Most mechanics recommend that you replace your struts every 50,000 miles. Unlike other parts of the car, the wear and tear on your struts is not easily noticed. Unfortunately, the struts are an integral part to your ability to steer and control your car and by the time you become aware of their needing to be replaced you can cause serious damage to other parts of the steering linkage. Changing struts is similar in all cars, if you want to change Suburu struts the steps are common to almost all other cars.
Park your Suburu on a level surface. Put on the emergency brake and place chock blocks behind the rear wheels.
Break the lug nuts free on the tire on the side you want to begin on. Then, place the car jack under the car at the front lifting point (consult your owner's manual for the position) and jack the car up till the wheel is off the ground. Pump the jack a little higher and place a jack stand beside it, lower the jack till the weight of the car is on the stand and the tire is still off the ground. Remove the tire.
Follow your brake lines and remove any brake line clips that are attached to the strut. Remove any additional clips or hose brackets that may be attached to the strut body.
Locate the strut knuckle, this will be behind the brake caliper and the strut body will be joined to it with a bolt. You might need to take the caliper off to access it easily but before you do so, locate the knuckle and locate the top and bottom of the joining bolt. Do not remove this bolt yet.
Place a jack stand under the lower suspension just off the strut knuckle so it will support the weight of the suspension arm. Remove the bolt connecting the knuckle to the body of the strut, the lower suspension arm should now be resting on the jack stand.
Remove the upper bolts from the strut body, do not remove the center bolt.
Attach the spring compressor to the spring and, following the directions that came with the particular compressor you rented, compress the spring just enough to remove pressure from the strut mount. Remove the strut shaft nut and lift the strut body up slightly and then away from the suspension and then out from the car.
Install your replacement strut by reversing these steps. The only difference will be in re-attaching the strut shaft nut, use a torque wrench and follow the specifications for your model Suburu.
