SubaruFred

My duty C appears to be working well. With the FWD fuse installed there is no hint of TB. Without the fuse, it's pretty bad. Turning while backing up feels like the parking brake is on. Is there a DIY here for the clutches and drum? I searched but either the search feature isn't very good or I don't know how to use it very well. I agree! I hate dropping the pan to replace the filter. External would be so much easier. I'm not concerned about better ATF filtering at this point but I was concerned that I might have a replacement paper filter in my pan from a PO. I may drop the pan anyway just to check the filter, see how much junk is in there and clean the pan and magnets but it's good to know that I don't have to. Thanks! I like it here already. I've found lots of great info and knowledgeble people willing to help. I haven't even seen much of the "try the search engine, noob!" replies that are so common at some car forums. Westminster is a nice place, I've got good friends near there. It's a great motorcycle ride from Ellicott City to Westminster on old Frederick Road and 97. Thanks again for your help.

I wonder why the steel mesh looks yellow? I haven't had any problems with Rock Auto yet but I just started using them a couple years back. I'll keep an eye out for possible incorrect part listings, thanks for the tip. I usually double-check all of my on-line part purchases anyway since returns are a hassle. I also often choose my own parts based on what mods I've made. Colder plugs and thermostat for custom turbo setup, etc. My reason for asking about the oem filter was simply to determine if I needed to replace the filter. I see no reason to drop the pan on a 170k mile trans with a metal mesh filter. Although the trans might be in better condition had it started life with a smaller micron filter and it was changed as needed, it's too late to reverse any damage now. I'm sure we can agree that Jatco must have had some reason to add the external paper ATF filters and then switch to a paper filter in the pan on later model trans. ATF may not be subject to combustion by-products but it does accumulate a lot of clutch material and gear shavings over time. Naturally most of these fine particles pass right through a mesh filter so it shouldn't become clogged unless a lot of larger pariticles are present, in which case, you're correct and trans failure is probably imminent. At 170k, I'm probably on borrowed time already. Of course I don't know if or when the previous owners may have had the trans serviced or by whom. But since I've now been assured by several USMB members that all 4EAT filters made between 1993 and 2010 use metal mesh filter media, I can rest easy that there's no possible way that I could have a clogged paper filter in my trans. Thanks to all who replied. I know what you mean about learning by experience. I've been doing that ever since I rebuilt and modified my 1971 Yamaha Mini Enduro 35 years ago. Thanks again for your help.

Thanks. I was shopping at Rock Auto and they had pretty much the same results that you posted from thepartsbin. The same filter is available from roughly 6 different manufacturers. If you look at the photos that show the filter media inside the metal casing, it is yellow and looks exactly like the paper filter media contained in the metal-cased filters that I recently installed on a 97 Prizm, 01 Highlander, 01 Corolla and 08 Scion. Hence my questions. Below is the Beck-Arnley filter for the 93 Legacy. The Beck-Arnley catalog shows the same photo for this specific filter (044-0262). Since later model automatic transmissions used by all oems primarily (if not exclusively) have switched from ss mesh to paper filters, is it not possible that aftermarket suppliers might have received oem approval to substitute better filtering paper media in place of the 1993 oem ss mesh?

"Gabriel" is correct on both counts. I wish I could offer some substantive advice regarding the relative quality of gabriel struts and shocks but it seems to be a mixed bag. Based on my www research and personal experience I decided that KYB was worth a few dollars more. I found far more complaints about Monroe and gabriel products failing prematurely then KYB. This combined with one of my brand new Gabriel struts leaking gas and oil while still NIB, persuaded me to spend $25 more for a set of KYBs. For all I know that leaking Gabriel stut may have been damaged in shipping or 1 in a million. Impossible for me to say but both KYB and Monroe have been chosen as OE by various car makers yet Gabriel has never been, AFAIK. Gabriel may well be the strut/shock equivalent of Pylon wiper blades.

Please forgive me for asking this but have you personally confirmed that the 93 Legacy uses a metal screen filter inside the pan? The reason I have to ask is because I was told that my 97 Prizm and 01 Corolla also had metal screen filters but both actually had paper filters that needed to be replaced. A new o-ring and pan gasket are included with the new filter. Thanks.

Just a quick question about the AT filter on the 93 Legacy. I've searched and found many comments that it uses a screen and that there is no need to drop the pan to clean or replace it when changing ATF. However, when I look up replacement filters for the AT, the product photos clearly show a traditional AT filter with paper filter media. I have torque bind and when weather permits the first thing I want to do is change the ATF and filter. I'd really like to know if I have the drop the pan and replace the filter or not. TIA.

