353 replies to this topic

[applegeek897]

3M tape arrived so it was time for eyelids.

 

 

Headlights got a quick clean and a once over with some wax and grease remover.

 

 

The passenger side eyelid was shaped pretty badly and didn't follow the lines of the headlight super well, some help from a headgun to somewhat mold it. 

 

 

It took a few trys but got it lined up the best I could.

 

 

As you can see there is what looks like a fair gap on the drivers side, the eyelid is actually fine, the bumper still needs to be sorted so it sits higher, plus the bonnet is slightly bent there too, not helping things. Overall, happy.

 

[Liberty]

I am slowly liking eyelids more and more.

 

What's with the whole in your bumper?

[applegeek897]

I am slowly liking eyelids more and more.

 

What's with the whole in your bumper?

 

Ah yes haha, for some strange reason, the bumper had a single parking sensor in it. At some point next next I'll probs look at adding a proper set of parking sensors.

[Liberty]

Oh! I didn't think of that.

[gromtech]

Great read, what a transformation this car went through

[applegeek897]

Great read, what a transformation this car went through

 

Thanks man, bit by bit it's getting there, PLENTY of stuff still to come.

 

A nice little goodie arrived today. A laser cut License Plate Riser in a sexy anodised black finish thanks to Rakesh from Atrax Engineering.

 

 

It also came with a nice set of Stainless Steel M6x12mm and M6x25mm bolts along with some nice plastic spacers.

 

 

This is how the plate looked before, it really does sit quite low.

 

 

Riser on. I've set it as high as it goes.

 

 

I've used all 4 spacers on the bottom to reduce the possibly of the plate scratching the bumper.

 

 

Everything back together.

 

 

It's nothing crazy special and yes an extremely cheap solution could've been made with bits from Bunnings but this is made to fit and will never degrade.

[Liberty]

Nice addition. How much did it set you back if you don't mind me asking?

[applegeek897]

Nice addition. How much did it set you back if you don't mind me asking?

 

Not at all. $30 plus $10 for postage from Melbourne.

[Liberty]

Inexpensive and effective. Good stuff man.

[El_Freddo]

Neat fix. Next up a slim line plate as well??

Cheers

Bennie

[motoboy76]

Looks a lot better lifted that's for sure...

[Toby Perry]

Love the addition, and damn that bokeh! What nice lenses you have. 

[applegeek897]

Neat fix. Next up a slim line plate as well??

Cheers

Bennie

 

It's likely, specially if the car gets painted. If I did, I would go with the black with silver text plates for sure.

 

Looks a lot better lifted that's for sure...

 

 

Love the addition, and damn that bokeh! What nice lenses you have. 

 

Thanks guys, it's all about the little things

[applegeek897]

So after what was probably more then 6 months I finally got the short shifter and bushings installed. 

 

I went over the Peter / CorgiWerx for the help with the install, after all he did make them, and has done this install many times.

 

Started bright an early, pro tip, get engineer to jack car up *Yes eyelid fell off, luckily at home, need to heat-gun to help mold a bit better to shape of the headlight.

 

 

We decided to do the bushings under the car first.

 

 

Started with taking the heat shield off, then the gearbox crossmember. Due to the way the exhaust is laid out on the H6 this is apparently much harder then it is on a GT.

 

 

 

There were a bunch of pesky little things like clips refusing to come out and then fact that one of the bolts was actually installed the opposite way, we were guessing that happened when the clutch was done by a previous mechanic. That and the fact that we obversely didn't have a hoist it made the process quite lengthy, but eventually it all came out.

 

 

 

The bushings here weren't too bad but certainly still due for replacement.

 

After the new bushings were pressed in and the knuckle got a clean it all went back together, and much quicker too. Next up was the shifter.

 

Leather and knob off

 

 

Then bit by bit everything came off

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty festy, it got a small clean before everything went back in. 

 

Short shifter installed.

