SUBARU LEGACY 1996 Service Repair Manual

G4M0499
3. Front Ball Joint
A: REMOVAL
1) Remove the wheel.
2) Pull out the cotter pin from the ball stud, remove the
castle nut, and extract the ball stud from the transverse
link.
3) Remove the bolt securing the ball joint to the housing.
4) Extract the ball joint from the housing.
G4M0500
B: INSPECTION
1) Measure play of ball joint by the following procedures.
Replace with a new one when the play exceeds the speci-
fied value.
(1) With 686 N (70 kg, 154 lb) loaded in the direction
shown in the figure, measure dimension

1.
G4M0501
(2) With 686 N (70 kg, 154 lb) loaded in the opposite
direction shown in the figure, measure dimension

2.
(3) Calculate plays from the following formula.
S=

2
1(4) When plays are larger than the following value,
replace with a new one.
FRONT BALL JOINT
Specified play for replacement: S
Less than 0.3 mm (0.012 in)
2) When play is smaller than the specified value, visually
inspect the dust cover.
3) If the dust cover is damaged, replace with the new ball
joint.
4) Check ball joint for damage and cracks. If defective,
replace with new one.
C: INSTALLATION
1) Install ball joint onto housing.
Torque (Bolt):
49±10 N⋅m (5.0±1.0 kg-m, 36±7 ft-lb)
CAUTION:
Do not apply grease to tapered portion of ball stud.
2) Connect ball joint to transverse link.
Torque (Castle nut):
39 N⋅m (4.0 kg-m, 29 ft-lb)
3) Retighten castle nut further within 60°until a slot in
castle nut is aligned with the hole of ball stud end, then
insert new cotter pin and bend it around castle nut.
4) Install front wheel.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
3. Front Ball Joint

4. Front Strut
A: REMOVAL
G4M0502
1Dust seal

2Strut mount

3Spacer

4Upper spring seat

5Rubber seat

6Dust cover
7Helper

8Coil spring

9Damper strut

10Adjusting bolt

11Self-locking nut
Tightening torque: N⋅m (kg-m, ft-lb)
T1: 20±6 (2.0±0.6, 14.5±4.3)
T2: 54±5 (5.5±0.5, 39.8±3.6)
T3: 152±20 (15.5±2.0, 112±14)
G4M0503
1) Remove wheel.
2) Depress brake pedal and hold it down using a wooden
block etc.
3) Remove union bolts from caliper.
CAUTION:
Use brake hose cap to prevent brake fluid from escap-
ing.
21
4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
4. Front Strut

G4M0504
4) Remove brake hose clamp and disconnect brake hose
from strut. Attach brake hose to body using gum tape.
5) Scribe an alignment mark on the camber adjusting bolt
which secures strut to housing.
6) Remove bolt securing the A.B.S. sensor harness.
(A.B.S. equipped models.)
G4M0505
7) Remove two bolts securing housing to strut.
CAUTION:
While holding head of adjusting bolt, loosen self-lock-
ing nut.
8) Remove the three nuts securing strut mount to body.
G4M0506
B: DISASSEMBLY
1) Using a coil spring compressor, compress coil spring.
G4M0507
2) Using ST, remove self-locking nut.
ST 927760000 STRUT MOUNT SOCKET
3) Remove strut mount, upper spring seat and rubber seat
from strut.
4) Gradually decreasing compression force of spring
compressor, and remove coil spring.
5) Remove dust cover and helper.
22
4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
4. Front Strut

C: INSPECTION
Check the disassembled parts for cracks, damage and
wear, and replace with new parts if defective.
G4M0508
1. DAMPER STRUT
1) Check for oil leakage.
2) Move the piston rod up and down to check its operates
smoothly without any binding.
3) Play of piston rod
Measure the play as follows:
Fix outer shell and fully extend the rod. Set a dial gauge at
the end of the rod: L [10 mm (0.39 in)], then apply a force
of W [20 N (2 kg, 4 lb)] to threaded portion. With the force
of 20 N (2 kg, 4 lb) applied, read dial gauge indication: P
1.
Apply a force of 20 N (2 kg, 4 lb) in the opposite direction
of“W”, then read dial gauge indication: P
2. The free play
is determined by the following equation:
Play = P
1,P2
Limit of play:
Less than 0.8 mm (0.031 in)
If the play is greater, replace the strut with new one.
2. STRUT MOUNT
Check rubber part for wear, cracks and deterioration, and
replace it with new one if defective.
3. DUST COVER
If any cracks or damage are found, replace it with new one.
4. COIL SPRING
When vehicle posture is uneven, although there are no
considerable reasons like tire puncture, uneven loading,
etc., check coil spring and spring seats for cracks,
deformation, etc., and replace it with a new one if defective.
5. HELPER
Replace it with new one if cracked or damaged.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
4. Front Strut

