Replacing our 2014 Forester Lower Control Arms & Sway Bar End Links

[@georgesemar2540]

Bought the parts and Watched your vid today, now I have to go to work. I'll be swapping the parts tomorrow. Thanks so much for the very complete how to!

[@Mini-Driver]

I hope your project goes well for you. If I can be of any assistance, please send a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Good luck & thanks for watching.

[@micro13989]

Preparing to do this. Just wanna say thanks. You may not realize it, but this really helps. The money you are saving me and others is a great thing. Great camera placement, explanations, and then some tips.

[@jrwilfing]

im right in the process today, taking a break from rain, and wanted to make sure I'm on the doing it the right way page.

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you very much, makes me feel like I'm helping others. I hope all goes well and if you have any questions, please ask. I was away for a month on vacation, but I'm back now.

[@Mini-Driver]

@@jrwilfing Hope all goes well for you too. Just take your time and remember your steps and you'll get through it. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@michaelantoninich7770]

But did you like and subscribe to his channel? The video has over 12 thousand views but he has less than 800 subscribers. If a third of the people that watched his videos liked and subscribed, he would possibly have over 100k subscribers if not more.

[@bwhammm]

That setup with the bracket at the back is sooo much easier to work with than on my 01 Sienna!

[@Mini-Driver]

They do make Subaru's easy to work on, the MINI's, not so much. Thanks for watching.

[@frealm]

Replacing drivers side control arm on a 2019 and I couldn't find a video on 5th gens. It's pretty much the same setup for anyone wondering. Thank you for putting the time in on making this video sir. Very much appreciated!

[@Mini-Driver]

I'm glad this video helped even if it wasn't your exact vehicle. Thank you for watching and stay tuned.

[@fuzzyhatjr]

Very informative video, need to do the exact replacement on my sons Forester, thanks

[@Mini-Driver]

I feel it's a straight forward job. Hope you're not in the rust belt, rust makes it harder. Good luck. Thanks for your support.

[@vmfan96]

Thanks for taking the time to show what you went through. 258K miles is pretty good for the Forester. Nice property you have there.

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you for watching and I hope it helped. We just drove it to Louisiana so we added another 2500 miles to that total. Thanks for the comment about the property, I appreciate what we have, but I would love to have more space and a garage. . . one day.

[@duncanmacleod7210]

Greetings from Va. Beach Jimmy. This is the best video on Subi control arms I have watched. THX

[@Mini-Driver]

Why thank you ! I'm in Chesterfield, VA just south of Richmond. Thanks for watching & Good luck with your projects.

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

I'm about the tackle this job too in Virginia Beach :)

[@agdemario]

You are a real help. I had to do all this and more on my 2014 Forester this week, and your video was exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[@Mini-Driver]

Well I am so glad my videos helped you fix your vehicle too. I try to be thorough showing how I do things. Thank you for watching.

[@1jimjiminy]

Hey Jimmy, nice video. I like all the detail. That you've included your explanation. The camera angles. Good job man. Keep up the good work

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you so much. I hope to show the things that would help someone else. Thanks for watching.

[@MK-qo1xf]

Thank you for this video. The first of yours I've seen. Great job. Well done. Thanks.

[@Mini-Driver]

Thanks for watching. I hope it helps. If you want to see something I haven't done yet, let me know. I may need to do it too anyway.

[@tormod02]

Hi Jimmy, thanks for this video, learned a lot from this, and have now done the same job on my 2013 Forester. Greatings from Norway. 👍

[@Mini-Driver]

I am glad it was able to help you. I have to say, we hosted two exchange students from Norway in the past and I visited once ( Drøbak & Leikanger). I love your country.

[@tormod02]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@Mini-Driver that’s nice to hear! Thank you for hosting our students Jimmy❤

[@cuanbarlow2323]

Great tutorial thank you so much. Much better than some of the other ones.

[@Mini-Driver]

Thanks so much. I try to be thorough without taking too long. Thanks for watching and subbing.

[@miguelvives8927]

Thank you Jimmy for the video.

[@Mini-Driver]

You are very much welcome. Hope it helped in some way.

[@rtanders1981]

My dude! Great video man. Also really impressed with the way you were able to get those camera angles, especially so we could really see. I’m doing this work to my 2017 forester and have been using your video as a reference. Great thing you added that you can’t torque until you lower it. A lot of videos don’t mention that.

[@thatgameingchanel]

Thank you OG I definitely liked and subscribed

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you much. Hope you enjoy!

[@carlosbriceno9138]

man i really thanks you for this video you are AWESOME

[@Mini-Driver]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching & I hope it helped you with your project(s).

[@cesarpizarro812]

Nice job and thank you for including the torque specs.

