nagelpage

Bump for someone with an aftermarket clutch with an opinion.

I've got 55k on my 2002 MT5 Outback now, and the clutch is still working fine, but... its just not enough clutch for what I use my car for. I would love to be able to slip my clutch a bit to pull my light boat out of the water without having it smoke, or simply dropping it on a slippery ramp and spinning my wheels whithout worry that the clutch will lose its grip if I am too aggressive. My stocker is also weak doing the light off roading that I enjoy. So, I searched for about an hour on here, and a couple hours elsewhere, and found good info over at ACT, but wanted some first hand reports. Obviously I don't race, but I need more clutch in a streetable version. I see that ACT offers the HDOO, which is an organic clutch material with a heavy duty pressure plate. They also offer a 4 and 6 pad race clutch with a heavy duty pressure plate. Any opinions on the HDOO? Is this organic material more heat resistant than the original material? Does the plate have signifigantly more bite upon full release under heavy load? The HDR4/HDR6? I assume the material is much more heat resistant. Does it withstand repeated overheats like my OEM organic clutch without failing? Are they driveable on the street? Bottom line, I need more pressure, better heat resistance from my pads, and driveability on the street with a decent life expectancy (60k minimum). Any opinions experiences appreciated, or just point me to a thread that discusses this that I can't find

Yep, you can take it both directions up to the point that I took that pic. After that it is a one way coming back toward T-Ride and much narlier. nate

I filled my tank ever chance I had, and never even came close to having issues with fuel on the trip. It was a camping/hiking trip with a little off roading thrown in for good measure. I calculated 8 mpg on a section of Alta Lakes road where I went from the fuel station, to camp, and then back to fuel the next day! The inpassable terrain included a pretty steep incline and some clearance busting granite. I probably could have made it with an automatic, but with my loaded 5 speed it would have been impossible without risking damage because of the excessive speed neccesary to throttle up the incline. An auto might have been able to make it, I'm not sure, but I was definetly exploring the outer reaches of a stock Outbacks capability. Good links? Searched Ophir Pass and came up with this one: http://www.narrowgauge.org/4x4/html/ophir.html I'm sorta familiar with the area, have visited in the past (summer and winter) and always wanted to return with the Subaru to do some exploring, so this was my first time with the Roo. Pick up a San Juan National Forest map and it will be littered with 4x4 roads that go every which way through the mountains, some are reasonable, others like Black Bear Pass that continues on from the top of Bridal veil falls (one way coming the other direction) are supposedly extremely difficult. Lots of 4wd rental shops in Ouray with knowledgeable people who will always throw advice you way that is on the cautious side. http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/ I know I have found some links of other Subaru offroaders in this area when I did some googling the past. Thanks for the compliments on the pics! I really like the interior pic from the top of Bridal Veil. Spooky nate

Thought some people here might enjoy these pics. 2002 Outback MT5 with only a rear diff protector. Not a great offroad setup, but I had a good time exploring and using up all the ground clearance. Very pretty terrain. Mid September of this year. Here is a pic of my 2002 MT5 on the top of Bridal Veil falls just outside of Telluride, Colorado. The next day the Roo made it to about 11,200 or so on Ophir pass before being turned back by terrain it couldn't tackle. I still had to cross some very rough terrain, large rocks, a creek that was pretty cut, and I never did touch bottom. I turned back here. Yes, thats snow in the shot. Yes, it made me a little nervous to be high on a 4wd road while snowflakes were flying. The Subaru swallowed whole by the mountains just west of Silverton. Here on following the mountainside along the S. Fork of Mineral Creek. Camped and hiked from Mineral Creek campground near Silverton.

I don't know. I never liked the GM partnership. This Toyota partnership may prove helpful in some way. Like someone else said, with the development of hybrid, lean burning gasoline motors, perhaps diesels, whatever, Subaru could use some help in these areas going forward. nate

When the thermostat stuck closed on my 02 at 14k the upper hose had this symptom. Is it getting hot? nate

That's it? Pretty good. I have the Rocketbox and have wondered about this. I think that it really takes a toll much above 75. Below 75 I think that it takes less of a toll. Of course my observations are merely anecdotal and not empirical. On a just completed trip to Wyoming I measured between 21 and 25 with the box, and the cruise set at 80. The difference seemed to be wind, and upslope downslope. I would have thought the difference to be slightly greater than 1.1. I think another useful test would be to measure mileage difference with the box mounted extreme forward, and extreme back. My hypothesis would be that extreme back will provide better mileage. nate

2002 27k My car was losing a little water in the overflow, and I could see an oily substance along the head gasket seam on the drivers side. The check engine light came on on vacation, so I took the opportunity to take it in. They flashed the computer and fixed what was apparently just a false code on a lean condition. The leaks resulted in new gaskets both sides. In yesterday afternoon, out this morning. Dealer never shuddered and gave me zero hassle. No charge for fluids, and new oil filter. Unfortunately, they offered me no reassurance that this would be the final fix for my gaskets. My car is a 2002 and was manufactured in March of 2002. So isn't this outside of the notified customers? Should my car not have whatever fix they added in 2002 to strengthen the gasket setup? Am I going to be ineligable for the 100k warranty extension? I am very worried about this. I shudder at the realization that I may own a lemon. I bought the car new in hopes of enjoying a relatively trouble free vehicle to around 200k. This won't be the case if new gaskets have to go in every 27k miles. Anyway, whatever this additive is, it better work. I am a formerly disatisfied Ford owner, and I have about zero tolerance for companies jacking me around. More specifically, I bought my Subaru based on perceived reliability and longevity, and I'll never buy a Ford again. Do I have to buy a godamn Honda? This sucks. nagel page