Do you need to compress the spring on the front struts to adjust the hieght screws? I know you need to for the rear strut. My guess is yes.

No

 

GD

No, but it is a little eazyer if U jack up the front of the car while U do it

U can use the car as a spring compressor on the rears, just leave the car on the ground and un screw the nuts on top of the center upper mount. Then jack up the back and the spring will be free. When U go to put it back to gether start the nuts back on as soon as there is enough of the stud stiking through the mount, if U let all the weight of the car down on it 1st U don't have enough room to get the nuts back on the stud.

When I tried to turn the screw it broke off the pin. Is there a special tool for turning the screw? I notched out a 10mm socket to fit over it but it just broke the pin. Right now the struts are off the car. I thought it would be easier to adjust them before I install them.Any more input would be appreciated.Thanks

You don't turn the pin - you turn the nut. 21mm thin open end wrench.

 

GD

Duh! That makes sense. Thank you!!! GD

I bathed mine in penetrating oil for a week before I tried to adjust them. When I did they were still way stiff! I moved them a little forward and a little back each time adding more oil. Took time but nothing broke:D

 

 

Good Luck,

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer

01 Forester

Okay, I'm soaking the adjustment screw and nut in WD-40 now. So hopefully that will get things losend up and, I'm gonna get a 21mm O.E. wrench today.

 

Now for my next stupid question. I now know you can adjust the strut on the car. Do you think it easier that way? it seems like it would be easier to get leverage.Which it seems like I might need a lot of, but maybe more difficult to access. I thought that since the struts were not on the car yet they might be easier to adjust in a vice but, maybe harder to install them extended. I'm not sure. I'm just looking for the easier sequence.Thanks!!!

When I adjusted mine down:eek: , they had been up all their life. They were frozen in place. I couldn't have done it if they were not mounted on the car. I had to pull/push hard! I moved them back and forth probably 10 times before resetting my wrench and re-lubing. It was hard and took a lot of time! I had an advantage, I didn't have my fenders on when I did this task.

 

My vote is put them on the car and use the car as a vice. Take your time and go slow!

 

Good luck

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer lowered struts and still 12" of clearance down the center!

01 Forester, wishing it had adjusable struts.......

Thanks Sweet82. That's what I will try.

you may also try gentle heat, such as from a soldering torch

It's a done deal. After soaking the screw in wd-40 and this other stuff I found (Dr. Creeps foam). The strut adjusted easily after they broke free.No problem to access adjuster while strut was on car.Thanks for everyones input.

 

I just posted some pictures on my web site http://www.freewebs.com/subaruloyale/index.htm