Craven Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 What is the weakest link in Gen 2 Brats drivetrain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Axles - then rear differential stub axles - then probably third gear syncro's. Might explode a reverse gear if you put enough power to the pavement, but you would need something over 200 HP to do that I'm guessing. After many hard miles, the bottom ends on the EA81's go out, and usually end in a thrown rod..... but that takes MANY HARD miles. Like over 300k usually. Bad cooling systems are common in non-western states, and usually result in blown HG's and warped heads (mine are at the head shop right now being decked from PO neglect - they were warped over three times the allowable limit. hehe). GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted June 3, 2004 Author Share Posted June 3, 2004 Thanks DG The reason I ask. The 86 Brat I picked up for a song and not even a full dance, that has a smoked clutch and I can't get it in 1st. gear. Most likely why the clutch is gone. I can get it to go in low range and everything else in the drivetrain seems to work like it should. Have you run into this before? Is there an easy fix for this or should I just put in the 5sp out of a 87 eab2 parts car I bought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subiemech85 Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 try a daikan "exedy" clutch the clutch is the weakest link go with ea82 5spd dr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 ea82 5speed dr clutches are the same thing as a later brats clutch. same size same splines all that good stuff. i would say clutch, usually the only major repair they need, along with axles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 The clutch is what I consider a "wear item", and considering what I've punished my clutch with on my wagon ('82 4 speed D/R), I would say that the EA81 4WD clutch (post '82) is nothing short of amazing. I've been off-road countless times now with a *used* clutch that was givin to me by Qman when I blew up the 2WD clutch that I shouldn't have been off-roading with in the first place. No, the clutch (if driven with any sense at all) is not a weak link in my opinion, but it will of course wear out faster with big tires, and hard off-road use. I doubt I'll get more than 20,000 from this one. At least they are way easy to change. Takes a couple hours. Good time to check the rear main seal too. I collect junk yard clutches now - $10 for a clutch disc - and often I find them with more than 50% left on em. Especially the 2WD variety. And as stated above, the EA82 4WD clutch is the same, and the yards are just littered with them. Can't say as much for the axles, which are getting hard to find in the yards. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 ya, i swear theres somebody harvesting ea81 axles around here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Front's are easy - Autozone sells GCK brand axles (brand NEW, not remaned) for $90 with no core charge. Rears are a pain, but I think if I called around I could get rebuild parts fairly reasonable. It's just that I keep breaking them. Probably going to convert to a VW vanagon rear axle setup at some point. Then I can use Porche CV's.... GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carfreak85 Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 My buddies brat has a toasted 1st gear syncro. Grinds unless you are at a stop and sometimes pops out when its warmed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 On my last wheelin trip i smoked my clutch well before any axle gave me grief. And at the cost of a clutch & time to install, i'd preffer to think of a CV as "wear item". I believe my clutch was giving me problems cause my car was loaded with camping gear and 4 people, climbing a mountainside. With a Brat or a Hatch, your looking at CV's as your weakest link, and the clutch as a close second, depending on the brand of clutch. Also, you can find front CV axles at any Kragen, Schuck's, or Checkers for like $55 to $70, with a core charge. Core's arent a problem cause i never need a broken CV Twice I have gotten away with calling Kragen, and telling them I was quoted $63 for a complete axle from Napa, and they'll beat napa's price by 5%. Might wanna call napa for a real quote though, just to compare. -Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Now that I have a 5speed Brat I would have to say the 4speed trans is the weak point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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