D: ASSEMBLY
1) Before installing coil spring, strut mount, etc., on the
strut, check for the presence of air in the dampening force
generating mechanism of the strut since air prevents
proper dampening force from being produced.
2) Checking for the presence of air
(1) Place the strut vertically with the piston rod facing
upward.
(2) Move the piston rod to the center of its entire
stroke.
(3) While holding the piston rod end with finger-tips,
move the rod up and down.
(4) If the piston rod moves at least 10 mm (0.39 in) in
step (3), purge air from the strut.
3) Air purging procedure
(1) Place the strut vertically with the piston rod facing
upward.
(2) Fully extend the piston rod.
(3) With the piston rod fully extended, place the piston
rod side down. The strut must stand vertically.
(4) Fully contract the piston rod.
(5) Repeat 3 or 4 times steps (1) through (4) above.
NOTE:
After completely purging air from the strut, be sure to place
the strut with the piston rod facing upward. If it is laid down,
check for entry of air in the strut as outlined under item 2)
above.
B4M0568A
4) Using a coil spring compressor, compress the coil
spring.
NOTE:
Make sure that the vertical installing direction of coil spring
is as shown in figure.
G4M0510
5) Set the coil spring correctly so that its end face fits well
into the spring seat as shown.
6) Install helper and dust cover to the piston rod.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
4. Front Strut

G4M0511
7) Pull the piston rod fully upward, and install rubber seat
and spring seat.
NOTE:
Ensure that upper spring seat is positioned with“OUT”
mark facing outward.
8) Install strut mount to the piston rod, and tighten the
self-locking nut temporarily.
CAUTION:
Be sure to use a new self-locking nut.
G4M0507
9) Using hexagon wrench to prevent strut rod from turning,
tighten self-locking nut with ST.
Tightening torque:
54±5 N⋅m (5.5±0.5 kg-m, 39.8±3.6 ft-lb)
ST 927760000 STRUT MOUNT SOCKET
10) Loosen the coil spring carefully.
E: INSTALLATION
1) Install strut mount at upper side of strut to body and
tighten with nuts.
Tightening torque:
20±6 N⋅m (2.0±0.6 kg-m, 14.5±4.3 ft-lb)
2) Connect housing to lower side of strut.
3) Position aligning mark on camber adjusting bolt with
aligning mark on lower side bracket of strut.
CAUTION:

While holding head of adjusting bolt, tighten self-
locking nut.

Be sure to use new self-locking nut.
Tightening torque:
152±20 N⋅m (15.5±2.0 kg-m, 112±14 ft-lb)
4) Install A.B.S. sensor harness to strut. (A.B.S. equipped
models.)
Tightening torque:
152±20 N⋅m (15.5±2.0 kg-m, 112±14 ft-lb)
5) Install brake hose at lower side of strut with clamp.
G4M0503
6) Install union bolts which secure brake caliper to brake
hose.
Tightening torque:
18±3 N⋅m (1.8±0.3 kg-m, 13.0±2.2 ft-lb)
CAUTION:
Be sure to bleed air from brake system.
7) Install wheels.
NOTE:
Check wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
25
4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
4. Front Strut

5. Front Stabilizer
A: REMOVAL
G4M0514
1Front crossmember

2Transverse link

3Jack-up plate

4Stabilizer link

5Front stabilizer

6Self-locking nut
Tightening torque: N⋅m (kg-m, ft-lb)
T1: 25±4 (2.5±0.4, 18.1±2.9)
T2: 29±5 (3.0±0.5, 21.7±3.6)
T3: 18±5 (1.8±0.5, 13.0±3.6)
T4: 44±6 (4.5±0.6, 32.5±4.3)
G4M0515
1) Jack-up the front part of the vehicle, support it with
safety stand (rigid racks).
2) Remove bolts which secure stabilizer to crossmember.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
5. Front Stabilizer

