I don't have a lift and I can't store ramps in my apartment. I can use the loading ramp and warehouse at my company at night so I can stay warm and dry. I need to do AT drin and fill on my '98 Legacy L wagon with 4EAT. Has anyone of decent size been able to squease under a L and get to the drian plug??

shortlid:

 

I got to mine very easily from the driver's side, behind the front tire IIRC, but mine's an Outback. Don't know how much difference the slightly higher OB clearance makes. Driving onto some pieces of lumber, like 2x10's or something similar, would make yours sit about as high as the OB, right?

 

Mine's a '97 but I'd think they're the same underneath.

 

Steve

Diff. suspension on Outbacks makes your ground clearance higher than my L. I am 6' and 216 lbs so my small gut might make it hard to get under it. I cold try teh peice of lumber trick!!

I should clarify too... I don't think it's necessary for you to be under the car, just put the drain pan under the car. Reach from the side and you can get the drain pan under the car and reach the plug with your wrench. I'm 6'4" and skinny... just under 200 lbs. But that shouldn't matter as long as your arms are long enough to reach the plug, and would I think they are.

 

The first time I drained it, I jacked the car up, put it on stands, and got at it from the front. It was a pain working under there. Then, when I looked at it from the driver's side, I realized I could just get at it from there. Much easier, less chance of burning yourself on hot exhaust stuff.

 

Steve

My 2000 Legacy GT was reached from driver's side behind wheel, same anatomical config 6'4" 210, long arms. The bear was the front diff. and I ended up letting a shop do the front and rear diff. I know there are purists on this site who will hunt me down in the middle of the night for suggesting this but are there any real hazzards to pumping from the dip stick and refilling? I can't remember but if just the diff had magnets on the plugs or if the tran did as well. I must go and hide now....

Your car comes with this fancy thing called a jack; give it a shot!

 

Borrow some jack stands or huge blocks of wood for saftey.

Drive over a curb and do it in the street.

I usualy wear a suit to work that is maybe why I did not try to reach for the drain plug I will try again, thanks for the vote of confidence guys!!

A warehouse with a loading dock must have at least one forklift. You should be able to do this without smudging the suit!

Man,

 

 

I'm glad I don't have to wear a suit...

driving on the curb trick is my favorite for low riders (lower than my soob).

 

have your car lifted a few inches, that should do the trick.

 

i seem to remember most soob trannies having magnetic plugs in the pan, not sure about yours though.

We do have TWO forklifts but I would not want the Soob slipping off them onto me!!

A cheap hydrolic jack from Schuck's or wherever can be had for less than $20, and will come in handy the next time you have a flat tire. It should be able to lift your car up enough to reach the plug no matter what your size is.

I have always heard, NEVER GET UNDER CAR THAT IS ONLY HELD UP BY A JACK!!

I drained mine the other month. I have a gen 1 legacy so it should be very similar. You shouldn't need a jack, or to drive up a curb. You should be able to reach the plug easily from underneath the drivers door. The hardest part might be getting leverage if your bolt is on there tight.

I have always heard, NEVER GET UNDER CAR THAT IS ONLY HELD UP BY A JACK!!

 

Not a bad axiom. Then block it with a piece of wood or a cinder block, or a jack stand....

Put a dirty old jacket on and reached it no problem thanks guys!! Only 3 1/2 qts came out after 1 hour drain time?