nepbug's 01 Outback - 1/22/17 Eff Me! Gut check time!

[nepbug]

So yes I do have 2000/1000 grind delta cams. I love them. I have factory crank HP/TQ at the ground so it is one of the best mods I could have done.

Did you have to pass emissions with that setup?

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[Airgne]

No. I don't have emissions were the car is registered.

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[nepbug]

I've been out of the country and when i got back my wife let me know that the Outback has a new noise to it. It's got a pretty good vibration sound that seems to be coming from the rear end. It seems to start around 60 mph and clears up around 70mph. It's not any louder or quieter when turning one direction, so it's not really sounding like a wheel bearing. Also, if I let off the gas the sound almost goes away entirely. I'll have to crawl under there this weekend and see what I can find.

[Airgne]

Sounds like your diff fluid is really low or non-existent at all.

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[nepbug]

Sounds like your diff fluid is really low or non-existent at all.

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That'll be one of the first things I check. At least replacing the diff isn't too big of a PITA if it turns out it's shot.

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[nepbug]

Well, I had an hour this weekend to do a little troubleshooting. I disconnected the drive shaft from the rear diff and checked the u-joints there and everything was smooth there. I didn't have much time anything else other than some wiggling and prodding. I did find that my VLSD is no longer good and the diff is acting like an open diff now, so that points to a potential rear diff problem. I do believe I have another 4.11 rear diff in my garage right now so I'll look to swap that in this next weekend because I want the LSD action again anyways. If that doesn't solve it I'll take the entire drive shaft out to inspect the other u-joints and then move on to removing the axles for closer inspection.

The noise has gotten worse and now is unhappy at 35mph as well.

[Airgne]

Any updates?

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[nepbug]

Any updates?

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Weather is making it tough to diagnose the vibration, got another foot last night. I've got a 4.11 VLSD in the garage now, I'm going to get a drive shaft soon too. I think replacing those 2 things will clear it up.

I've got my parts for the head gasket job. I'll probably pull the cams and start the port/polish of the heads within the next week.

[nepbug]

Vibration fixed! I swapped in a good drive shaft and now we're back to peace and quiet in the Outback.

Weather is looking good next week, hopefully I can start on some head work in prep for the head gasket job.

[dna]

Congrats on the fix man, you should check out my build thread I have made all kinds of progress. About to begin piecing it all together tomorrow!


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[nepbug]

Whoa, long time since I posted in here (tapatalk support going away really has cut back my time on this forum)

Anyways, I replaced the knock sensor yesterday after throwing a code for it, everything is happy again. I've developed a little bit of a shake at highway speeds and during high speed braking. I think it is due to the rear transverse link on the front control arms starting to go; I just received some Febest replacement bushings that I hope to get installed today.

In other things coming up, I have new rotors and pads waiting to go on in better weather as well as the seals to do caliper rebuilds all around. Lastly, I've got to take some pictures and write up my 04/05 V-Limited STi front lip install.

[nepbug]

Ok, new transverse link bushings in, pretty simple, but a PITA to torque things to 181 ft-lbs and 137 ft-lbs while the car is on the ground. Glad I have installed baja turbo springs to give me that little bit of extra clearance. I found putting it on my slanted driveway and then driving on my ramps to level the car gave me a lot more room to work when doing the torques.



The new ones are from Febest, I've heard good things about them, I hope they hold up. The right side bushing was blown, the left side was actually still good. I'm going to attempt to get the bushings pressed out so I can press in some urethane bushings and use them in my Impreza or Forester build.



Also, I need to put a more up-to-date pic up, here it is as it sits now (dirty, like it usually is as well, lol), you can see the lip in this pic. I'll have to lok if I have any pics from the summer, I was running some 17" gold Oz Superleggeras all summer, they looked good.



I noticed that I have a torn steering rack boot while I was under there today. I think I'll plan on continuing the front end refresh a bit and start gathering parts to replace the inner and outer tie rods, ball joints and maybe the forward control arm bushing, that should tighten everything back up again.

