aba4430

We use Murphys oil soap to clean (after we ran out of Tanner's cleaner) and it works fine. For conditioning after cleaning, we use Tanners Leather preserve. I was able to buy a 6-pack of the preserve from a 3rd party vendor selling through Amazon actually. We have been using Tanners since 1998 and it is fantastic. aba4430

I just used regular grease to lubricate the cork gaskets, nothing on the self sealing washers. aba4430

For whatever it is worth, is your o-ring on the dist. shaft worn out and it is introducing oil into the distributor? I just had a problem with one of my 1994 Nissan Altima's with 144K miles. I just replaced the o-ring and cleaned the electronics well with electronics parts cleaner and put everything back together. Car has been working perfect for >2 weeks now. My tach was going nuts as well, until the car died in the middle of traffic and I had to get it towed home. Like I said - do not know if this could be your problem. On the other hand, if the dist. shaft bearings are worn and you have developed play on the shaft, then your distributor will need replacing. aba4430

I used the Fram PH2825 (?) on my 1981 GL 2 door hatchback until I sold the car in 1999 (~160K miles), and never had any issues. On the 1987 Brat, I initially used the Fram PH3682 without problems, but then went over to Genuine Nissan filters (# 15208-55Y00). I have two Nissan's that use this filter, so I get 4 to 6 at a time. These are good filters and can be obtained for $5 on-line. I have also used the Purolator PL24457 on my Nissan Altima's and the Brat, on occasion.

The pedal on my 87 Brat was not very firm for years. Just last month, I replaced the rotors and pads (front) and this time we left the hand brake released when bleeding. This has made a huge difference to the pedal feel. It is rock solid and firm now. Just a thought, unless you find something mechanically messed up. In any case, if you manually bleed your brakes, try doing it without the hand brake applied. Regards, aba4430

Plugs look normal.

"..On the malfunctioning brat it seems that one beam is on low, and a second one kicks on ALSO on high..." ------------------------------------------------------ Could it be the second lamp? aba4430

I will check tonight for details, but I replaced the dash speakers on my 1987 Brat with Pioneer 3.5"'s way back in 1994. They have started to crap out, so I am due to replace them again - have purchased Infinity Kappa 3.5" for the dash and 4" for the doors. I have a 4 channel amp etc. also to install - all purchased, but just waiting for time. However, the right dash (passenger side) speaker is a 4 X 6, I believe and mounted East to West behind the A/C grill - the speaker is something like: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5NGKXeThVDs/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=51400&I=130TSA4670 I used a Plexiglas plate and cut out a hole to fit my 3.5" Pioneers. The drivers side is an odd sized speaker, mounted North to South towards the lower left dash portion. It is behind a plastic grill that can be popped out with a very thin screwdriver or sturdy clip. The speaker is screwed into an aluminum or steel adapter plate with two screws securing the top of the plate to the inner dash and one screw securing the bottom of the assembly. In order to remove this speaker, just pop out the grill and undo the 3 screws, then remove the speaker assembly out. I cut the aliminum plate ends, mounted them to a piece of Plexiglas, attached the 3.5" Pioneer and screwed the plate assembly back into the inner dash with the original 3 screws. I am assuming that your wagon arrangement is similar to the 1987 Brat's. Regards, aba4430

I bought mine at Advance auto when I did the clutch on the brat last summer. It was only $2 and plastic, but worked perfectly. aba4430

http://www.subaruparts.com/cart/?pn=721037010 Order one and it is $1.99 shipping, but order 2 together and it is over $8 shipping. The cost of the boot is $2.63 a piece. The number is from a Brat catalog (85-87), but should fit. Regards, aba4430

I have used NGK's or Nippon Denso's. Both brands are specified in the owner manuals of my Brat and Nissan. The Nippon's are equally great. Both run @$1.65 regular and a bit less on sale. Regards, aba4430

Mike, What gauge of wire did you run from the alternator to the battery. Plus was it a direct run to the battery + terminal? Please give some details. Thx, aba4430

Note that a bad thermo switch can also make the fans run continuous. However, if only your thermo switch was bad, even without the fans, your needle should not go into the red zone whilst driving - unless there is a flow problem through the engine also. Are both the upper and lower radiator hoses hot after driving? Regards, aba4430

Jibs, The quote was for both Brat seats. aba4430

I just checked with a local trim shop. They want $350 for vinyl or vinyl/cloth combo, and $700 for leather. Too much in my mind. I want to get the seats on my 87 Brat perked up too. aba4430

