ubtripn

The tranny and front dif making up one unit makes a lot of things make more sense to me now. I keep finding weird stuff the farther I go like front parking brake mechanisms I played with for 30 minutes before figuring out what they are. I have a scraping sound that is about once per tire revolution so I thought it needed pads. I unbolt the caliper, swing it up and the pads are thick as new but probably from 1990 or sometime. I lubed the one bolt on each caliper but now I think I should have lubed everything the ensure they are fully retracting. Also, I bought the car from 120 miles away, test drove it before handing over the cash and put it in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement (Dumb move I found out later) I put it back into front wheel mode but once it was on the dolly it would leave rubber when we would turn which I caught right away as my friend was pulling the truck around. He had to then back up 20 feet and it seemed to have went away so I hope that snapped it back into front wheel drive only or I towed it 120 miles in 4 wheel drive which cannot be a good thing. Working on these Soobies feels like a cross between working on an an alien spacecraft and a toyota. Definitely a different yet elegant way of doing things engineering wise but the boxer feels more like an aircraft engine to me for some reason.

You guys are GREAT! Thank you, I'm doing it. For some reason I thought I heard Redline 75W-90NS is the way to go but I am doing the Mozul, thanks again! When cold 1st to second grinds a bit and it is stiff through all the gears, when warm it still feels a little off synchro wise.

I have searched a bunch but I have a quick question. Does the tranny share the same fluid as the front differential? Is there a dipstick hidden anywhere like on my 99? Thanks in advance for the help.

I really cannot figure out what is in that boot on the tie rod end. I know there is a ball-joint on one side but could whatever is inside that boot make that sound?

Thanks man on the moon.

So I just got this clean little car and she has been running great. 1986 GL wagon 4 wheel drive. Commuting 100 miles per day, no issues until tonight. I just had new tires put on and an alignment. I am approaching 75 (no shimmy like there used to be) everything is so much smoother then suddenly it feels like the whole engine just misses all at once for a brief second. My head goes forward a bit, it catches and then does it a few more times as I slow down and then around 65 it goes away. Just like an engine missing but harder or more than one cylinder at once. (I know more than one piston cannot miss at once but that was the sensation, like hitting a wall of thick air.) But now there is a knocking in the front right side. One knock per revolution of the wheel approximately. It comes and goes. I get home, both CV boots are intact. So I have a few questions: 1. Can a CV joint go bad inside a good boot? 2. What is the boot for on the tie rod adjuster for. My 68 Chevy does not have one there but this car does and it is shredded. Next to it are fresh wrench marks. I asked what took so long with the alignment and they said rusty bolts. Can I run without this boot? (I will be returning to Big O to see why they didn't mention ripping it.) Does it hold any type of grease? 3. What else besides a CV joint could this be? A ball joint? Bearing? 4. Do I have a rev limiter on this little engine? Also, I can push the clutch in, shift into neutral while coasting and the engine revs perfectly as the knock continues so I don't think it's the stick shift tranny. Any help pointing me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. P.S. It had a weird right front knock before the new tire job. But only on bumps and some turns. Not with every tire rev. New tires are the same size as the old, 185/70 13's. I don't think they broke anything other then that weird tie-rod boot.

Thanks again for all of the advice. The CV axles are new. I will check the rest, thanks again!

Oh yeah, 80 is about the MAX. I have to get matching tires. The front brand does not match the rear so I will fix that too. It feels like, with the right updates, that it will handle well.

Thanks friends. I am not in 4 wheel drive but I am going to check ALL of those things. Thank you VERY much for the advice as to where to start.

Brand new. Is it only when they are in 4 wheel drive? My 86 is, I want to minimize it as much as possible with new tires and struts but I have a feeling they are just a little that way stock with everything new. Am I correct? My 99 drives like a freaking sports car, I swear. Corners well, rides like glass. What are the major differences between the 2, different steering? Suspension?

That is a GREAT video! So in my 99 all wheel there must be some thing in the middle compensating between the front and back right?

