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Hey everyone, this is a long-overdue first post after a couple of years of Subaru ownership and on-off lurking on the forums. Thanks for all the help so far, even if you didn't know you were giving it.

So yeah, I'm the proud owner of an '87 L-series GL Touring Wagon with what would be a spring-loaded vinyl cargo blind/cover for the boot if the spring-return mechanism wasn't busted. It's been bugging me for a while and I've finally decided to try to sort it out.

I found some info about how to disassemble a similar Subie blind here, and having pulled mine apart I now see that I have a broken plastic end-cap and a twisted-up spring, I guess maybe because of overtensioning at some point in the past. Photo attached - I'm pretty sure that the hook on the left-hand end of the spring is supposed to stick straight out!

I reckon I can sort out the plastic end-cap either by melting it back together with a soldering iron or adding metal as described in the Outback forum guide, but I don't really know what to do about the spring - it doesn't seem like it'll work the way it is. So, just wondering - does anyone know if it's possible to repair springs that are twisted up like this? Otherwise, do you happen to know a source for replacement parts for these covers? There are a few Forester/Outback ones on eBay which I might be able to raid for parts but they're either crazy expensive or in the wrong state; cheaper would be better for me.

Cheers!

Hi and Welcome g-reth

I'd firstly like to say.. you LUCKY SOAB !! I've searched high and low for a rear blind for my 89 L.Series Touring Wagon.. can only ever find blue ones mine needs to be grey.

I'd say the best way is to buy a 1989-1994 Liberty one, as this will probably be the closest to what they used on the L.Series but failing that, I'd try the early Impreza or Forester range

Ha, thanks RSR - didn't realise they were rare! If a grey one shows up while I'm hunting parts I'll let you know for sure.

Probably some more pictures may help but that end bit looks like it's meant to be bent over and maybe a roll pin (or the likes) sits in that groove on that plastic bit?

g-reth wrote:Ha, thanks RSR - didn't realise they were rare! If a grey one shows up while I'm hunting parts I'll let you know for sure.

Probably not so bad over in the east but over here in the west.. well forget it

I'd really appriciate it, if you found one, that you'd grab it for me (or get it put on hold) and I'll get sorted quick az. I had one in my 1990 Touring Wagon when I brought it new.. should never have sold that car

The way L Series appear to be dropping off the roads lately, following the common old MY's - keep an eye out for a used blind. Put up a want ad - maybe even in your signature and see what happens

I'd say - If all the parts are still there & in good order ie: not broken, you should be able to put it back together ...

Note : It is possible to carefully bend the spring back to it's original position, you just might need an example to follow ...

Cheers, Bantum ...

RSR 555 wrote:Probably some more pictures may help but that end bit looks like it's meant to be bent over and maybe a roll pin (or the likes) sits in that groove on that plastic bit?

I'll try to take more pictures, but because it's not going together very well at the moment I pretty much need a diagram. Bit busy for that right now, but I'll see what I can do when things settle down.

Quick description in the meantime, though, in case it will help others - on the left-hand side of the cargo cover mechanism is an inner shaft (with a rubber cover for sound dampening), an outer shaft, a white plastic end cap, and a spring, as well as the colour-matched plastic outer cover. The spring fits around the outside of the centre shaft; it's hooked onto the shaft on one end, and on the other end it hooks over a cutout in the white plastic end cap (which is the thing that's broken on my end cap). When you pull on the blind, it causes the outer shaft (and the white end cap) to rotate while the inner shaft (and outer cover) remain still; as the spring rotates it creates torsion - so when you pull out the blind, it wants to roll up again. The cross-shaped slots in the end cap match a small pin which runs through the inner shaft; the tension in the spring causes the inner shaft and pin assembly to lock in the slots when the end caps aren't pushed in, e.g. when you take the blind out of the mounting brackets in the car. I think the idea is that if you want to take the blind out of the car partially extended and roll it up manually in order to increase the torsion and make it return faster when released, you can.

I'm pretty sure that the spring in the RHS mechanism is only there to cause the mechanism to lock on that side when you take it out of the car; it doesn't seem to be for torsion.

But yeah, if I fix or replace these parts and can get the mechanism together again, I'll take some photos to show it more clearly.

RSR 555 wrote:Probably not so bad over in the east but over here in the west.. well forget it

I'd really appriciate it, if you found one, that you'd grab it for me (or get it put on hold) and I'll get sorted quick az. I had one in my 1990 Touring Wagon when I brought it new.. should never have sold that car

Will do mate. I called Subaru today to ask about parts and it sounds like there's no chance, so I'll definitely be doing some trawling for spares over the next little while.

steptoe wrote:The way L Series appear to be dropping off the roads lately, following the common old MY's - keep an eye out for a used blind. Put up a want ad - maybe even in your signature and see what happens

Good idea, cheers Steptoe! I'll see if I can figure out how to put an ad in my signature.

I really like the MY bodyshape; it's a shame that they're going. Is it anything in particular? Rust? I'm starting to see a bit on my car.

Bantum wrote:I'd say - If all the parts are still there & in good order ie: not broken, you should be able to put it back together ...

Note : It is possible to carefully bend the spring back to it's original position, you just might need an example to follow ...

My end cap is a bit of a mess right now - the slot the spring fits into is broken - but it might still be fixable. The spring is hard annealed or something though; seems like it'd break before it'd bend much, but maybe if I hit it with some heat and then hammer it or something I can get it back to something like the original shape. Worth a try. Cheers.

g-reth wrote: I really like the MY bodyshape; it's a shame that they're going. Is it anything in particular? Rust? I'm starting to see a bit on my car.

My end cap is a bit of a mess right now - the slot the spring fits into is broken - but it might still be fixable. The spring is hard annealed or something though; seems like it'd break before it'd bend much, but maybe if I hit it with some heat and then hammer it or something I can get it back to something like the original shape. Worth a try. Cheers.

Rust, wear and tear, age I think it's only the Subie nuts who still keep them going (around here anyway) And lets face it what normal person would drive a rusty 30 year old gutless wagon unless they chose to/love their car

I managed to snag an MY cargo blind at the wreckers with all the hardware and brackets, I wonder if they are similar. I could probably have a close look at mine and take some photos on the weekend for you if it might help? The end caps on mine are also cracked but I think I can fix them, vinyl still comes out and springs back although it's been wrapped up for a while all the vinyl is stretched and wrinkled where it shouldn't be, will be "re-upholstering" it before it goes in my car. Now I'm tossing up whether or not to drive back to that wreckers on the other side of town and nab the rear boot/wheel arch interior panels.

Mod cons, fuel economy, parts availability, embarassment for the kids maybe while they are on the cusp of becoming classic, cool and cult

Think I have replaced speedo heads and odos at least three times, this 84made 85 MY must have a million on it. I can sort of account for 340,000 and current odo reads 351,000. Bought a spare Brumby for just in case

Rust ? nah, never (never crippled mine yet - sill is bubbling out on one door, tailgate riddled with it when i got it 15 years ago, left wheel arch the same