Exploding Trannys, Disposable Bearings, Ellipsoid Rotors and other things...

#1 02-23-2004, 02:06 PM

I got a kick out of some posts I saw in one of the other forums (you people know who you are- ) and thought I'd offer my insight.

* If an SVX transmission is not 'thrashed', has a generous-sized ATF cooler and filter installed, and is filled to a correct level with a good grade of synthetic ATF, it should live to a ripe old age (mileage). (Mine's doing fine at 131,000 mi's., thank you.)

* If you experience a bearing failure in your SVX (it can happen) but do not install it correctly (i.e, beat the crap out of it to drive it 'home'), nor fail to remove the 'storage' grease and completely repack with a good grade of synthetic bearing grease, you will probably be forced to do it again and again until you 'get it right'. (-remind you of grade school?) (Again- I have yet to experience a bearing failure at 131,000 mi's.)

* If you consistantly drive your SVX to high speed and repeatedly 'stand' on the brakes- and/or- you let some dimbulb work on your wheels or tires and 'airgun' them back on (instead of using a torque wrench at the proper setting, you will experience warped rotors. (I had to have my rotors 'touched up' only once so far.)

Eventually, every car I've ever owned needed to have the rotors 'turned' due to at least some level of warp and/or wear. Many years ago, I did get a shocking enlightenment from the Chrysler dealership when I returned our Grand Voyager to have them inspect and 'turn' the warped rotors (after a mere ~25,000 mi's.!?) only to have them announce that rotors are a 'wear' item and weren't covered under their (so-called) 'bumper-to-bumper' warranty. (Note- I've had the Subaru dealership replace headlights and other bulbs, as an example, without hesitation 'under warranty'.)

Well, (as my wife used to say-) 'am I right, or am I right?'

-Mark

Mr. Pockets · #2 02-23-2004, 02:41 PM

My car is on its original bearings at nearly 140k. The tranny lasted 133k without any external coolers or synthetic fluid.

Naim · #3 02-23-2004, 03:26 PM

Well I hope that my car's components last a long time with many miles... But you need to remember is that just because you had no problems only means that you are in the percentage that did not have problems.... Where this percentage point is, is the determining point if equipment is known to be a high risk component. Hence allot of people have had problems with SVX trannys and bearing.
I would not say that failures were do to abuse although that could be the case.

I know have a friend that accidentally drove his car without oil, he got lucky filled it with oil and the thing kept working (He used to beat on the engine like crazy though). Another person with the same car had the engine seize (he changed the oil every 3k miles and never beat on the engine.

If you have not had problems consider yourself lucky (no matter what car you drive and how realiable it's supposed to be)

#4 02-23-2004, 04:11 PM

I am basing my opinion on what I've experienced with my own SVX- and past vehicles. As an example, I changed the ATF at about 50,000 mi's. back in 11-99. Here's what I posted on the Yahoo site back then:

<<My shifting seemed 'off' and I checked the fluid- it was almost brown! It almost looked like engine oil when I changed it out for Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF. I managed to get 4 qts out of it somehow (a slight incline while hoisted?). While I was at it, I changed out the gear lube in the front and rear diff's with Mobil 1 75W-90 synthetic. I have used a lot of synthetic (Mobil 1) for a number of years in other cars (Subaru's, of course!) for engine oil and gear lube (worried about the turbo's in my Legacy Sport Sedan and RX's) and have been impressed with the results. Well- it may be just my imagination, but the car seems MUCH smoother than before. The shifting is vastly improved and the car just seems to glide. I'll probably do another trans fluid change in a few thousand miles again to help 'flush' the crap that was in there before.>>

Later on I did a complete 'backyard flush' to assure longevity.

I don't want to think what my trans' would be like if I still had the same 'stuff' in it yet......... (or if it would even still be 'alive'..... )

I am convinced if you start with good 'hardware' and treat it right, it'll last a long time. You make your own 'luck' much of the time.

-Mark

immortal_suby · #5 02-23-2004, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
My car is on its original bearings at nearly 140k. The tranny lasted 133k without any external coolers or synthetic fluid.

Original tranny went to ~160k (w/ external cooler though)
Original Bearings still going at

206k w/ 45mm offset rims.

Chicane · #6 02-23-2004, 05:55 PM

You're talking about me. You can admit that, I won't get mad, though I'd wish you'd challenge me in the thread that's already going.

