legacycentral bbs

So I just bought a 1992 Legacy S with a 5 speed manual. I found out that the rear right wheel doesn't move. I figured that the caliper was just stuck, no biggie. Took the caliper off today and guess what, the wheel was still not moving. uh oh. So, my question is: what do I do now? Should I replace the whole rear end with a better one or just remove the differential and try to fix it?

sounds like a seized wheel bearing to me... that or a locked emergency brake/cable

tahiti350 wrote:sounds like a seized wheel bearing to me... that or a locked emergency brake/cable

Thanks for the reply, I am fairly certain that the e-brake is not the problem because the caliper was completely off when I checked if the wheel could move, however, I don't know if the e-brake uses the calipers or something else?

the ebrake does not use the caliper

SiCkSTi04 wrote:the ebrake does not use the caliper

I knew it. That's why I said I was fairly certain. However, I still don't think that that is the problem because the wheel still moves about 1/16 of a turn in either direction. After the 1/16 of a turn, I hear a metal to metal contact and the wheel moves no further, still think that it is an e-brake or even the wheel bearing?

When you are trying to turn it are both rear wheels off the ground?

Lunatech wrote:When you are trying to turn it are both rear wheels off the ground?

Yes, and when I try to turn the other wheel, It moves, but it feels like there is a spring holding it back.

Probably the bearing inside the right side of the differential. Maybe not, but that's my guess.

Did you take the rotor off to be sure one of the e-brake pads is not stuck? That would allow it to move a bit while still being relatively frozen... if not that, I'd rule out wheel bearing before suspecting the diff...

I think if it was engaged enough to stop things it wouldn't be able to turn even a 1/16th of a turn, probably a better place to start though and would be a lot easier than getting into the diff. It could be as simple as that.

There is at least 1/8" of play in the ebrake if only one shoe is grabbing (or stuck, as the case may be)... this would probably translate into roughly 1/16th of a turn, but would make allot of noise when you jiggled it.

True, I'd definitely look there first.

Alright, it was the e-brake. I took off the rotor today and the wheel freed up. I also put a battery in and the engine started on the third try. I'm pretty sure that the engine has a knocking piston. However that won't be a huge problem because I'm already planning on rebuilding the whole engine.

good to hear

Always look at the easy things first... You'd ahve been really upset to swap out the diff adn still ahve a problem....

But I'm glad it was an easy fix. Car probably sat with teh E-brake engaged and that side stuck?

If you were closer the wrecking yard I P/T in has a 2.5 in a Forester that I could get you for a good price.

tahiti350 wrote:Always look at the easy things first... You'd ahve been really upset to swap out the diff adn still ahve a problem....

But I'm glad it was an easy fix. Car probably sat with teh E-brake engaged and that side stuck?

If you were closer the wrecking yard I P/T in has a 2.5 in a Forester that I could get you for a good price.

Yeah, I'm super glad that that was all that it was. Took her out for a spin today. Yeah, the HG is definitely blown, I can smell quite a bit of oil burning.

you should have seen the expression on my face the first time i learned the '89-'94 legacy has brakes inside of brakes.... never seen anything like that before, even on big trucks!