It's working on my brothers car yesterday changing a CV axle

and two front struts and discovered that an automatic front wheel drive axle

will interchange with a four wheel drive 5 speed car as well as the front struts thay are all the same

Just thought I'd throw that out there so if you're ever working on those parts you can get the used parts of the more common car

Good to know, glad you posted this

This is my first post and I am hopeful it will go thru because I really need some advice on the rear axles and CV joint replacement for my '98 Legacy 4dr sedan AWD auto car that I am trying to keep on the road. It seems to have an annoying vibration in the rear that sounds exactly like the old Chevy universal joint noise when they go bad. Hope you folks won't make fun of my ignorance but my head is spinning from all the options out there for rear axles. How will I be able to tell wich one is gone, will there be obvious play and could it be a wheel bearing? Biggest question is though is there a difference between the rr and left rear axels? Is there a difference between the standard and automatic transmission? And when I do replace one should I buy new circle clips?

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                    Binny    

Edited January 8, 201511 yr by Binny

I think you should do some more searching on this site. You will find a lot of the info you need.

 

I can answer a few questions though

 

First there is no difference left to right and I doubt there is a difference in auto to stick

 

If you do have a bad rear cv, there should be either play or a ripped boot to indicate a bad axle

 

Subaru uses rollpins to hold their axles in not circlips

 

A vibration in the rear could be quite a few different issues

Bad rear CV

Bad ujoint in drive shaft

Bad rear wheel bearing

 

Sometimes rear wheel bearings can be tricky to diagnose. From what I have heard people like to use a temo gun to see if there is a difference in hub temp left to right front to rear to diagnose rear wheel bearings

 

Personally I would take it for a long drive and feel around the hubs and ujoints for heat build up. Also it's good to go for a drive and get rear components warmed up before trying to feel for play in CVS and bearings

 

Also if you try and fail to figure out what is causing your problem, don't be afraid to start a tread about it.

Edited January 8, 201511 yr by mikaleda

Axles are interchangable between auto and manual but the inner joints are different. Using a manual axle on an automatic can lead to vibration in gear at idle.

 

 

 

If it sounds like a U-joint, it's probably a u-joint. They tend to vibrate at around 35-40 and up. Check them for play just like any other u-joint.

 

Wheel bearing is also possible but those tend to make a grumble/roar sound that increases with speed or make a properller type sound.

Edited January 9, 201511 yr by Fairtax4me

Rear axles are the same for either side, and they will come with new circlips. Any subaru 95 or newer will not have roll pins on the rear, that was only 94 and older stuff.

Axles are interchangable between auto and manual but the inner joints are different. Using a manual axle on an automatic can lead to vibration in park.

If it sounds like a U-joint, it's probably a u-joint. They tend to vibrate at around 35-40 and up. Check them for play just like any other u-joint.

Wheel bearing is also possible but those tend to make a grumble/roar sound that increases with speed or make a properller type sound.

what do you mean by vibration in park because I just used the front wheel drive automatic transmission axles in my brothers 4 wheel drive 5 speed car they're the same amount of splines and they fit in just as smooth as butter so I can't see how there could be a vibration when the car would be in park the axles are not even spending

Mean to say at "idle in gear".

 

Splines are the same, the joint is a different style.

Auto trans has tripod style inner joints.

Manual trans has a 6 bearing double offset joint (DOJ).

 

Auto axles on a manual car, you won't notice any difference.

Mean to say at "idle in gear".

Splines are the same, the joint is a different style.

Auto trans has tripod style inner joints.

Manual trans has a 6 bearing double offset joint (DOJ).

Auto axles on a manual car, you won't notice any difference.

well good to know I would have never thought going that direction would cost something like that

see is good to post something you learned on your own here cuz then you'll just learned something else