Someone's got to know the answer to this one. I need to replace an inner tie rod on my '85 DL Sdn, manual steering, as well as an inner tie rod on my '85 GL Wagon, power steering as well as the rubber boots for both.

 

According to the parts store, there are two different tie rods available and two different boots. One is for constant gear ratio steering boxes and the other is for variable gear ratio steering boxes. Which is which? Logic says variable is manual but it's a special order and it could be an expensive guess. If it was the same side for both, I'd order both but I need RH side tie rod on the DL and LH side on the GL.

 

BTW, they want $20 for the boots at the parts house and $60 for the tie rods, so if any one has a better source, pls let me know.

Goto the Junkyard. Might be able to get the whole steering gearbox for $50. I dont know the difference between the two, but in 1985 they had EA82 Subaru's and EA81 Brats and Hatchbacks... so there might be a difference between the two. they also had power steering & manual steering.

 

if the cars arent being driven, i would probably take the tierod and boot into the store, and compare it with what they have.

 

-Brian

http://www.importpartsauthority.com I just went there and checked on your parts. They list only one inner Tie-rod for power steering. They list two for manual steering, Variable is 4.8 turns lock-to-lock, standard is 4 turns lock-to-lock. According to them anyway. I haven't ordered anything from them, yet, so I can't give a yea or nay on them. Got a few places on my supplier list, they just happen to break it down better as far as part id.....

on my 83, i did an ea82 suspension conversion, which required longer(ea82 tierods)

my car was a manual rack, and my parts were from a power rack. but the threads are different, the manual had male threads and the power had female(i think, one way or the other)

anyway, it was a homosexual thread that would not work between power and manual

 

but that should be one of the differences.

Thanks for the assist folk! Yeah, that IPA web site helped a lot. Turns out, according to them, the DL steering is w/o Variable gear ratio (4 turns lock to lock). Of course, it's the more expensive of the three tie rods. Had to be. But good prices on the boots as well as other goodies.

 

Unfortunately, not many junkyards around here have Subarus on 'em. That can be taken as both a good and bad sign. Meaning that the older 'Rus available are running and on the road. But there aren't too many of them to result in some being boneyard material.

 

No tie rods on the shelf at the parts stores here - special order only - so couldn't walk in with one and compare it. Good thought though.

 

Again, thanks for the assist! Gawd, I love this board!