Subaru SVX rear suspension question

I looked at a low-mileage SVX earlier and quite likeld it but of course I couldn't help being myself and find some problems with it

Basically, it looks like it's 'squatting' - rear end is noticeably lower than the front end. I also noticed that one rear tire has uneven wear that would suggest a camber problem and the other one has the thread shaved off at a 45 degree angle on the inside edge. Shaved area is approx 1/2" wide and deep enough that the thread is starting to separate in that area...

Something's obviously gone wonky at the back end - the shock absorber on the 'shaved' side feels dry so if it's pissed out all of its oil, that would have been quite a while ago. There aren't any suspicious noises coming from the back end either - well, apart from a rubbing sound and I can guess where that's coming from. As far as I could see without a lift, there aren't any obvious bent suspension parts either...

Any insights?

IIRC, those cars were known for killing the wheel bearings in the back. That combined with worn suspension parts could be the answer. Or accident damage.

Paging SVreX!!!

I've always like the looks and performance of these. If they were available in a 5-spd from the factory, they would have been a but hit, the auto only sucks.

I know it can be swapped out as Subarus are like Legos, but still...

I've driven one in the past with shot wheel bearings and I remember (vaguely) how that sounded/felt. I'm pretty sure that the wheel bearing is not making any noises it isn't supposed to be making...

The previous owner has had to give up his license and there are traces of parking by braille, plus it's had a front fender replaced with a used one. Maybe whatever caused the front fender replacement has caused more damage than just a fender.

shame.. those are really neat cars

if its cheap enough i'd grab it for the engine to toss into an impreza or legacy.

It's definitely not cheap enough as an engine swap donor, plus I'd think that would be a shame as they're quite rare these days.

I think something's bent. SVX rear suspension is basically the same as other Subies of that vintage, meaning you don't necessarily have unobtanium parts.

Sonic wrote: Paging SVreX!!!

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I'm not sure I can help. This doesn't sound like a typical SVX problem.

Bearings, yes. But you would hear them.

SVXii naturally sit a little squat in the rear. The worn tires sound like something is bent. There's not a lot of camber adjustment.

The worn tires plus the lost license make me suspicious of foul driving.

I think it is a combination of several things. Factory squat plus a blown strut plus hooligan driving plus something bent = worn tires and unnatural squat.

Jensenman wrote: I think something's bent. SVX rear suspension is basically the same as other Subies of that vintage, meaning you don't necessarily have unobtanium parts.

Are you sure of that?

I've never directly compared them, but it doesn't sound quite right.

I know the wheels, brakes, hubs, bearings, struts, and top mounts are definitely different. The track is wider, so I would assume the linkages, etc. would be different lengths. The car is heavier.

While the design may be the same, I'd be a little surprised if the parts could be sourced from other similar vintage Subies.

I worked at a Scooby dealership for a few years. We didn't see a lot of SVX's but (and this is IIRC) they were really no different from other Subes of the same vintage. I think the control arms were different, but otherwise they were the same. I know converting one to a manual tranny can be done with readily available US market stuff.

That is correct (I've done it twice, and still have one).

But that is not the suspension.

My dad has a legacy with alot of miles on it, and the rear suspension bushings (especially the ones at the front of the trailing arms) are completely shot and it has caused odd tire wear. They will be getting replaced soon along with new tires. It was obvious there was something wrong when driving it, but I didnt realize what it was until i drove next to him on the freeway and noticed the back wheels flapping all over the place. The bushings dont look hard to change, but it just adds to my opioion that a high mileage subaru is not a cheap car to keep on the road.

SVreX wrote:

Sonic wrote: Paging SVreX!!!

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I'm not sure I can help. This doesn't sound like a typical SVX problem. Bearings, yes. But you would hear them.

I'm hoping I'm not that deaf yet but I didn't hear any noise from the bearings.

SVreX wrote: SVXii naturally sit a little squat in the rear. The worn tires sound like something is bent. There's not a lot of camber adjustment.

That's not good - it looks like it's noticeably out.

SVreX wrote: The worn tires plus the lost license make me suspicious of foul driving.

The lost license had more to do with the licensee being moved into a nursing home than hooligan driving.

SVreX wrote: I think it is a combination of several things. Factory squat plus a blown strut plus hooligan driving plus something bent = worn tires and unnatural squat.

I'm kinda concerned about the something that is bent - it wasn't obvious when looking underneath but we didn't have a chance to put it on a lift or at least jack stands.

Even then, if I need to redo the suspension I'm not sure if the owner (who is willing to negotiate on price) will go low enough to make it worth my while.

If one side is squatting, it's probably the top strut cap has collapsed from rust? Where are you? where has the car been? Rust area?

The good news is I've seen the strut caps being super rusty without having rust issues everywhere else.

And Jensen, Paul has it right. While the tranny's are easy to swap, there are no suspension bits that are a direct swap.

Hocrest wrote: If one side is squatting, it's probably the top strut cap has collapsed from rust? Where are you? where has the car been? Rust area?

Supposedly it has only been used in the Lake Tahoe/Reno area and rust isn't a major problem here. The only rust I did find was very minimal surface rust due to the usual sunburnt paint.

Hocrest wrote: The good news is I've seen the strut caps being super rusty without having rust issues everywhere else.

I didn't tear into that far when I looked at it but I wouldn't really want one that's that much of a project...

No more of a project than taking the strut out and buying a new cap. Use it to knock $500 of the cost...