June 13, 201411 yr I think play from a failing front diff caused the damage in the rear extension housing of my 2002 H6, VDC transmission. The main question is the area of the shim at #17 in this diagram. washer and shim 11 and 17 were severely damaged. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/attachments/problems-maintenance/26631d1356925701-5eat-2wd-problem-outback-xt-vtd-exploded.gif At #17, a couple of large, thin, circular rings of aluminum came out when i pulled it apart right there at that shim. It is as if that shim was either torn apart or it may have grooved the part of the transmission it rests against. *** If the extension case itself was warn in that way at #17 - does that mean it will have too much play if i just replace the shim? I'm wondering if i can just replace the washer at #11 and the shim at #17? Seems like I should just replace the entire VDC if i can find one.
June 13, 201411 yr Somewhere out there in Googleland I'm sure these an FSM with info on this trans. I have an FSM that covers 2000 but it doesn't have any info on the VDC trans. It seems to me there should be a certain amount of clearance there, though its probably not hugely critical since they didnt put a thrust bearing or thrust washer there. Was there any play in the bearing?
June 13, 201411 yr Author It seems to me there should be a certain amount of clearance there, though its probably not hugely critical since they didnt put a thrust bearing or thrust washer there. There is a thrust washer, #11 in the link above. It got a notable work out. Not broken or mangled but the surface is roughed up. That same thrust washer also wore a little into the gear (the gear on part #12) it rides up against. Does that change things? Was there any play in the bearing? No, bearings and gears all look good. The thrust washer mentioned above and rear most shim need replaced, other than that I don't see anything visually. I wonder if the rear extension housing is hosed. I'm unsure how to reach down into that housing and mic such an awkward measurement. I'm in the process of tracking down some FSM stuff for it.
June 13, 201411 yr What was the failure mode of the diff? Pinion bearing? I'm just trying to think why the front output shaft would be shoved back hard enough to cause this. Was the front diff repaired? What, if anything, else was removed from the trans to do that repair?
June 13, 201411 yr The VDC case and guts I got from our best source of info on that stuff (still missing) had a very worn set of bearings (13 and 15) and shim 17 was trashed. The rear of the case looked ok. Mine needs 13 and 15 replaced plus maybe the very front bearing. I shipped the rear of the case off to the guy that had a cracked case, maybe that case is repairable (and maybe he still has it) and you can get it from him if yours is trashed. I know on non-VTD setups the shim size sets the 'preload' on the MPT, I don't know if the VTD setup sets the preload or just has to keep it all from rattling around. If the rear bearing is toast, the output shaft bushing may be as well, in the tailhousing just in front of the rear seal.
June 14, 201411 yr Author Fairtax. diff not repaired, will tear down later. im swapping the rear extension housing from trans w/failed diff onto another trans with a good front diff. Dave, the bearings all look great with zero play. i assume its obvious if theyre bad? stopped by Subaru to look at their diagram, ill need to take assembly with me to make sense, looks different than 2005 FSM...closest i have ATM.
June 14, 201411 yr Author fairtax, the front diff was noisey for 10,000 miles until something failed. car would stall immediately when put in any gear.
June 14, 201411 yr There is an 2004 in the COS UPAP. I don't know if it has the trans you need. Subaru Outback 2004 h6 s I008
June 14, 201411 yr Author yep that trans would work, but distance. theres one a couple hundred miles away im trying to get.
June 14, 201411 yr If the bearings do not have noticeable play (rocking, for-aft, etc) and spin without vibration or notching, probably good.
June 14, 201411 yr Author Thanks Dave, double checked all bearings - one is in fact loose, the others are all tight. By the time I buy that bearing, press the bits, get thrust washers/shims....I might as well just get a complete good rear housing assembly. I've found a couple core transmissions for $75 and $120, they're a couple hundred miles away so if I can find a way to get those I think I'll go that route. Problem is I want this car back on the road quick for summer travels, it's our usual daily driver wagon with more space/hitch. Edited June 14, 201411 yr by grossgary
June 18, 201411 yr Author If you end up with a bad but fixable housing, I'm short one... donor trans had no rear housing, so I've only got one. if i run across one or mine becomes available because it self destructs after i reassemble it, i'll let you know. when trying to find one, here's what i came up with on car-par.com: 1. there's a core 01-04 trans in Ontario with VTD. 2. there's a 2007 Forester Turbo core trans for $120 in Northeast or central PA - but cars101.com was unclear on those - in 2007 it suggests all Turbo's had VTD's, then in another section it suggests only the VDC Turbo's had VTD. Edited June 18, 201411 yr by grossgary
June 18, 201411 yr gary, before i scrapped my 01 H6 VDC trans, 160k. i pulled the rear extension housing ''just in case''. i knew the trans was bad, i only owned it for about 5 miles before it completely failed. what little i did drive it there was indication of a bad transfer issue, no binding or noise. i do not really know the condition, i do not even know if all the parts are there. i just unbolted it and kept what came off. i can send a pic.... make me an offer. yours for cheap if you want it.
June 18, 201411 yr Author great, send some pic's that would be awesome. my user name at yahoo.com actually can you do me a big favor? the big planetary set that goes into the transmission side - does that shaft have any play in it at all - like "in and out"? mine does but it seems like it's supposed to, there's only one bearing and it's perfectly tight with zero play. i'm pretty sure all that gets taken up when it's sandwhiched between the trans and the output shaft which is shimmed and has thrust bearings in it. but it would be really cool to know for sure.
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