Chew on this: My SVX was owned by an OLD WOMAN. She was over 50. They had to replace the bearings THREE TIMES. Now I agree, they probably didn't repack them... so that could explain it. But the transmission? 89k. That is NORMAL on an SVX. SVXs are NOTORIOUS for transmission failures. If you want to pretend it isn't a problem, go right ahead. And warped brake rotors? SVXs are notorious for that too.

If you feel like thinking these aren't SVX issues, cool. But MOST svx owners experience them first hand.

- Rob

Naim · #7 02-23-2004, 06:16 PM

Humm....
I wonder if the Ugo cars (spelling???) got a bad rep because they were only (all of them) being mistreated

Seraph · #8 02-23-2004, 06:42 PM

I personally think it all depends on how the car was treated. My first SVX was a nightmare to the day I got rid of it. The second one was a dream. I still wonder what I was thinking (getting rid of her). Original Tranny and exaust system till 130k (when I got rid of it and going very strong).

My current one is something in the middle. It was used by SOA as a show/demo car. After that it was owned by an older gentleman and car was taken care of. The diff just died (well about a year ago) and now back on the road. It's leaking tranny fluid a little but I know where it is coming from. It needs a lot of work here and there but they are little minor projects. So it all depends on the cars.

mbtoloczko · #9 02-23-2004, 07:10 PM

I think there is more to it than driving style with the bearings. The previous owner of my SVX was a woman who probably never drove over the speed limit. Both rear bearings were howling when I bought the car with 73k miles on it. My suspicion is that there were some mistakes in the assembly of the hubs at the factory. My brakes were crap too when I bought the car. Rotors weren't warped, but I had to practially put all my weight on the pedals to stop the car.

Ron Mummert · #10 02-23-2004, 08:42 PM

My SVX was owned by an OLD WOMAN. She was over 50.

Holy crap! How did she squeeze her walker into an SVX cabin?!
Guess who else turned 50?

Christie Brinkley.

Time flies, Rob. Enjoy your yout'.

Ron (I'd Rob's left nad to be 50 again).

Chicane · #11 02-23-2004, 08:51 PM

Heh. Sorry Ron. She wasn't ANCIENT.... but... the point I was getting is that she wasn't flying around corners and drag racing the SVX.

- Rob

PS: Not that you're ancient. You're just.... eh... MATURE.

Ron Mummert · #12 02-23-2004, 08:58 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chicane
[B]Heh. Sorry Ron. She wasn't ANCIENT.... but... the point I was getting is that she wasn't flying around corners and drag racing the SVX.

Well if she wasn't, then she's just....old.

Ron (aging gracefully like my fine wine).

ensteele · #13 02-23-2004, 09:00 PM

Ron, there are a couple of others besides Christie that turned 50 that were in swim suits that I saw the other day on a calendar. I'd give Rob's left one to go out with any of them.

(another OLD Man)

#14 02-23-2004, 09:47 PM

Watch what you say about us old farts (52 and climbing), or I'll hit you with my cane!

For the record, I bought my '94 off a four year lease from a hip 50-ish 'old' lady (her second SVX). The first ended up with Ken Zamuda, the Subaru 'Guru/Icon' here in S. MSP. (BTW- I just thought it was appropriate to start a 'fresh' thread.)

If you read my post about what my ATF looked like at 50,000 mi's. (yecchh!), you know that the 'stock' trans' layout with 'stock' ATF is 'stressed'. It doesn't have to be that way, though with a few well chosen 'tweaks' (as outlined in the initial post). Subaru chose good components, but didn't follow-through quite as well as they could have.

I stand by my statement re: bearings; you just don't have three 'bad' bearings in a row- they were installed wrong!

Same thing for the transmissions that have 'gone out' a few thousand miles after a 'rebuild'; I'm sorry, I gotta believe the 'rebuilder' didn't have a clue about putting it together correct/reliably.

With regard to 'Yugo's', Malcolm Bricklin should have stuck with the Subaru's.........

-Mark

Ron Mummert · #15 02-23-2004, 10:00 PM

If you read my post about what my ATF looked like at 50,000 mi's. (yecchh!), you know that the 'stock' trans' layout with 'stock' ATF is 'stressed'.

Believe it or don't, I NEVER flushed the tranny fluid in two American made cars that chugged to over 230K each. The secret? Both cars leaked fluid to the tune of a quart a month. Maybe an IV drip is the answer.

Ron.