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CMJAnew

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Posts posted by CMJAnew

    78 Brat - Froze Up Brake Caliper

    in Historic Subaru Forum: 50's thru 70's

    Posted

    CMJ - the lower bolt pulls out and the top one is the hinge. Those are 14mm heads. Try using a piece of wood or metal drift of some sort at the lower "ear" of the caliper. If the wheel moves you should be able to get it to swing out with a few good whacks.

     

    Thanks. That top bolt was wedged with the cable. I had to take it completely out as the caliper wouldn't pivot all the way off the disc. That's as far as I am likely to go today (have a snow diagnosis and adjustment to make before the next 'weather event')

     

    Hope you all don't get tired of my tedious requests for help. I really have little aptitude for this stuff. 

    78 Brat - Froze Up Brake Caliper

    in Historic Subaru Forum: 50's thru 70's

    Posted

    Hey folks. 

     

    My 78 Brat has a frozen (locked up) passenger side brake caliper. From the looks of the undercarriage it has probably been this way for a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time. 

     

    I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one in my driveway (you'll hear that a lot from me. So treat your answers as if your talking to someone who knows nothing please. That said, I'd like to try to free this thing up myself. 

     

    So far I've loosened a bolt on the back side. This looks like where the unit would 'hinge'. 

    Then I pried and wedged and smacked it in a multitude of directions. I've made no progress. 

     

    The emergency brake cable is not locked up.

     

    So, what do I need to do next. 

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted

    well, any one of us could have told you that, HOWEVER, now you know! and you have a subaru brat! haha :)

     

    Sadly, I didn't need to be told. I'm old enough to know better - and do. But did it anyway. And you're right - I'm so deep into this one.....it makes more sense to pour good money after bad. If I keep the car till I die, the purchase price won't seem so bad. 

    • Like 1

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted

    Finding a substantial hole in the undercarriage finally prompted me to contact the seller to let him know of my displeasure with the representation of the Brat in his eBay ad. 

    This hole will require significant welding to repair. (My friend who hauled it to me clued me in). I've yet to get under the car to see what else is going to need attention. 

    We're told to have an independent inspection. We SHOULD listen.

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted

    I have a bad memory.....so will have to call you Psycho......! Its easier than looking up the other handles  :D

    Holes in the bed - I don't believe so. But I've been focused on the other issues. 

    I did find the radio in the glove box.

    I don't think there are any cracks in the dash - but the vinyl is pealing away all over. 

     

    OK! Back to some of my earlier concerns. I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE GAS ISSUE I topped it off with an additional 4+ gallons this evening -- I think that's a good thing). It just will not run on its own battery/charging system. I actually moved it to a new resting spot by 'leap frogging' it attached to my garden tractor via jumper cables. Thankfully the neighbors can't see this side of my house  :blink:

     

    Let me know if its better to start new threads concerning each issue, or if its best to just roll along with this one. 

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted · Edited by CMJAnew

    Fanatic - No Downer. You just confirmed what I was thinking (what would I have been willing to pay for the car if accurately represented). I'm thinking its the alternator.

                   Though the battery date isn't labeled, it looks pretty new. 

                   Forgot to mention, it has a really new looking fuel pump installed, in-line, under the hood. 

                   And, it backfired when I shut it down the first time. 

     

    Psychotic - You don't really have to list the questions (other than it might guide me towards other areas that'll need attention). 

                      Ha Ha about my career allowing such foolishness. I paid this because I thought, based on the ad, it only need brake attention. 

     

    Everyone - I should get my hands on a service manual. Any suggestions on the best. For my Buick Reatta I have the actual Factory/Dealer Shop Manual. Though I'm  

                      not a mechanic, and don't understand a lot, it has been helpful with some repairs. Is there such a manual available for the Brat? 

     

    Thank for all the help. Maybe I should change my name from CMJAnew to Foolbaru 

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted · Edited by CMJAnew

    Well the 78 is in my driveway. It arrived while I was at work. Lets see how many questions I answer after monkeying with it for about an hour. 

     

    Though it has a new.ish battery, it doesn't seem to take a charge. It'll fire right up and run with the 'jump start' attached. 

    I put five gallons of gas in it (the gauge seemed to work) and went through it all in about 100 yards of driving and idling (one nice backfire after the first of three shutdowns)

    Tested the 4 wheel drive - it works. 

    Wipers don't work. 

    Interior fan blows - but no air seems to come through the vents.

    There a small rust hole at the base of the driver side shock tower. 

    Though the interior didn't look good in the ebay ad, its worse.

    The exterior is worse, but not bad, as well - but I actually expected that. Photos lie even when you don't want them too. 

    There is at least one brake hanging up (disclosed in the ad)

     

    That's about all I have so far. 

     

    I thought I might be overpaying. Now I know it. Tell me by how much.

     

    p.s. the seller was not the owner on the title.

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted

    Would you like to see the questions I asked? Or just want to take it in and evaluate ?

     

    I realize you once owned one but several of us on this board have had our noses in these vintage Subarus for the last couple of decades. You might want to hear a bit of our observations of these vehicles as they are most often found 20 , 30 years down the road.

    Sure! Feel free to share the questions? As to me previous owning a Brat. It was for about a year in 78/79, so I guess that hardly counts. I'm all ears when it comes to help concerning vehicles (I am not a mechanic - nor do I play one in the driveway).

    Bought a '78 Brat

    in Meet n' Greet. Your USMB Welcome Center

    Posted

    You spent $5K for it? Great that you are able to do that. But I presented a list of questions to the owner/seller and did not get a reply. Needless to say , he didn't post my questions either.

     

    I sure hope it works out for you.

     

    Good luck!

    Its always a risk when buying sight unseen. But I needed it. i.e. Desire Creates Need. Keep an eye on the sellers feedback. I always provide honest assessments. 

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