Legacy spec B - front struts warning

[Paul Drawmer]

My 2006 Legacy Spec B estate fell off a front strut this week. The lower spring cup had rotted through from the strut tube, and the car fell down with the spring cup resting on the tyre.

This model came with a special for Subaru Bilstein suspension, and I have found that mine is not the first to suffer from this.

If you have one of these, do have a good inspection of the integrity of the front struts. My car has only done about 70K miles, and this was quite a surprise to me.

Thanks to
http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/
I now have new struts on the way, but I thought I'd post a warning here for Spec B owners to carry out a strut check.

[cammy33]

What are the options for buying struts? Do you need to buy Bilstien's? I have a Spec B which would benefit from a suspension refresh but I find the original set up to harsh.

[Barkychoc]

If you look at the struts there is a drain hole either side under the spring cup - these get filled with crap then a nice little water pool forms sitting in the spring cup.
I thought my sons impreza rear strut looked a bit rusty - I managed to stick my thumb straight through the spring cup checking it out.

I'm guessing this is what's happened to you?

[Paul Drawmer]

I don't know of any alternative to Bilsteins, and I didn't really want to make it firmer.

The new (B8s in Bilstein speak) are supposed to be firmer, however they are not harsh at all, not too firm for a road car, and my wife who hates the ride of the SpecB says that it's actually improved (!)

Have a look at this thread on legacy forums:
http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/index.php/topic/140...

[Mr Gearchange]

Yup - this exact thing happened to my wife's Spec B.

[Paul Drawmer]

Barkychoc said:

If you look at the struts there is a drain hole either side under the spring cup - these get filled with crap then a nice little water pool forms sitting in the spring cup.
I thought my sons impreza rear strut looked a bit rusty - I managed to stick my thumb straight through the spring cup checking it out.

I'm guessing this is what's happened to you?

Yep, I haven't seen the old struts, but the tube just punched up through the spring cup. I'm told that the drain hole blockage is a contributory factor.

[Konan]

From another thread: The fate of my OEM Bilsteins

Konan said:

Expensive 1st month!

I was going to swap them anyway as the other side had a knock - but this was a bit more catastrophic.

It's now on B6s - which do feel harsher than OEM.