Im about to start on some rear wheel bearings and was wondering if thers anything i should know before i start, how i can tell if the struts are compressed? thanks

what do you mean "struts are compressed"? i'm not sure you do anything with the struts to do this job, just unbolt it from the hub housing, two bolts that's it.

 

unbolt the hub housing and replace the bearings. two lower strut mount bolts, lateral link bolt, transverse link bolt and one bolt for the ABS sensor and the hub is free to do whatever you want with it.

 

newer soobs have different suspension, but i thought your 03 OBS is like the older style suspension. even still the bearing procedure doesn't look like it would vary by much...unbolt hub housing and go to town.

03 has the easy bolt on bearing assembly.

You might have to persuade the hub (part with the wheel studs) out of the bearing. But the knuckle does not have to be removed to change this type of bearing. And you don't have to mess with the strut either.

That diagrahm above is for 2000+ LEGACY outbacks.

 

 

Do you have a LEGACY outback (OBS = Outback Sedan)?

 

Or do you have an IMPREZA outback (OBS = Outback Sport)?

Right, OBS sounds Impreza-ish, that's what I was leaning on.

I did not catch the "S" on the end of that first time around.