ScottAust

Sorry the second picture is a little deceptive. The old ones were stretched out and the new were pushed in. Pushing them to the same position the New one is shorter but only by 5 millimetres. Checked the invoice and it says 1996 to 2003 outback and the part numbers in the box do match that

Hello all, I have just pulled the first Front CV shaft from my 1998 gen 2 outback and the new shaft I bought is different, The seller assured me it was correct but I couldn't know the difference until I put them side by side. Have I been stuffed around and given the wrong parts? Do I need to return these and get the correct ones or do these work just look different? Thanks Scott Ps. Being it's Sunday and I will have to return them in a weekday I am a little Sh@@@@d off that the car will have to sit in the shed for at least a week if they are wrong !

I want to do all this work next weekend so I had a good crawl under the car yesterday to see if I needed any other parts. On the back I am putting new struts and springs, the only other thing that looks worn is the 2 sway bar links so I ordered them. The CV shafts and boots look good so I will swap them side to side. The front left CV boot is ripped which is why it is so stuffed but I am replacing both sides any way. Everything else looks good on the front so with new struts and springs think it will be ok

I had similar problem with the same concerns as above not knowing the history. I'm one for the engine swap side of this discussion. My 25d had one gasket replaced but the other still needed doing according to the previous owner. Parts, heads resurfaced etc etc was not economic with 205000 ks compared to a EJ22 swap in my case. Bought a complete sedan with 85000 Ks (and already replaced timing belt, water pump etc) for $400, swapped them myself. Extra costs - manifold and exhaust gaskets $45. Engine hoist $75 fir a day. Add oil and coolant and it was $600 ish compared to $2000 plus. .

Yes it would be good to replace the top hats but surprise! In Australia they are over $100 each. It's gett to the point the suspention is going to cost more than the car did !

I'm going to use the original top hats anyway so that's not a problem, it's the bottom mounting bolt holes / strut length etc I dint know about

All those prices are fantastic except that is the US price and the freight to Australia is $80 to $120 for each item ! I bought a pair of rear struts for $222 on special including postage from ebay. The best price I can get from a local parts shop is $370 for the front pair. That is for the struts only not the top hats. Looks like the best I will get a front pair for is $338 from ebay but that seller has very bad feed back so the next best is $350 + $11 postage. The reason I started this post is that I can get Gen 3 outback front struts for $200 posted ! If only is was as simple as them fitting !

Still can't find decent price for the fronts. $350 is the best so far

For the front ones I have got re manufactured green subaru shafts. There is a place that does them change over near where I live so that will be no problem. Next question is are the boots on the rear same as the front ones ?

The front ones are shot. Sounds like 50 tap dancers every time you turn either way. I haven't chec the tears yet but from what you all have said the plan is clean an re grease them, new boots if required and swap sides. I was thinking new ones for the rear too because I am putting king springs in and that will change the angle but swapping sides will help that

While I'm doing the suspension I might as well do all the CV Shafts right ? This is getting expensive but any way - bought 2 new front CV Shafts no problem but can find any rear ones on eBay. Heaps of front listings. None for the rear. Are they the same ???

Ok I got a set of BG9 KYB rear struts on eBay for $222 free shipping. That's a start.

I swapped a 95 EJ22E into a 98 EJ25D a few months ago. Bit different in Australia bring neither had a EGR. Very easy job considering I have never swaped a engine before. There is a tread on here about it but the only things required were to swap the flex plate for the gearbox and the intake manifold wiring over.

Fairtax I would jump at $270 for a full set but in Australia the best I can do so far is $340 starting price for EACH end (for just about any brand) Plus shipping buying them in pairs or a "special" deal at the moment on eBay of $650 plus $15 shipping for a full set. That's for the KYB stuff. Sachs are $400 plus each end $790 plus shipping for genuine Subaru. Note *pruor to 12 to 18 months ago I did buy a lot of stuff like this frim America but something happened there and shipping went up from say $20 to over $100 for everything ??

The one I have is a genuine outback so has the factory lift in it. The king springs I have bought are for the outback so will lift it 1 1/2 to 2 inches higher than standard what I was trying to get at was is there another strut that has a higher bottom spring perch than the gen 2 outback ones that will give me more clearance for bigger tyres. Added bonus is newer outback and forester struts are half the price

I know I will end up getting the outback struts. What you have said fairtax makes sence. I just hoped there was something better than the standard ones. The only other issue I have is price. $380 for the pair of gen 2 as aposed to $200 for a pair of just about every other subaru ! Thanks for rhe help

Do the struts from BH gen 3 98 to 03 fit a gen 2 ? New struts are half the price of the BG9 ones !

So let us all in .... What was the light you have seen ?

No I was wrong it's says FWD ! Thanks for the help

I will check tonight but I'm fairly sure it was 4WD. Yes it's just behind the strut tower on the right side. Maybe I should put a fuse in and see what it does ?

And here I was thinking someone would say you have a super rare special model and if you put a fuse in it will lock the the diffs and double the power !

So would putting a fuse in for normal around town on bitumen roads be better for fuel consumption? Would it do any damage ?

PS.... I haven't checked forester ones yet

PS... Going by ebay prices BG9 struts are twice the price of all the newer Outbacks !

Hello, under the bonnet of my 1998 outback there is a fuse holder (with no fuse) that has 4WD on it. Silly question- what happens if you put a fuse in it ??