🔧 Forester - Shock/Strut Replacement

On your Forester, the “shock absorbers” are part of the strut assemblies (front and rear). The front and rear procedures, parts, and torque specs are different, so I need one quick confirmation before I give you exact, dealership-accurate steps.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-5 hours (depending on front/rear/both)

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack; use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Struts are under spring tension; a coil spring compressor can be dangerous if misused.
• ⚠️ After strut work, you will need a 4-wheel alignment to prevent tire wear and pulling.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs)
• Socket set (8mm-22mm)
• Wrench set (10mm-22mm)
• Pry bar
• Needle-nose pliers
• Trim clip tool
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Coil spring compressor (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear strut assemblies - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Upper strut mount(s) - Qty: 2-4 (as needed)
• Bump stop(s) and dust boot(s) - Qty: 2-4 (as needed)
• Self-locking strut nuts/bolts (hardware kit) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the wheels.
• 🔩 Crack the lug nuts loose slightly before lifting (do not remove yet).
• 📝 Mark orientation of any camber/adjustment bolt(s) with a paint marker (this helps you get close before the alignment).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Before I give the exact step-by-step with Subaru torque specs:

• Are you replacing the front struts, the rear struts, or all four?
• Are you installing complete quick-strut assemblies (strut + spring + mount) or reusing your springs (requires a spring compressor)?

Tell me those two details and I’ll send the exact numbered procedure with correct torque specs.

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✅ After Repair

• 🛞 Get a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• 🔎 Test drive at low speed first; listen for clunks over bumps.
• 🧾 Re-check lug nut torque after ~25-50 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$2,200 (parts + labor, front/rear/both)

DIY Cost: $350-$1,300 (parts only, front/rear/both)

You Save: $550-$900 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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