Oaken Gearbox

The simplest way to buy new tires or wheels that fit your car is to look up the current ones and buy ones the exact same size. If you don't want to do that for whatever reason, you found a deal on craigslist on similar sized ones, for example, or you want to up-size your wheels for looks, it starts to get more complicated. I'll start by explaining the different important dimensions on wheels, and then move to tires. Wheels: Wheels have five important measurements: Image cortesy of sizeitup.com Diameter. This is the one you're probably most familiar with. It is measured in inches and is usually somewhere between 14"  and 19". Width. Pretty self explanatory. This is also measured in inches. Bolt Pattern. This is measured by the number of lugs and the diameter on which they are drilled. It can be measured in either inches or millimeters. This is both important and difficult to measure. The easiest way, if possible, is to find out what car the wheels ca...

I completed this job on my 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon (stock) in about 8 hours. That included a lunch break and a trip to Autozone for a 24mm deepwell socket. The vast majority of my time was spent on my back in the driveway trying to reach the bolts around the oil pan, several of which are located up under a frame member. RTV vs Gasket There seems to be some debate about whether RTV or a premade gasket makes a better seal. Most people I talked to advised using RTV, and since that is what Subaru used originally, that's what I did. I was not able to get as clean a bead as I hoped because of the awkward position under the car and I still had no leaks, so I'll add my voice to the opinion that RTV is a good option. Finding the Oil Leak A piece of advice: If you're looking to fix an oil leak, take the time to find out where your oil is leaking for sure and don't just assume its the oil pan. In my case I was pretty sure, because I damaged the oil pan drivin...

About a week ago the steering started acting up on my '02 Subura Impreza WRX. The only way I could describe it is, "notchy." It would be very stiff for half a rotation of the wheel, then very loose for the next rotation. My first thought was that power steering fluid was probably low, but a quick look at the reservoir showed  it right where it should be. I then began to worry about the differential, or some other component of the AWD, but I was able to rule that out since it did the same thing while cranking the wheel without moving the car. It this point I put the front of the car on jackstands, started the car, and had my wife turn the steering wheel while I looked under the hood for bubbles in the power steering fluid, a slipping belt, or any other issues. Nothing. Finally, I shut the car off and turned the steering wheel myself with the front wheels in the air and the engine off. Still notchy. At that point there was nothing left to cause it but the steerin...

About a year ago I caved in and sold the '94 Ford Ranger I'd bought from my dad in high school. After a short-lived and ill-fated stint with a battered Jeep Cherokee, I picked up a Subaru WRX hatchback with a backseat and twice the horsepower of my old Ford. I love the power and handling of my new 'rex, but it couldn't quite compare to the utility of the Ranger until I added a set of Yakima cross bars. Trips to the lumber yard (or the lake with my homemade kayak) are now possible again, but I'm not a fan of the constant howling the new bars added to my new ride. It was so bad I considered dropping the 75 bucks REI asks for a fairing to redirect the wind silently up and over. But then I remembered a tip from an old friend and former co-worker (thanks, Jason). To get rid of wind noise from a Yakima (or Thule) roof rack for cheap: Wrap surveyor's twine around both bars in a spiral pattern.  That's it. Surprisingly enough, that is enough to b...