[@Mini-Driver]

I do include the torque specs but I always say to independently check them yourself for your specific year & model. Sometimes that's why I don't give part numbers. Thanks for watching.

[@TheJohnTWoods]

16:38 the cheering... chef's kiss. =)

[@Mini-Driver]

Thanks, I try to keep it fun.

[@bebaker]

Nice job! Thx for the video and the best practices/tips.

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you for watching & hope it helped you out.

[@bebaker]

@@Mini-Driver , it helped a lot!....Changed it all out and finished it up in the last two weeks.

[@berserkerusmc7613]

"Magic hammers" Hahaha... all my tools are magic, and they disappear and reappear too 😂. Great video! Thank you!

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you, glad you watched. They say "Everything is a Hammer"

[@itster1]

Thanks for doing the video very helpful

[@Mini-Driver]

Glad it helped. I have at least one more project coming for this Subaru . . . stay tuned.

[@jimmckenney2672]

Thanks for doing that video. Thought it very well done. Helped a lot.

[@Mini-Driver]

I'm glad I could help. Ive been helped by many content creators, both cars and Bees, and I'm glad to be able to give back.

[@joshuabriggs7114]

Great video Jimmy; thanks!

[@Mini-Driver]

You are welcome, hope your project is successful. Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@joshuabriggs7114]

@@Mini-Driver project WAS successful! I've done control arms on other vehicles but your tip about jacking the ball joint up for proper control arm position for torquing the front bushing was gold! Saved me from trying to wedge my 6'3" self into an impossibly small space under the Forester ;)

[@Mini-Driver]

@@joshuabriggs7114 I helped at least one person, then the video was worth creating. Glad your project was a success .

[@davestan523]

Great video. Right front clunking noise on my daughter’s Forester. Betting the bushings are bad. Love the idea of two sets of ramps. Perfect set up also to do CVT drain & fill.

[@Mini-Driver]

Yes, having two sets of ramps is great, I do need another set of the plastic ones. My metal ramps are not safe anymore so I tossed them. I've never done a CVT drain & fill myself. Maybe one day. Thanks for watching.

[@davestan523]

@@Mini-Driver Moog parts on on the way for my Subbie. How are the MOOG parts holding up for you? I got control arm bushing too. I live in the rust belt of western pa. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Thanks in advance my friend.

[@Mini-Driver]

@@davestan523 So far our parts are holding up fine. I, fortunately, do not live in the rust belt but I watch South Main Auto and he uses some sort of spray to coat new metal under the cars & trucks he fixes. I would do all I can seeing some of those vehicles. Thanks for watching.

[@shahsmerdis]

Probably ball joints. Which is what is wrong with mine. We're you able to get the pinch bolts out ?

[@davestan523]

@@shahsmerdis Honestly, I changed the stabilizer bushing & ends. Didn’t help-clunk still there. Apprehensive to attempt pinch bolt since the car is almost 10 years old & I live in the rust belt.

[@ye_traveling_minstrel]

Nice work. Thanks for the video!

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you for watching. Hope I helped.

[@hectormartinez92]

Great job you explained it very well!

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank you, I hope it helped you with your project or repair.

[@DanielStefanMabda]

Nice job👍👍👍👍

[@Mini-Driver]

I think it was an easy job for someone who doesn't mind doing the work. Thanks for watching.

[@danrascal4045]

Great video! Thank you!

[@Mini-Driver]

You are welcome. I hope it helped you with your repairs.

[@selwyn13]

I feel like he makes it look easier than it's actually going to be.

[@Mini-Driver]

I try to show exactly how it is for me. If the car is from up north with snow & salt - Good Luck! Take your time and have patients, you can get the job done. Thanks for watching.

[@selwyn13]

Where r u from?

[@DIYBIGMAN]

Well done!

[@Mini-Driver]

Thank You. Hope it helps with your repairs or projects.

[@arturod.1144]

I will be changing this part on my 2017 forester this weekend. Bought both lower control arms from Napa but the ball joint bushing comes with what it looks to be a grease fitting. Are these supposed to be already greased?

[@Mini-Driver]

They usually come pre-greased but I always add a pump or two because humans can forget sometimes in a production environment. Good luck with your project, hope it all goes smooth. Thanks for watching.

[@julioslanding803]

Just found your video... will do my 2009 Forester in a week. Very informative... did you get alignment done since you replaced links?

[@Mini-Driver]

We took the car to get an alignment about a week after i did the work. It was in conjunction with an inspection. Thanks for the question and for watching.

[@I_Am_Squirrel685]

Thanks for this, dealer wanted 2k for parts and labor.

[@Mini-Driver]

I'm glad I was able to help you a bit. The dealerships have their place too, but I try not to visit them too often. Thanks for watching.

[@VideoNOLA]

Any difficulty getting those new sway bar links into position??

