help with my Sons 81 Brat Leaking and HARD to Steer
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:54 am
Please don’t take this the wrong way I am not insulting Brats in any way shape or form.
Against my better judgment my 16 year old got his first car a 1981 Brat 4x4 (I have nothing against brats I just feel a 30 year old car is going to be a money pit)
To make a long story short his money his car he got what he wanted
(You have to let them make some mistakes or they never learn)
The first time shifting into 4x4 mode on some loose gravel caused his first issue
It is now Steering VERY hard, I am thinking a hub or one side of the Transfer case is locked up, while I shoved myself under it looking for the issue I noticed a small Coolant leak on the drives side between the engine block and the head
The previous owner swapped out a ton of items, it’s a Subaru engine from a wagon, the dash is from who knows what the rest of the car is a Hodge podgy of adapted items made to fit Webber carb and seats out of a kia rio to name a few.
Leaking issue
I have heard the Heads need to be shaved or they will keep eating gaskets is this true? Do you think I can loosen everything up and wiggle a new gasket in without pulling the engine?
Hard Steering
It seems to run and drive okay, 4x4 works without any noises that can’t be attributed to being a 30 year old car but the steering is Horrid now
I am thinking it could be one of three things, transfer case, hub or a binding CV joint.
While not personally familiar with Subaru I have replaced engines, transmissions, and transfer cases in Toyotas, jeeps, Chevy and even a ford van as well as building an engine from the short block up so doing the work shouldn’t be a an issue it just figuring out where to start.
Against my better judgment my 16 year old got his first car a 1981 Brat 4x4 (I have nothing against brats I just feel a 30 year old car is going to be a money pit)
To make a long story short his money his car he got what he wanted
(You have to let them make some mistakes or they never learn)
The first time shifting into 4x4 mode on some loose gravel caused his first issue
It is now Steering VERY hard, I am thinking a hub or one side of the Transfer case is locked up, while I shoved myself under it looking for the issue I noticed a small Coolant leak on the drives side between the engine block and the head
The previous owner swapped out a ton of items, it’s a Subaru engine from a wagon, the dash is from who knows what the rest of the car is a Hodge podgy of adapted items made to fit Webber carb and seats out of a kia rio to name a few.
Leaking issue
I have heard the Heads need to be shaved or they will keep eating gaskets is this true? Do you think I can loosen everything up and wiggle a new gasket in without pulling the engine?
Hard Steering
It seems to run and drive okay, 4x4 works without any noises that can’t be attributed to being a 30 year old car but the steering is Horrid now
I am thinking it could be one of three things, transfer case, hub or a binding CV joint.
While not personally familiar with Subaru I have replaced engines, transmissions, and transfer cases in Toyotas, jeeps, Chevy and even a ford van as well as building an engine from the short block up so doing the work shouldn’t be a an issue it just figuring out where to start.