Converting to RWD?

[Apex3]

I tried to search but the info wasn't helpful. What exactly needs to be done to make a 5 speed SS RWD? I know there's one floating around here, so hopefully he'll chime in.

I'm not interested in your opinions, I just want to know what it takes to do it without destroying parts.

[Legacy777]

You need to weld the center diff and possibly take out the pinion drive shaft in the trans.

[Apex3]

You need to weld the center diff and possibly take out the pinion drive shaft in the trans.

Thank you sir

I think I'm gonna have to pass on this mod though, maybe a future project on a different car, I don't really wanna do anything irreversible to this particular car.

[sqc151]

ur also gonna break alot of axles and most likely the diff over time.

[skid542]

You have to weld the center diff as previously stated. I'm not sure about the earlier models but I know on the 02' WRX tranny's you don't have to remove any shafts. Just weld the diff and remove the front axles. You do need to put a cut-off axle in the front hubs though or your'll blow out your wheel bearings.

Nothing that can't be reversed and all the work can be done with the tranny in the car (aside from welding the diff). Be forwarned, it places added stress on the main driveshaft and carrier bearings. I pulled apart a 02' WRX tranny that has a rear bearing SHOT that resulted from a mod like this.

It can be done and I'm sure it's fun. But it does have pro's/con's.

[Apex3]

You have to weld the center diff as previously stated. I'm not sure about the earlier models but I know on the 02' WRX tranny's you don't have to remove any shafts. Just weld the diff and remove the front axles. You do need to put a cut-off axle in the front hubs though or your'll blow out your wheel bearings.

Nothing that can't be reversed and all the work can be done with the tranny in the car (aside from welding the diff). Be forwarned, it places added stress on the main driveshaft and carrier bearings. I pulled apart a 02' WRX tranny that has a rear bearing SHOT that resulted from a mod like this.

It can be done and I'm sure it's fun. But it does have pro's/con's.

Well yea it's reversible, but when I said that I meant when I go to sell the car, or mayyyybbbbeee even be able to swap for summer, I knew the latter was a long shot though.

I'm just having RWD withdrawals It's nice to be able to go pretty much anywhere, but man do I miss RWD

[skid542]

Honestly, if you're mechanically proficient you can make the change in a day. Assuming you have a welder.

It's not that hard so you could do it in a day. Once you start really pushing the AWD though and getting it sidways, you'll love the level of control you get vs RWD.

[Apex3]

Honestly, if you're mechanically proficient you can make the change in a day. Assuming you have a welder.

It's not that hard so you could do it in a day. Once you start really pushing the AWD though and getting it sidways, you'll love the level of control you get vs RWD.

Oh I know I could do it pretty quick, but I'm also broke, I can't afford to be buying a new diff when I want AWD back, which I will. Axles have a lifetime warranty so I'm not worried about that.

Right now I don't have enough power to get sideways comfortably, I Have to be going about 40 and I've had bad experiences being sideways after that point...And level of control isn't really my thing

[Legacy777]

Yeah, you're right Lee. You don't have to mess with the shafts, just use a modded/cut off front axle stub to keep the bearings in check.

[Mattheww044]

hehe, the radio flyer was quite fun with RWD, almost got me in some big trouble a few times though. I was planning on putting it back to AWD, but I didn't have money for the swap.

[evolutionmovement]

Doing research for my Tigershark design when I was still trying to keep to rwd and when I was looking to build an aerodynamic Miata and wanted better gear ratios, I read a couple times that an RX-7 transmission can mate to an EJ engine (with an adaptor plate I imagine), but couldn't actually find any 1st-hand confirmation on someone doing it. Might be worth trying, though—I found a bunch of transmissions with low miles for $150.

[evolutionmovement]

OK, now we have a real and good option for rwd. How driveable is it, really? I don't mean for drifting or doing burnouts or donuts into walls like all the Youtube people, I mean real actual everyday road driving. I'm thinking of converting Duchess to rwd with the Toyota option if the fwd transmission goes south. Does anyone with rwd Subaru experience think this would be something I could throw some good snows on and drive in the winter?

And, though people here are pretty cool and I doubt I'll hear it, but I will add that, no, I don't care about the "point" of Subaru being awd (hey, Subaru doesn't care about what they stand for, so why should I?)—those Toyota transmissions are bulletproof. Besides, what other small rwd wagon options are there? Volvo? BMW? No thanks.

[beatersubi]

Volvos came w/ a 2.3T or readily accept a GM V6 or V8. Plus they have exemplary safety records.
Just saying...

[evolutionmovement]

It looks like I'm going to be doing this. I want to be prepared for when the 150k+ fwd transmission shits the bed with the turbo, so I'm getting parts together. My parts car rear sub assembly is kind of nasty and I'm not as poor as I was so unless the vinegar can work miracles, I'll be probably replacing all the sub frame and mountings for the rear end.

Does anyone know for sure that WRX rear subframes and frame mounts bolt right into our cars? They sure look the same in pictures and I'd much rather get 6 year old parts than 20, plus they may be improved to some extent.

[Legacy777]

Yeah as long as you get the 02-07 MY's they should be the same.

[onur]

ur also gonna break alot of axles and most likely the diff over time.

this is actually not true. I could spin my tires all the way to the 3rd 4th gear just standing in the same spot and not brake axles. I drove around like this for a while and wasn't an issue. If you have R compound 255 tires on the car and if you are dropping clutch everywhere than it might be a different case.

As for the breaking the center diff, by welding it, basically you are making it indestructible and I can almost guarantee you that you will break an axle before anything happens to your diff.

Cheers,

ot

[WoodsWagon]

ur also gonna break alot of axles and most likely the diff over time.

this is actually not true. I could spin my tires all the way to the 3rd 4th gear just standing in the same spot and not brake axles. I drove around like this for a while and wasn't an issue. If you have R compound 255 tires on the car and if you are dropping clutch everywhere than it might be a different case.

As for the breaking the center diff, by welding it, basically you are making it indestructible and I can almost guarantee you that you will break an axle before anything happens to your diff.

Cheers,

ot

My stack of grenaded r160's begs to differ. If you get any wheel hop, or shock loading, the r160 will let loose. I had the crosspin shear and crack the carrier on one, spider gears loose all their teeth on a couple, and lots of stub shafts shear. It mostly depends on the tires you run, I had 235/75r15's, so it took a lot more torque to break them loose.

[onur]

I forgot to mention that I also had a welded center diff