playing catch up here. I am such a procrastinator!
LATERAL LINK REPLACE/INSTALL - March 16 2013
I had two bent lateral links. My rear would not align perfect so I finally broke down and decided to replace them. I went with the STi lateral link kit with pillowball bushings. Subaru P/N B0250-SA001
Ordered them and got them in, I love instructions in Japanese.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0215131922_zps88f7610c.jpg
I did a read though of the FSM on replacing them and then while doing a visual inspection of all parts involved prior to install started to look at the bolt heads - they were fairly rounded out from them being adjusted so many times over the years, so I then decided to 'do it right' and ordered all new bolts and nuts. Wait for following weekend-Took the car up to the shop and went to work.
The FSM states to remove the rear axles from the differential because the CV boot is in the way of two of the camber bolts using special tool XYZ- You dont need to do this.
I got the bolts in and out no problem just had to work and think though it properly.
Remove both the wheels, then remove the long outer bolts first and allow the links to fall down. Using a jack stand flex the control arm back up a few inches, this will change the orientation of the drive axle enough to pull the bolt out from between the inner CV boot.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131143_zps1e5f8fdb.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131105_zpsfa5b1e8e.jpg
Installation is simple...just the reverse.
I did this with a lift at the shop, only took an hour and a half but I work slow and methodically on my vehicle.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131252_zps6f3d2324.jpg
Here are the old pieces and the bend links I removed.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131221_zpsecdf643a.jpg
Before I put the front wheels back on I decided to check the balance on all my wheels since I had been a naughty boy and not done it in awhile, I had no balance problems I could feel but decided why not while I am here and have time and already have the rear tires off. Tire pressure was good as well. All of them just 1 pound low, so that was nice since the last time I had checked the tire pressure was early December 2012.
I then put the car on the alignment rack to get it all into specs. Got the car up and did the initial readings withthe alignment machine.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131558_zpsde4ead30.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131614a_zpsc8d25a1d.jpg
Fifteen minutes or so later I had all the specs all at 0.0 or 0.1 and all green. I was happy and looking forward to taking it for a test drive with it properly aligned.
While I had it up on the lift I also replaced all the sagging exhaust hangers with pretty blue poly ones. that took longer than the links....with all the grease I could find they were very tight going on.
I also ordered and installed the Impreza trunk net. Took 10 minutes. Fits nice. Subaru P/N F5510-FS000
LATERAL LINK REPLACE/INSTALL - March 16 2013
I had two bent lateral links. My rear would not align perfect so I finally broke down and decided to replace them. I went with the STi lateral link kit with pillowball bushings. Subaru P/N B0250-SA001
Ordered them and got them in, I love instructions in Japanese.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0215131922_zps88f7610c.jpg
I did a read though of the FSM on replacing them and then while doing a visual inspection of all parts involved prior to install started to look at the bolt heads - they were fairly rounded out from them being adjusted so many times over the years, so I then decided to 'do it right' and ordered all new bolts and nuts. Wait for following weekend-Took the car up to the shop and went to work.
The FSM states to remove the rear axles from the differential because the CV boot is in the way of two of the camber bolts using special tool XYZ- You dont need to do this.
I got the bolts in and out no problem just had to work and think though it properly.
Remove both the wheels, then remove the long outer bolts first and allow the links to fall down. Using a jack stand flex the control arm back up a few inches, this will change the orientation of the drive axle enough to pull the bolt out from between the inner CV boot.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131143_zps1e5f8fdb.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131105_zpsfa5b1e8e.jpg
Installation is simple...just the reverse.
I did this with a lift at the shop, only took an hour and a half but I work slow and methodically on my vehicle.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131252_zps6f3d2324.jpg
Here are the old pieces and the bend links I removed.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131221_zpsecdf643a.jpg
Before I put the front wheels back on I decided to check the balance on all my wheels since I had been a naughty boy and not done it in awhile, I had no balance problems I could feel but decided why not while I am here and have time and already have the rear tires off. Tire pressure was good as well. All of them just 1 pound low, so that was nice since the last time I had checked the tire pressure was early December 2012.
I then put the car on the alignment rack to get it all into specs. Got the car up and did the initial readings withthe alignment machine.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131558_zpsde4ead30.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x291/alkorahil/0316131614a_zpsc8d25a1d.jpg
Fifteen minutes or so later I had all the specs all at 0.0 or 0.1 and all green. I was happy and looking forward to taking it for a test drive with it properly aligned.
While I had it up on the lift I also replaced all the sagging exhaust hangers with pretty blue poly ones. that took longer than the links....with all the grease I could find they were very tight going on.
I also ordered and installed the Impreza trunk net. Took 10 minutes. Fits nice. Subaru P/N F5510-FS000
