I've had a Subaru for just over 10 years now and lived in MN for the past 6. I have a 2005 Outback up on jacks right now, trying to replace the struts. I managed to get the springs off, but cannot figure out how to get them back on the new struts. I have two compression spring sets (one from harbor freight, and one loaner from Autozone). Anyway, if anyone has done this (with stock springs), please let me know if you have any tips. I just can't get it compressed enough to get everything back on the top. I'm working on a bench vise with the strut upright. I am planning to take the strut assemblies to a repair shop as a last resort. Any recommendations on where I could go in the east metro? -Chip
I've made the mistake of trying to assemble the front spring w/ the rear strut. That didn't fit so well. stupid question, do you have the correct struts?
or the other stupid question, when the springs are compressed are you pulling the shaft up as far as you can before putting the top back on to start a thread on the shaft?
I took a few days off from this, but the Outback is still "out back" in garage and up on jacks. I did compare the new struts to the original ones and they measure out exactly the same from the top nut to the bottom of the spring bracket. Also to WREX I am able to pull the shaft up about 3/4" of an inch, but that still does not seem to be enough to get everything back on. I might use a zip tie or something to keep it extended, but I will still need to get the coil spring compressed anyway. When I have the spring compressed I am using two tools to each attach to only one coil of the spring, and between them a third tool that can grab onto two coils of the spring. I might need to take a photo of this to illustrate. The higher or lower coils seat into the strut brackets so when I try to uncompress the tool to remove, the tool would get stuck against the bracket and that is why I just have it on the middle 2-3 coils (out of about 4.5 complete coils total on this spring). When I have it compressed like this the very top and bottom coils are not flat (parallel to each other) and this is what is keeping me from getting the top nut on. Anyway, has anyone else here done this (replaced stock struts on an Outback)? I'm going to maybe see if I can borrow a third set of spring compressor tools from NAPA or O'reily's to see if they work any better than the two sets I have right now.
you do not need a third set... make sure everything is lined up correctly (upper perch especially) and with the right spring compressors it will work. I've done a number of them with no issues.