I would like to hear details of the interior work you are doing. For example, on my 87 Brat, I need my seats (drivers side mostly, but will do both for matching purposes) re-upholstered, carpet replaced, cover the single large dash crack with a cover etc. I'd like some leads etc. Regards, aba4430

Well, I stand partly corrected. I just read the PM article and it states that the DexCool is not compatible with brass radiators. The new radiator in the Brat has brass tanks, I believe. I will have to watch this over time. I would think the jug would have specific precautions as well..., or I hope the radiator manufacturers have upped the manufacture to make their radiators compatible with the orange stuff. Regards, aba4430

Folks, I have used the Prestone extended life orange coolant in a 1994 Nissan Altima since 1998 (came with green from the factory). Now at 132K miles. Yes, I recently replaced my radiator and as a precaution the water pump. The radiator is aluminum and plastic (top) and there were hairline cracks in the plastic at a couple of places. But I am happy with even 10 years on a radiator. When I recently (May, 2004) did a lot of work (including adding a 2-row radiator and new water pump) on my 1987 Brat, I totally flushed the system with DIW and added the Havoline DexCool coolant at @50% concentration. I have only driven 3.5K miles since all the work on my Brat. There is nothing that I have read that specifically states that DexCool is detrimental to aluminum radiators or engines and seals etc. It is supposed to be a phosphate and silica free formula (so they claim). Perhaps they have improved the process and the Quality Control is better now. Regards, aba4430

Folks, I am going to be redoing the grounds on my Brat soon and was thinking about 8 and/or 10 gauge cable. Streetwires OFC power cables (both gauges) are quite cheap at EBay. Will also make custom battery cables from 1/0 Gauge Streetwires OFC power cable. I appreciate any recommendations. Regards, aba4430

Also try http://www.macsspring.com/ Speak to Michael Wagenstein - mike@macsspring.com They carry an assortment of brands, including KYB. Prices are excellent as well. I bought KYB's from them for our 1987 Brat and Edelbrocks for our Expedition. Good folks to deal with. Regards, aba4430

The left speaker was easily removed from my 87 Brat. I did not have to remove my dash, just the under dash panel below the steering wheel. I believe one of the speaker bracket screws is only then accessible. I cut the center section of the original left speaker bracket and screwed it onto a Plexiglas plate with a cutout for 3.5" pioneer (TSA879) unit. Made sure that the height of the assembly was exactly the same as the height of the original bracket. I then screwed the assembly back into the original mounting location for the bracket. It has been several years now and details are a bit hazy. Some extra information now: My existing system is almost worn out. The display on the Sony XR-U330 cassette unit (10 years old) is shot, but with intuition I still use it to control my mobile ES 6 disc CD changer (CDX-T65) and it sounds just fine. I just picked up a new mobile ES XR-C9100 cassette (with rotary remote) unit as well as a new XM-604EQX Sony amp from EBay. I will most likely replace my worn speakers with Infinity Reference 3.5" (front) and 4" (door) speakers. The CD changer works fine. I bought a Streetwires 4 gauge amplifier wiring kit from EBay (excellent deal at $15 plus $9 for shipping) today. This kit is $80 at Crutchfield. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5711125898&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT I use a Kenwood 8" powered tube sub behind the driver's seat. This is an excellent unit and I will keep it for now. Will plan and accumulate all parts etc. and then start the install in a week or two. I will surely post pictures etc. of the work. Regards, aba4430

Sometimes the arms get loose on the base that turns. Make sure both arms are securely mounted. However, with both arms not working, this may not be that simple. Regards, aba4430

Stacey, I have a 1987 Brat. I am assuming the speaker layout is the same for your Brat. To remove the right speaker, you can take the glove box out, and work from underneath. I installed a 3.5" when I replaced mine years ago. I cut a 1/4" plexiglass (sp?) plate to fit the original 4 X 6" speaker mount. Just added information (you most likely are aware) - the left and right original front speakers are not the same size. I cut a different size plate for the left speaker. Regards, aba4430

I would get the runout on the rotors checked. If they are warped, then you could get them resurfaced if they are thick enough. I also recommend that the caliper bracket (to hub) bolts as well as the caliper to bracket bolts be hand torqued to specifications. If you are going through this trouble, you could go ahead and replace the pads with OEM pads (I am not sure of this though. I would if it were me). Finally, have your wheels balanced and lug nuts hand torqued to specification. Thereafter, insist on hand torquing the lug nuts. Using an impact wrench is very often the cause of rotor warp. I have assumed some things in my response, i.e. your lugs nuts are not hand torqued for example. Regards, aba4430

Same request as GD - FSM to cover my 87 Brat. Thx, aba4430