UK scoob pickup Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Hi glad I found U guys, got a 92 brat pickup, getting a rare site here in UK due to most turning into red dust. got a nice set of 15" 5 spoke split rim style rims off a hilux done the 6 lug conversion. going in a slightly different direction than most of U guys......lowered on 195 50 tyres. Banded the 13" white spokes to 7" before I found the 6 lug trick running 185 70 13 gravel rally tyres on these for off road/winter fun as these now 6lug also. Turned it into rwd at moment as front drive shaft worn out. The plan....lowered rwd normally, raise it back up to its lowwest setting on the adjusters stick back in awd for offroad. As now 6 lug can manual free wheeling hub adapters from hilux ect be adapted to fit thus can be rwd with fronts in free wheel mode spin the locks into awd from pics on net not sure how theese work bolt to hub. Is welding the rear diff a good or bad idea in rwd mode or is diff/shafts not as ruggeded as they look. LSD,s rocking horse s**t over here. Will lowering turn pos camber into negitive to improve handeling or will I have to fabricate say longer bottom arms or adjust top mounts. Rear disc conversions can front hubs be fitted on rear, are splines/bearings same size as front. or will I have to use impreza parts as older rear disc subies rare over here can Impreza power steering be retro fitted as the racks look similar. thanks in advance for any help, got more ideas for later also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 At standard height there should be almost no positive camber. Lower it an inch and you'd have a little negative camber. You are still stuck with crap Negative caster though. You would need to lengthen the radius rods by about 25mm or more to gain a positive caster (what race cars use for a bunch reasons you can find out about in google). No, front hubs cannot be used in the rear without $$$/time doing a complete new rear end fabrication. Hilux locking hubs go onto the spline of the shafts, Subaru's splines are different size and count. So it is not possible to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Thanks Phizinza, Was thinking radius rods could be lenghtened, as on the corolla ae86 theese could be adjusted. are leone front inserts interchangeable into the struts can get my hands on a set of gas inserts for theese was thinking of lowering the bottom spring seat support say 2" welding back on with 3" bolts allowing 2'' drop with 3'' adjustment. trying to figgure a way to increese adjustment on the rear. sounds like im stuck with drums on rear thought would be too easy interchange fronts. had thought of getting old drums & turning down on lathe so could then use 6 lug discs witch slide over lugs probabally end up with bigger discs on rear than front:rolleyes: Whats your thoughts regarding welded rear diff in rwd? running gear strong enough? Is impreza rack swapable changing rack arms they look similar? Many thanks on any help as the only mods done on brats in uk is bales of hay in back or turn body into dog food cans:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 As for the front struts...yes you can put Loyale style into a Brat. They fit right in. But I'm not sure about doing too much welding on the side of the strut. I would think that it would get them too hot and cause premature failure, But I would love it if someone said different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 If you have inserts in your struts (something I have never seen personally in Subaru's) then you can take the insert out and weld to the strut. But don't weld to a standard one, they go bang with I nice large flame (had to do some bash mechanic welding to the rear of an EA82 shockers once). Welded rear with RWD, it will take it. But like everything it puts more wear on all the parts. After awhile my guess would be the DO/CV joints will open up and cause a lot of backlash. Then finally break open and you'll loose drive as the joint explodes. Or, I have heard the gearboxes don't like it and they stripe the gears out for 4WD. Really depends on what you drive on. If its mostly soft (dirt roads, ice, snow, etc) then it would probably be fine. I have had a similar thought on the rear brakes. Never went ahead with the plan because making the backing plate to hold the calipers precise enough wasn't possible for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yea found gas inserts for a leone was thinking that they fit inside the brat struts if brats are just oil filled take them apart throw the innards fit the leone cartridge screw the top nut on just like the corolla ae86 ones. then can do as much welding as I like on the outside tube of the brat strut before fitting the leone insert.....this may not be the case.:-\ basicly my Idea is to have a lowered rwd brat, something different over here. hopefully drives like a mk 2 escort or corrolla sounds like an Impreza.........but with a change of wheels/tyres 1/2 an hour with some spanners winding suspention back up 2" sticking front driveshaft back in can do a bit of offroad, pick up 8x4 sheets of plasterboard & do the dump run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I don't want to sound like a wongleflute, so please just take this as my own opinion and not what you "should" do. I would stick with one or the other. I've done just the tyre thing (you know, one street set one offroad set) and it is a PITA. I'd just go one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 I realise both sides will be comprmised 99% of time it will be rwd on road, by sounds of things too far in this direction would end up having to convert to 'stronger'? impreza running gear. lsd axel ect. like the look of this uk brat http://www.modifiedcars.com/cars/Subaru/19264.htm especially the twin carbs:slobber: My idea