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Old 04-28-2021, 01:24 PM   #1
jayydubbb
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Default 07 STI Cleaning AVCS Gears and Solenoids

After thorough research I came to the conclusion that the AVCS gears can not be properly and safely reassembled without a specific Subaru tool. Outfront motorsports made their own thing that works very well and will clean and reassemble each gear for $50. My motor had metal shavings in oil from being run very low on oil for presumably quite awhile, so I am doing a full rebuild. There really isn't a lot of metal flaking compared to other bearing failures I have seen. These are my questions.

1. Should I just say **** it and soak my AVCS gears in gasoline and let that clean them out? I can't imagine there is a ton of metal in there and whatever could be left over might just get picked up in the filter. Don't feel like spending over 300 dollars on new ones. Considering sending them out to Outfront but it would probably take awhile to get them out and back and I'm trying to get the motor together.

2. Is it possible to clean the AVCS solenoids? The car has 140k or so miles on it anyway so they might be running out of life as it is but they're 160+ bills to replace.

Not necessarily pinching pennies here but am trying to save money where I can if I feel something is unnecessary.
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Old 04-28-2021, 03:03 PM   #2
BlackFighter
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Yes AVCS solenoids can be cleaned with brake cleaner. I ordered 2 brand new ones and after cleaning my old solenoids i just sold the new ones. Use brake cleaner and spray in all the groves and use a plastic or rubber poker to move the solenoid as you spray. Should do the trick.

Quote:
Should I just say **** it and soak my AVCS gears in gasoline and let that clean them out?
When you say AVCS gears, are you talking about the cam gears with AVCS? NO, do not just soak in gas and that it, metal does not dissolve in gas. You have to take it completely apart and clean every nook and cranny. People have disassembled and cleaned them for years with no issues. There are multiple threads about cam gear cleaning. Here is a video from outfront to do yourself, or just ship the gears to them.

https://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/...gear-servicing

Here is a Nasioc HOW TO step by step

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho....php?t=2441411

Last edited by BlackFighter; 04-28-2021 at 03:43 PM.
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Old 04-28-2021, 04:06 PM   #3
BlueSTI4Me
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Hey Rookie,
You cannot adequately clean the AVCS cam gears without complete disassembly. The exhaust gears require synching when rebuilding and the tool OutFront made is needed.
Buy new at $300 a set versus $3000 plus because metal shavings lodged in the gears led to bearing failure.
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Old 04-29-2021, 11:26 AM   #4
jayydubbb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueSTI4Me View Post
Hey Rookie,
You cannot adequately clean the AVCS cam gears without complete disassembly. The exhaust gears require synching when rebuilding and the tool OutFront made is needed.
Buy new at $300 a set versus $3000 plus because metal shavings lodged in the gears led to bearing failure.
This is not a dual AVCS motor, only intake.
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Old 04-29-2021, 12:16 PM   #5
jayydubbb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackFighter View Post
Yes AVCS solenoids can be cleaned with brake cleaner. I ordered 2 brand new ones and after cleaning my old solenoids i just sold the new ones. Use brake cleaner and spray in all the groves and use a plastic or rubber poker to move the solenoid as you spray. Should do the trick.



When you say AVCS gears, are you talking about the cam gears with AVCS? NO, do not just soak in gas and that it, metal does not dissolve in gas. You have to take it completely apart and clean every nook and cranny. People have disassembled and cleaned them for years with no issues. There are multiple threads about cam gear cleaning. Here is a video from outfront to do yourself, or just ship the gears to them.