That is a GREAT video!

By the way, my avatar has a pic of the car I cannot figure out how to post an actual picture.

That helps a ton guys, thanks. I got so use to my 99, it was a totally different car. I appreciate the 4 wheel drive info. I never thought about that with tires but I guess they are like shoe manufacturers. A 10 for Nike is not the same as a 10 for Sketcher. First step, matching tires.

It has a carb and a 5 speed. I changed all fluids and filters plus the battery and took it 50 miles down the freeway and back. The engine purrs like a kitten, not even the standard sub lifter sound but I have a few more questions: 1. When I replaced the coolant I jacked up the front, warmed it up and burped it but about a teaspoon leaked from underneath then stopped. Can a head gasket leak coolant without mixing it with the oil? My coolant and oil are still clean but it bothered me a bit. It did get rid of the river runs through it sound it had at start up. 2. Above 65 it gets squirrely in front wheel drive mode but the tires are not the same brand, however they are the same size and inflated to 33 psi. (Taking them down from 40 helped and it was windy but I have a feeling it would have been a handful without the wind. Is that common with this model? Around town it is stable. I was wondering if a new set of tires and/or shocks/struts would help? 3. I am fairly mechanical but this whole - don't shift into 4 wheel drive on pavement thing has me stumped almost as much as the unwinding it thing does. Can somebody explain it mechanically in plain terms. I heard a weird sound when making a tight circle, I think right. It was a rattling like a bunch of ball bearing clattering or something. I even turned a cookie in the grass in my field to make sure it was back in front wheel mode before leaving. 4. Did any of the 86 GL's come with A/C or is there just not enough power for it? It seems weird that they would make a car you can shift into 4 wheel drive on the fly and then have to find gravel to properly get it back into front wheel drive. Just me. Thanks for all of your help!

Great idea, I think I am going to get one.

Awesome, thank you very much!

Thank you very much. One last dumb new owner question, I found all new tools for changing the spare but is the jack under the tire?

Thanks. Now I get it. I was also going to ask if it is an interference engine but the board read my mind - thanks again! He said it was about time to do the belt. I will get some pics soon. So is the belt as hard as my 99 was? Do you have to pull the engine? One stupid question, is there a sound if you don't, "unwind" it?

Also - Quidam - when you say -"When you want to unwind it" do you mean open it up or something else? Thanks. Yeah, the brown box is cool, I guess the light on the key is just a flashlight but still nice.

Thanks everybody for the information! I thought they were all wheel drive, learn something new everyday. Is my 99 all-wheel drive? I heard I could just pull a fuse on that one to make it front wheel drive when I wanted to but if that is true then I could just put a switch in line so it probably isn't.

This is my first post so hello to all and thanks if you can help. I just found this beauty (I already own a 99 I had to due a headgasket job on) and the boxer impressed me.) Anyway, I found this one virtually rust free, garaged forever. It feels like stepping into a time machine, it is in almost PERFECT shape. Even still has the new car smell and feel. Has 100k on it and the previous owner had all the service done at Subaru. He even had new CV axles installed AFTER I had made the deal for $1000. I asked if the boots were leaking and he said he no, he just wanted to be sure it was in good shape. After meeting him I believe it. Anyway, he even gave me a brown box that has a key with a green light and a keychain in it that he never used and about 5 new spare keys made. The jack, spare and other stuff has never been used. The rear cargo cover is perfect, the whole car is almost in new condition. I guess I already said that but I am excited because after this year (or the 80's) to me (In my own opinion) they started ruining the Subaru by making it bigger and bigger. The whole point was that it could do what a SUV can do but not be big. They also started making the parts cheaper. On my 99 I have a pulley made of plastic that was metal in the 80's. Stuff like that. Anyway.... First, I was wondering what I can expect for MPG in 2 wheel drive on the freeway.? Second - why should I never shift into all wheel on dry pavement? This 86 has a carb, not efi. No a/c and is a stick shift. I really feel lucky finding her. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!