of offroad is a bit tame, going through a muddy puddle about the limit:grin: certainly wont be pulling landies out of bogs....was quite supprised at what the standard brat with gravel rally tyres is capable of. Like the idea of lowering & sharpening up the handeling, a touch neg camber & castor bit of rwd fun, but able to wind it back up to standard height ,back to awd, fit the rally tyres. mmm maybee ya can mabee ya cant have ya cake & eat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman18 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 The site that you linked is a member here. It is Backinbrat maybe he can help you sort out some ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 cheers for that might drop him a PM. Anyone know if its possible to open out the slot on the rear height adjuster allowing more travel for the adjusting lug thus more adjustment looking at the haynes bible its just like a bush with a leaver lug with splines mating into torsion bars. I think I have a fix to componsate for the added angle the longer adjusting bolt required sees if the leaver lug travels round more. Im a fabricator welder by trade with access to all the equipment. this would allow more height if this could travel round more I can then reset the arms on the outer splines having it lower than normal but wind it back up to standard height. Great idea Subaru had with the adjustable suspention but theres always someone who wants more:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backinbrat Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 evening mate, i like the ideas, your thinking along the lines of bigger brakes, rear lsd, the sound, and some power the welded rear diff idea, im not too sure bout, things dont seem to be overly strong on the trans side of things, im not sure i would be keen on the handling of a welded rear diff, i know what its like on tractors, dont really like the idea of it on the road and yes, the escorts and 86's thats where i get alot of my ideas from as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 evening mate, i like the ideas, your thinking along the lines of bigger brakes, rear lsd, the sound, and some power the welded rear diff idea, im not too sure bout, things dont seem to be overly strong on the trans side of things, im not sure i would be keen on the handling of a welded rear diff, i know what its like on tractors, dont really like the idea of it on the road and yes, the escorts and 86's thats where i get alot of my ideas from as well Good to hear from ya m8.......time to get the USMB slammed RWD club started:grin: plans at mo Escort mk 2 195lbs front coils think are same diameter, and I have a set somewere in the shed think these are -1" so might end up -2" on the brat found some adjustable rear shox just have to fabricate a bracket to pickup 2 bolt top mounts to single eye. Due to not being able to get hold of early subaru parts here in UK for mods. I think the only options are use Impreza/Legacy running gear.....basicly rebody in the brat......or think outside the box make other stuff fit.......lsd diff from BMW or Sierra. use the complete rear end then would end up with rear discs into the bargin. A good mag for insiration in this approach is Practical Performance Car........Turbo Rolls Royce Track day car.....ww2 spitfire v12 areoplane engine in Rover SD1 Got to go now, they are comming with my medication Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backinbrat Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 yeah man! i like the sound of that! i did look at springs in demon tweeks, and they all seemed a bit out of reach, but have been to a mate today, and he used to be a specialist mechanic for EA, but now does mostly EJ stuff and he said that some adj's coilovers come with like a blank unversal mount, which might be able to be modded to fit onto the truck, me likes the sound of that! full adj coilovers all round! along with camber caster adjuster plates, that would be proper sorted! the EJ route for modding parts is one that is not as hard as it seems for some parts, my mate also explained you can used hub assembly off the EJ and get some driveshafts rewelded with the right splines and legnth, then you got EJ brakes and wheels, but 'bolts' on ive been told the earliest legacy diffs go striaght in as well ratios obv arnt as much as a worry when RWD, so it dont matter if it changes dw man, you sound just as mad as me! hahahaha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Will keep ya posted with the mods, need to know if Impreza steering rack can be fitted maybee with shorter arms or swap the arms over they look similar in photos, my experiance with escorts & corollas are that theres a certain amount of interchangability with parts.......running a celica gt4 hi ratio rack on my Levin gt-z (jap import supercharged corolla ae92) rack the same just the arms different..............sti ra has a well quick rack:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Good to hear from ya m8.......time to get the USMB slammed RWD club started Already beat you to in my friend;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK scoob pickup Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 Already beat you to in my friend;) That looks soooo rite the early ones probably wouldnt look 'retro' on anything bigger than 13" s just need 185/60/13's band the standard wheels out to 7" got a set of white spoke 13's im doing this to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carfreak85 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Already beat you to in my friend +1, I really like running around in RWD, except for the soft, squishy rear diff mounting bushings, I need to fill them with urethane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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