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Went through the rear end of the 99 Outback to fix a few issues and do some preventative maintenance. Put aluminum reservoirs on the struts hoping they'll run a little cooler. Changed the valving, put in new oil, and replaced a boot and the top bearings. I had a wheel bearing fail last year and I've been putting 20k miles a year on this car so I thought it'd be best to just replace the wheel bearings, seals, and hubs over the winter. Will probably do this every winter if I keep driving the car that much and it keeps them from failing on the road. That one parking brake shoe was really bad so I replaced all of them. I don't use it much but I think mud and sand get inside the drum and just eat the shoes. One CV boot was leaking, another one might have been leaking slightly, they were all at least a little cracked, and this one was worn over halfway through, so I replaced them all and repacked the CVs. I think I've already swapped out the trailing arm on the driver's side but this one on the passenger side was getting bad so I replaced that with a used one. They're $76 from the dealer so I'm thinking about getting a couple of them. While I had everything apart I figured I should do some body repair. It hadn't really failed completely but was starting to crack again, haven't done anything on this corner for about five years I think. Hard to see from this picture but the seam on the left is separated and the seam at the bottom where the floor meets the strut tower is pulling apart. Also that shiny piece laying on the floor was barely attached to the strut tower so I pulled it off and cleaned up all the rust and sealer. Welded those two seams and welded that extra sheet back on. Also added a piece of sheet metal to the bottom of that seam by the door (lower left). Painted to slow the rust. This is what it looked like in the wheel well after a little cleanup. Welded some of the seams, then added that big patch. You can see where I welded the extra sheet on the inside penetrating through. Burned/scraped more undercoating off. That big rusty crack on the right is welded on the inside of the car. Hammered for some strut and tire clearance. Painted. I've noticed a gasoline smell when I filled up the last couple times. Pretty sure this is the source. I've made these gaskets a couple times now, I think originally from cork and the last time from Buna N which is supposed to stand up to gasoline and alchohol. They're just shredded. I suppose some of the breakdown may be mechanical but I assume it's mainly chemical. Whatever they made that flap out of on the inside is still holding up great. Got some flourosilicone from McMaster, expensive but hopefully it'll last more than a couple years.

I have had to replace a few first gen fuse panels for customers, and wanted to let everyone know about this panel I found that is a perfect fit - the bolt holes line up with the factory glass fuse panel. You do need a weather-pack crimper for this panel. It accepts micro fuses. It is also fully water tight so no worries about windshield leaks destroying the panel. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HWB60-ALNG-Waterproof-Fuse-Relay-Panel-Kit-with-Terminals-12V-Universal/142641687058 Anyone local to my shop - I am offering this upgrade for $300 parts and labor. GD

Sounds like a cracked fork. GD

The oil/coolant heat exchanger is pretty useless on that vehicle. Even the 08+ WRX don't have them anymore (STI's still do). If a quality synthetic oil is used it's a waste of space. It can easily be deleted by purchasing the water pump for the MT, and the oil filter nipple and block plug from Subaru. We routinely delete them. GD

2012 Outback should have an FB engine, which is a timing chain. If it is a FB engine it does have the oil consumption "issue" that has a extended warranty. IMO. If it does consume oil, just get in the habit of checking it. And I believe on that vehicle it even has a low engine oil light. When it comes on, top off the oil. Very reliable engine besides the consumption.

some pic's of my 1978 brat. I am bought new in 1978 and bought the book end 2005 Baja for the wife in 2016

Subaru is so finicky with the MAF sensors that a junkyard replacement is the most cost effective since they rarely go bad. Aftermarkets often do not work at all and OEM Subaru is really expensive. If you have an oiled cone filter on your engine that may have led the faliure

hello there brother. yh pretty much next door , some 250km to Riga from my place. sweet looking car there. never seen that one here localy.

Probably not because of the weird front facing nipple oil cooler port on the water pump. Delete the oil cooler and use the manual kit or buy the individual components from NSK, NTN, Koyo, Mitsuboshi, and I'm pretty sure NPW makes that weird water pump although you need to buy an OEM gasket because they come with paper. GD

Thanks, all. No odd noises at all, I adjusted the belt to no avail. Jiggling/wiggling the alt wires has no effect and one morning I unplugged the wires and heated that plug separately - didn't make any difference. I think it's time to get a Subaru replacement alt.

My aftermarket gauge is T’d off the factory oil light switch point. It works a treat and is well worth the effort in my opinion. Cheers Bennie

You're driving lights in the lower bumper are already wired that way (on with lows, off with Hi) and they are legal housings. You can adjust them outeward a bit to hit the sides of the road. Polish the headlight housings, and a good quality halogen bulb will be plenty bright. 3m makes a great polish kit.

Nope - you are absolutely correct. Many of the stock Subaru applications have partial port blockage right from the factory - and this may in fact be on purpose to slow down flow in certain areas, or promote additional flow through other passages to even out the cooling effect and prevent hot spots. In any case the porting makes no difference and any gasket can be used with any head so long as the bore diameters match. Do not attempt to modify the gasket in any way as you will most likely create a problem where one did not previously exist. GD

I have 3 Subaru's! But my favorite is my 83 Subaru GL Wagon but I also have a 2011 STI Hatch and a 1999 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport

Most recent picture of me drinking out of a Subaru logo yard flamingo at the West Coast Subaru Show.