Durania

Auto, FWD. I can jerk the steering wheel and it will quit for a second and then start right back again. I believe the axle was replaced a long time ago back when my grandmother drove it more; the car is at 217K. The sound just started all of a sudden while I was driving, and my experience with wheel bearings is that it is a gradual process before they make noise. It truly sounds like something hitting, but I know how hard it is to diagnose this crap online. It truly sounds like a brake pad dragging, but not. Thanks guys.

Taking a small trip the other day in my 91, I developed a front end grinding/rubbing sound coming from the front right wheel. The sound comes and goes at times and and it sounds like brakes a rubbing but the sound stays even when brakes are applied, even mashing the pedal doesn't change anything. I at first thought it was brakes so I jacked it up and changed that side, still no change in the sound. I started the car with it jacked up and watched the axle turning while in drive. The only thing that I noticed is that the axle seemed to be a little out of balance, like it was warped only slightly, but I haven't hit anything. Also checked for vertical play in wheel, nice and tight. So it shouldn't be bearings. I know how hard it is to try and diagnose these things online so I gave it a search and couldn't seem to find anybody who had anything described like I have. Let's give it a shot. Kyle

Shouldn't this have been in the Off Topic?

You more EA82 experienced guys think he could have fried the ECU somehow? Another thought: Have you checked all the grounds under the hood?

Thank you Gavin, Mine is the two piece radio where the tape deck is underneath the radio. When I was 16 I bought a nice JVC cd player for it and installed it and kept the tape deck underneath for a clean looking installation and loved it. I believe what I will eventually do whenever I get some money is throw up a wanted ad on the "wanted" forum for another Subaru radio; more likely one with the weather band. That is neat that you got yours' to work but just a few solders. I took a 45 minute drive last night and the display finally come on when I was about 5 minutes from home. Thanks for the input guys.

It involves jacking up the rear of the car and rotating one of the wheels by hand. If the opposite wheel turns in the same direction the one by hand is being turned, then you have a LSD. If it turns in the opposite direction (backwards) then you have an open differential.

If you are having to play with the connections to get it to start; then you should probably replace or clean the battery connections better. Preferably replace. But since they are brand new, then it points back to a bad battery. Buddy, I too was a victim of a bad walmart battery on my hatchback. The day I went to take it back, the guy in front of me had a bad one as well and our build date stickers matched up too.

How much did the seats run you?

No it has 108K. The stupid thing broke at 102K. She is trading it in on a forester whenever children start to come into the picture. Thought about taking the door panel off and havinv a look but I haven't a clue on the thing where to start.

What came down to my liking them is having to go to the dealer and drive the 08 WRX hatch. Wanted to drive the sedan but I figured I would have to try it out myself. I loved it after the test drive. I about ran the battery dead talking to my salesman buddy when I realized the lights don't go off with the key anymore. Just waiting on the STi to hit our part of the country and drive it... Thats crazy for the sport grill. I am used to looking at the 84 honeycomb and just handing the guy $20.

When Jessica (fiance) bought her 04 Accord LX in the summer of 06, the keyless entry worked. About 6 months ago, when pushing the lock and unlock buttons on the key, the door would quit locking and unlocking on the drivers side and that causes the other three doors to have the same effect. The batteries are good as when pushing the buttons the lights flash, horn honks, and the trunk still opens. The only thing that comes to my mind is that it is a bad door lock actuator. What say ye? Kyle

I have mostly seen that lower stuff in the earlier stages of the EA81 generation. I just recently replaced all that door trim on my Brat. The little pieces that hold it into the metal had broken off so every time you shut the door, the trim would pop off. I noticed a little changeover in the 84 year with my Hatch. The piece of trim that attaches to the fender in front of the doors were this nasty epoxy stuff that held them on my hatchback; while the two 83 Brats utilized the white tabs. I had to pry that crap out of the molding so I could fit the plastic tabs in there like they should. Most of the time was spent aligning the tabs so they all fit in the door like they should and having the correct distance of spacing. Parts Brat/Hatch FTW.

I have one as well,

Thanks for the reply Rooster. I have tried the balance knob and have had no avail. I have been doing some researching over at legacybbs on swapping in the 02-03 WRX 6 disc. I think it would be a good upgrade, but locating one in a reasonable price range is going to be the challenging part. Also considered getting one of the outback ones that came with the weather band radio. Thanks.

Anyone ever have any thoughts about my speakers not working on the left hand side of the car? I have little experience with car audio but understand the basics. Could they be grounded out or could be linked to the radio going out? Thanks, -Kyle

Friend of mine last year did a major swap like I believe you are talking about. He bought a 5.0 convertible and a 4 cylinder model as a parts car. Everything fit he just spent so much more time working on wiring and having fuel-cut issues. I drove the car and it would flat out haul-rump roast. I wasn't use to going 55 MPH and doing half the RPM's of what my Brat would be doing at the same speed. I am not, and never will be an American car person but it is a fun little machine to go and really get on.

+1 to swapping vin's. What if it doesnt have the standard 17 digit vin? Being an 81, it should have it.

Don't know if it is all the biology I have been reading, but that looks like a massive X chromosome. Skip, how does it sound?

I would really like to see a similar work done for this board. I would be happy to do a "Cribs" spoof of my own.

That is a pretty crazy rig, would love to hear what that would sound like.

You have any pictures of your setup?

I too know the pain of Brat neglect. Here is a thread of mine from last year when I purchased my parts Brat: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=70957&highlight=yet+another+purchase I am making plans to pull the motor and tranny when the weather starts to become more attractive.

I am still thrilled out it Zap! I have had mixed experiences with every junkyard around me and this was the first one that I had been to that I was welcomed with "open arms" (to quote a famous Journey song). Most people around here don't usually deal in them, its usually the big 3 American ones and alot of old D series Honda crap.

I will consider that brand whenever I plan to upgrade mine. My buddy has been running with the idea of upgrading his WRX to STi brakes. When he upgrades, I get hand-me-down's.

Granted it saves space, I never did like the idea of stacking cars.