Here in the Northwestern part of the country, Subaru has become one of the top nameplates. The versatility of the all-wheel-drive system makes them the ideal ski team hauler or beachcomber vehicle. The compact station wagon design is the most popular model, due to its ability to haul people, and their equipment, in comfort and security. For the auto repair industry, Subaru is also a very technician-friendly nameplate, with many different models sharing the same basic design and components.

The parts that separate Subaru out of the ordinary are also the reason they're so versatile. The flat engine design provides many advantages, including added ground clearance and a compact drivetrain, leaving room for people and payload. The layout of the drivetrain, with its longitudinal, rather than transverse, engine mounting, and straight-through transaxle allows for the addition of all-wheel-drive without major body differences or cumbersome transfer gears.

Subaru has packed a lot of drivetrain and accessory pieces into a compact area, but the layout is such that with a little planning, most drivetrain and suspension repairs are easily completed. The Legacy series (including Impreza, Outback and Forester) from the early 1990s-on are the most common models we see and, except for some improvements, repairs are pretty much the same on all of them, up to the current models. This article will focus on some of the more commo...