PBfreak's 1999 Legacy Outback

[PBfrEAk]

So this is my proper build thread/documentation thread.

Picked up this 1999 Legacy Outback 5 speed for $1,900 dollars with 94,000 miles. From what I can tell I am the "third" owner with the first being an older gentleman who lived near or in downtown Pittsburgh and the second being the dealer I bought it off of.

Excuse the Instagram filter:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/IMG_20160709_161351-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/IMG_20160709_161351.jpg.html)

Another:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1223-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1223.jpg.html)

Now these are actually the only two photos I have of the car in it's stock form.

Here is how she currently sits:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1447-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1447.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1451-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/DSC_1451.jpg.html)

Here is how she sits as of today (10/31) I'll have her back on the road by tomorrow. Check the next post for details...lol

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1506-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1506.jpg.html)

I'll update this post as things change. I'll post after this with the progression.

Current Mods:
(Things I have but haven't installed are in red)

Interior:
Stock


Exterior:
Outback emblem delete


Suspension:
Hard Race Front Links and bushings
2002 WRX wagon springs front and rear
KYB GR-2/Excel G's
Audi (front) End links for the rear
New rear sway bar bushings

Brakes:
Stock

Wheels and tires:
Stock wheels/Yokohama's that came on it.

Coming soon:
Saggy Butt Spacers
Brake upgrade (including master cylinder brace...lots of squishiness that needs to be gone)
Upgrade head unit/speakers

I've been wanting a 2nd gen wagon since we got rid of my wife's Outback about 5 or so years ago. I am soooo happy!

Thanks for reading!

[Go Mifune]

Outbacks look so good in white. Good Purchase!

[PBfrEAk]

So like I said...here is how she got to where she is.

I only was able to get two photos of her stock because she had other idea's. I got in the car one afternoon to move it and heard a loud pop in the front. I pulled it in the garage with a TON of noise to find this:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1284-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1284.jpg.html)

The spring decided it was done.

I then made the decision that instead of replacing one spring, which I would assume only could cause me more headaches down the road from the other three springs, I would just upgrade my suspension now. Wife wasn't as excited as was since this was a spur of the moment car purchase anyway.

After tossing around either a WRX stock swap or coilover route I decided that while I could achieve a better ride height for my tastes, the WRX suspension would be a better setup and I could still always go with coilovers later. FYI: for ease and price, I should have went with the coilovers. I bought the springs on NAOSIC and then bought everything else new (shocks, top hats, spring seats, rubber boots, rubber spring guard thingies, ect) and it was just a pain partially due to the dealer not ordering everything the first time. However now that its all on and together, it is much tighter but still comfy.

Ok, onto some pictures:

In for surgery:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1282-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1282.jpg.html)

Had to cut the brake line brackets:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1288-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1288.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1290-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1290.jpg.html)

The other springs (looked rustier once I got them off)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1295-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1295.jpg.html)

Here you can see the endlinks:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1297-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1297.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1299-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1299.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1300-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1300.jpg.html)

The broken spring/strut out:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1301-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1301.jpg.html)

Unbelievable. So glad I wasn't driving (I had been driving earlier that day). The spring actually dug into my tread just a bit from pulling it into the garage. I think I would have blown a tire if it would have broke while driving.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1302-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1302.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1303-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1303.jpg.html)


Completely off the ground:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1320-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1320.jpg.html)

All four struts out:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1385-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1385.jpg.html)

The new parts pile ready to go on:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1392-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1392.jpg.html)

All together ready to be compressed (I ended up putting the rear top hats on incorrectly even though they were clearly marked...idiot :banghead:)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1395-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1395.jpg.html)

Installed:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1444-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1444.jpg.html)

Pretty:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1449-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1449.jpg.html)

I did ziptie the brake lines on the new struts FOR NOW. I'm going to upgrade brakes soon and do stainless steel lines.

- - - Updated - - -


Outbacks look so good in white. Good Purchase!

It's actually silver! Hard to tell due to the shitty instagram filter and poor lighting!

[PBfrEAk]

On to the reason for the fender being removed.

About a month after the install, the driver side front lug's decided to work there way loose on my way to work. At the time I didn't know what it was and since my wheel wasn't "loose" and I had all my lugs, I had someone follow me in hopes on making it back home.

I always chuckle when I see this happening to people as I can never understand how you don't know that your wheel is about to come off.

I will never think that again...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1480-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1480.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1482-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1482.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1495-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1495.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1497-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1497.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1498-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1498.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1499-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1499.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1500-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1500.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1501-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1501.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1502-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1502.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1505-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1505.jpg.html)

Luckily the wheel came off and jammed up in the fender and didn't go flying. I was going about 40 so I was able to just steer right off onto the shoulder. Had it towed to my house and started tearing it apart.

How she is sitting now:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1507-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1507.jpg.html)

The wheel was ruined.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/10/DSC_1513-1.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/PBfrEAk_240sx/media/Scoob/DSC_1513.jpg.html)

I was also lucky in the fact that with the wheels being aluminum, the studs are in perfect shape and nothing else was damaged other than the fender. I picked up a good matching wheel at the junkyard for 30 bucks. They had a fender but it was in worse shape than mine WITH the damage. I'm going to just paint the chipped sections and keep an eye out on craigslist or ebay for a matching one in good condition.

I've also bought an impact gun...so there isn't a next time. :shock:

[thedeadhp]

At the dealership we torque the lugs on with an impact THEN we bring the car down and use a torque wrench set to 85-90 FT-Lbs and click all of the wheels just to be sure. This same thing was VERY close to happening to me. I heard an odd clicking and felt looseness in the steering, turns out my rear lugs had worked their way loose. Caught them by shaking my wheel back and forth with the car on the ground :lol:

Just posted in my thread that I had alittle bit of a screw up with wheels coming off. But mine was alittle more dramatic to fix on the side of the road! :lol:

Once you get a new fender this will be one of those stories you can tell your friends about when they ask if you've had anything go wrong with your build!