Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
SYS.OK|MANUAL.DBβ LIVE
HOMESERVICE MANUALSSUBARU1998LEGACY BRIGHTON WAGON AWD F4-2.2L SOHCREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISBODY AND FRAMEDOORS, HOOD AND TRUNKTRUNK / LIFTGATESERVICE AND REPAIR
1998 Subaru Legacy Brighton Wagon AWD F4-2.2L SOHC
Trunk / Liftgate: Service and Repair
1998 Subaru Legacy Brighton Wagon AWD F4-2.2L SOHCSECTION Service and Repair
Rear Gate
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
CAUTION:
- Be careful not to scratch coated surfaces of vehicle body and window glass during removal. Place a cloth over the affected area.
- Be careful not to damage trim panels.
- Use an assistant when handling heavy parts.
- Be careful not to damage or lose small parts.
1. REAR GATE ASSEMBLY

1. Remove clips from trim panel and detach trim panel.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage clips or their holes.
2. Disconnect connectors and terminal.
3. Disconnect rear washer hose from wiper motor.
4. Remove high-mount stop light.
5. If disconnected harness is re-used tie connector with a string and place on the upper side of rear gale for ready use.
CAUTION: Do not forcefully pull cords, lead wires, etc. since damage may result; carefully extract them in a wavy motion while holding connectors.
6. Remove both rubber ducts and then extract washer hose and harness connector.

7. Gas stay
1. Completely open rear gate.
2. Remove bolts which hold gas stay to rear gate.
CAUTION:
- Be careful because rear gate drops while removing bolts. Have an assistant support it while removing bolts.
- Be sure to place a folded cloth between rear gate and body to prevent scratches.

8. Remove the bolts which hold rear gate to hinge and then detach rear gate.
9. General precautions in handling rear gate gas stay.
CAUTION:

- Do not attempt to disassemble gas stay because its cylinder is filled with gas.
- Before discarding gas stay, place it at a slight angle with the cylinder body side facing up and drill a 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) dia. hole to completely discharge the content. (Gas is odorless, colorless and harmless; however, metal powder may come out of the hole.)

- It is good practice to place a vinyl sack over it before drilling the hole because oil may spurt out. Be careful to prevent vinyl cover from becoming entangled on the drill.
- Be careful not to scratch the exposed section of piston rod or allow oil or paint to come in contact with it.
- Do not attempt to rotate the extended piston rod.
10. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
CAUTION:
- Be sure to add sealer to hinge.
- When installing rear gate, be careful not to damage coating on body and rear gate.
2. LATCH

1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disengage rod from holder (= key cylinder).
3. Remove bolts from auto-door lock actuator.
4. Remove bolts from latch, and detach latch.
5. Disconnect rear gate switch connector.
6. Disconnect auto-door lock actuator connector.
7. Detach latch.
8. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
3. OUTER HANDLE

1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disconnect rod from outer handle.
3. Remove two nuts used to hold outer handle to the inside of rear gate, and detach outer handle.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage packing when removing outer handle.
4. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
4. KEY CYLINDER

1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disengage rod from holder 01.
3. Remove nut from key cylinder, and detach key cylinder.
4. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

5. STRIKER
Remove two bolts from striker and detach striker.
6. WEATHERSTRIP

1. Place weatherstrip so that its joints meet at lower center of vehicle body, and install by inserting flanged portion from below, as shown in section A-A in figure.

2. Tap along entire length with a rubber hammer to firmly insert body flange into weatherstrip.
CAUTION:
- Be careful not to install in wrong direction.
- Install weatherstrip carefully and firmly.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
CAUTION:
- Be careful not to scratch coated surfaces of vehicle body and window glass during removal. Place a cloth over the affected area.
- Be careful not to damage trim panels.
- Use an assistant when handling heavy parts.
- Be careful not to damage or lose small parts.
1. REAR GATE ASSEMBLY
1. Remove clips from trim panel and detach trim panel.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage clips or their holes.
2. Disconnect connectors and terminal.
3. Disconnect rear washer hose from wiper motor.
4. Remove high-mount stop light.
5. If disconnected harness is re-used tie connector with a string and place on the upper side of rear gale for ready use.
CAUTION: Do not forcefully pull cords, lead wires, etc. since damage may result; carefully extract them in a wavy motion while holding connectors.
6. Remove both rubber ducts and then extract washer hose and harness connector.
7. Gas stay
1. Completely open rear gate.
2. Remove bolts which hold gas stay to rear gate.
CAUTION:
- Be careful because rear gate drops while removing bolts. Have an assistant support it while removing bolts.
- Be sure to place a folded cloth between rear gate and body to prevent scratches.
8. Remove the bolts which hold rear gate to hinge and then detach rear gate.
9. General precautions in handling rear gate gas stay.
CAUTION:
- Do not attempt to disassemble gas stay because its cylinder is filled with gas.
- Before discarding gas stay, place it at a slight angle with the cylinder body side facing up and drill a 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) dia. hole to completely discharge the content. (Gas is odorless, colorless and harmless; however, metal powder may come out of the hole.)
- It is good practice to place a vinyl sack over it before drilling the hole because oil may spurt out. Be careful to prevent vinyl cover from becoming entangled on the drill.
- Be careful not to scratch the exposed section of piston rod or allow oil or paint to come in contact with it.
- Do not attempt to rotate the extended piston rod.
10. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
CAUTION:
- Be sure to add sealer to hinge.
- When installing rear gate, be careful not to damage coating on body and rear gate.
2. LATCH
1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disengage rod from holder (= key cylinder).
3. Remove bolts from auto-door lock actuator.
4. Remove bolts from latch, and detach latch.
5. Disconnect rear gate switch connector.
6. Disconnect auto-door lock actuator connector.
7. Detach latch.
8. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
3. OUTER HANDLE
1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disconnect rod from outer handle.
3. Remove two nuts used to hold outer handle to the inside of rear gate, and detach outer handle.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage packing when removing outer handle.
4. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
4. KEY CYLINDER
1. Remove trim panel.
2. Disengage rod from holder 01.
3. Remove nut from key cylinder, and detach key cylinder.
4. Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
5. STRIKER
Remove two bolts from striker and detach striker.
6. WEATHERSTRIP
1. Place weatherstrip so that its joints meet at lower center of vehicle body, and install by inserting flanged portion from below, as shown in section A-A in figure.
2. Tap along entire length with a rubber hammer to firmly insert body flange into weatherstrip.
CAUTION:
- Be careful not to install in wrong direction.
- Install weatherstrip carefully and firmly.
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.