RodA2003 Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 For what it's worth, Chilton's manual for my 97 2.5 Outback says that one can adjust the brake bands for the automatic transmission by turning an adjuster on the left side of the transmission, above the oil pan. Trouble is that I cannot find any such thing. Do I have to remove the oil pan to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 No, the adjustment is on the outside......it's just very very hard to get access to. Are you experiencing any problems with the tranny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodA2003 Posted November 10, 2003 Author Share Posted November 10, 2003 I looked carefull all over the case and saw nothing with a locknut as descibed in the manual, just several bolt heads. (Also, I didn't see any external oil filter that others have mentioned.) I wanted to check the adjustment because the transmission seemed a bit loose: accelerating at 50mph will cause the engine speed to go up several 100rpms for instance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 It is there, it's at the very top of the trans in a corner. Very well hidden. The brake band only handles shifting, has nothing to do with the actual driving portion of the trans. Has the fluid been changed recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99obw Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 The external filter was new on the '99 Phase II 4EAT. Is the behaviour you describe actually slipping or the normal operation of the torque converter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 I am new to the message board system so I may be putting this in ther wrong place - but I have some added comment about the brake band issue. I have a 94 legacy 4eat with 180k miles and spent a couple of hours looking for the brake band adjustment screw yesterday. The Clintons made it sound easy while the endwrench TSB about the band adjust made it seem complicated. So I didn't remove the crossmember or anything - just thought I should be able to see the adjust screw. I couldn't either. Reading this thread indicates the xmember must come off and all the related endwrence info is correct. I am looking on the upper top left side at the rear of the unit but not on the end case - Correct? Mine is slipping in 2 as it goes into 3 and slips in 4th. These are two gear ranges that the brake works on as I understand from the endwrench 4eat transmission description. I did the farmer power flush last week where you pull the cooler return hose and run the motor. I added a little Lucas to the new oil mix. This was easy and good since it really clarified the slipping. I can control it by watching the throttle carefully but the car is hindered if I need power in either of these gearings. I do not have the 3-2 section of the manual where the adjustment is explained but I do have the Clinton adjustment using the bolt torque and add 1/4 turn if slipping info - Is this OK to run with? The Subaru manual site does not cover pre 96 so I am wondering about any information I might get if I paid for a download session. I originally posted in early September thinking that my torque converter was not locking up in 4th. Since my flush and more careful observation I am not thinking it is a band issue. Thank for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 the brake band is on the top of the trans. here's a pic http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/transbrakeband.jpg It "can" be adjusted without removing anything, however it's a real pain to get at regardless. I can try and look at the factory info on the brake band adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Hey thanks - I see the thing now. The place to look is aft from the engine compartment on the left side. My hand can touch it from there. You are right, I don't see getting a torque wrench on it to measure the adjustment withhout all sorts of parts coming off. I think I'll just do the 1/4 turn and try it. Seems odd even the Subaru info says to approach it from the rear end. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 yeah.....if you adjust it too far, the shifts will be too hard or possibly not change gears at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
immortal_suby Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Can anyone verify the number of turns to back off for the brake band adjustment on a 97 outback tranny? We know the svx is 3 turns and also see in this scan of a service manual that it is 3 turns for an earlier legacy (posted in an earlier thread for 90 legacy) http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/transbrakebandadj.jpg Multiple posts on nasioc say 2 turns for a newer legacy tranny but I haven't been able to locate any document to back it up. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwatt Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I looked carefull all over the case and saw nothing with a locknut as descibed in the manual, just several bolt heads. (Also, I didn't see any external oil filter that others have mentioned.) I wanted to check the adjustment because the transmission seemed a bit loose: accelerating at 50mph will cause the engine speed to go up several 100rpms for instance. Are you CERTAIN that you're not feeling the normal operation of the lock-up torque convertor? When you accelerate at 50 mph (or at any cruising speed in 4th gear for that matter), the engine speed SHOULD increase by several hundred RPM. That's perfectly normal. Like most other vehicles, this trans has a "lock-up" torque convertor to improve fuel economy. It locks up when you reach a steady speed in 4th gear--that reduces engine RPM. What you're feeling is the torque convertor unlocking to allow for acceleration. The first model year that the Subaru 4EAT automatic used an EXTERNAL transmission filter was 1999. Your vehicle has a conventional internal filter screen (inside the pan). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al_SemC Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Is this something that's on the '97 tranny? I recall reading about it, but I've never been able to find it on mine. Also, I recall reading that it was only on the SVX. I'd like to see about this. Mine shifts rough and it might be because of that band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
immortal_suby Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 There is a guy on subaru-svx.net that bought a 97 outback 4eat to put in his svx. He has verified that it does have the same bolts to do a brake band adjustment. We just haven't figured out how many turns to use yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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