I found a neighbor who will assemble my new springs and struts if I take them off of the car as a unit. What extra parts do I need other than the strut, spring, and the strut top with bearing, if I want to replace everything? Or is that not necessary?

Unless there is significant wear on the other parts, you can reuse all other parts.

 

Check the dust boots and the bumper stop under the dust boot, if they are torn or oil soaked, you may want to replace these parts.

 

How many miles are on the car?

BOB IS ALIVE!!!!

 

 

Bob i would suggest replacing the tophats while you are there. Unless you find any issues, i would just go with everything else as it is. Ball joints are cheap and easy enoug to replace, and if i was to do mine again, i would do them just because i have the front of the car mostly apart anyway.

 

 

nipper

I just replace the struts on my car, and if I could go back I would get four new dust boots (one has a very minor tear) and bump stops. And new top mounts.

Not so much because they were all worn out, but they do look old and I felt a bit stupid fitting old parts along with the spangly new stuff

Hi Nipper:banana: yes I'm still alive, just haven't had the time or money to install my Outback lift kit yet:dead: I figured at least I could get started with my brand new struts and Scorpion springs that I have had sitting here looking at me for the last year . My current outback has about 150,000 miles on it and the struts and springs feel great, but I'm not sure what condition the tophats are in. Do I need four of them? or just the fronts?? My neighbor works at a local car dealership, and told me if I took the current struts off of the car, as a complete unit with the springs, he could take them to work and put the new struts and springs together for me. Is it that big of a deal, or should I just rent the spring compressor and do it myself?

Top hats are just the front. They have bearings in them to allow the wheels to turn.

 

The other question.... lets see how can i put this gently..

 

HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Some things are just easier when someone is used to doing them all the time, and has the right tools. Let him build the struts, this saves you from having to make a sacrifice to the mechanic Gods, and chant in colorful languages to them.

 

nipper

Hi Nipper:banana: yes I'm still alive, just haven't had the time or money to install my Outback lift kit yet:dead: I figured at least I could get started with my brand new struts and Scorpion springs that I have had sitting here looking at me for the last year . My current outback has about 150,000 miles on it and the struts and springs feel great, but I'm not sure what condition the tophats are in. Do I need four of them? or just the fronts?? My neighbor works at a local car dealership, and told me if I took the current struts off of the car, as a complete unit with the springs, he could take them to work and put the new struts and springs together for me. Is it that big of a deal, or should I just rent the spring compressor and do it myself?

 

I recently had to disassemble a front strut/spring assembly because a previous mechanic forgot to install a washer between the strut and the tophat. Although I have a high-quality spring compressor I was unable to get the job done, and took the assembly to a local Goodyear store; they did it for me, for $20. Money well spent, in my opinion.

Thanks for the input guys!!!!!

Bob, I just sent you a PM, in case you are not going to be using the rear springs. . .