Just for giggles, this is my 93 Legacy with ~2" lift from Forester struts and 185/70/14s. New tires coming soon. With Falken Radial A/P 205/75/14

Yeah, the GR2s are pretty stiff riding. I may have exagerated when I said they ride like crap, noticeably stiffer than oem might have been more accurate. I can live with them, they're just a lot harsher than the air suspension. My bad. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Good find! $107 is cheap for the BFGs. The best price I found was $120 but after shipping that place was a little more than Tire Rack. The bad news for me is that shipping from TireCrawler to me was $102 vs $47 from Tire Rack. Anyway, my daughter needs my current tires ASAP so I couldn't wait any longer. I pulled the trigger on the Falkens for much the same reasons you're leaning toward the BFGs. I commute 70 miles per day and IMO 30lb A/T tires would cost me 2-3mpg. The 23lb Falkens are only 6lbs heavier than oem. I have no plans to do any serious off-roading so I think the Falkens will be adequate for snow and some light off-road duty. In the end I gave up on the 27s since I don't want new rims. The 27s should really go on 6-7.5" rims, not 5.5". The bad thing is that if Falken made more of these tires I could have drove over to Sears and bought them for $75 each. Instead I had to pay $100 each after shipping because Tires-Easy was the only place I could find that had any. Oh well, the good thing is I found semi-aggressive tread tires in the perfect size for my car (26x8x14). I emailed Falken and was told that they have not discontinued these tires, they simply don't make them often due to limited manufacturing capacity. BTW, I found something interesting regarding fitment: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showpost.php?p=984393&postcount=10 2" lift 27X8.50X14 wild cats no cutting

Excellent point but we each have different needs and priorities and have to make compromises accordingly. I'd love to have some 27x8.5 M/Ts for my 5% off-roading but I'd hate them 95% of the time on paved roads. The oem 96-99 OB tires were 26.5" x 8.5" and according to general, their 27x8.5 are 26.5" x 8.6". I'm more worried about the gen 1 wheel wells and fenders than the struts. OTOH, Tire Rack says that the Grabbers are 26.8" tall which could make a difference. I decided earlier today to just get the BFGs and almost ordered them but I can't get over their weight and cost. They weigh even more than the 27x8.5" Grabbers and cost more. I'm convinced that 205-75-14 is the perfect size but there aren't any tires! There are lots of 27x8.5x14 choices but how well do they fit? Like you I'm still waiting for someone who's already done this to chime in. I know they're out there. Perhaps so but none of the tires I'm looking at is even stocked locally. I highly doubt that any of them will special order the tires for me and test fit them for free.

Yeah, it's not the trailing arms but the TA mounts that differ. This actually makes it easier and cheaper to correct the rear wheel caster. $60 for new TA mounts is not a big deal and installation is simpler than new TA's. I'm not into beatin' the wheel wells with a BFH either but you should at least consider that you'll probably lose roughly the same mpg with BFGs as Grabbers. IMO it's the weight and rolling resistance that kills the mpg more than the slight final drive ratio change. You're replacing a 17lb tire with a 31lb BFG tire or 29lb General tire, both on a ~20lb wheel. One of the main reasons I like the "light" 21lb Falken "all-purpose". My only problem with the BFGs is that they are barely bigger than the oem tires. If you do get them, please post pics for me. They might look a lot better than I'm imagining. Maybe this will help? I use it all the time. http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

FWIW, my thought process was simple. New Gabriel struts for $210 vs new KYBs for $300 (best price found at time) to replace failing air struts on a beater 2nd car. Even if Gabriel weren't the best, surely they'd be better than air struts with 170K miles or junkyard KYBs with 120K miles. I wasted a lot of time searching the WWW for strut/shock reviews and found the usual. 90% of Gabriel users recommended them and would buy again, 90% of KYB users said Gabriel was junk. 99% of KYB users had never owned a Gabriel product before and said they never would. Monroe was generally viewed as being somewhere in between. If you want truly great struts/shocks get Bilstein, Koni or Boge (good luck finding them for your Suby). KYB GR2's are (at best) a little better than Monroe and Gabriel. My KYBs are very stiff and ride like crap compared to the worn-out air struts but I expected that so it's okay. Single-rate coil springs are going to ride rougher than truly progressive air bags.

Yeah, the Falkens aren't aggressive at all. IMO they are half-way between a all-season passenger tire and a all-terrain LT tire. But they are the perfect size, provide a 1" lift, fill the wheel wells nicely and should work pretty well for some snow and light off-road duty. 95% of my time on these tires will be on paved roads in MD. Is that just a 2" strut lift? What else is required to eliminate any and all rubbing? I love the look but would really like to know how much time, work and money is required to make them fit. New rims, cutting fenders and beating on things with a BFH is a deal breaker for me. This is primarily a beater so I don't have to drive my nice car in bad weather, to the dump, etc. What I want is a set of 205-75-14 General Grabbers that fit perfectly without any additional mods. Since they don't exist, how much "massaging" is required to get 27x8.5x14 Grabbers to fit? Thanks to all for replying.

I actually ordered a set of Gabriels from ebay (techdeals1) and after a week I emailed him to ask why they hadn't shipped yet. He replied that 1 of the struts was leaking oil so he had ordered a replacement from Gabriel and was waiting for it to arrive. Luckily he let me cancel the order. A NIB strut that obviously leaked all it's gas and was now leaking oil removed what little confidence I had in Gabriel's quality. IIRC Gabriel made decent struts and shocks 20 years ago but like many domestic manufacturers, times have changed and not for the better. It sucks because I really want to buy domestic products but often I can't justify it because their quality isn't comparable or the price for comparable quality is way too high.

