Front Suspension System: Other Subaru Forester SH

CAUTION

1. Wear appropriate work clothing, including a cap, protective goggles and protective shoes when performing any work.
2. Before removal, installation or disassembly, be sure to clarify the failure. Avoid unnecessary removal, installation, disassembly and replacement.
3. Use SUBARU genuine grease etc. or equivalent. Do not mix grease etc. of different grades or manufacturers.
4. Before securing a part on a vise, place cushioning material such as wood blocks, aluminum plate, or cloth between the part and the vise.
5. Be sure to tighten fasteners including bolts and nuts to the specified torque.
6. Place shop jacks or rigid racks at the specified points.

GENERAL TOOL

GENERAL TOOL

WHEEL ARCH HEIGHT

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Empty the vehicle so that it is at "curb weight". (Empty the luggage compartment, load the spare tire, jack and service tools, and fill up the fuel tank.)
3. Set the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position, and stabilize the suspensions by moving the vehicle in a straight line for 5 m (16 ft) or more.
4. Suspend a thread from the wheel arch (point "A" in the figure below) and affix at a position directly above the center of wheel.
5. Measure the distance between the point "A" and the center of wheel.

Scheme 30

WHEEL ARCH HEIGHT SPECIFICATION

CAMBER

1. INSPECTION

Scheme 31

1. Place the front wheel on the turning radius gauge. Make sure the ground contact surfaces of the front and rear wheels are at the same height.
2. Set the adapter into the center of wheel, and then set the wheel alignment gauge.
3. Measure the camber angle in accordance with the operation manual for wheel alignment gauge. CAMBER SPECIFICATION Model Camber (Difference between RH and LH 45' or less) All models 0°00'±0°45'

1. FRONT CAMBER ADJUSTMENT

Scheme 32

1. When adjusting the camber, adjust it to the following value. CAMBER SPECIFICATION Model Camber (Difference between RH and LH 45' or less) All models 0°00'±0°30'
2. Loosen the two self-locking nuts located at the front lower section of the strut. NOTE: When the adjusting bolt needs to be loosened or tightened, hold its head with a wrench and turn the self-locking nut.
3. Turn the camber adjusting bolt so that the camber is set at specification. NOTE: Moving the adjusting bolt by one scale changes the camber by approximately 0°15'. INCREASE CAMBER SPECIFICATION To increase camber. Rotate the left side counterclockwise. Rotate the right side clockwise. DECREASE CAMBER SPECIFICATION To decrease camber. Rotate the left side clockwise. Rotate the right side counterclockwise.
4. Tighten two new self-locking nuts. Tightening torque: 155 N.m (15.8 kgf-m, 114.3 ft-lb)

CASTER

1. INSPECTION

Scheme 33

1. Place the front wheel on the turning radius gauge. Make sure the ground contact surfaces of the front and rear wheels are at the same height.
2. Set the adapter into the center of wheel, and then set the wheel alignment gauge.
3. Measure the caster angle in accordance with the operation manual for wheel alignment gauge. CASTER ANGLE SPECIFICATION Model Caster All models 5°25'

STEERING ANGLE

1. INSPECTION

1. Place the vehicle on turning radius gauge.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right. With the steering wheel held at each fully turned position, measure both the inner and outer wheel steering angles. INNER AND OUTER WHEEL STEERING ANGLES CHART Model Inner wheel Outer wheel All models 38.3°±1.5° 33.8°±1.5°

1. ADJUSTMENT

1. Turn the tie-rod to adjust the steering angle of both inner and outer wheels.
2. Check the toe-in.

Note. Correct the boot if it is twisted.

Scheme 34

FRONT WHEEL TOE-IN

1. INSPECTION

Toe-in

0±3 mm (0±0.12 in)

1. Set the toe-in gauge in the position at wheel axis center height behind the right and left front tires.
2. Place a mark at the center of both left and right tires, and measure distance "A" between the marks.
3. Move the vehicle forward to rotate the tires 180°. NOTE: Be sure to rotate the tires in the forward direction.
4. Measure the distance "B" between the left and right marks. Find toe-in using the following calculation

A - B = Toe-in

Scheme 35

1. ADJUSTMENT

When adjusting the toe-in, adjust it to the following value.

Toe-in

0 ± 2 mm (0 ± 0.08 in)

Scheme 36

1. Check that the left and right wheel steering angles are within specification.
2. Loosen the left and right side steering tie-rod lock nuts.
3. Turn the left and right tie-rods by equal amounts until the toe-in is at the specification. Both the left and right tie-rods are right-hand threaded. To increase toe-in, turn both tie-rods clockwise by equal amount (viewing from the inside of vehicle).
4. Tighten the tie-rod lock nut.

Tightening torque

85 N.m (8.7 kgf-m, 63 ft-lb)

Note. Check and correct the tie-rod boot if twisted.

REAR WHEEL TOE-IN

1. INSPECTION

Toe-in

0±3 mm (0±0.12 in)

Refer to FRONT WHEEL TOE-IN for rear toe-in inspection procedures.

FRONT WHEEL TOE-IN, INSPECTION, Wheel Alignment .>

1. ADJUSTMENT

When adjusting, adjust it to the following value.

