Subaru Forester Rear Shock Absorber: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
Genuinely worth knowing: older self-levelling rear shocks use a completely different air/oil chamber design that's physically a different length from a standard shock.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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Confirmed: Self-Levelling Shocks Are a Genuinely Different, Older Technology
Genuinely worth knowing on older Foresters: self-levelling rear shocks use a built-in air/oil chamber to automatically maintain ride height under load, a completely different design from a standard non-levelling shock. Owners converting from self-levelling to standard shocks report the two are a physically different length, meaning the spring perch position and effective ride height change if you switch types — worth researching this specific conversion carefully rather than assuming a straightforward swap.
Subaru Forester Rear Shock Absorber: The Part That Takes Every Bump Before You Feel It
On the Subaru Forester, most attention (and most complaints) go to the front suspension because of its role in steering, yet the rear shocks wear on a similar timeline — just more quietly, easy to write off as road noise until it's obviously gotten worse.
Subaru Forester Rear Shock Absorber: OEM Part Number
| Standard (non-self-levelling), right | Genuinely a different part number from the left-side shock — Subaru's own parts catalogue lists these separately |
|---|---|
| Standard (non-self-levelling), left | A genuinely different reference from the right-side shock above |
| Self-levelling (older models), where fitted | Genuinely a different technology from a standard shock, using a built-in air/oil chamber to maintain ride height — physically a different length, not a like-for-like swap |
| Turbo (XT) models | A genuinely different shock from the naturally aspirated 2.5 version, confirmed as separate part numbers across multiple generations |
The Subaru Forester's shock absorbers should always be replaced in pairs.
Subaru Forester Rear Shock Absorber: What It Does
The rear shock absorber controls how quickly the rear suspension compresses and rebounds over bumps. A worn rear shock lets the back of the car bounce excessively after a bump instead of settling quickly, and can make the suspension feel like it's bottoming out more easily than it used to.
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Subaru Forester Rear Shock Absorber: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Rear Shock Absorber Guide for symptoms of a worn shock, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.
More Subaru Rear Shock Absorber
The same part, covered across other Subaru models.