[@Mini-Driver]

No, not at all. I think the trick is having both front wheels off the ground at the same time. That way there is no tension on the bar. Thanks for watching.

[@juliosdiy3206]

Good job i will be looking into my subie clunkin culprit soon.

[@Mini-Driver]

Hope you find an easy repair. Most things on the Sub's aren't that bad to fix, as long as you're not in the "Rust" area.

[@douglastran1499]

What would you do if the sway bar link nut won't come off and just spins with the threaded bolt?

[@Mini-Driver]

I would have to see which nut & bolt exactly, but I would probably cut it off and replace it. I might even got to a salvage yard to see what can be salvaged & used. If there is a way you can post a picture, that would be helpful. Hope that helps & thanks for watching.

[@Rustyrailhead]

Where did you buy your part from. Did you replace your struts yet and if so what brand did you use.. Thanks for the video. Well done

[@Mini-Driver]

The parts were Moog Brand, purchased from Amazon. The dealer replaced the front & rear struts with OEM around 160K miles.

[@Rustyrailhead]

@@Mini-Driver Thanks, good man. I like yur videos as not assuming people know a lot about car things. If I was younger and able to get off the floor i think I would attempt this repair. I hate car repairs ,mainly because I have no idea what I am doing.

[@Mini-Driver]

@@Rustyrailhead Thanks for watching. I just usually break things down to it's most common form. . . Basically it's just loosening & tightening nuts & bolts. Unconnecting & reconnecting plugs in some cases. All there is to do is use the proper sequence in which to do them.

[@ivanotento9820]

Thank you!!! Very useful

[@Mini-Driver]

I am glad you were able to use the information. Thanks for watching.

[@selwyn13]

Does it matter if I squirt the grease into the Sway bar end link grease fitting before installing? Will it give me problems compressing and fully seating?

[@Mini-Driver]

It should not matter, before or after. An old mechanic I knew as a kid used to do it after installation, so that's what I usually do.

[@selwyn13]

@@Mini-Driver Oh ok. When I used to work at mechanic shop I would always see guys pumping grease into the zerk fitting afterwards only. That's why I ask. Now that you say it doesn't matter, I guess they probably did it for convenience sake, and/or to avoid dealing w/ grease likely rupturing out of the boot since those guys didn't give a shit about torquing the nut to proper spec (they'd just go ham on it w/ an impact gun).

[@Mini-Driver]

@@selwyn13 It does make sense to grease up after installation as to not cause damage like you said.

[@selwyn13]

Also do u remember if after u replaced these 2 parts the ABS, trac, Eye Sight, Lane departure off, pre collision off, and another light that looks like its going up a hill all came on?

[@george8943]

Hi I have watch your video couple times and learn a lot. Question is the alignment necessary after control arm changes? And in your case does it make the different on alignment print out sheet reading before and after?

[@Mini-Driver]

Hello, Thank you so much for watching, I hope the videos help you. I didn't get an alignment before, but we did get one done after. For me, I take all of our vehicles for alignment, after extensive front end work. It handles better and saves tire wear.

[@seanmccrea6763]

Hey Jimmy, thank you for the video. Can you please confirm the tie rod ends you used for this. Inner or outer? I’m getting ready to do the same work on my 2014 Forester and am seeing front inner and front outer tie rod ends 😅 Thank you 🙏🏼

[@Mini-Driver]

Thanks for watching the videos. The 2 bushings and ball joint came with the Moog control arms. I have the outer tie rod ends but did no replace them in this video.

[@DaDaDo661]

Good idea with the ramps. I usually just put a piece of wood on the jack and jack the control arm all the way up and then torque the bolts down. Your way is better, mine is a cheat

[@Mini-Driver]

A cheat works too! I'm just giving out options. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesquach5760]

Thank you brother

[@Mini-Driver]

You are welcome. Hope your project goes well.

[@dustinriordan7051]

That car looks brand new. My 2016 with 98k on it is corroded as hell from all the salt Connecticut puts on the roads these days. The rotor backing plate/dust shield just disintegrated. Meanwhile my wife's 2018 VW with 190k miles has almost zero rust. I'm so done with Subaru.

[@Mini-Driver]

We have not owned a newer VW, our daughter is waiting for the New Electric Bus to be released. In the early 80's we had a scirocco. I wonder what VW is doing for protection? Anyway, I've heard about the rust up north. I feel for y'all. We only get snow 2 or 3 times a year and we really don't have to drive much in it. Thanks for watching.

[@Mini-Driver]

Yes we did the lower ball joints earlier, after a vehicle inspection.

[@Porco_Utah]

every car I owned those rubber bushing eventually go bad. they are probably planned to go bad by design.

[@Mini-Driver]

I know if they get oil-soaked, they go bad a lot faster. The oil leak we had on our passengers side of this car.