Im putting outback struts into my 98 legacy and when i went to put the new assembly back it would fit and seemed to be too long. obviously the outback strut is taller, but what do i do to squeeze it into the space for the old, shorter strut?

Put a rag or old pillow against the lug nuts, kneel on it or use your foot to force the bearing housing down. Get that bottom bolt in. Just keep pressure on the bottom bolt through the strut and keep pushing the bearing housing down, thrusting on it if needed, until the bottom bolt goes in.

 

Then get a scrap of 2x3 lumber, and rotate the hub so that two wheel lugs are parallel at the bttom, sit the scrap 2x3 lumber there, and get your small floor jack under there, and start jacking. CAUTION of course, the pressure will build, but that bearing housing will rotate right up into place and you can slip that top bolt in.

 

NOTE YOU MAY NEED FASTCAM BOLT in the rear to get the camber where you want doing this. I have done this mod on '94 and '96 and needed one fastcam in the rear (on each side) to get camber back.