Are the AWD axles for the front compatible for say a '96 n/a Legacy and an '00 Outback? The only difference I could see by looking at them side by side was that the '00 Outback axle has a tone ring, which I think I read could simply be driven off if not needed.

 

I didn't count the splines but they looked the same. Appeared to be the same length.

 

I put a reman axle in my '96 Legacy and now it's making this [thread=127722]metal on metal rubbing sound now[/thread]. I have an unused reman axle for an '00 Outback. If i can drive the tone ring off and run it in the '96 that would tell me whether it is the axle making this noise or not.

They are probably similar enough to work if you remove the tone-ring.

 

Gen 1/2 axles are the same. You are asking about 2/3 axle compatibility. That I'm not sure of..... but I don't see why they would be any different.

 

GD

yes, 00 - 03 (at least) will fit in the 95 - 99 cars if you knock off the tone ring.

 

i assume 04 will as well but i don't know.

Oh sorry I might have my generations mixed up. So I will have a possible axle I can try it sounds like if I knock the tone ring off if I can't figure out what is causing that metal on metal vibrating/grinding sound I got after replacing the first one. I thought about putting the old axle back in as a test but if that makes it go away I really don't want to have to R&R the thing a third time.