Forester Maintenance Questions
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:20 pm
I just picked up a 98 Forester the other day for my wife.
It's got 129k miles on it. Seems to drive smooth enough and shift
pretty good. The oil pan leaks and one of the front cam seals appears
to be leaking, judging by the small amount of oil at the bottom of and
behind the timing covers.
1.) Does this look like a pretty good list of things to change out?
Anything I should add? What parts would you recommend getting
from Subaru vs aftermarket? I've ordered most of these through
RockAuto.
Pronto - Fuel filter
FRAM Tough Guard - Air filter
FRAM - PCV valve
Fel-Pro - Clean EGR / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Clean throttle body / new gasket
Airtex - Clean IAC / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Clean intake manifold / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Timing cover gaskets
Gates - Timing belt / timing pulleys / tensioner
Gates - Cam seals
Gates - Front main seal
Autozone - Rear main seal
GMB - Water pump / thermostat
Fel-Pro - Oil pan gasket / oil filter / oil
Wix - Transmission filter / gasket / fill
GATES - Upper / lower radiator hoses
Goodyear - AC/PS + Alt belts
Autozone - Spark plugs / wires
Autozone Ceramic Gold - Brake pads
Subaru OEM - Steering rack boots
Autozone - Ball joint
NGK - Spark plugs and wires
Front/rear diff fluid with Amsoil Severe Gear 75w-90
Coolant flush – refill w/ Subaru coolant / additive
Thermostat/gasket from Subaru
Front sway bar bushings - Raybestos
Rear (temporary) sway bar bushings - Raybestos
Rear Outback sway bar with new bushings (if it fits and I get the time)
Recall secondary transmission filter kit for the Legacy's (From Subaru)
New tires
Possibly Whiteline steering rack bushings in the future
2.) I think I'm gonna go with Gates instead of DNJ for
the timing kit. I plan to send it back tomorrow and
get this kit from Amazon instead. Seem pretty solid?
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-TCKWP277A-E ... 0033DMFI6/
3.) So when I'm in drive and off the pedal this thing seems
to slow down more quickly than any other car I've owned.
Neutral's not as bad, but it doesn't coast worth a crap in
drive. Is that an issue or just due to the larger tires / heavier
weight. My 90 Legacy is up on Forester struts and wheels and
it just seems to not have as much resistance as this thing does.
4.) Also, during turning there seems to be about a 1/2 second
delay in the steering. Would this be due to a different power
steering pump or rack setup than the Legacy's or would it be
the steering rack bushings being worn or something?
5.) Would it be smart to throw on a timing belt guide (the one
that goes above the crank from a manual) just as added protection
from the timing belt jumping? Interference engines make me
nervous.
6.) What would you recommend for cam seals? Autozone wants
$8 each. That seems too high to me since I need 4.
7.) And lastly: Is there a way I can tell which tensioner I have without having
to take the center timing cover off?
If it helps it's from 5/98 according to the metal plate in the door.
If it's the old style what will it take to upgrade to the new?
Is the new actually better?
It's got 129k miles on it. Seems to drive smooth enough and shift
pretty good. The oil pan leaks and one of the front cam seals appears
to be leaking, judging by the small amount of oil at the bottom of and
behind the timing covers.
1.) Does this look like a pretty good list of things to change out?
Anything I should add? What parts would you recommend getting
from Subaru vs aftermarket? I've ordered most of these through
RockAuto.
Pronto - Fuel filter
FRAM Tough Guard - Air filter
FRAM - PCV valve
Fel-Pro - Clean EGR / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Clean throttle body / new gasket
Airtex - Clean IAC / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Clean intake manifold / new gasket
Victor Reinz - Timing cover gaskets
Gates - Timing belt / timing pulleys / tensioner
Gates - Cam seals
Gates - Front main seal
Autozone - Rear main seal
GMB - Water pump / thermostat
Fel-Pro - Oil pan gasket / oil filter / oil
Wix - Transmission filter / gasket / fill
GATES - Upper / lower radiator hoses
Goodyear - AC/PS + Alt belts
Autozone - Spark plugs / wires
Autozone Ceramic Gold - Brake pads
Subaru OEM - Steering rack boots
Autozone - Ball joint
NGK - Spark plugs and wires
Front/rear diff fluid with Amsoil Severe Gear 75w-90
Coolant flush – refill w/ Subaru coolant / additive
Thermostat/gasket from Subaru
Front sway bar bushings - Raybestos
Rear (temporary) sway bar bushings - Raybestos
Rear Outback sway bar with new bushings (if it fits and I get the time)
Recall secondary transmission filter kit for the Legacy's (From Subaru)
New tires
Possibly Whiteline steering rack bushings in the future
2.) I think I'm gonna go with Gates instead of DNJ for
the timing kit. I plan to send it back tomorrow and
get this kit from Amazon instead. Seem pretty solid?
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-TCKWP277A-E ... 0033DMFI6/
3.) So when I'm in drive and off the pedal this thing seems
to slow down more quickly than any other car I've owned.
Neutral's not as bad, but it doesn't coast worth a crap in
drive. Is that an issue or just due to the larger tires / heavier
weight. My 90 Legacy is up on Forester struts and wheels and
it just seems to not have as much resistance as this thing does.
4.) Also, during turning there seems to be about a 1/2 second
delay in the steering. Would this be due to a different power
steering pump or rack setup than the Legacy's or would it be
the steering rack bushings being worn or something?
5.) Would it be smart to throw on a timing belt guide (the one
that goes above the crank from a manual) just as added protection
from the timing belt jumping? Interference engines make me
nervous.
6.) What would you recommend for cam seals? Autozone wants
$8 each. That seems too high to me since I need 4.
7.) And lastly: Is there a way I can tell which tensioner I have without having
to take the center timing cover off?
If it helps it's from 5/98 according to the metal plate in the door.
If it's the old style what will it take to upgrade to the new?
Is the new actually better?