Parts for your 2020 Subaru Legacy-Gas struts

2020 Subaru Legacy gas struts: what’s actually fitted

For the 2020 Subaru Legacy (7th gen sedan), factory gas struts are not used on either the bonnet or the boot. Subaru’s own technical information backs this up: the Owner’s Manual describes a bonnet stay (prop rod) to hold the bonnet open, and the Body section of the Subaru Service Manual lists a hood stay, bonnet hinges and a latch, but no gas-charged springs. Likewise, the boot lid is counterbalanced by torsion bars and gooseneck hinges rather than lift supports. OEM parts catalogues for this model show a hood stay assembly and boot torsion bars, with no gas struts specified for either end.

Why no gas struts? Subaru’s design choices for a mid-size sedan lean on proven, lightweight mechanisms. Torsion bars and gooseneck hinges for the boot offer consistent assist with minimal packaging complexity, while a simple bonnet prop rod is lighter, cheaper, and extremely reliable over long service lives. Gas struts are common on wagons, hatches and SUVs where larger, heavier liftgates benefit most from damped, self-lifting action. On a sedan like the Legacy, the weight and geometry of the boot lid generally don’t demand them.

There’s also a durability angle. Gas-charged supports slowly lose pressure over years and cycles, eventually needing replacement. A prop rod and torsion bar setup has fewer wear points and no sealed gas to leak, which reduces lifetime costs and the chance of a sudden drop if a strut fails.

Owners who prefer struts can find aftermarket bonnet strut kits designed for the 2020 Legacy