rebourne's '06 OBXT build thread

Left rear hub was replaced by my fav shop, AQ.

 

Soon after it was clear one of the fronts was bad. After the snowboarding trip (which was stressful as the hub noise got worse and gave me concerns about failure) I had the right front hub was replaced at AQ. All super quiet now.

 

Looks like switching cars is out at this time for various reasons...

 

Something is clunking in the left rear suspenion area over bumps on just that side. Maybe exhaust hitting sway bar? Or loose upper shock bolts? I looked around, bolts passed the finger test, but haven't jacked it up. Twisting of the sway bar seems to be the cause of the clunks. Need some time to jack it up. It's not scary, but it's not getting better on it's own.

 

Still have the stock exhaust on, and it's so quiet I have lost much of the 6th sense to tell how fast I am going. Caught myself going way faster than I intended a few times. I'm torn. I think it sounds good with the exhaust and have fun going vrmm vrmm vrmm, but it's so nice and quiet, nearly like the Infinity I had a few years ago, that I don't want to burst that nice quiet bubble. Lazy will win that battle for the next few weeks, no doubt.

I bet your swaybar end-links are done for, wouldn't surprise me at this age/mileage. Also I used to have a nasty creek going over speed bumps, but doing all poly in the rear seemed to have resolved it for me.

I've give that a look. I've got some AVO adjustable rsb end links back there, but that doesn't mean they haven't come loose or worn out.

I bet your swaybar end-links are done for, wouldn't surprise me at this age/mileage. Also I used to have a nasty creek going over speed bumps, but doing all poly in the rear seemed to have resolved it for me.

 

Spot on bro:

 

 

There's still threads, but it pulls out without biting down. The turnbuckle and lower joint are covered in rust though. So they basically rusted enough that the threads seem like half a size too small.

 

Luckily I have a full set of Perrin end link in my stash:

 

 

Only put one on. I'll get to the other one on the weekend and make sure they are lined up straight.

 

Threw that broken one in the trash...

Wohoo! Glad it was an easy find/fix. Do you remember what brand the old links were?

I was told they were AVOs, and quick google search seems to agree

 

 

They look just like that, except rusty and broken.

Looking at the thread length, I really don't get why they even bothered making them adjustable. There is barely any threads if you don't fully tighten them, but as we see with your parts that's not sufficient...

Pretty sure the ball joints are the same as on the front AVO end links, which have a much shorter turnbuckle, thus the reason for the threads being short. same part, two applications...

 

I'm curious to see how the right side one is holding up when I get it off this weekend.

I still have it, but it's been replaced with a newer wagon from VW. More on that later.

 

I might document the "return to stock" journey. I'd like to, but not sure it's a realistic goal, and who I am doing it for, heh.

 

But I understand, I've been wondering if I should switch up too, before #YNASB Bro club knocks on the door.

Back to stock suspension and wheels.

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

Insuring it as a fourth car has made it quite a bit less urgent to sell it. ~$30/mo. I'm thinking we'll use it through the snowboarding season. I don't have roof rails for the snowboard racks for the new car, or a mud matt for the hatch, or chains. The OB is ready to rock. And it comes prescratched and less concern over "newness".

 

Added air to the spare. It was at 20psi, when 60psi is recommended!

Wait!....... Are you planning to sell the Wagon?

Wait!....... Are you planning to sell the Wagon?

 

Maybe? But if so, not until after the ski season. Of our 3 AWD cars, this one is currently the perfect car for pilling all our gear into and heading up to the slopes.

 

But we are debating selling this car or the old Integra GSR we have. The Integra needs about $3-5k in work to be a slick, cool car to bring out once in a while. but that's what it would be, a garage queen. If we sell it, and keep the OB, the OB would be a more functional third car. I'd unwind some of mods to make it easier to smog.

Edited January 11, 2020 by rebourne

Swapped out to a new Denso O2 last night. (Huzzah to 24hr Autozone that had one in stock!)

 

No more surging, and in the rain today I was able to focus entirely on idiots and my safe driving. The newness of whole clutch/LFW package was completely imperceptible. Just easy to drive and intuitive.

 

On that note... that's O2 sensor #4 #5.

 

Timeline:

4/08/16 128570 VF52, ELH, and primitive skidplate installed

8/03/16 ~132000 installed 850cc DWs

2/06/17 ~137000 Started E85 etuning

3/18/17 138366 oem O2 failed, replaced with Denso

6/23/17 141059 Denso failed, replaced with Bosch (2693 miles)

6/30/17 141177 switched back to 91 octane

10/24/17 143864 PCV replaced

11/6/17 143927 Bosch failing, replaced with used Denso (2868 miles)

3/21/18 145874 Denso failing, replaced with new Autozone Denso (1947 miles)

9/23/18 150124 Replaced turbo, reset ECU. Learning to idle and not die mode

9/26/18 150151 Denso failing, replaced with new Autozone free exchange Denso (4277 miles)

1/11/20 1601x Denso failing, needs replacement.

