 3 for the upper half of the seat. Removing the bottom pull up on the forward edge of the seat after the bolts have been removed, then pull forward on the whole thing. For the upper section once the bolts are removed, pull straight up, there are 3 hooks along the top edge of the seat. And getting an alignment for just the rears is optional if you don't change ride height, there is no camber adjustment and toe won't change by swapping struts. If you add something to change ride height or camber then get an alignment.
It's not as bad as you think it is. The seats come off pretty easy once the bolts are gone and those aren't super tight or anything.
um.. the subaru has 4wh adjustment... the fronts are set from wherever the rears are adjusted... its called TRACKING.... ever watch a car drive down the road and it actually looks like the rear is about 6inches off to the side then the front... but it drives straight... yep.. you set the rears then set the fronts to however the rears are adjusted too... so to answer your thoughts.... WRONG!!!!!!!
Think about what you are saying- if you are just replacing the struts, and not changing the lateral link adjustment you are not changing the rear toe.
uh I realise that... but hey what do I know about aligning cars and changing struts etc.... just do it everyday... but hey subaru guys generally arent known for doing things properly anyways right... like your suspension doesnt settle or sag or change over time, 1 pothole and your toe is off... but hey I guess working on alignments regularly even on cars that are 2yrs old and whacked out even though the SUSPENSION was never changed, just new tires installed.... but again what do I know... personally if I am pulling something major of my car regardless whether you are changing a setting or not, I would for peace of mind and wallet get everything set with the new equipment so regardless if it was good or bad before, you know it is NOW... but again... what the frig do I know... just aligned about 20 of the cars on this club which apparantly had toe issues that they never knew about AFTER CHANGING struts even though they 'NEVER changed or touched the LATERAL LINKS', because of course you can see that with the naked eye when the toe is .12 degrees off... yep.. oh well... whatever !!
So you realize that changing rear struts does not affect toe, and yet you feel the need to act like you know everything? Yes alignment can change with time due to hitting potholes. Yes cars come from that factory with crap alignments to begin with. None of that or your attitude changes my opinion of whether or not you need an alignment after changing rear struts.
I never said it CHANGES TOE... I said it is a good idea to make sure everything is within spec.... I say do it right first time... thats all... and I wasnt acting like I know everything just stating my experience form owning and working in a shop that does alignments almost everyday if not every other... and people have just changed tires NOTHING else and their alignments are off... again.. like I said WHAT DO I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry if my experience and opinion wont sway your mind... seeing as that was totally my goal.... I couldnt care less if you think what you do... you werent wrong and I wasnt trying to say you were wrong... was I being defensive not at all... WTF do I care if guys on here just want to throw mods on cars and never double check everything is safe and within spec yada yada... trust me I have worked on quite a few of the club cars and personally I wouldnt drive some of them on the road... but they get modded and people do... I just laugh cause same guy who doesnt check alignment after having suspension apart will be the same guy on here in a few months saying my tires are worn funny why?!!?!?!?! Oh I dont know after all you NEVER touched your lateral links so your alignment cant be off... take it however you want but if you want to get pissy with me then go right ahead.. I dont care, I know what I know and thats why lots of guys come see me... I dont blow my trumpet about stuff, I offer advice, I am a smart arse big deal.. go cry a river somewhere else!
