sidekickin

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. Yes, that spot is rotted through all the way around, except for a small spot on the front side of that support (maybe 1/2-inch). That is all that is holding that moustache support bar up on that side. If I grab that bar from underneath I can move it back and forth fairly easily. And when i do that, that rotted area moves up and down with it. The car still drives fine though. No problems with handling or anything. But I guess that could change in a hurry.

I'm guessing it isn't all that bad, judging from the lack of responses. Can't imagine you guys letting me drive an unsafe car. ;-)

BTW, if you got a link to those 89 RX pictures with the collpased rear end, I'd like to see them. Can't seem to find them on the board...

Here's mine...

Ok, guys....took some pictures of the rotted places. Let me know what you think. This is just one of the worst spots. There are others like it.

Thanks everyone. Has anyone ever experienced the unibody collpasing on one of these cars? Nobody seems to talk about that much. Just curious. Any symptoms to look for?

I have been having a problem with my '87 Hatchback. When I put it in 4WD I get this metallic rubbing sound, and I am wondering what this could be. After I take it out of 4WD it will still make the sound for a while, and then it will slowly go away. The back end of the car is rotted pretty good underneath (holes in the floor, framerail on drivers side completely rotted away near the rear shock mount--virtually nothing holding the moustache bar in place on the drivers side). Someone suggested that possibly the mounting for that large metal support tube in back is flexing or moving around from all the rust and allowing the front of the differential to lower and cause the driveshaft to make contact with the exhaust. That sounds like the noise it is making. Anyone else had this problem? Is the rear end of this car getting ready to collapse? I'd hate to be driving this car and it collapse going down the road. Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated!

Interesting point that you bring up. I have been having that problem with my Hatchback. When I put it in 4WD I get this metallic rubbing sound, and I am wondering if this may be my problem. After I take it out of 4WD it will still make the sound for a while, and then it will slowly go away. The back end of the car is rotted pretty good underneath (holes in the floor, framerail on drivers side completely rotted away near the rear shock mount--virtually nothing holding the moustache bar in place on the drivers side). Maybe the the mounting for that metal tube in back is giving from all the rust and allowing the front of the differential to lower and cause the driveshaft to make contact with the exhaust. That sounds like the noise it is making. Anyone else had this problem? Is the rear end of this car getting ready to collapse? I'd hate to be driving this car and it collapse going down the road. Thanks for your help!

Thanks, GD. Really appreciate it!

Hey guys, My Hitachi carburetor is leaking in the front and is running down the side of the float bowl. Has a nasty black watery goop all over. The car runs great though. I guess it is time for a rebuild. The carb has never had any work done to it, so I can't complain. The problem is there are 2 rebuild kits listed for the Hitachi, so I need the number off the carb. Well, as I was cleaning the dirt off the carb to see the number, the number came off with the dirt. Must be some soft metal that it is stamped in to rub off with a rag! So now I have no idea what the number of the carb is and have no idea which rebuild kit to get. Is there another way to tell which one I will need? Any possible suggestions for a quick fix if I can't get the rebuild kit? Thanks... _______________________ 1987 4WD STD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters 4-speed single range 4WD Hitachi 2BBL carb 155,000 miles

Well, the warranty on it expired in 1988.

I have the dealer-installed A/C system on my car. The problem with it is that the expansion valve in the evaporator is bad. Every place I have looked for the expansion valve doesn't have it or they say they can't get it. Is this an obsolete part and I am just screwed? Or do you guys know where I could locate this part?

I will too. It may be a month before I get around to working on it. But the inner CV boot won't last much longer than that. It is pretty well dried out from the catalytic converter heat and it is starting to get hairline fractures in it. It is amazing how that heat destroys that boot every year while all the others haven't torn in the 5 years those axles have been on there.

Rich, Sounds like I may be doing the same thing. My leak slowly keeps getting worse. Post any other pics you might have of it. I'm sure we would all appreciate it. Thanks! I'll probably pull the trans out when I do my yearly inner CV boot replacement on the passenger side. I can't find the heat resistant boot anywhere, so the catalytic converter cooks the boot and it tears on a yearly basis. A real pain in the butt.

