Indrid cold

My first Hatch..... couldn't resist... my wife, she feel differently... I payed $100.... front axles and bearing both sides need's to be done but other then that runs primo... I think I did o.k..... Original Subaru floor mats.... and look, no dangling wires or etc... I do need a new Ignition switch or key.. don't work too well.. talk about that later.

Do it.... great experience and chance to bond with the Subaru. It is better if it's not your only car as your not under pressure to get it done, .... other then that just tap into this site when you have questions.

I changed out my left front axle on my 84' and clunked worse then the one I took off, also it was a very tight pull to put on.... so I took it back, all they had was a re-manufactured one that looked like it was in the bottom of the pile but last one in town so I had to put it on. Went on easier and worked perfectly?????? I have no idea why, but it sounds like you have the same situation? That is the only thing I could suggest is if you have the receipt take it back and try it again. Also when you have them in your hands you can feel through the boot and feel if the bearings are all in place and make sure it hasn't pulled apart. I was also told that if you let the end flop down it has enough force to pop a bearing out/seperate out of the axel inside the boot. Wish I had more info. :-\

love the 88' dl's... :cool: Nice price too!

I payed $700 for a fully functional running 1984 Brat that I knew in time would require some TLC. It did have some issues and everything worked and minimal to zero rust, it worked great for 2 years for my son but now in garage slowly getting re-worked. How much you spend is reflective of how wore out the Brat or Hatch will be, you can find some nice rigs for $2,000 with alot of stuff all ready done or $5,000 to 8,000. for a garaged, original with 70,000. However; I always remember what a member posted about these cars, simply: "These cars are 20+ years old, they should be paying us to take them away!" With that mindset and a constant search you would be surprised what you can find out there. One last thing, out at work I pulled in next to a wagon 2 years older then mine and found out that my boss had parked his 2003 Ford, bought a 86 Subaru Wagon, for $500 with, 30 mpg, a.c., manual trans, 4x4 and premo shape. Those are the deals that are sweet.

Mechanicaly inclined 17 yr old... you shouldn't have too much trouble other then if you get in a spot you just don't know, sometimes it is easier to just STOP, and putter on something else till you get the answer and on this board that doesn't take very long. I can sheepishly raise my hands and give some input... as I have replaced everything on the front of my 84 Brat... just havn't finished the eng. clutch to see how my front end job went.... and mechanicaly inclined, but not in cars and I did... O.K. I always like going new....but those attachments have been waneing since I have a parts car and man.... that is a cheap fix and if it looks straight... what the heck... Yes, need spring compressor after removing struts and I layed a tire over the assembly as I unloaded and loaded the spring... and face shield,... I bought a Harbor Freight cheapo spring compressor... it worked and that's all I needed it to do. I did one side at a time, mark your springs up, down, front back as they should go back in the same way they came out. I noticed on my Brat there were all ready paint marks to reference the position but didn't notice till I started the other side D'oh..:-\ so had to go back and re-do. Didn't take anymore tools then the usuall and you could probably rent a spring compressor. While I was doing my struts I changed strut upper mounting plate, Leading rod bushings, stabilizer bush, lower control arm bush and ball joint... as all were wore out and had some overtime cash.. The first side took awhile.. the second about 1/2 the time and now I could probably do it 4x faster... Spray your bolts down with panther piss or what ever to help get them off... that's the hard part. It was a great learning experience for me.

What about a sticky, "Air control valve".?.. it sits on front of throtle body and regulates air flow at idle etc... 3/4" black rubber hose comes off it and goes back too the Mass Airflow/filter box, ... remove hose and shoot some silicone spray into air control valve... note if you remove hose from that while car is running it will die or idle funny... and what about a dirty Mass Air flow wire down stream of the air filter... possibly spray down with brake cleaner... Kind of shooting in the dark here but there are two ideas that caused rough/random idle on my 88 wagon.

Hey guys.. and gals.. like the title says, does the FRONT left turn light housing on a 88 wagon fit on a 84 wagon? thanks...

Is that a bowl of cat food I see in by the belts? Here Kitty kitty... Nice bumper... blends right in with the Subie.

Driving through Ellensburg, WA as I attended the annual, "Parade of Dachshunds" in which I entered my Doxi in the races. Nothing more impressive then a thundering herd of Weiner dogs racing for the finish line... good times.. any way, saw this along the road.... I like to see a Subaru that is well used... had great tires, drilled rims so had to stop and take pix. ......... Also, I stopped by a garage sale at home town Friday after work and there was a 1981 2wd Sudan with a sold sign over the asking price of $200, very good shape, 145,000 miles, snow tires... owner said it drove just fine just needs front axels, buffed out and cleaned... sold for $50. D'oh.... went to a Father and son kind of project which is good. Left the USMB web site on a piece of paper and possibly see if they stop in here.

Thunder cats? I saw a decal for Touchet Turtle once.......

Sounds like bearings now.... Splines at axels ends rotates hub, if there were a problem in that area the splines would be rounded on either the axel end or the inside of the hub... Take a peak in there and see what it looks like... My guess is you will find some metal pieces in your bearing grease.

cute...... The cars not half bad either.. , very clean for an 86 in those dusty surroundings...

