tonic

Wagonist, thanks for your reply The 94 Loyale has the push button AWD, no center locking diff. When I speak of a driveshaft, I mean the hollow shaft connecting the tranny to the rear diff, not the CV/halfshaft. In my case it's two pieces. Another new clue, while taking the drive shaft off, I noticed ALOT of old gear lube caked around the rear of the tranny. When I got the car, the gear lube was half on the dipstick, I topped it off, but I fear the old owner ran it low, since it looks like a bunch is caked on the exterior of the tranny. So which part would get chewed up primarily if this is the case? I imagine the whole thing is compromised? It's too bad, it runs like a champ in 2wd, maybe I'll scrape AWD sticker off and put some tape over the push button on the shifter.....Fixed! (and for sale!) Thanks for all the replies guys.

Well, I got around to dropping the driveshaft. The splines on the male stub at the rear of the tranny appear sharp and OK. The female splines on the begining of the driveshaft line up, but my question: there are two flat grooves directly across each other in the female splines. They look like factory produced gaps in the splines, is this normal? I would have thought it would be 100% splines all the way around, but these two grooves are about the thickness of two splines widths....Hope this makes some sense. I was wondering if this joint could spin free while under load, but otherwise stay engaged at low torque / no wheel spin. If this isn't the culprit, I gotta dig into the tranny a bit more, it appears the end plate comes off, where the shifter plunger goes in? I wish my Mitchell had a good blowup of the parts in question, shikes, I think a Chilton would do better.

Yeah, it's pretty bad. I got it out on the ice, anytime I free spin the front right tire, the sounds emanates from the tranny. Also, new clue, when coasting in AWD in neutral, if you lock the brakes it makes the same sound, grinding/clicking/wratcheting-like-click. I can feel it vibrate through the gear shifter. It goes into AWD fine at a stop or on the fly, but once you spin a front tire or lock it up, it does it. Odd thing is, if I don't spin the front or lock it, I got AWD or at least feels/grips like I do. I'm leaning with zyewdall so far....but the neutral thing has me stumped

I thought I recalled reading about a fix for the rear bushing, something involving rtv silicone????? Anyone got a good cobble for it or how to? 3-5" of snow falling as I type!

It was never my intention to shift into AWD with the wheel spinning, it's just in the past (I've owned 6 Loyales) I've accidently done it when trying to time the AWD engagement so I don't get stuck (keeping momemtum before coming to a stop). This is when I've heard the grating sound before, like splines trying to line up and grinding, or spinning on a worn splines/stub. I know how to perform my Subaru's AWD system, and I'm mindful of abuse.... The dry pavement and U-turns reference are duly noted, but are NOT the problem here. I never would have found this site if I didn't love Subaru's, and subsequently have a bit of experience with them. The previous (weak) owner had a horrible tire situation going on, toe in, bad ball joints, one odd sized tire, etc..I'm worried the front diff took a beating or where the drive shaft outputs from the tranny. The sounds seems to orignate right under the driver seat/tranny I think the thunk is truly the bushing, so that problem is OK, I guess I gotta wait for some snow to reproduce the problem.

Hello all, I have a "new to me" 1994 Loyale with a 5 spd. I got it stuck on nearly level ground with very greasy mud, the front end was engaging, but when in AWD all I could hear was grinding by the tranny and no rear wheel power, like when you shift to AWD on the fly and one front wheel is already spinning (bad I know). This AWD drive works when there is a bit more traction, or I get to get it rolling a bit first, but the spinning from a start it could not handle. Also, when it is engaged, the transition to first or reverse gets a loud thump/clunk from the rear diff, when under load (high rrrrs + clutch dump). I've got new CV's all the way around....... Am I looking at two bad diffs? I'm worried this car is gonna be worthless in ice and snow. I'm not used to having a Sub with a weak AWD system, not sure where to start, but "that sound" really grates my teeth. Any suggestions or tests would be greatly appreciated, snow is about to fly in Wisconsin and my beater with a heater is semi-castrated.