Subaru 20380AE39A Rear Suspension-Coil Spring

On sedan models, remove the rear seat cushion and seat back. On wagon models, remove the trim piece covering the strut upper mounting nuts. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts, block the front wheels, raise the rear of the vehicle, and support it securely on jackstands. Remove the rear wheels. Remove the U-clip and detach the brake hose and line from the bracket. Place a floor jack under the rear knuckle and raise it until it just contacts the knuckle. Remove the strut-to-knuckle nuts and bolts. Have an assistant support the strut, then remove the strut upper mounting nuts. Installation is the reverse of removal. Use the jack to raise or lower the knuckle to align the holes in the strut bracket with the holes in the knuckle. Tighten all fasteners. If you need to disassemble the strut/coil spring assembly to replace either the strut or the coil spring, use the jack to raise or lower the knuckle to align the holes in the strut bracket with the holes in the knuckle. Tighten all fasteners. Install the wheels and lug nuts, then lower the vehicle. Tighten the wheel lug nuts. The manufacturer recommends using new self-locking mounting nuts when installing the strut assembly.

Mount the strut assembly in a vise, lining the vise jaws with wood or rags to prevent damage. Do not tighten the vise excessively.