I can only give you a suggestion and feel your pain, so I thought I would just toss you a bone: I don't do Automatics either but once I was replacing a universal joint and inadvertantly pushed on the trany linkages with my foot or what ever, got the job done and the darn car wouldn't move.... so I crawled back under, wiggled the linkages to see if that would do somthing and found that I had moved some sticky-outie linkage thing on the side of the tranny and pushed in opposite direction and off I went.... this was not a Subaru but hey... you get the idea. Doesn't seem like there was anything to invasive to cause this too happen so look at possibly something you unknowingly did...? Let us know what you find out....

Congrats... 4-head lights is a good thing, I think it puts out more light then 2-light front. Never let your engine temp. get into red zone.... eng. can't take the overheating stuff. They are go getters and good to learn on, tinker with, bond with and cuss at... all in the same breath welcome and this is the place too be to learn.

Thanks for the reply. I can assume that it must have been a fluke that both blew at the same time as I really couldn't think of what would cause that but if anyone would know, it would be on this board. I called him, he is back on the road. He said it took the mechanic about an hour and $300. Replaced radiator, coolant, lower hose, cap and new clamps. He said the engine gauge is running cooler then before. The Old man and the 91 Wagon will have done about 2,000 miles when he gets back home.

Hey all, Was driving by my local parts dealer and saw a 91 Wagon, EA-82 in parking lot with hood up.... hmmmm... so I pulled in. Older guy on his way back to Idaho (Sandpoint) from a trip to California, he blew a radiator hose, he changed the hose so when he filled it up it was dribbling out directly under radiator, the engine is dry, no leaks at the little hoses on the engine, or water pump 90 deg. The upper heater hose was major split...and now radiator leaking. I found it strange that the heater hose blew AND the radiator failed at the same time.... by the time I got too him he all ready had called in a mechanic and it is hot out and I had my kids in my roo (no a.c.) so I left him my name and number if he needed a place to crash etc... I am curious about both failing at the same time???? coincedance or is there more at work here then this NOOB doesn't see... like bad head gasket and it over pressured system and blew things apart? or was it more likely both the radiator and hose were ready to go and their they went? any Ideas? .

Thanks for the info guys... and gals? It has a newish timing belt, water pump and clutch etc. from a Subaru dealer.

Sounds like a bearing or possibly brakes? After you drive it around for a bit feel the hub on the drivers side and then compair same area too the passengers side as it may be creating more heat.. or simply take the knuckle off the axle end and inspect the bearings.... Do a search on the topic above at the Search button and that may help too (also look below at bottom of this page) These cars arn't that hard to work on and very forgiving as you learn. Keep us posted on how your doing etc...

I am JUST :-\ Looking at a used, 2000 Forester, Manual tranny, High miles but taken care of... I have never driven one nor know much about them.... seems clean and all sounds normal.... anything I should be looking for outside the obvious? also; what engine are in these.... single cam with non-interferance or double if you lose a belt the engine is toast.... also about motor replacement ie repairs... is it a whole new ball gave vrs the ea-82's.... thinking when the high-millage eng is ready for replacement etc... or any future work going to be done at the dealer... (I keep telling myself I am only looking... ) D'oh....

yes...and no... if I notice my resevoir seems to be filling up, temp creaping up or it is old I just replace the cap and cross that off the list of what could be wrong... Probably something fancy on the market... seems like a bit much unless your going to be doing this alot.... If you have a question if it isn't sealing, assure the gunk is cleaned off on the inner lip of the radiator where the rubber disk seats and I take a light abrasive green pad or rag and wipe the rubber and metal sealing surface clean of any gunk... If there is still issues that's the first thing I change.

... Not bad.. I had my eye on some rectangle ones, about 2x that size in length but mega power... and yea.. mega price but yup.. had to settle for Wal-mart square ones... some like round style, .. I like the ones you have as they blend in better but couldn't find any last year, .... yea.. light toggles.. me too... although some day maybe relay.

Yes it helps too run Heater/Defrost on High to help pull heat out of the system. Also try going up the Grade early in the morn. but this time of year it shouldn't be an issue as being spring time and all. Won't mention the obvious as I drove my mini-van with a plugged radiator for the last 4 months but figure why change it during the winter and ran heater when it started to warm up too much but finaly bit the bullet and changed it out as the daily temp. have risen. If you have an electric fan along side your belt driven fan you could wire that into a switch to power the fan if it isn't turning on? (not sure what you got for fans..) as you climb the grade. Check your coolant and make sure you got a good 50-50 mix to help prevent boiling too low of temperature and check to assure your radiator cap seal is clean and forms a tight seal between radiator and cap or replace with a new one. My .02cents.

Looks like a wrap too me. NOt sure why it is in this town.. kind of curious? Possibly he runs/owns local Subaru dealership? I may have to stop and find out.

Hey, I normaly hang in the older Ruu section and the car in photo is NOT mine but thought I would post since it is down the road from me. Not sure if owner is member of this board, nor what kind of animal it is or year, but here it is anyway...... what is funny is just down the hill is an old timer with original 70's subaru's that he drives, I got the 80's and this cat looks 2000's