gadberry

Ok, the rear of the kit is installed (pics coming later) all but the rear brake hose extensions (ordered). Will I have to remove any interior trim around the 2wd/4wd shifter to allow for movement during the front body lift? I poked around underneath the front of the car last night, and the engine drop blocks are obvious and then the remaining 6 blocks (three per side) attached in a group of 3 per side around the bracket that the front sway bar is attached too.. The top of the struts is what I'm unclear on.. will I need a spring compressor to deal with the spacers for the struts? I don't think so, but I'm not certain.... any/all help would be appreciated. gadberry http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=184&pictureid=1719

Thanks for the A/C compressor tips.. Your pic would really help, especially for the front lift block locations. Maybe I won't remove or disassembe more than what's needed on the front. Ha I have all but the shocks installed on the rear... Well there's 2 or 3 sheetmetal bolts to reattch to the heat shield oh, and I need fresh 1/2" x 1.5" grade 5 bolts/nuts for the remaining blocks. Oh, rear brake hoses too... Will have to have them made. Q: Are subie brake hose connections standard/common? They look to be but I've never had any made up.. Any tips for the front installation? Disconnect emergencybrake linkage where? Drain coolant, check battery ground near batt box and under spare.. Block/support a/c compressor.. Double check any wiring harness and heater core lines at firewall. Does the front sway bar stay attched during the lifting ? Thanks again

ol'bonehead put the friendly USMB members advice to good use last night.. I corrected the over-disassembly mistakes from the day before; then removed a section of the uffler heat shield, right below the torsion-bar to enable the rear diff to be dropped down enough to install the rear diff plate (correctly, I think) plus the 4 'outboard' blocks at the torsion connections. haven't installed the four 4" drop blocks for the torsion bar connections yet, because I'm gonna need washers for the original frame bolts since they're too long to tighten without a spacer.. that's for later tonight... BTW- Is it possible to leave the A/C compressor in its stock location with a 4" EA81 lift? It looks like it will hit the left front fender well as the engine is dropped down, so can I correct this with a BFH ? I'm not certain if the A/C will hold a charge or not, I've not used it or checked it.. but i see that bump in the road coming. one of many I suppose:)

Ok, got ya.. I had mis-interpreted the instructions posted earlier in this thread or had my mind set on those 4 long bolts being used for the rear diff... wrong again gadberry!..

Guys, thanks for clarifying where I've gone wrong thus far.. your patience is appreciated.. Ok, so the rear diff plate is used to drop the diff down from the 2 center bolts on the Mustache bar.. I'll only need to short bolts/washers/nuts for that attachment.. Where will the four NEW long bolts included with the kit go?

Ok, I've uploaded a few more pics to picasa (there's a link below to a particular pic I have a question about). It looks as though there should be a spacer or spacer's on top of the differential after it's lowered 4".. The 1 'fat bolt' will be re-inserted in it's stock location; then 4 "kit provided" long bolts will be inserted from the bottom; thru the diff and up, thru the original (thin) hanger plate shown in the photo below... nut/washer applied to top and all four tightened up snug... There will be a gap between the top of the diff and the top plate since the rear (vertical) diff plate will be spacing the differential down 4" from the stock (2) center mustache connections.. correct? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sSRab1WxFyt5cLQdZSS4MQ?feat=directlink hope my question makes sense... I don't want to leave out any needed spacers.. maybe I can figure out how to include a fre'kn foto in the post without it having to be a URL... one of these days... thanks again, gadberry.

Wow is right.. Your description makes alot more sense, because the instructions from slideshow are for an EA82 and I'm werkin on a EA81. Ok so the plate mounts vertically to the rear of the diff by 2 bolts (orig) and the 2 center bolts of the mustache bar attach to bottom of plate (new hardware). So the outer mustache bar attachments stay in stock locations? That clears up a lot of cornfusion... The lowering of the carrier bearing is also confusing but I'm not there yet. Lemme get the rear done... However, I knew the brakeline extensions are for the front, but the rear lines were already stressing and I had more lowering to go so I disconnected them just to be safe.. Lines needed flushing anyway and extensions might be needed because there's no way to make slack on my rear hatch brakelines. Thanks much for the help!!!

