milty60

Finally found the time to work on my son's Sub. I purchase extractor socket set and an angle grinder - awesome tools - both front upper bolts on caliper bracket were removed using extractor socket and angle grinder on remaining two bottom bolts. Now - the step I don't love: bleeding all four brakes - first off - 20 yer old car - more rust on this bad boy than steel - bought 4 new bleeder - soaking current ones with PB Blaster - praying to the good lord I don't snap off bleeders and spend either hours trying to extract and save calipers or ending up purchasing calipers - I've gone through this process a dozen times before - I would appreciate hearing your DIY advice on breaking free bleeders and or any tips beyond telling my son pump the brake - hold it - on and on. Please advise. Thanks....Milty

Larry, If you have coil springs available for sale I am interested. Let me know. Thanks, Milty

Thanks for the advice - I may just buy the compressor. Milty

Thanks for all the tips. Milty

I wish I had an impact wrench and compressor I'll probably rent coil spring compress or from Advance but may also shop around for a local shop for an estimate. Last time I attempted a coil replacement on wife's van I could not get the top strut nut off - sure if I hit it with an impact wrench it would of broke free - ended up taking it to a Midas shop - charged me $60 - a rip off - same price if strut was in the van. Checked local junk yard he has a complete strut/coil but rusty - wants $50. Milty

My son - 18 - lots of testosterone - I remember those days - wants to increase engine horsepower but not break the bank - the used Legacy he purchased came with headers. Thinking about air induction - or removing intake silencer - change computer chip - son also saw online that a WRX engine can be swapped into the Legacy (pick one up at a bone yard) - said stock engine has more horse power. Beyond boring out cylinders - new camshafts , etc - all too costly - you guys have any advise? ....Milty

1996 Subaru Legacy L ABS 4 wheel drive - front passenger coil spring. I plan on purchasing a new strut for on son's sub - and buying a used coil springs from a poster on this site. I had rented a coil spring compressor when I worked on my wife's van - Dodge Caravan sport - worked nice but when spring was compressed it slipped a couple of times - maybe user error. My question on the sub - I have heard that the rental compressors don't match up well enough (on foreign cars) to safely compress the coil and hold it - I can't remember where I spotted one online but it was specifically made for Subaru's. So should I buy one? - if so any recommendations? - brand and or website? - or rent one? - any DIY tips on compressing the spring/replacing strut? ....Milty

Thanks for the advice - I tried a ratchet wrench 6 point initially - bolts so misshapen due to rust - had no luck. I have a local auto parts store - Levine auto parts that carries tons of hardened (tensile 8 I think) metric bolts - I need to stop by and see if they have bolts I need otherwise I will order from Subaru.

Thanks for all the advice. Milty

Thought about trip meter trick but its my 18 yr old sons car and I know he won't keep track and will run out of gas and then I need to rescue him. I'm hoping fuel pump/ sending unit from junk yard (40 bucks) will do the trick. odd thing is if I fill tank up completely gauge will read about half full for a couple of days and then drop back down to empty - assume little circuit board is going and its not a float issue. ....Milty

I'm looking for advice on best method to remove rusted bolts with damaged heads on the front caliper brackets. The bolt heads have lost there 6 sided shape due to 20 yrs of rust damage. Tight space to access bolt is also an issue. Thinking about drilling out most of bolt and using one of those extraction tools (best tool/brand to use) after lots of PB blaster. Thoughts? My goal is to get caliper bracket off so I can replace front rotors - if I damage brackets in the process that's okay - I'll replace brackets and mounting bolts. Thanks, Milty

The guy my son bought the car from (a brother of my sons 's best buddy) - called the car a beater - u can beat it and it keeps going - I'm sure they broke the spring - they broke a control arm on drivers side front - put one in from the junk yard before he sold it. They had a pisser with the car (owners words) - especially in the winter - he gave me 4 winter tires and rims - one just the rim with a blown out shredded tire - what's left of it sitting on the rim. Three of the all season tires and rims on the car are gouged along the rims in multiple spots - don't know if they hit the curb multiple times or what? ...But all in all so far engine and tranny are in good shape. ...Milty

Ah ok. Wonder which one the auto wrecking yard has? - but I still think he is claiming there is only one unit in entire tank. Going to check this morning - so there is two access panels? My luck I'll replace the one that's good - regarding fuel gauge operation. ....Milty

Auto wrecking in my town has a strut/coil complete assembly - 50 bucks - owner states its rusty but coil is in good shape and no leaks from strut. I'll check it out tomorrow. ..Milty

According to auto wrecking in my town (he has one) the fuel pump and sending unit is one component (years 95, 96, 97) son's Sub is a 96 - I have not had a chance to check my son's car for the two access panels mentioned in this thread - one for pump , one for float sending unit. Any thoughts? Milty

Been busy - going to call a few auto wrecking yards tomorrow - if I find float assembly I'll put it in this weekend. ...Milty

Going to check out auto wrecking this weekend but if I go the route of coil only I'll hit you up. ....Milty

Thanks for all the info. ...Milty

I noticed my son's Subaru has a right front broken coil spring. Strut shaft looks a bit oily too - I suspect its leaking. Instead of buying a spring and strut and renting tool to compress the spring, besides the cost of new parts - I'm thinking I could check a few bone yards for a coil spring strut combo - make sure its not leaking, or in bad shape, at a reasonable price. The bolts holding the bottom of the strut housing are very rusty - not looking forwarded to breaking those free. Any advise - on getting strut/coil at bone yard? and any tips with the DIY replacement? Milty

Good idea - will do this weekend

I have not driven it to bed with the new pads. ....Milty

Appreciate all the info - so if it is pressed into the knuckle first - can I DIY it or do I need to remove knuckle take into a service shop to have bearing pressed in and then followed by hub? The backing plate is rusty and parts are gone due to rust - I had to grind down part of the rotor so it would not rub against backing plate - (advised in my thread above this is a known issue with aftermarket rotors parts - I had to grind down the opposite rotor as well when I did complete parking brakes shoes and pads). I almost suspect the bottom parking brake spring that lays against the star wheel is a bit close to the back of the tone ring and may be rubbing as I spin the wheel and I am blaming it on the bearing. I need to remove the wheel and take a closer look. Thoughts? ....Milty

If I recall correctly its bolted to the hub - need to pull wheel to be sure.

Having a hard time finding part - drivers side rear hub with bearing 4 wheel drive ABS - tried Rockauto, Advanceautoparts, Autozone, - all seem to have hub but only 2wd or non-abs flavor - I guess I could purchase only the bearing and install in current hub - has 117K miles on it. Any advice - where to get part or thoughts on bearing only Thanks, Milty

Both rear done now but I hear noise in left rear hub.... think it's a bad wheel bearing. ... Hear grinding when hub is spun by hand...never replaced one. ...will search forums and or ask for help