Rich, Thanks for posting that reply. I really appreciate it. I looked at the attached picture, but it is hard for me to tell where the oil is coming from. Is it a bad seal? Do you think the trans is going bad?

I haven't pulled the trans out yet to take a look at it. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that, but it sounds like I may have to. The bell housing looks identical to yours. My gear oil is even slung down on the catalytic converter. I have to check the gear oil once a week and add oil as necessary. Other than the gear oil slinging out, it doesn't have any other problems. If you do find out what this is, please let me know!

Yeah, I know it is gear oil. It is too thick to be engine oil, and the smell is distinctly trans oil.

Rich, Hey, I guess my email didn't come through. I sent it to the one you gave me. I was just saying that I also have an '87 Hatchback with the same exact problem. Gear oil is all over the bell housing and rear of the block. And it is driving me crazy not knowing where it is coming from. And when it drips on the exhaust it is awful smelling. Have you figured out where the gear oil is coming from? Maybe we can both figure this one out of you haven't already.

Rich, Check your email

Hey guys, Checked the gear oil levels and they are all fine. Also checked for anything rubbing on the driveshaft, but found nothing. The sound seems to be coming more from under the hood than under the car, but I guess I could be wrong. It sounds like birds chirping, but like 50 times louder--like a cross between birds chirping and a loud squeal. It's driving me crazy and people look at me when I drive by. Somebody told me that since the noise is consistent with vehicle speed that it would have to be something to do with the output shaft of the trans or the front differential. Any ideas?

Hey guys, Got a minor problem (I hope) with my '87 Subaru Standard Hatchback. Whenever the vehicle is moving, I hear a loud intermittent squeal/scraping noise coming from near the firewall under the hood or under the car in that area. It almost sounds like a bearing shrieking. It has progressively gotten louder and more frequent over the past few weeks. It now pretty much makes the noise all the time. It started out only making the noise when the car was in 4WD, but now it does it in 2WD too. I can shut off the engine while the car is rolling and it still makes the noise, so I know it is not from the engine or any engine accessories. I also checked the wheel bearings, which are fine. The sounds gets faster as the speed of the car increases, and doesn't change pitch with the speed of the engine or in different gears. It is steady with the speed of the car. It does it regardless of what gear it is in, also in neutral, and with the clutch pedal in or out. The ONLY gear it does not make the noise in is reverse. Any ideas on what this could be? A bad bearing in the transmission? The car has 147,000 miles on it and the clutch, transmission and everything is original. Thanks for your help.

Hey guys, I have looked at a few Subes (80's EA-81 style) I have come across and most of them are rusted. But at what point does the car become unsafe? Which areas are critical to look at when inspecting the car? Some of the cars I have looked at are rotted pretty good on the rear wheel wells. Some have holes rotted around the rear shock mounts on the wheel wells too. Obviously when you drive in rain the inside of the car will get soaked, but other than that is the body going to break in half or something? Is that common? I guess I need to know which points on the car are critical to supporting the body. Rust doesn't bother me, but I don't want to buy one of these and drive it down the road and the car collapse due to the body falling apart. Thanks!

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it. Do you remember how much the seal was?

Hey guys, My rear differential is leaking where the driver's side rear axle goes into the differential. So I am assuming i need to replace that oil seal. But I have checked around all the major auto parts stores and nobody has it or can even get it. Any ideas where I can locate something like that? Or if the part is obsolete, is there any way I can fix this seal? Thanks. Bill

OK, guys. I have found a few places that can get that intermediate resonator pipe and muffler, but the prices are just astronomical. They want $200 just for that intermediate pipe that connects the cat to the muffler! That's just insane. The price on the muffler is outrageous too. Do I have no choice but to pay this or do you guys have a cheaper route to take? How much do you guys usually have in replacing the exhaust when it goes bad? Somebody said to take it to a muffler shop and have them make an exhaust for it. I went to Car-X and asked about that and they looked at me like I was crazy. They said they can't make an exhaust with all the brackets necessary to mount to the car's rubber hangers. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help.