Toe-in

0 ± 2 mm (0 ± 0.08 in)

Scheme 37

1. Loosen the self-locking nut on the inner side of front lateral ink. NOTE: When loosening or tightening the adjusting bolt, hold the bolt head and turn the self-locking nut.
2. Turn the adjusting bolt until toe-in is within the specification. NOTE: When the left and right wheels are adjusted for toe-in at the same time, the movement of one scale graduation changes toe-in by approx. 1.3 mm (0.05 in). INCREASE TOE-IN SPECIFICATION To increase toe-in. Rotate the left side clockwise. Rotate the right side counterclockwise. DECREASE TOE-IN SPECIFICATION To decrease toe-in. Rotate the left side counterclockwise. Rotate the right side clockwise.
3. Attach and tighten a new self-locking nut. Tightening torque: 100 N.m (10.2 kgf-m, 73.8 ft-lb)

THRUST ANGLE

1. INSPECTION

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Move the vehicle 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) straight forward.
3. Draw the center of loci for both the front and rear axles.
4. Measure distance "L" between the center lines of the axle loci.

Thrust angle

0°±30'

Less than 30' when "L" is 23 mm (0.9 in) or less .

Scheme 38

1. ADJUSTMENT

When adjusting, adjust it to the following value.

Thrust angle

0°±20'

Less than 20' when "L" is 15 mm (0.6 in) or less .

Scheme 39

Scheme 40

1. Make thrust angle adjustments by turning the toe-in adjusting bolts of the rear suspension equally in the same direction.
2. When one rear wheel is adjusted in a toe-in direction, adjust the other rear wheel equally in toe-out direction, in order to make the thrust angle adjustment.
3. When the left and right adjusting bolts are turned by one graduation, the thrust angle will change approx. 15' ("L" is approx. 11 mm (0.43 in)). NOTE: Thrust angle is a mean value of left and right wheel toe angles in relation to the vehicle body center line. Vehicle is driven straight in the thrust angle direction while slanting in the oblique direction depending on the degree of the mean thrust angle. Thrust angle: r = (α - β)/2 α: Rear RH wheel toe-in angle β: Rear LH wheel toe-in angle Substitute only the positive toe-in values from each wheel into a and p in the calculation.

FRONT BUSHING

Using the ST and a press, remove the front bushing.

ST 927680000 INSTALLER & REMOVER SET

Scheme 41

Scheme 42

Scheme 43

1. Put an alignment mark on the front arm based on the center of rear bushing recess portion. CAUTION: Always put an alignment mark for aligning the position on bushing installation.
2. Using the ST and a press, remove the rear bushing. ST1 20299AG000 REMOVER ST2 20299AG010 BASE

Assemble in the reverse order of disassembly.

Scheme 44

Scheme 45

Scheme 46

Scheme 47

1. Install the rear bushing with its longer inner cylinder facing upward and the shorter facing downward and protruding part rearward as shown in the figure.
2. Align the center of rear bushing recess portion with the aligning mark on the front arm.
3. Using the ST and a press, install the rear bushing. ST1 20299AG000 REMOVER ST2 20299AG010 BASE

STRUT MOUNT

Check the rubber part for deformation, cracks or deterioration, and then replace it with a new part if defective.

DUST COVER

If major cracks or damage are found, replace it with a new part.

COIL SPRING

If a permanent strain is found, replace it with a new part.

HELPER

If major cracks or damage are found, replace it with a new part.

DISPOSAL

1. Place the strut on a level surface with the piston rod fully expanded.
2. Using a 2 - 3 mm (0.08 - 0.12 in) dia. drill, make holes in areas shown in the figure.

Scheme 48

Scheme 49

Scheme 50

1. Disconnect the ground cable from the battery.
2. Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels.
3. Disconnect the front vehicle height sensor connector (models with auto headlight beam leveler, left side only).
4. Remove the front vehicle height sensor (models with auto headlight beam leveler, left side only).
5. Remove the front exhaust pipe.
6. Remove the front crossmember support plate. REMOVAL, Front Crossmember Support Plate .>
7. Remove the front stabilizer. REMOVAL, Front Stabilizer .>
8. Disconnect the tie-rod end from housing.
9. Remove the front arm. REMOVAL, Front Arm .>
10. Remove the nuts attaching the engine mount cushion rubber to crossmember.
11. Remove the steering universal joint.
12. Disconnect the power steering hose from steering gearbox.
13. Lift the engine approx. 10 mm (0.39 in) using a chain block.
14. Support the crossmember with a jack, remove the bolts securing crossmember to body, and then gradually lower the crossmember with steering gearbox as a unit. CAUTION: When removing the crossmember downward, be careful that the tie-rod end does not interfere with drive shaft boot.

IMPROPER VEHICLE POSTURE OR IMPROPER WHEEL ARCH HEIGHT

POSSIBLE CAUSE REFERENCE

POOR RIDE COMFORT

1. Large rebound shock
2. Rocking of the vehicle continues too long after running over bump and hump.
3. Excessive shock in bumping

POSSIBLE CAUSE REFERENCE