Subaru Legacy III (2000-2003 year). Manual - part 22

PM-38

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SERVICES

SUSPENSION

23.Suspension

A: INSPECTION

1. SUSPENSION BALL JOINT

1) Jack up vehicle until front wheels are off ground.
2) Next, grasp bottom of tire and move it in and out.
If relative movement is observed between brake
disc cover and end of transverse link, ball joint may
be excessively worn.
3) Next, grasp end of transverse link and move it up
and down. Relative movement between housing
and transverse link boss indicates ball joint may be
excessively worn. 
4) If relative movement is observed in the immedi-
ately preceding two steps, remove and inspect ball
joint. If free play exceeds standard, replace ball
joint. <Ref. to FS-16, Front Ball Joint.>

5) Damage of dust seal
Visually inspect ball joint dust seal. If it is damaged,
remove transverse link. <Ref. to FS-14, Front
Transverse Link.> And measure free play of ball
joint. <Ref. to FS-16, Front Ball Joint.>

(1) When looseness exceeds standard value,
replace ball joint.
(2) If the dust seal is damaged, replace with the
new ball joint.

NOTE:
When transverse link ball joint has been removed
or replaced, check toe-in of front wheel. If front
wheel toe-in is not at specified value, adjust toe-in.
<Ref. to FS-6, Wheel Alignment.>

2. TRANSVERSE LINK'S REAR BUSHING

Check oil leaks at around liquid-filled bushing. If oil
leaks, replace bushing. 

(A) Disc cover

(B) Relative movement

(C) Ball joint

(D) Transverse link

(E) Housing

(A) Relative movement

(B) Ball joint

(C) Transverse link

(D) Housing

PM-00057

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

PM-00058

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(A) Dust seal

(A) Rear bushing

(B) Transverse link

PM-00059

(A)

PM-00060

(A)

(B)

PM-39

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SERVICES

SUSPENSION

3. WHEEL ARCH HEIGHT

1) Unload cargoes and set vehicle in curb weight
(empty) condition.
2) Then, check wheel arch height of front and rear
suspensions to ensure that they are within speci-
fied values.
3) When wheel arch height is out of standard, visu-
ally inspect following components and replace de-
formed parts.
• Suspension components [Front strut assembly
and rear shock absorber assembly] 
• Body parts to which suspensions are installed.
4) When no components are deformed, adjust
wheel arch height by replacing coil spring in the
suspension whose wheel arch height is out of stan-
dard. <Ref. to FS-6, Wheel Alignment.> <Ref. to
RS-8, Wheel Alignment.>

4. WHEEL ALIGNMENT OF FRONT SUS-
PENSION

1) Check alignment of front suspension to ensure
that following items conform to standard values.
• Toe-in
• Camber angle
• Caster angle
• Steering angle
<Ref. to FS-6, Wheel Alignment.>
2) When caster angle does not conform to standard
value, visually inspect following components and
replace deformed parts.
• Suspension components [Strut assembly, cross-
member, transverse link, etc.]
• Body parts to which suspensions are installed.
3) When toe-in and camber are out of standard val-
ue, adjust them so that they conform to respective
service standard.
4) When right-and-left turning angles of tire are out
of standard, adjust to standard value.

5. WHEEL ALIGNMENT OF REAR SUS-
PENSION

1) Check alignment of rear suspension to ensure
that following items are within standard values.
• Toe-in
• Camber angle
• Thrust angle
<Ref. to RS-8, Wheel Alignment.>
2) When camber angle does not conform to stan-
dard value, visually inspect parts listed below. If de-
formation is observed, replace damaged parts.
• Suspension components [Shock absorber, link
F, link R, link UPR, arm R, sub frame, etc.]
• Body parts to which suspensions are installed.
3) When toe-in and thrust angle are out of standard
value, adjust them so that they conform to respec-
tive service standard.

6. OIL LEAKAGE OF STRUT AND SHOCK 
ABSORBER

Visually inspect front strut and rear shock absorber
for oil leakage as instructed. Replace front strut and
rear shock absorber if oil leaks excessively.