G4M0516
3) Remove bolts which secure stabilizer link to front trans-
verse link.
4) Remove jack-up plate from lower part of crossmember.
B: INSPECTION
1) Check bushing for cracks, fatigue or damage.
2) Check stabilizer link for deformities, cracks, or damage,
and bushing for protrusions from the hole of stabilizer link
and its play.
G4M0519
C: INSTALLATION
1) To install, reverse the removal procedure.
NOTE:

Install bushing (on front crossmember side) while align-
ing it with paint mark on stabilizer.

Ensure that bushing and stabilizer have the same iden-
tification colors when installing.
2) Always tighten rubber bushing location when wheels
are in full contact with the ground and vehicle is at curb
weight condition.
Tightening torque:
Jack-up plate to crossmember:
18±5 N⋅m (1.8±0.5 kg-m, 13.0±3.6 ft-lb)
Stabilizer link to front transverse link:
29±5 N⋅m (3.0±0.5 kg-m, 21.7±3.6 ft-lb)
Stabilizer to crossmember:
25±4 N⋅m (2.5±0.4 kg-m, 18.1±2.9 ft-lb)
27
4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
5. Front Stabilizer

G4M0520
6. Front Crossmember
A: REMOVAL
1) Disconnect ground cable from battery.
2) Loosen front wheel nuts.
3) Lift-up vehicle, and remove front tires and wheels.
4) Remove both stabilizer and jack-up plate.
5) Disconnect tie-rod end from housing.
6) Remove front exhaust pipe.
G4M0521
7) Remove front transverse link from front crossmember
and body.
8) Remove nuts attaching engine mount cushion rubber to
crossmember.
9) Remove self-locking nuts connecting steering U/J and
pinion shaft.
10) Lift engine by approx. 10 mm (0.39 in) by using chain
block.
11) Support crossmember with a jack, remove nuts secur-
ing crossmember to body and lower crossmember gradu-
ally along with steering gearbox.
CAUTION:
When removing crossmember downward, be careful
that tie-rod end does not interfere with DOJ boot.
B: INSTALLATION
1) Installation is in the reverse order of removal proce-
dures.
CAUTION:
Always tighten rubber bushing when wheels are in full
contact with the ground and vehicle is at curb weight
condition.
Tightening torque:
Transverse link bushing to crossmember:
98±15 N⋅m (10.0±1.5 kg-m, 72±11 ft-lb)
Stabilizer to bushing:
25±4 N⋅m (2.5±0.4 kg-m, 18.1±2.9 ft-lb)
Tie-rod end to housing:
27.0±2.5 N⋅m (2.75±0.25 kg-m, 19.9±1.8 ft-lb)
Front cushion rubber to crossmember:
69±15 N⋅m (7.0±1.5 kg-m, 51±11 ft-lb)
Universal joint to pinion shaft:
24±3 N⋅m (2.4±0.3 kg-m, 17.4±2.2 ft-lb)
Crossmember to body:
98±15 N⋅m (10.0±1.5 kg-m, 72±11 ft-lb)
2) Purge air from power steering system.
NOTE:
Check wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
6. Front Crossmember

7. Rear Trailing Link
A: REMOVAL
B4M0569A
1Trailing link

2Front bushing

3Rear bushing

4Bracket

5Housing

6Self-locking nut
Tightening torque: N⋅m (kg-m, ft-lb)
T1: 98±20 (10.0±2.0, 72±14)
T2: 113±15 (11.5±1.5, 83±11)
1) Loosen rear wheel nuts.
2) Lift-up vehicle, support it with safety stands (rigid racks)
and remove rear wheels.
3) Remove both rear parking brake clamp and A.B.S. sen-
sor harness. (A.B.S. equipped models.)
B4M0570A
4) Remove bolt which secure trailing link to trailing link
bracket.
5) Remove bolt which secure trailing link to rear housing.
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4-1SERVICE PROCEDURE
7. Rear Trailing Link