Workin on my Subaru with all my American tools

Ft.ValloniaStreaker · May 23, 2013

As I was putting a new axle, hub, ball joint and wheel bearing in my '98 Subaru with close to 300,000 miles on it, and had the weirdest thought........Looking around at the Snap On, Cornwell, Mac, Craftsman and Vaco tools I had just used to do my work, I thought am I throwing the baby out with the bath water? The answer, na I have a lot more invested in my tools than I do the car. And I still have 2 Fords, a Chevy and an old International.
So back to my wondering, how many guys have a box of full American tools that never touch an American car? Nothing wrong with it, just something that made me go "hmmm?"

KoJo · May 23, 2013

My tools touch all makes. For the longest time my American tools were fixing English cars. That can be a bit of a lol momment.

SKAutomotive · May 23, 2013

I worked as a Subaru tech for 7 years and now work on Camrys at my fleet job. I have mostly American made tools.

Loscaldazar · May 23, 2013

Subaru owners unite! Not entirely filled with American tools, but mostly.

If it was a Legacy or Outback they are made in Indiana (not just assembled, but a fair amount of parts are made at that plant too).

mmack66 · May 23, 2013

I have USA tools and have never had an American car, though they might get more use if I did.

KoJo · May 23, 2013

The thing I like about working on Subarus is that on alot of them come with a free tool. (Timing belt and vise grips to lock cams and crank in place to break the bolts free)

rlitman · May 23, 2013

You have vise grips that large? I used my old timing belt to replace the strap in my Craftsman strap wrench, and used that to pull my cam pulley bolts.

SpiderGearsMan · May 23, 2013

subaru does leave it's mark

woody 73 · May 23, 2013

My wife has a Legacy that has a sticker from Indiana and when I work on it my tools are a mixture of every Country ; same goes for my car a highlander only made in Japan.

KoJo · May 23, 2013

rlitman said:
You have vise grips that large? I used my old timing belt to replace the strap in my Craftsman strap wrench, and used that to pull my cam pulley bolts.

Just two regular sized vise grips, one to clamp one end of the belt around the crank and another to clamp the otherside to wrap around the cam. Works well everytime.

Subyroo651 · May 23, 2013

Loscaldazar said:
Subaru owners unite! Not entirely filled with American tools, but mostly.

If it was a Legacy or Outback they are made in Indiana (not just assembled, but a fair amount of parts are made at that plant too).

Ditto on this, I own 2 Subarus.. One brand new out of Indiana.
My tools are mostly American and hardly ever get used unless a friend brings his American car for repairs.

I love my American tools :bounce:

OP: Did you document that job at all? I would be a nice read I m sure, since I have to do the same very soon. Such a crappy Wheel bearing design, I have an 01 Impreza which has the same setup.

bagsanthony · May 23, 2013

It's a shame us Americans don't manufacture much these days.... If we built cars and other metal based goods what would happen???---- oh wait a minute, hello 20th century America where we so badass and untouchable.... thanks OBAMA for your ******* socialism !!!!

Subyroo651 · May 23, 2013

bagsanthony said:
thanks OBAMA for your ******* socialism !!!!

Forum Rules:
"Here's a few quick rules to live by:

-Absolutely no politics.

bcradio · May 23, 2013

I don't own American brand cars either... been thinking about getting one though so my tools can actually get some use.

I do own some American made tools, but I don't give two hoots where it's made as long as it works when I need it.

RCP · May 23, 2013

I miss my bugeye WRX. World rally blue,nice silver rims, functional hood vent.

I miss pulling the antenna all the way out and telling people it was also a RC car :3gears:

It ran great, it handled amazing, nice interior. I loved that car. Really just a amazing machine.

I appreciate things for there quality not the COO

marshaul · May 23, 2013

bagsanthony said:
...thanks OBAMA for your ******* socialism !!!!

Someone who's concerned with socialism should know enough about markets to understand that markets, not the president, dictate whether America manufactures less and in what sectors.

Actually, I take that slightly back. America likely wouldn't make any cars at all (or different companies would be making much better ones) if our government would stop bailing out nonproductive, failed businesses.

And bailouts are bipartisan, as are all the real encroachments of government which need to be curtailed.

And here I was thinking I could keep that apolitical and purely economic. Guess I need to stop now.

SKAutomotive · May 23, 2013

I just picked up a bug eye WRX.

marshaul · May 23, 2013

RCP said:
I appreciate things for there quality not the COO

+∞

I swear I have Chinese tools which I am surprised by the quality (and value) of every time I use them.

That said, most tools which are still made in the USA are very high-quality.

wjamyers · May 23, 2013

RCP said:
I miss my bugeye WRX. World rally blue,nice silver rims, functional hood vent.

I miss pulling the antenna all the way out and telling people it was also a RC car

It ran great, it handled amazing, nice interior. I loved that car. Really just a amazing machine.