Help needed. I have the torsion bar free ( 2 bolts each side along "frame rails" and 4 nuts below diff, plus 1 hanger bolt that parallels the torsion bar). I had to disconnect the brake lines on each side, they were tight. The mustache bar and all mustache related connections haven't been touched..... I don't think the mustache bar is dropped with this kit, but it will have to be disconnected to drop the torsion bar enough to install the 4 blocks and drop plate.. Right? Will the diff drop plate be horizontal w/ ground after install ? Still not sure about that plate location.. I managed to remove the shock "top bushing tabs" from the old shocks yesterday (for reuse w/new shocks) but fitting a rubber bushing over those buggers and thru the eye of the shocks looks like witch... A sliced length of rubber hose might be the rear shock bushings on this rig.. I'll get a few pics of "progress" later, or lack of... Thanks!

Ok, I've Began the install of the kit and want to confirm the rear diff plate should be sandwiched between the diff and the existing/stock plate that rests above the diff and contains the one bolt yoke that the diff "hangs" from.. Sound right? So the rear diff is dropped the thickness of the metal plate? Just want to be sure, I'm installing on an EA81 and I the my instructions are for an EA82, since strut springs on the rear wheels are referenced.. I'm taking pics but can't post them til later. Thanks, gadberry

Monstaru, Sorry for the double-post, that's a mistake I'll avoid in the future. thanks for your help! gadberry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Monstaru wrote: you should have a couple of things that are obviously for the front struts,and the rear shocks. two long(front to back) blocks for under the engine crossmember 6 blocks the same for the trans crossmember 4 blocks the same for the rear suspension torsion bar possibly 2 blocks that look like the front crossmember blocks, but with offset holes, or a plate that drops the rear diff hanger... if you post a picture i am sure i could number them for you. cheers, rbian

Slideshow, Thanks for the help! I'm not certain which model of the kit I have either so I've attached a pic. I also pm'd my email address to you. You're instructions have helped alot, and I think I understand most of the steps, but I've not crawled under the car yet either, so I'm sure that'll help me too. Been busy w/work,but hope to get on this some this weekend. Are you certain I'll need a spring compressor for the rear of my '81 hatch? All I see is a gas shock and a scissor-like swingarm up near the rear diff.. Am I missing the point..will the spring compressor be required for the front struts? big thanks again for your input and assistance with this.. same to all who have pitched in w/input! best, gadberry http://picasaweb.google.com/curlpepper/SubaruLiftEA81#5385444572777684722

Member "sideshow86" built the kit, and I hoped to locate a similar install steps to follow so that I can anticipate what's needed to complete the job smoothly since I may borrow a friends workspace during the install.. I don't have access to car lift or impact wrenches so I'm a newbie.. I'm willing to take pics and post a web page of the process if it would help knowledgable installers offer virtual support.. Just trying to avoid any silly mistakes that might halt progress after the car is in pieces and in his garage.. Know what I mean. 1. Disconnect battery, drain radiator, loosen steering at ?, disconnect ground wires and wire harness at ?? 2. position x jackstands there; jack car at x locations loosen nuts at points a, b, c and d, then lift til... 3. ??? Hellifeyeno?? Sound like a start? Thanks all! Gadberry

I have a "SlideShow" built 4" kit for an EA81, and could use help locating a set of instructions if they exist. I have searched the thread archives but haven't found anything specific.. lots of great info, but I thought i'd better double-check to make sure I'm not missing something obvious before I attempt this install.. first time lift installer Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. this is going on an '81 4dr Wagon gadberry

Scott, still have a set of adapter plates for VW wheels? How would you prefer payment? Thanks!