 

 

Ruled out:

E85 cleaning out the crud inside: it has happened twice on 91

Coolant: Not loosing coolant, so should't be from anti-freeze or headgasket leak

PCV: replaced

Turbo: rebuilt

Injectors: New ID 1050 top feeds installed

 

 

Possible reasons:

oil fouling?

exposure to the elements due to the skidplate and no under plastic?

???

 

I need to learn how to test the sensors and should try some of the cleaning techniques.

 

Updated my failing O2 saga. https://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5773620&postcount=247

 

 

Nearly 4300 miles is a good run for me.

 

Got 10k miles on this last O2. Time for a new one.

...Meanwhile...

 

The new wagon is coming along nicely:

 

Just Air Lift suspension and 19" Fifteen52s so far.

 

And a quick snap of a telephone pole behind the new car, at ride height.

Is that the golf sportwagen?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is that the golf sportwagen?

 

 

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Close. Golf Alltrack (4wd), w/ DSG

How do you like it? I test drove the manual before getting my obxt and didn't like it a whole bunch.

 

It sure looks good. I can't decide if those wheels are horrid or incredible but I like them either way.

 

 

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how do you like it? I test drove the manual before getting my obxt and didn't like it a whole bunch.

 

My left knee was just getting tired of Los Angeles commute traffic. Like, clicking and popping. Getting old...

 

The DSG is amazing. I literally love it, and I've never met a non manual I loved.

 

 

it sure looks good. I can't decide if those wheels are horrid or incredible but i like them either way.

 

lol!!!

Yea for some reason the clutch pedal felt weird to me. As did the steering. I drove it and right before a busted up piston slapping 200k outback 2.5i and definitely liked the outback.

 

But for the money I ended up into with the rebuild... And it seemed like there was quite a bit of aftermarket available for the alltrack. I'm sad they stopped selling them though. Small crossovers are just bad wagons anyway. Bring back the wagons.

 

 

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replaced the O2 and spammed the threads.

Swapped out to a new Denso O2 last night. (Huzzah to 24hr Autozone that had one in stock!)

 

No more surging, and in the rain today I was able to focus entirely on idiots and my safe driving. The newness of whole clutch/LFW package was completely imperceptible. Just easy to drive and intuitive.

 

On that note... that's O2 sensor #4 #5.

 

Timeline:

4/08/16 128570 VF52, ELH, and primitive skidplate installed

8/03/16 ~132000 installed 850cc DWs

2/06/17 ~137000 Started E85 etuning

3/18/17 138366 oem O2 failed, replaced with Denso

6/23/17 141059 Denso failed, replaced with Bosch (2693 miles)

6/30/17 141177 switched back to 91 octane

10/24/17 143864 PCV replaced

11/6/17 143927 Bosch failing, replaced with used Denso (2868 miles)

3/21/18 145874 Denso failing, replaced with new Autozone Denso (1947 miles)

9/23/18 150124 Replaced turbo, reset ECU. Learning to idle and not die mode

9/26/18 150151 Denso failing, replaced with new Autozone free exchange Denso (4277 miles)

1/11/20 160094 Denso failing, replaced with new Denso from Amazon (9943 miles)

 

 

Ruled out:

E85 cleaning out the crud inside: it has happened twice on 91

Coolant: Not loosing coolant, so should't be from anti-freeze or headgasket leak

PCV: replaced

Turbo: rebuilt

Injectors: New ID 1050 top feeds installed

 

 

Possible reasons:

oil fouling?

exposure to the elements due to the skidplate and no under plastic?

???

 

I need to learn how to test the sensors and should try some of the cleaning techniques.

 

about sensor , o2 or most important air/fuel sensor , only buy oem one ,i did the experience . denso built with different spec same parts , the one for subaru and the one for aftermarket.

 

 

just saw your pics , its the air fuel ration sensor , so definitely go buy an oem one !!

Edited January 13, 2020 by madrig

I'm loving the look of the Alltrack specially now that I've seen it lowered with some wheels. I can see why you are entertaining selling the OB now. How's the gas mileage and have you done any tuning yet? A quick search revealed a re-flash will increase power output to 258 HP or so but you will be forced to use 91 Oct fuel.

I'm loving the look of the Alltrack specially now that I've seen it lowered with some wheels. I can see why you are entertaining selling the OB now. How's the gas mileage and have you done any tuning yet? A quick search revealed a re-flash will increase power output to 258 HP or so but you will be forced to use 91 Oct fuel.

 

It's about 19 on my commute, where I get 16 in the OB. If I really cared, I'd be driving something electric. My G37 got 16 on the same commute. Take the City number and subtract 3, that's my commute mileage.

 

I have a golf R turbo and a CST catted downpipe in the garage. APR has a tune for the R turbo (Alltrack turbo is IS12, GTI is IS20, R is IS38), and remaps the DSG to work with it, higher shift points, etc etc. 300 to the wheels with 91 on APRs dyno. More than 2x stock. Targeting April for all that work to be done.

 

Got 10k miles on this last O2. Time for a new one.

 

Which ones are you buying and where from?

 

Back in 2013 I bought the Denso 234-9120, 58k miles and a few header swaps later, still reads true (I watch the AEM Uego often while driving).