I appreciate things for there quality not the COO

I can't give up my silver bugeye sedan. I special ordered it with my custom combo of options back in 2002 (boost gauge, short shifter, rear diff shield, no wing). 300 HP at the wheels (VF30 + Vishnu TMI + Vishnu TBE) for the past 60K miles , total 120K on the ODO. yes, I had to get the center diff replaced and transmission rebuilt. and now it's my wifes DD since I DD a silver Evo 9 with a BBK full turbo and all the bolt ons putting down 400 HP on a mustang dyno.

as insane as the evo is to drive, the subaru is still a complete hoot every time I get behind the wheel. I plan to keep them both til I'm old and grayer and the only way to afford that is to study here and elsewhere and be prepared to fix them myself. with my mostly american made tools.

btw, our MT '99 3rd gen 4runner highlander sport was also made in Japan. :bounce:

for me, all three are collectors items although, I think I probably should have gotten the automatic for the truck since it's nearly as reliable and just as fuel efficient.

wjamyers · May 23, 2013

SKAutomotive said:
I just picked up a bug eye WRX.

mmack66 · May 23, 2013

bagsanthony said:
It's a shame us Americans don't manufacture much these days.... If we built cars and other metal based goods what would happen???---- oh wait a minute, hello 20th century America where we so badass and untouchable.... thanks OBAMA for your ******* socialism !!!!

We do build cars here, genius, and the decline of manufacturing in the United States began 30+ years ago, long before the current President was sworn into office.

wjamyers · May 23, 2013

marshaul said:
Someone who's concerned with socialism should know enough about markets to understand that markets, not the president, dictate whether America manufactures less and in what sectors.

Actually, I take that slightly back. America likely wouldn't make any cars at all (or different companies would be making much better ones) if our government would stop bailing out nonproductive, failed businesses.

And bailouts are bipartisan, as are all the real encroachments of government which need to be curtailed.

And here I was thinking I could keep that apolitical and purely economic. Guess I need to stop now.

well said.

i despise chicago machine corruptocrats as much as the next guy but fixating on Obama is missing the point. The establishment republicans fingerprints are all over our various economic difficulties along with the democrats. they'e a two headed snake, they divide us with social wedge issues and conquer us with 20,000 federal laws.

tjmonsen5 · May 23, 2013

I use my USA tools to fix my german cars and japanese jetskis.
I hate most USA cars.

wjamyers · May 23, 2013

mmack66 said:
We do build cars here, genius, and the decline of manufacturing in the United States began 30+ years ago, long before the current President was sworn into office.

"While it is true that the United States has lost more than 7 million manufacturing jobs since the late 1970s, that’s happened at the same time that U.S. manufacturing output has continued to expand and grow to new record levels almost every year. And in comparison to other countries, the United States remains by far the world’s largest manufacturer."

http://www.aei-ideas.org/2011/01/th...acturing-sector-has-been-greatly-exaggerated/

sometimes that stuff we think we know just aint so.

RCP · May 23, 2013

wjamyers said:
I can't give up my silver bugeye sedan. I special ordered it with my custom combo of options back in 2002 (boost gauge, short shifter, rear diff shield, no wing). 300 HP at the wheels (VF30 + Vishnu TMI + Vishnu TBE) for the past 60K miles , total 120K on the ODO. yes, I had to get the center diff replaced and transmission rebuilt. and now it's my wifes DD since I DD a silver Evo 9 with a BBK full turbo and all the bolt ons putting down 400 HP on a mustang dyno.

as insane as the evo is to drive, the subaru is still a complete hoot every time I get behind the wheel. I plan to keep them both til I'm old and grayer and the only way to afford that is to study here and elsewhere and be prepared to fix them myself. with my mostly american made tools.

btw, our MT '99 3rd gen 4runner highlander sport was also made in Japan.

for me, all three are collectors items although, I think I probably should have gotten the automatic for the truck since it's nearly as reliable and just as fuel efficient.

If I pretend you dont mention driving a Evo I can enjoy reading your post.

:3gears:

SKAutomotive · May 23, 2013

As a former Subaru tech and a WRX owner, I have to admit that the Evo is a better car for performance. Reliability is a different story.

vjlobel · May 23, 2013

A fair number of those "foreign" brands are actually built here- my frontier was built in Tennessee. I even took a tour- very cool. How many gm ford and Chrysler factories are in Mexico now?

marshaul · May 23, 2013

vjlobel said:
A fair number of those "foreign" brands are actually built here- my frontier was built in Tennessee. I even took a tour- very cool. How many gm ford and Chrysler factories are in Mexico now?

What subsidy and protectionism hath wrought.

The study of government is the study of such ironies on a societal scale.

RCP · May 23, 2013

SKAutomotive said:
As a former Subaru tech and a WRX owner, I have to admit that the Evo is a better car for performance. Reliability is a different story.