7. TIGHTNESS OF BOLTS AND NUTS

Check bolts and nuts shown in the figure for loose-
ness. Retighten bolts and nuts to specified torque.
If self-lock nuts and bolts are removed, replace
them with new ones.
Front suspension: <Ref. to FS-3, COMPONENT,
General Description.> 
Rear suspension: <Ref. to RS-3, COMPONENT,
General Description.>

8. DAMAGE TO SUSPENSION PARTS

1) Check the following parts and the fastening por-
tion of the vehicle body for deformation or exces-
sive rusting which impairs the suspension. If
necessary, replace damaged parts with new ones.
If minor rust formation, pitting, etc. are noted, re-
move rust and apply remedial anti-corrosion mea-
sures.
• Front suspension

• Transverse link
• Crossmember
• Strut

• Rear suspension

• Sub frame
• Link F
• Link R
• Link UPR
• Arm R
• Shock absorber

• In the district where salt is sprayed to melt snow
on a road in winter and coastal area, check suspen-
sion parts for damage caused by rust every months
or km (miles) specified in "MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULE 2".

PM-40

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SERVICES

WHEEL BEARING

24.Wheel Bearing

A: INSPECTION

1. FRONT WHEEL BEARING

NOTE:
Inspect the condition of front wheel bearing grease.
1) Jack up the front of vehicle.
2) While holding front wheel by hand, swing it in
and out to check bearing free play.
3) Loosen wheel nuts and remove front wheel.
4) If bearing free play exists in step 2) above, at-
tach a dial gauge to hub and measure axial dis-
placement in axial direction.

Service limit:

Straight-ahead position within 0.05 mm 
(0.0020 in)

5) Remove bolts and self-locking nuts, and extract
transverse link from front crossmember.
6) While lightly hammering spring pin which se-
cures SFJ to transmission spindle, remove it.
7) Extract SFJ from transmission spindle. <Ref. to
DS-17, Front Axle.>
8) While supporting front drive shaft horizontally
with one hand, turn hub with the other to check for
noise or binding.
If hub is noisy or binds, disassemble front axle and
check condition of oil seals, bearing, etc.

2. REAR WHEEL BEARING

1) Jack up the rear of vehicle.
2) While holding rear wheel by hand, swing it in and
out to check bearing free play.
3) Loosen wheel nuts and remove rear wheel.
4) If bearing free play exists in step 2) above, at-
tach a dial gauge to hub assembly and measure
axial displacement in axial direction.

Service limit:

Straight-ahead position within 0.05 mm 
(0.0020 in)

5) Remove the DOJ of rear drive shaft from rear dif-
ferential. <Ref. to DS-34, Rear Drive Shaft.>
6) While supporting rear drive shaft horizontally
with one hand, turn hub assembly with the other to
check for noise or binding.
If hub assembly is noisy or binds, disassemble rear
axle and check condition of oil seals, bearings, etc.

(A) Inner oil seal

(B) Snap ring

(C) Bearing

(D) Housing

(E) Outer oil seal

(F) Hub bolt

(G) Hub

PM-00061

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(G)

(F)

(A) Hub unit

(B) Hub bolt

(C) Hub

PM-00137

( A )

( B )

( C )

PM-41

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SERVICES

AXLE BOOTS & JOINTS

25.Axle Boots & Joints

A: INSPECTION

1. FRONT AND REAR AXLE BOOTS

Inspect front axle boots (A) and rear axle boots (B)
for deformation, damage or failure. If faulty, replace
them with new ones. <Ref. to DS-28, Front Drive
Shaft.> <Ref. to DS-34, Rear Drive Shaft.>

2. PROPELLER SHAFT

Inspect propeller shaft for damage or failure. If
faulty, replace with a new one. <Ref. to DS-14, Pro-
peller Shaft.>

PM-00063

( A )

PM-00138

( B )