 

 

 

Then removed old and installed the new bushes

 

 

 

Peter also decided to take out a small curve section on the shifter bracket thing, just to make things a bit easier when reinstalling.

 

 

 

 

Then everything went back in

 

 

And done.

 

 

Man what a difference it makes too, not only is the shorter throw nicer but the extreme amount of slop is completely gone. So much better!

[Morgan]

Nice one! I didn't take that chunk of bracket out when I installed the short shifter in the Forester. Couldn't work out why it wouldn't go into first and third! Pulled it all apart after a painful trip to Sydney and back to fix it up


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[applegeek897]

Car has been running well as per usual. Rego / pink-slip has just happened which certainly hurt the wallet / mod money but it’s just something that has to be done. 

 

The only issue the car has had lately is it’s been leaking quite a bit of coolant but at completely random times. Everything looked good, hoses were fine and the radiator is only a couple of years old. Turns out in the end to just be a bad radiator cap, which is lucky, could've been something much worse. A $9.00 replacement item fixed the problem quick smart. It’s a non genuine item but it will do for now.

 

 

The other day I saw a post of Garage 88’s Facebook page regarding a recently released Cusco rear diff brace. I’ve seen a few liberty owners running a similar version of this from Beatrush. This is the Cusco version.

 

 

I had a quick look under the car and to no surprise considering the milage of the car, the rear diff bushings that connect to the rear sub frame were completely shot.

 

 

 

Considering the condition of the above I’d imagine the ones that are on the actual diff support are also completely gone as it’s hard to see from that particular angle.

 

 

Whiteline sell replacement polyurethane units for both the support and rear section. Due to the fact that the Cusco brace is fairly inexpensive, similar price to if I were to purchase aftermarket bushings and pay a replacement labour, I may as well just get the Cusco unit for a swap. Plus it’s a good excuse to get started on the Cusco band wagon which I’m sure will get out of hand one day. This is what it will end up looking like.

 

 

As far as the actual rear bushings are concerned I will likely just get some whiteline units and replace at home. It’s no easy job, but considering the cost of labour I’ll happily attempt it at home.

 

A bunch of other goodies have also been ordered today.

 

- 3D floor mats front and rear in carpet

- Gas bonnet struts

- Genuine Subaru oil filter

- Genuine washer and overflow caps

- Genuine radiator cap

- Atrax Engineering laser cut battery tie-down bracket

[RX25SE]

Your front different bushes are shot.

Drivers side is a hydraulic bush and yours is leaking.

Febst do OEM quality rubber replacements, about $100 for all four.

[applegeek897]

This was something that I suppose I wasn't expecting to do today. Bridgestone have once again run their buy 3 and get the 4th free promotion on select tyres, one being the Potenza series. The last two times this happened I didn't manage to get any tyres in my size, they were always out of stock, so this time I wasn't going to let it go. Called straight away and headed over to Bridgestone Select.

 

 

While I was there I thought I may way well just get an alignment as its been pulling right a touch lately, its wasn't going to be anything perfect, but its cheap and it'll need to be done again anyway in a couple months when coilovers go on, at that point I will go to Heasmans Suspension and get it done properly.

 

The absolute rubbish cheap shit Goodride's had served fairly well over the last year plus and it looks like they have hardly worn.

 

 

 

The biggest difference Ive noticed so far is they are significantly more comfortable and quiet. The grip isn't there just yet but they have to be broken in so no problem there. I love the sidewalls, just a nicer shape and kinda gives an illusion of a smaller profile.

 

 

 

I would have loved to have gotten some Advan Neova AD08Rs but considering the price difference I just couldn't justify it at the moment. Hey, maybe next time.

[Liberty]

A very nice tyre. I've been running them since owning my wagon.

[applegeek897]

A very nice tyre. I've been running them since owning my wagon.

 

I've already done a couple 100km's so nicely broken in now and man they grip hard.