efseiler

Yeah, I was actually thinking about that today as I was cruising down the highway. I feel like I'm driving a motorcycle! Well...It seems ok now. It's clunky...but it goes. :-/ Thanks for the advice... D

Hi, How much longevity do most aftermarket axles have these days? My dealer put in a pair of replacement front axles (FEQ, I believe) and now only after 12,000 miles they are starting to click and give me nightmares. The inner race 'cup' is really loose and probably ready to just get torn off... :-( Can anyone recommend a good brand? I know that FEQ (which probably really stands for 'Worst Equipment Quality') is Chinese. I have heard EMPI is a better alternative. Are there really major differences between manufacturers? Thanks! --Damien

I'm not being sarcastic or disingenuous. You have to learn how to respect them. Learning how to recognize IT really is a very important part of education. Some people had to go all the way to Vietnam or Iraq to learn a lesson about them. Over and out, --Damien

Oh sorry...I didn't realize you were an Artifical Intelligence entity. My apologies.

I hear ya...but it isn't my call. Those guys know right away what a good part is and besides a good driver should be able to anticipate failures months (sometimes years) in advance. You'll get subtle little warnings...believe me...it's not very difficult to get insurance like that. Cheers! --Damien

Well...I'd rather have a used Subaru genuine part in there than an iffy aftermarket one. I've already had back luck with Chinese stuff.

It should...for what it's worth, it was a 'Valeo' branded clutch kit. I think that kit is also branded as a 'Luk' and a couple others. I'm guessing those all come out of the same factory... At least the chatter is finally gone! --Damien

No it was a cracked fork...he showed me it. That clutch really chattered so years of it caused the fork to crack prematurely. The other theory is nuclear decay played a role. If you've ever stared at a tornado and wondered how 'they' can fit 200 mph winds into such a tiny space...you'd believe it! Cheers! --Damien

Well...they guarantee their work. :-/ Ain't much I can do...

Well...some of the mountains around here are shaped almost exactly like them (when viewed from the correct angle). But we aren't Jihadists. Thirty-five bucks saved is thirty five-bucks earned. Sometimes only cold, card cash can separate factories from parts anyway and all I make is $1.37 an hour! Allah Akhbar! --Damien

Just got back from the shop...the fork was cracked and bent. Also the flywheel had uneven wear and that was why there was so much chatter/shudder. New clutch kit...used fork...10 days of waiting and 600 bucks later, 'tis done. (They had to take the engine out twice cuz they screwed up the first time.) Cheers! --Damien

Well the pedal returns fine it's just very soft...not very much resistance at all when pushed. The failure was gradual but occured over the course of a few hours...another thing I noticed was the reservoir fluid has gone from a light yellow to almost brown.

Well ok but the failure was somewhat gradual and not sudden. When happens when other components fail...pressure plate, flywheel, etc. ?

I suppose it's possible...I heard they use those engines in aircraft...

Well, it got towed to the shop today....I'm guessing it's the slave. I'll find out tomorrow...

I had that problem for years on a '96 OBW I used to drive...I'm glad somebody finally figured it out! :-D Cheers! --Damien

Well the fluid level was there...no signs of leakage. I didn't think it was the internals (pressure plate, flywheel, etc.) but my suspicion was that those components may be getting a bit 'long in the tooth'. Is the slave the small one that sits on top? Thanks, Damien

Hi, The clutch pedal on my 98 OBW no longer disengages the clutch. This problem cropped up suddenly. There are no signs of hydraulic fluid leakage. The pedal play is very soft with greatly lessened resistance. Any ideas? Thanks, Damien

Well I just got back from the shop... the 'Spectra Premium FN818 Fuel Tank Filler Neck' parts fits almost exactly for my make and model ('98 OBW). They just had to make one tiny modification to fit a part of the vapor recovery system into it. Cheers! --Damien

Yeah I decided to try my luck and go with a Spectra. I called the dealer and one of theirs was $160...I ordered a used one on Amazon for only 60 bucks. The dealer said that there are two distinct styles of those filler necks. One with a valve and one without. Make sure when you order that you get the right one. --Damien

Can't go wrong with a dealer...but I got a $50 coupon for Amazon and I'm hoping I can hunt down a good aftermarket one. :-)

Hi, I'm trying to find an (inexpensive) replacement for a leaky fuel filler neck. I noticed that manufacturers such as 'Dorman' and 'Spectra' make such parts but I read some complaints that their parts don't fit exactly. I have a '98 OBW and was wondering if someone could make recommendations... Thanks, --Damien

Yeah that's a lot of Lucas...I usually only put a few ounces in my 2.2L engine.

It does seem like kind of a loud knocking, tho. :-/

My Dad's Subaru makes a 'knocking' sound just like that and I think he's put like 50,000 miles on it...doesn't seem to be serious. I don't think different oil will make any difference. It's something mechanical like those guys said. --Damien