First let me just point out that I'm not very smart OR mechanically inclined, BUT:

 

I'd like to know exactly where (pics?) under my '85 BRAT are the suspension adjuster thingies? I understand that there's one for each wheel, ain'a? Or one for front and one for back? Do I need any special tools? Big muscles?

 

Just wonderin'.

Well for the front there are two 22mm? nuts on each strut. Look at the bottom of the big spring, and you will see them on the lower spring perch. You can adjust these up with a big open end wrench but it will screw up your camber something aweful and you will tear through tires with quickness. I sugest you leave them at the stock lowest setting unless you have an off-road only rig or just really like buying tires.

 

The rear has a single torsion tube assembly and there is one BIG adjusting bolt for both wheels. It's located on top of the center of the torsion tube, and you will have to crawl under the car to get at it. This will adjust both rear wheels up or down, and does not affect the camber in any way so feel free to adjust it all you want. It will look really funky with the a$$ end hanging way up in the air tho - beleive me I've tried it.

 

Both of these adjustments are usually covered in rust/scale/underbody coating, and can be a real nasty biotch to work with. PB blaster, BFH, and lots of band aids for your knuckles.

 

GD

Thats a bummer to find out about the front end getting all jacked up hurting the tires. Looks like the best way is really to just have a lift kit then? 

When I bought that BRAT, it had a home-brewed, sortta 2" lift in it. Engine/trans crossmembers where spaced down with some double-stacked hockey pucks from "Play it again, Sports". No strut top lift.

Tires were definitely doing the \ / thing. I removed all that stuff.

 

Straight "designed for a Subaru lift" is the best way to go.