As is personality :pimpflash

garthg · May 23, 2013

What's an American car? Camry is made in Kentucky, and Subaru Legacy is made in Indiana. Camaro is made in Canada, and Chevy Avalanche is made in Mexico. Honda Accord is made in Ohio.

Reportedly, the Camry has the highest U.S. content percentage.

RCP · May 23, 2013

garthg said:
What's an American car?

I freak'in Chevy man

cburnscrx · May 23, 2013

Most of my everyday tools (travel tools not included), are USA made, but my cars are Japanese. Not a fan of the big 3, but I won't add to the political part of this discussion.

RCP · May 23, 2013

The trans on my subaru said "made in japan"

wjamyers · May 23, 2013

SKAutomotive said:
As a former Subaru tech and a WRX owner, I have to admit that the Evo is a better car for performance. Reliability is a different story.

I beat on the Evo just as hard as I beat on the WRX putting out an additional 100 HP for the past year (spools a LOT faster too) and it's been damn near bullet proof. ok I had to replace the IAC which MSRPs for 340.00 which EvoM found on Amazon for 80.00 and everyone recommends doing the timing belt every 60K miles (which I did with a gates racing upgrade). other than that it's just been wear items. I'm about 10K shy of when I had to replace the center diff in the WRX on the Evo so we'll see which center diff lasts longer.

Ft.ValloniaStreaker · May 23, 2013

Subyroo651;3129040o said:
OP: Did you document that job at all? I would be a nice read I m sure, since I have to do the same very soon. Such a crappy Wheel bearing design, I have an 01 Impreza which has the same setup.

Sorry I didn't post anything about the job, but it's not really a big deal if you have a source to press the new bearing in for you. I love tools but I have a friend that owns an alignment shop so, I'm not going to lay out that kind of money for the press kit, I just take it to him. In the past I've used junk torx screwdrivers or ground down a pole barn nail to knock the roll pin out of the axle. I bought a Subaru roll pin punch off the Cornwell truck about a month ago knowing this job was coming up, money well spent! If I have to gripe about anything on the car it has to be all the different bolt and nut sizes.....The castle nut on the ball joint and tie rod are the same thread but one is a 19mm and the other is a 14mm and this goes on and on so don't park the car far from the tool box. And go with Moog ball joints if you don't use Subaru parts, two other brands just would not fit. Torque the axle nut @ 130-150 ft.lb. and be sure and lock the nut down.

SKAutomotive · May 23, 2013

wjamyers said:
I beat on the Evo just as hard as I beat on the WRX putting out an additional 100 HP for the past year (spools a LOT faster too) and it's been damn near bullet proof. ok I had to replace the IAC which MSRPs for 340.00 which EvoM found on Amazon for 80.00 and everyone recommends doing the timing belt every 60K miles (which I did with a gates racing upgrade). other than that it's just been wear items. I'm about 10K shy of when I had to replace the center diff in the WRX on the Evo so we'll see which center diff lasts longer.

That's not what I mean by reliability. I mean the more power you throw at a car, the more often it breaks. The Evo can have a lot more power thrown at it and therefore is unreliable vs. the Subaru by nature.

Think about it, the Evo/DSM guys are getting over 600 hp on their stock blocks and rotating assemblies. Last I checked the Evo guys were knocking or actually kicked in the door on 9s with their stock turbos as well, pushing 30+ PSI on e85 like it is nothing. They also are jackstand balling a lot more than my Subaru comrades with their WRXs/STIs, the trade up is when you go to Mitsubishi vs. Subaru day at Englishtown, round 1 starts off as a Subaru vs. a Mitsubishi and by round 2 it is all Mitsubishis. Yes this is a tad over-exaggeration but not by much.

Greatbear · May 23, 2013

bagsanthony said:
thanks OBAMA for your ******* socialism !!!!

You keep using that word. I don't think you know what that word means. </Princess Bride>

johnachak · May 23, 2013

Ft.ValloniaStreaker said:
So back to my wondering, how many guys have a box of full American tools that never touch an American car? Nothing wrong with it, just something that made me go "hmmm?"

Certainly not me. I only buy American built, American cars. I won't even buy a Ford from Mexico or Canada.

marshaul · May 23, 2013

wjamyers said:
well said.

i despise chicago machine corruptocrats as much as the next guy but fixating on Obama is missing the point. The establishment republicans fingerprints are all over our various economic difficulties along with the democrats. they'e a two headed snake, they divide us with social wedge issues and conquer us with 20,000 federal laws.

You said it, sir. :thumbup:

I like that divide and conquer bit. I'm gonna steal that.

garthg · May 23, 2013

RCP said:
The trans on my subaru said "made in japan"

The trans in a Porsche is made in Japan: Aisin.

Workin on my Subaru with all my American tools

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