What year did Subaru stop using these crazy things to adjust the rear drum brakes? Is there a interchangeable substitute? Preferably one that's adjusts more automatic like modern day brakes.

4WD EA82 vehicles have self-adjusting rear brakes.

 

Other than lug nuts, axles nuts, it's 3 bolts and the brake line to swap them over.

 

Slightly larger brakes also.

Tom knows his brakes on these cars!

 

They are a little archaic, but certainly not life altering. Ive debated this swap befor, due to the cost of a drum or 2 and the junk yard only having ea82 cars, in stock. Still ended up cheaper just to order a set of pads and a drum. Probably not worth the hassel to swap them over unless you have a setup handy or come across a set of ea82 rear disks. The parts for the EA81 drums are still available and they are very easy to service (due to the lack of a self adjustment system). Of corse you do have to adjust them from time to time. Its not every week and even if it was its a pretty simple task.

 

Answer to your question: my guess is Subaru stopped importing EA81 cars to the states in 1989 perhapse thats when these stopped being produced for our market.

Rockautos part catalog shows these adjusters were used on 2wd ea82 cars until 1990.

howcome no one has suggested rear disk brakes? can be found on GL-10's.

Yea and its mentioned in my previous post. They are getting hard to find tho.

oops.... i saw a red 1987 GL-10 at the junkyard about a year ago with rear disk brakes and in pretty good condition but didn't bother since i thought i could just find some other ones on another GL, woopsy, should have gotten them, it was crushed 10months ago.

I am looking for two of these, can't find on eBay and am trying Rockauto next!

 

I am looking for two of these, can't find on eBay and am trying Rockauto next!

Roach auto catalog is very inaccurate.  You may get stock with the wrong parts and they will charge you for return shipping.

 

Sam

Thanks for that info, somick. I ordered two yesterday and I guess I will have to wait and see. 

Just to chime in, these manual adjust setups were used all the way into the end of production in 94. They can be found on all factory 2wd vehicles.

Thanks 175eya. Another Subi owner was asking about this and I passed that info along. I received them today and they appear to be just what I need. Thanks again from Larry.