Hi, my brakes locked up the other day and bright my 1984 gl automatic to a screeching halt! I rebuilt the brakes and it tested fine but on the way home at speed (35mph) when I let off the gas the subaru would make a loud grinding sound. It doesn't do it when accelerating and shifts fine it's only when letting off the gas. And if I touch the brake while slowing down it would go away.. Can some one help?

 hi,

 if you read my reply to the other post you made about the car i said it's the front differential unit, i still say that.

Here's a short clip of the sound, I have the tire jacked up. It still happens when I coast in neutral...

Sorry it won't let me post a link to my you tube vid. I jacked the wagon up and when I put it into drive and push the gas everything's fine but when I let off the gas it makes this weird grinding/wineing sound. If it is the friend differential how do I fix it? Does that mean I need to replace the trans? Thanks

inner axle joint or front diff.

 

drain the diff oil and strain it - through an old shirt or rags or something.  look at color, metal chunk, swirly swirl flakes...post a picture if you can.

 

check for play from side to side of the axle stubby shafts.

 

the front differential is integrated into the transmission and therefore most folks replace the entire transmission.  that being said, depending what is wrong with it, you could attempt to swap another front differential onto your existing transmission or replace the pinion bearings if those are the problem children and you can verify none of the carnage has affected the overall integrity of the rest of the transmission.

 

and if it has input shaft bearing issues like other subarus, replace those while it's apart.

if it is the front differential you might buy some time by removing the front axle shafts and just running it in 4WD which will equate to RWD without any front axles.  That woudl take the loading off the front diff and may spare it if you're planning on limping it along.

 

you'd have to disassemble a front axle and leave the outer joint in the hub due to the bearings in the knuckle.

But is the front differential different from the whole trans? I don't really understand sorry and thanks

if it is the front differential you might buy some time by removing the front axle shafts and just running it in 4WD which will equate to RWD without any front axles.

 

Doesn't work well with the 3AT

 

The hydraulic clutchpack isn't designed for full time locked RWD use.

 

I tried with my 84 4wd sedan when I had a front axle break.  It BARELY worked..light throttle limping on flat ground........and I could tell that if I had driven any further than just "home" that day.....it would have killed the clutch pack quickly.

3AT the slushiest of all slushboxes, I hate that transmission more than I hate terrorists. At least a terrorist puts you out of your misery.