I've been told that the taller OB TA mounts re-center the rear wheels. I think I'll need them to fit 27" but 26" should fit with or wthout them. I checked and it looks like the 27s will clear the struts fine so all I have to worry about are the fenders. There are 2 additional concerns: Tire weight and rim width. The BFGs and Generals are both very heavy vs oem and the Grabbers call for a 6-7" rim vs 5.5" oem. I imagine the Grabbers can be shoehorned onto the 5.5" rims but it's not ideal. 5.5" is ideal for the BFGs and Falkens. OEM 185-70-14 is 24.1" x 7.1" and 17 lbs BFG T/A KO is 25.5" x 7.7" and 31lbs Falken A/P is 26.1" x 8.1" and 21lbs Grabber AT2 is 26.5" x 8.5" and 29lbs I still can't decide but I may just order a set of Falkens and be done with it. I'll let you know.

Cool... I hope you saved a few bucks. The OP could save $30 but apparently he didn't read our posts.

Sadly the Falkens may be on their way out too. I was going to buy them from Sears for $70 each but they can't get them. They're not discontinued (yet) just on national back-order. I can still get them on-line but at $100 each after shipping. I don't think they're worth that much. I have 1.5" between the tread and the front of the rear wheel well and yes, the rear wheels did move forward with the struts. I've been told that Outback trailing arm mounts will help move them back. I guess I'll do that first, see how much room I really have and then order tires. I really want 205-75-14 but there are so few choices left in that size. I'll probably end up with Grabber AT2s. Thanks man.

The BFG T/As are sweet. I just wish they were a little bigger and a little cheaper. I just bought this 170k mile car used with 4 almost-new Michelin Harmony tires and I'm a little hesitant to spend $600 on new tires right after $600 for new struts. I'm unsure yet just how long this old car might last. They're still on my short list. Thanks! That helps a lot. You may want to delete the BFG Long Trails since they've been discontinued and add the Falken 205-75-14 Radial A/Ps. Although the Falkens are rare today they are at least still listed on Falken's website and Tires-Easy has 19 of them in stock. Firestone also has Destination LE and A/T tires available in 225-70-14. I am 100% sure that 195-75-14 will fit with no rubbing, 99% sure that 205-75-14 will but I'm still a little worried about the 26.5x9" 225-70s and 27x8.5s. However, General specifies 26.5" diameter for their 27x8.5x14 Grabber AT2s which might be perfect for me. Thanks again.

Rock auto is great and so are KYB struts but I got 4 new KYB GR/2 struts from http://www.discountautoshocks.com for $225 shipped. They had the best prices I could find. I received them in less than 5 days, no complaints at all.

Sorry but even after 20 years on the WWW and various message boards I don't know what that means. Anyway, thanks again for all your help.

I may have to try that if I can't find anyone with a 90-94 Legacy on OB/For struts with stock rims and bigger tires. I know that the struts can handle 26.5" tall x 9" wide tires but I'm not sure if my wheel backspacing is the same as the OB and Forester wheels. I could play it safe and go with 195-75-14 BFGs at $150 each but I'd prefer to go with the 205-75-14 Falkens at $100 each. Thanks for the good advice. My bad. I should have been more specific with my question. What I wanted to know is which size TIRE would fit, not your PANT size. :-p

I've searched and read dozens of threads on the subject but didn't find much info about tire sizes for 90-94 Legacys running OB/For struts. I know that 195-75-14 will fit without issue, pretty sure that 205-75-14 will and agree with you that the 27s won't fit without some work. I'm just looking for first hand confirmation that the 26x8x14" 205-75-14s will fit without rubbing. The tires I'm looking to buy aren't available locally so I have to have them shipped with no return option. Any opinion on Falken Radial A/Ps? I know they're just a P tire with a mildly aggressive tread but they're also a lot cheaper, a lot lighter and a little taller than my other option, BFG T/A KO 195-75-14. Thanks.

Okay, so I should get 44" tires and 15" rims. Thanks a lot!

Hello, I've got a 93 Legacy LSi wagon with 2000 Forester struts providing a ~2" lift. I'm sure that I can fit 195-75-14 or 205-75-14 but will 27x8.5x14 fit? At least for now, I don't want to do any trimming or rolling and any rubbing is unacceptable. I commute a lot with this car so MPG is still important. I was leaning towards 205-75-14 Falken Radial A/Ps but Sears can't get them and I'm afraid Falken may discontinue them. I can still find them on-line but at slightly higher pricing (after shipping). Here's a photo of my car with new 185-70-14 Michelins:

The turtle wax kit works great too. It comes with a chemical cleaner/sanding lubricant, 5 grades of abrasive pads and a 1-time use UV sealant. Now I just need to restore my scratched up windshield. I'm looking for a suitable polishing compound.