https://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/...gear-servicing

Here is a Nasioc HOW TO step by step

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho....php?t=2441411

The issue doing it yourself being that if there is any misalignment during reassembly the gear can bind and eventually break and then I am rebuilding the motor again. My point was if I could avoid taking them apart at all I would, but I am not willing to risk disassembling and reassembling them incorrectly and starting from square one again.
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Old 04-29-2021, 01:40 PM   #6
BlackFighter
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Ship them to outfront for cleaning or buy new from the dealer. The way I look at thing, if someone can do it, why can't I do it, so I would go for it, its not to difficult, Just take your time and double check your work.
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Old 04-30-2021, 08:44 PM   #7
BlueSTI4Me
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Jay,
I took a couple apart and tried cleaning them in the ultrasonic tank. I really didn't like the look of the plastic wipers in both of the AVCS gears so I bought new.
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Old 05-01-2021, 12:57 AM   #8
GeoNV
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You definitely won’t get them clean without taking apart. I had a ton of metal flecks that were stuck in a varnish like substance that took a lot of work to get clean. Don’t risk it!
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Old 05-01-2021, 11:01 PM   #9
Subie_
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayydubbb View Post
After thorough research I came to the conclusion that the AVCS gears can not be properly and safely reassembled without a specific Subaru tool. Outfront motorsports made their own thing that works very well and will clean and reassemble each gear for $50. My motor had metal shavings in oil from being run very low on oil for presumably quite awhile, so I am doing a full rebuild. There really isn't a lot of metal flaking compared to other bearing failures I have seen. These are my questions.

1. Should I just say **** it and soak my AVCS gears in gasoline and let that clean them out? I can't imagine there is a ton of metal in there and whatever could be left over might just get picked up in the filter. Don't feel like spending over 300 dollars on new ones. Considering sending them out to Outfront but it would probably take awhile to get them out and back and I'm trying to get the motor together.

2. Is it possible to clean the AVCS solenoids? The car has 140k or so miles on it anyway so they might be running out of life as it is but they're 160+ bills to replace.

Not necessarily pinching pennies here but am trying to save money where I can if I feel something is unnecessary.
They definitely won't get cleaned out with just a gasoline soak. Just open them & clean them, it's really not a big deal. Use a bare cam to help align the cover to the base when reassembling, tighten slightly and use your fingernail as a guage to make it as concentric as possible. I've cleaned numerous gears this way, no issues. If you're considering replacing them, might as well give it a whirl first.
If you still think gasoline will do it, check out the inside of mine from a few years ago: https://youtu.be/3AwDpxrDEec

At 140k, replace the AVCS solenoids your engine will thank you with revived low end pick-up. Tired control valves won't kick a CEL, but lagging performance can be seen in data logs. OCVs can be had for ~$90 if you shop around. Heuberger subaru usually has very competitive pricing ($98 ea): https://parts.bestbuysubaru.com/p/Subaru_2007_STI-25L-TURBO-6MT-4WD-SEDAN/Engine-Variable-Valve-Timing-VVT-Solenoid/49223110/10921AA080.html

I have an 07 STI as well. Be 100% certain to get the correct control valve part number for your model year & cylinder head (V25). 2007 is a black-sheep year. The number should be 10921AA080.
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Old 05-02-2021, 10:20 AM   #10
benflynn
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Ship em out, buy a set here, or pull them apart, I took mine apart(intake only) you can clean them, put them together using a cam if u must and test it with compressed air.
Mine were ruined by improper installation before me, the alignment pins had jacked up the gear partially closing an oil port on each. I can give u one if U want to practice on it.
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Old 05-03-2021, 12:37 PM   #11
jayydubbb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subie_ View Post
If you still think gasoline will do it, check out the inside of mine from a few years ago: https://youtu.be/3AwDpxrDEec
Never seen that much metal before like that. My engine produced nowhere near that much metal anywhere in the engine so I can't imagine the inside of mine look like that but who knows. I'm leaning towards just sending them to outfront. I will look for new solenoids as well if they could stand to be swapped out.
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Old 05-03-2021, 01:24 PM   #12
GeoNV
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This was mine- you see the black crud against the walls? That was almost impossible to get out- had it sitting in a parts washer for 30 minutes and then scrubbing with a tooth brush.

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Old 05-04-2021, 12:49 AM   #13
Sleeping Pill
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Mine had the same black crud. Almost a real heavy tar like deposit. No metal but man, maybe an hour per gear with a toothbrush and brake clean to get that tar out.
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Old 06-25-2021, 08:46 PM   #14
sleepyforester
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+1 for getting them professionally rebuilt- it is not worth the risk. ZF Design in Denver also does rebuilds and sometimes has sets in stock to exchange for cores. If you rattle gunned the cam gears off it would be worth checking the alignment pin receiving holes, which can ovalize from using an impact.
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