[Go Mifune]

Whoa, long time since I posted in here (tapatalk support going away really has cut back my time on this forum)

Welcome back! I was starting to worry about you and how's that GTi doing?

[nepbug]

Welcome back! I was starting to worry about you and how's that GTi doing?

Haha, GTI is slowly driving my wife nuts, which means it's still parked, lol. I'm taking the week off work so I'm actually able to do some work on projects, don't think I'll touch the GTI this week though. I'll do some stuff on the Outback and maybe get a little done on the OBS too.

[dna]

Hey man, I have a question about your VLSD. I have ran across so much conflicting information about which Outbacks have the LSD. I am picking up a 01 Outback with the winter weather package. Which from what I have found should have the LSD, but my question is how can I verify that it definitely is a LSD differential? Is there a number stamped on it or a distinguishing feature? haha Any help would be great, thanks again!

[nepbug]

Hey man, I have a question about your VLSD. I have ran across so much conflicting information about which Outbacks have the LSD. I am picking up a 01 Outback with the winter weather package. Which from what I have found should have the LSD, but my question is how can I verify that it definitely is a LSD differential? Is there a number stamped on it or a distinguishing feature? haha Any help would be great, thanks again!

Sorry for the late reply, you can't tell just from an external look. The easiest way is to jack up the rear and then spin one of the wheels. If both rear wheels spin the same way, it's got the VLSD, if they spin opposite directions then it's an open differential.

If it has the cold weather package, you have a great shot that it has the VLSD.

[nepbug]

Ok, bad news. Last Friday I was driving to dinner when all of a sudden the Outback died while slowing for a light. No, symptoms before and it would not start. So I've towed it home and started troubleshooting.

I figured it might be the fuel pump cap that is known to crack, checked for fuel at the rail, that was fine. Pulled pump anyways since I just verified flow and not presssure, the cap was good and the o-ring was in place.

Next up was spark, I was getting good spark in for all cylinders.

Ok, pulled CEL codes, no codes at all!

Today, I finally had good enough weather to pull the timing covers and check timing.

Well, fellas, I'm in for some more work. I'm not impressed with the previous mechanic's work.

First, no belt guide in place, WTH, it's a 5mt, it's not optional.



Next, found this floating sitting behind an idler



Found where it went, the toothed idler, not seized surprisingly



Ok, now time to check the timing.

Crank



Driver side cam



Passenger side cam...F**K!



That's 90° off!

Funny thing is it's doesn't make any banging sounds when I crank. So, I think I found my problem!

Ordering the belt components, I've already got the head gaskets, and luckily, I have spare heads in the garage, so hopefully the pistons are ok. This guy might be sitting for a little bit though as my Impreza's engine is out and in the garage, time to get that guy back in to the car so I can move on to this project, woohoo!

[dna]

Hey man just picked up a 2000 Outback so if you need any parts just let me know, its got a new gates timing belt kit on it (3000 miles) I would get rid of cheap to help you get back on the road.

[Muse]

Hey man just picked up a 2000 Outback so if you need any parts just let me know, its got a new gates timing belt kit on it (3000 miles) I would get rid of cheap to help you get back on the road.

This attitude is why I love the SL-I community.

[dna]

Me too man, when I started my swap I was flooded with information from guys on this site. Any other site you always get the " Use the search " reply. This site is more of a small community full of knowledgeable legacy guys haha.

[nepbug]

Thanks dna, I think I've got a plan figured out, the workhorse sits for the time being though, I've got about another month of insane workload at work, so I'm just planning right now until I have the opportunity to actually dig into this more.

[Jacobpockros]

Great build! I did the Woodgrain Steering Wheel swap with Momo airbag as well. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to use the LL Bean Airbag on your car, as it was designed to have a 3.0 engine in front of it (different part number than 2.5 airbags).

[Somac]

Great build! I did the Woodgrain Steering Wheel swap with Momo airbag as well. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to use the LL Bean Airbag on your car, as it was designed to have a 3.0 engine in front of it (different part number than 2.5 airbags).

It's got a different part number because it's made for a different wheel. The airbag does not care what engine you have.