Subaru Outback Rear Shock Absorber: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Genuinely worth knowing: the rear shock and spring are commonly sold together as a complete assembly on Subaru's platform, not always as separate parts.

Illustration of a rear shock absorber and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

Confirmed: Left, Right, and Turbo All Genuinely Differ

Genuinely worth knowing: Subaru's own parts catalogue lists left and right rear shocks as separate, non-interchangeable references, and turbo variants (where offered) use a genuinely different shock from naturally aspirated versions.

A further genuinely important distinction: the rear shock and spring are commonly sold together as a complete strut assembly on this model rather than always as separate parts — check whether a listing is for the complete assembly or the shock alone before ordering, since prices and part numbers differ significantly between the two.

The Part That Takes Every Bump Before You Feel It

Front suspension tends to get most of the attention since it also handles steering, but the rear shock absorbers wear too — often more subtly, with symptoms that are easy to write off as road noise until they get worse.

Before you buy: turbo vs naturally aspirated, generation, and left/right side all affect fitment. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Subaru Outback Rear Shock Absorber reference plate

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: check whether a listing is for the complete shock-and-spring assembly or the shock alone before ordering, since both are commonly sold for this model.

Standard, right	Genuinely a different part number from the left-side shock — Subaru's own parts catalogue lists these separately
Standard, left	A genuinely different reference from the right-side shock above
Turbo, where fitted	A genuinely different shock from the naturally aspirated version, confirmed as separate part numbers

Shock absorbers should always be replaced in pairs.

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.

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.

Subaru Outback Rear Shock Absorber: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Confirmed: Left, Right, and Turbo All Genuinely Differ

OEM Part Numbers

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