# Subaru Stuts **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** outback, subaru\ **Created:** [July 7, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434 "2010-07-07T17:27:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bbruden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bbruden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bbruden)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434/1 "2010-07-07T17:27:05Z")
How important is it to replace front and/or rear struts? Is it a safety issue; or, merely a matter of ride comfort? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434/2 "2010-07-07T17:45:18Z")
If they are genuinely worn, then this is most definitely a safety issue. When your struts are worn out, your wheels bounce excessively and uncontrollably when you hit a bump in the road. Each time that the wheels bounce like this, they lose some of their contact with the road, thus leading to poor road-holding and to uneven tire wear. I’m curious about how many miles you have on the odometer of this Outback of unknown vintage. My '02 Outback, with ~105k on the odometer, gives no indication of needing new struts. My '97 Outback also did not need strut replacement during the time that I owned it. How old is this car, and how many miles are on the odometer? Do you normally drive on roads that are in very bad condition? ---
**Author:** ![bbruden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bbruden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bbruden)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434/3 "2010-07-07T18:12:22Z")
It is a 2002 with 111,000 miles. We do drive on unpaved roads some; but not often. I estimate we drive about 500 miles/year on unpaved roads. I have not noticed any uneven tire wear. The reason I suspect it needs struts is it seems to ride rough on bumps as compared with the past. I am the first owner. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434/4 "2010-07-07T18:22:44Z")
I agree with VDC. Given your use and miles, it almost certainly needs 4 new ones, assuming you want to keep it a while. They wear gradually, by the time you notice it they’re usually quite worn. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-stuts/51434/5 "2010-07-07T22:22:57Z")
111,000 miles I would be very surprised if it did not need new struts.