DIY: Cheap Liberty Electric Antenna Mast Replacement - Perth-WRX.com

westoz · #1 20-01-2009, 02:28 AM

Ok, so I copped a bird strike on my gen1 Libby not long ago, snapping the antenna mast, but not damaging the mast's internal drive rod.

Not wanting to pay for genuine (if you could even buy just the mast & drive rod part attached), removed the antenna assembly from the car & did a comparo with the Aeropro range of replacement electric antennas at Super Cheaps. Taking a punt, bought the Aeropro model AP12 ($20) which had the same diameter lowest and uppermost sections, and as it turned out, the same thread size for the top button.

Unscrewed the top off the solid uppermost mast stem on the AP12, slid the remaining mast sections off and chucked the rest. Did the same to the Libby aerial (you need to do some disassembly of the drive housing but it aint rocket science) and slid the AP12 sections over the Liberty uppermost solid stem and screwed the black plastic OEM top button back on. You could opt to use the Aeropro's top button, which is a bit chunkier but has a chrome finish, depending on your taste.

Reinstalled back into car, all working perfectly

. Point to note, however: the new mast height is about 15mm taller in the down position than it should be but it's protected by the outer cowling and doesn't stick out or look odd. Dunno if it's worth a DIY sticky, maybe mods could make that decision. Will provide a pic of the aerial down position if anyone asks.

Maybe works for other gen Libertys/Legacys also?

Cheers...

IDOLYZ · #2 20-01-2009, 08:48 AM

gen 4 Liberty's don't have antenna's

it's inbuilt somewhere.

nice work though, lucky it was exact same measurements.

Pimpreza · #3 20-01-2009, 09:26 AM

I'll keep that in mind if mine ever gets bent.

GX-REX · #4 20-01-2009, 09:39 AM

Helping a mate with a Gen 1 that he has just bought. Will mention it to him later.

jEstEr? · #5 20-01-2009, 09:53 AM

photos?

westoz · #6 20-01-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jEstEr?

photos?

Sorry, but got none of the disassembly/reassembly, here is the end result in the down position.

axle · #7 17-02-2009, 09:53 AM

would the ap12 work as a complete replacement (I don't have any remaining segments of the old antenna) on a G1S2 Lib Sedan?

If I read your DIY correctly you only replaced the broken/missing segments didn't you.

Thanks heaps

Rob

westoz · #8 17-02-2009, 05:45 PM

Never considered it as a complete replacement, just usage of the stem sections except for the innermost (top) one. The AP12 has no motor (would cost a lot more than $20 if it did), it comes only with the full mast and drive cable (which is incompatible with the Subi aerial).

axle · #9 17-02-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westoz

Never considered it as a complete replacement, just usage of the stem sections except for the innermost (top) one. The AP12 has no motor (would cost a lot more than $20 if it did), it comes only with the full mast and drive cable (which is incompatible with the Subi aerial).

Nah I have the motor and some of the drive cable but no mast at all. Since the AP12 cable isn't compatible with subi then might have to keep on looking. Only subi aerial they have is manual only for lib.

Anyone got any ideas.