bratman2

I have always used the grease trick myself. My filter is probably 7 years old now.

I would venture to say a new clutch cable is in store for you. Get it adjusted out right and you should have no worries. When you go to get it make sure they give you the right part, say for an 84 Subaru Brat. The online stores and autoparts stores will often sell you an ea82 part for late 80 model subarus. The slop is common and I fixed mine 8-10 years ago and it has not came back.

If the bottles are unopened you will be fine. I would buy another quart of cheap oil before I put STP in.

EA81 U joints can be replaced.

If you would enlarge the picture on the link I sent you you would see they are GMB. Made in Japan and includes grease fitting. I actually got mine off Ebay but they were very similar to the GMB if not the same. I do remember they were made in Japan anyways. Don't really remember why but seems I got one out fairly easy, front I think. The second one I had to cut in half with a saw-zall to get out of the rear.

Try here! http://www.partsgeek.com/pdproducts/WC/319-01059793.html?utm_source=shoppingcom&utm_medium=pf&utm_term=1978-1987+Subaru+Brat+U+Joint+-+GMB&utm_content=wc&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+ShoppingCom

On the EA81 you can change out the U joints. Did my about 3 years ago on my 87 Brat. Sorry I don't remember the part numbers.

Just minor fitting and I got 03 RS seats in my Brat. So I would imagine any Impreza seat, Forrester seat, WRX seat wouldn't be anymore trouble. RS and WRX are considered some of the best factory seats out there. Don't think I would haul a set out of a Caravan, but that is just me.,

Had a similar problem to yours except mine pegged out and stuff started coming on by itself. Cut it off and tried it as few minutes later and it was fine. Happened again so I bought a new alternator (remanufactered). Guess what, happened a gain only not quite as bad. The needle climbed up into the red and when I took my foot off the gas to coast to a stop it came out of the red but still high. Turns out after much digging and tearing into my wiring harness to find nothing it was the electrical side of the ignition switch. Replaced it a year ago and it has not occurred again. This may not be your problem but it was mine. Hope that helps you out some.

I second the Redline MTL, never used the Subaru fluid. My old Brat's 4-speed was pretty notchy and MTL made a very noticable improvement. Especially on very cold mornings!

When you order parts for an EA81 sometimes is pays to look up the part number for the 84 year model. Lots of places confuse the GL (Loyale) parts for EA81 parts starting in 85.

I installed a 14" Hayden fan on my 87 Brat. It was left over from another project which is the only reason I installed it. My Brat had the A.C. installed orginally so it came with two factory fans. May be wrong but if I was to guess I believe the two orginal fans put out a little more air flow than the Hayden. I think your best bet is to find the other factory fan that would come with an A.C. car. My experience converting a couple of clutch driven cooling fan vehicles to electric is a factory shroud style electric fan is hard to beat compared to aftermarket.

Here is my 87 I have had for almost 13 years.

Went through the same thing several years ago with my Brat. Sometimes fire right up and sometimes nothing but a click. Bought a new starter only to have the same problem. Installed new battery cables and cleaned up the grounds only to have it reappear several days later. Last I ran new wire to the starter and ignition and that cures it that time. Then earlier this year it started again! At first I though it was the starter clicking but the last time it did it I realized the click actually came from the steering column or it was the starter clicking the first few times from low voltage coming from the switch. Replaced the electrical side of the switch and it is cured again. Several things to look at or try! Electrical problems are a pain in the butt. Could you get someone to check the voltage at the starter leads with a volt meter when you try starting it? Good luck and hope you both sort it out.

Count me in also as one who got the wrong one. Much as I tried I couldn't make it work. I fogot were I found the correct one but replaced it early this year. The orginal one had started shorting out in the contacts.

You can try here, http://climate.weather.com/articles/nebraska081007.html I have been commuting with my 87 Brat for 12.5 years. I am currently running 185/80 tires and get around 29 mpg on back country roads.

I installed RS seats in my Brat. No welding involved and used the rails that came with the RS seats. I believe they were out of an 03. Same as the WRX seats minus the side air bags. The frame rail attachments are the same as an EA81 except for they are 1" wider. What I did was bolted the inside to the stock holes. The outside I cut a small piece of 1/4" steel and tabbed it over to the original mounting holes. Installed them about 6 years ago so not sure about the height but don't believe there is much difference.

I replaced the battery cables a few years ago. Have fairly new battery connections on it that are not fuzzy, white or loose. I will throw a voltmeter on the battery but the battery is only a couple of years old. Thanks!

My Brat had the lazy charge going on 7-8 years ago and I replaced the alternator with a new Bosch. Few weeks ago heading to work I get excessive voltage, gauge gets into the red. I know it was for real because the heater fan speed up alot!! Before I could cut the car off it came back down to normal. I still had my old alternator so I installed it. Good for the past 2 weeks and this morning it jumps into the red again. I cut the Brat off and it will not turn over to try again. To make a long story short it is home now and starts. Voltage seems normal again. Is it possible the voltage regulator in both alternators are going bad? Or could some other strange electrical thing cause this to happen? I m ready to purchase a new alternator but want to be sure that is the problem. Thanks.

Just finished the bed of my Brat. It had gotten kind of crappy looking the past few months. I duplicolored it probably 10-11 years ago and it didn't turn out to my satisfaction. Paid to have it done a couple of years ago when I had the Brat painted for the second time. Also didn't turn out to my satisfaction. So I decided I would have one more go myself. I stripped as much of the bed as possible to the bare metal. Two part epoxy primed it with a brush and roller. Came back the next day and fiberglassed 1.5 oz chopped matt over every hole then did the complete floor with the chooped matt about 1-inch up the sides. Next day I applied Road Warrior two part epoxy bedliner. the glass was still tacky do to the cooler weather so I should have a good bond. This is the results after 16 hrs. of labor and much aggravation. I do not intend to do it again anytime soon.

Dave, I was having a similar problem with my Brat. I guess that the clip has disappeared off the L shaped rod causing it to pull through. Then the tailgate will not open correct? This is what I have done and it works fairly good for a while. I wrapped a medium size ty-wrap for electrical wire around the back side of the L piece. Latch it down pretty snug and it will hold it in place for a few months. Come loose I just work it back over and it is good to go for a couple of more months. I have been doing this for over a year now.

Congratulations, hope they serve you well. Now you know to start looking a few months ahead.

I cannot think of a single reason a 185/70/14 will not fit without rubbing. I ran 195/75/14 on my 87 Brat and had to trim the inside of the front mud flaps. It would hit if turning and hitting a good size bump at the same time. After a little over half the tread was gone they never rubbed again. A 195/75 is about a full inch taller and probably the same width as a 185/70. The 185/70/14 would be a better choice as far as speedometer error and highway use. These little engines can sometimes struggle with the stock tires. I went back to a 185/80/13 and the stock rims. They are about the same height as the 185/70/14 and don't even come close to touching.

Whatever happen to customer service!!!! I live in a very rural area. Have dealt with the same people for nearly 30 years. Well actually I deal with his son now. They are great to me. The Hankooks cost me $140 installed with new valve stems and balancing plus tax. Try not to give up to fast if you have any tires left to ride on. Lucky that I started my search early. I think some of the info given may be from a year or two ago because according to Potter Oil and Tire of N.C. they are getting hard to find.

If you have a portable 12v power source, lawn mower battery etc. Try jumping the connector out to the fan. On my 87 brat it is behind the right passenger side kick panel. That will tell you if the fan works.